MULTIMODE ENVELOPE TRACKING CIRCUIT AND RELATED APPARATUS

• US 20200136575A1
• Filed: 02/25/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khlat, Nadim, Kay, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 11,018,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/02 Modifications of amplifiers to raise the efficiency, e.g. gliding Class A stages, use of an auxiliary oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0222 by using a signal derived from the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/102 A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/336 A I/Q, i.e. phase quadrature, modulator or demodulator being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/421 Multiple switches coupled in the output circuit of an amplifier are controlled by a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/516 Some amplifier stages of an amplifier use supply voltages of different value
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/19 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2178 using more than one switch or switching amplifier in parallel or in series H03F3/2173, H03F3/2175 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/68 Combinations of amplifiers, e.g. multi-channel amplifiers for stereophonics power amplifiers using a combination of several semiconductor amplifiers H03F3/211; combinations of amplifiers using coupling networks with distributed constants H03F3/602

Abstract

A multimode envelope tracking (ET) circuit and related apparatus is provided. The multimode ET circuit is configured to provide an ET voltage(s) to an amplifier circuit(s) for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) that may correspond to a wider range of modulation bandwidth. In this regard, the multimode ET circuit is configured to switch dynamically and opportunistically between different operation modes based on the modulation bandwidth of the RF signal(s). In examples discussed herein, the multimode ET circuit is configured to support a single amplifier circuit in a high-modulation-bandwidth mode and an additional amplifier circuit(s) in a mid-modulation-bandwidth mode and a low-modulation-bandwidth mode. By switching dynamically and opportunistically between different operation modes, it may be possible to reduce undesired series resonance that may cause distortion in the ET voltage(s), thus helping to improve efficiency and performance of the amplifier circuit(s) supported by the multimode ET circuit.

Claims

1. A multimode envelope tracking (ET) circuit comprising:

a first port configured to be coupled to a first amplifier circuit;

a second port configured to be coupled to a second amplifier circuit;

a first tracker circuit having a first tracker output coupled to the first port;

a second tracker circuit having a second tracker output coupled to the second port;

a switch circuit coupled to the first tracker output and the second tracker output; and

a control circuit configured to control the switch circuit to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output in response to determining that only a selected amplifier circuit among the first amplifier circuit and the second amplifier circuit is activated.

2. The multimode ET circuit of claim 1 wherein:

the switch circuit comprises a primary switch coupled between the first tracker output and the second tracker output; and

the control circuit is further configured to close the primary switch to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output in response to determining that only the selected amplifier circuit is activated.

3. The multimode ET circuit of claim 2 wherein:

the first tracker circuit comprises;

a first voltage amplifier coupled to the first tracker output and configured to generate a first ET voltage at the first tracker output; and

a first multi-level charge pump (MCP) circuit coupled to the first tracker output and configured to generate a first low-frequency current at the first tracker output; and

the second tracker circuit comprises;

a second voltage amplifier coupled to the second tracker output and configured to generate a second ET voltage at the second tracker output; and

a second MCP circuit coupled to the second tracker output and configured to generate a second low-frequency current at the second tracker output.

4. The multimode ET circuit of claim 3 further comprising a first auxiliary port and a second auxiliary port configured to be coupled to a first auxiliary amplifier circuit and a second auxiliary amplifier circuit, respectively, wherein the switch circuit further comprises:

first switch circuitry coupled to the first tracker output, the second tracker output, and the first auxiliary port; and

second switch circuitry coupled to the first tracker output, the second tracker output, and the second auxiliary port.

5. The multimode ET circuit of claim 4 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

activate the first MCP circuit and the second MCP circuit to provide the first low-frequency current and the second low-frequency current to the first tracker output and the second tracker output, respectively; and

activate a selected voltage amplifier among the first voltage amplifier and the second voltage amplifier to provide a selected ET voltage among the first ET voltage and the second ET voltage to a selected tracker output coupled to the selected voltage amplifier.

6. The multimode ET circuit of claim 5 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine that the multimode ET circuit is configured to operate in a high-modulation-bandwidth mode;

close the primary switch to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output; and

control the first switch circuitry and the second switch circuitry to decouple the first auxiliary port and the second auxiliary port from the first tracker output and the second tracker output.

7. The multimode ET circuit of claim 5 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine that the multimode ET circuit is configured to operate in a mid-modulation-bandwidth mode;

close the primary switch to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output; and

control the first switch circuitry and the second switch circuitry to couple a selected auxiliary port among the first auxiliary port and the second auxiliary port to the selected tracker output.

8. The multimode ET circuit of claim 5 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine that the multimode ET circuit is configured to operate in a low-modulation-bandwidth mode;

close the primary switch to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output; and

control the first switch circuitry and the second switch circuitry to couple the first auxiliary port and the second auxiliary port to the selected tracker output.

9. The multimode ET circuit of claim 1 further comprising a first auxiliary port and a second auxiliary port configured to be coupled to a first auxiliary amplifier circuit and a second auxiliary amplifier circuit, respectively, wherein:

the first tracker circuit comprises;

a first voltage amplifier coupled to the first tracker output and configured to generate a first ET voltage at the first tracker output; and

a first multi-level charge pump (MCP) circuit coupled to the first tracker output and configured to generate a first low-frequency current at the first tracker output;

the second tracker circuit comprises;

a second voltage amplifier coupled to the second tracker output and configured to generate a second ET voltage at the second tracker output; and

a second MCP circuit coupled to the second tracker output and configured to generate a second low-frequency current at the second tracker output; and

the switch circuit comprises;

a primary switch coupled between the first tracker output and the second tracker output;

first switch circuitry coupled to the first tracker output, the second tracker output, and the first auxiliary port; and

second switch circuitry coupled to the first tracker output, the second tracker output, and the second auxiliary port.

10. An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier apparatus comprising:

a first amplifier circuit;

a second amplifier circuit; and

a multimode ET circuit comprising;

a first port coupled to the first amplifier circuit;

a second port coupled to the second amplifier circuit;

a first tracker circuit having a first tracker output coupled to the first port;

a second tracker circuit having a second tracker output coupled to the second port;

a switch circuit coupled to the first tracker output and the second tracker output; and

a control circuit configured to control the switch circuit to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output in response to determining that only a selected amplifier circuit among the first amplifier circuit and the second amplifier circuit is activated.

11. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

the switch circuit comprises a primary switch coupled between the first tracker output and the second tracker output; and

the control circuit is further configured to close the primary switch to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output in response to determining that only the selected amplifier circuit is activated.

12. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the first tracker circuit comprises;

a first voltage amplifier coupled to the first tracker output and configured to generate a first ET voltage at the first tracker output; and

a first multi-level charge pump (MCP) circuit coupled to the first tracker output and configured to generate a first low-frequency current at the first tracker output; and

the second tracker circuit comprises;

a second voltage amplifier coupled to the second tracker output and configured to generate a second ET voltage at the second tracker output; and

a second MCP circuit coupled to the second tracker output and configured to generate a second low-frequency current at the second tracker output.

13. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the first MCP circuit comprises;

a first MCP configured to generate a first constant voltage based on a battery voltage; and

a first inductor configured to induce the first low-frequency current based on the first constant voltage; and

the second MCP circuit comprises;

a second MCP configured to generate a second constant voltage based on the battery voltage; and

a second inductor configured to induce the second low-frequency current based on the second constant voltage.

14. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the first tracker circuit further comprises a first offset capacitor coupled between the first voltage amplifier and the first tracker output; and

the second tracker circuit further comprises a second offset capacitor coupled between the second voltage amplifier and the second tracker output.

15. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a first auxiliary amplifier circuit and a second auxiliary amplifier circuit, wherein:

the multimode ET circuit further comprises a first auxiliary port and a second auxiliary port coupled to the first auxiliary amplifier circuit and the second auxiliary amplifier circuit, respectively; and

the switch circuit further comprises;

first switch circuitry coupled to the first tracker output, the second tracker output, and the first auxiliary port; and

second switch circuitry coupled to the first tracker output, the second tracker output, and the second auxiliary port.

16. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

activate the first MCP circuit and the second MCP circuit to provide the first low-frequency current and the second low-frequency current to the first tracker output and the second tracker output, respectively; and

activate a selected voltage amplifier among the first voltage amplifier and the second voltage amplifier to provide a selected ET voltage among the first ET voltage and the second ET voltage to a selected tracker output coupled to the selected voltage amplifier.

17. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 16 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine that the multimode ET circuit is configured to operate in a high-modulation-bandwidth mode in response to receiving an indication signal from a transceiver circuit coupled to the ET amplifier apparatus;

close the primary switch to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output; and

control the first switch circuitry and the second switch circuitry to decouple the first auxiliary port and the second auxiliary port from the first tracker output and the second tracker output.

18. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 16 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine that the multimode ET circuit is configured to operate in a mid-modulation-bandwidth mode in response to receiving an indication signal from a transceiver circuit coupled to the ET amplifier apparatus;

close the primary switch to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output; and

control the first switch circuitry and the second switch circuitry to couple a selected auxiliary port among the first auxiliary port and the second auxiliary port to the selected tracker output.

19. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 16 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine that the multimode ET circuit is configured to operate in a low-modulation-bandwidth mode in response to receiving an indication signal from a transceiver circuit coupled to the ET amplifier apparatus;

close the primary switch to couple the first tracker output with the second tracker output; and

control the first switch circuitry and the second switch circuitry to couple the first auxiliary port and the second auxiliary port to the selected tracker output.

20. The ET amplifier apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a first auxiliary amplifier circuit and a second auxiliary amplifier circuit, wherein:

the multimode ET circuit further comprises a first auxiliary port and a second auxiliary port coupled to the first auxiliary amplifier circuit and the second auxiliary amplifier circuit, respectively;

the first tracker circuit comprises;

a first voltage amplifier coupled to the first tracker output and configured to generate a first ET voltage at the first tracker output; and

a first multi-level charge pump (MCP) circuit coupled to the first tracker output and configured to generate a first low-frequency current at the first tracker output;

the second tracker circuit comprises;

a second voltage amplifier coupled to the second tracker output and configured to generate a second ET voltage at the second tracker output; and

a second MCP circuit coupled to the second tracker output and configured to generate a second low-frequency current at the second tracker output; and

the switch circuit comprises;

a primary switch coupled between the first tracker output and the second tracker output;

first switch circuitry coupled to the first tracker output, the second tracker output, and the first auxiliary port; and

second switch circuitry coupled to the first tracker output, the second tracker output, and the second auxiliary port.