Process and device for monitoring the transmission power of a mobile terminal, for example a cellular mobile telephone, in particular capable of operating according to the UMTS standard

• US 7,096,035 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microelectronic Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics NV
• Inventors: Gouessant, Philippe, Arnaud, Thierry
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US10/113,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20020176513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455/125, 455/126, 455/127.1, 455/127.2, 455/232.1, 455/239.1, 455/240.1, 455/245.1, 455/247.1, 455/574, 370/311
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/226 using past references to control power, e.g. look-up-table
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/44 in connection with interruption of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

The transmission power of a cellular mobile telephone is adjusted as a function of received power information. The celluar mobile telephone is equipped with a variable-gain amplifier that covers the transmission power range, and the gain and supply voltage of the amplifier are tuned as a function of the received power information.

Claims

1. A process for monitoring a transmission power of a remote terminal operating within a transmission power range, the remote terminal comprising a variable-gain amplifier covering the transmission power range, the process comprising:

adjusting the transmission power by tuning a gain and a supply voltage of the variable-gain amplifier as a function of power information received by the remote terminal.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the remote terminal comprises a cellular mobile telephone.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the variable-gain amplifier comprises at least two individually selectable power amplifiers capable together of covering the transmission power range, each power amplifier having an operating zone that is different from the operating zone of the other power amplifier and a common operating zone that is the same for each power amplifier, and one of the power amplifiers covers the transmission power range for the received power information corresponding to a power level in the common operating zone;

and further comprising;

verifying whether the received power information corresponds to a currently selected power amplifier, and if not, then selecting the other power amplifier and tuning a supply voltage thereof as a function of the power information received.

4. A process according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the power amplifiers has a variable gain, and if selected, further comprising tuning a gain thereof as a function of the power information received.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the variable-gain amplifier comprises at least two individually selectable power amplifiers capable together of covering the transmission power range, each power amplifier having an operating zone that is different from the operating zone of the other power amplifier and a common operating zone that is the same for each power amplifier, and one of the power amplifiers covers the transmission power range for the received power information corresponding to a power level in the common operating zone;

and further comprising;

verifying whether the received power information corresponds to a currently selected power amplifier, and if not, then defining a switching time range that extends from when the power information was received to a predetermined duration compatible with limits of the common operating zone; and

defining an interruption time range within the switching time range as a function of predetermined criteria for interrupting transmission.

6. A process according to claim 5, further comprising continuing adjusting the transmission power of the selected power amplifier until the interruption time range occurs, and if new power information received before the occurrence of the interruption time range does not correspond to the power amplifier currently selected;

then disabling transmission of the selected power amplifier during the interruption time range, and selecting the other power amplifier for transmission.

7. A process according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the power amplifiers has a variable gain;

and if selected, further comprising tuning a gain thereof as a function of the power information received.

8. A process according to claim 5, wherein the power information is defined by a plurality of chips and is transmitted within successive frames, with each frame being divided into a predetermined number of slots.

9. A process according to claim 8, wherein a duration of the switching range is within a range of about 4 to 8 slots;

and wherein a duration of the interruption time range is within a range of about 2 to 4 chips.

10. A process according to claims 5, wherein the predetermined criteria for interrupting transmission comprises at least one predetermined event occurring during a transmission, the at least one predetermined event having an impact on a binary error rate when the transmission is interrupted during the occurrence of this predetermined event;

and further comprising analyzing characteristics of the transmission for detecting this predetermined event within the switching range, and if detected, then placing the interruption time range during the occurrence of this predetermined event.

11. A process according to claim 10, wherein the at least one predetermined event comprises a plurality of predetermined events;

and further comprising ordering the plurality of predetermined events based upon a predetermined order of priority as a function of their respective impacts on the binary error rate when the transmission is interrupted during the occurrence of one of these plurality of predetermined events; and

wherein analyzing the characteristics is based upon the order of priority for detecting the plurality of predetermined events within the switching range, and if one of the predetermined events is detected, than placing the interruption time range during the occurrence of a first predetermined event detected in the order of priority.

12. A process according to claim 11, wherein the power information received comprises data and monitoring indications, and is transmitted within successive frames, with each frame being subdivided into a predetermined number of slots;

and wherein the monitoring indications comprise feedback information and transport format combination indicators.

13. A process according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of particular events comprise, in descending order of priority, the following:

empty intervals during a compressed mode of transmission;

intervals in which the transmission has to be interrupted in a gated mode of transmission;

sections of silence intervals in a discontinuous mode of transmission, during which neither feedback information nor transport format combination indicators are transmitted;

sections of the intervals during which data having a high spreading factor are transmitted without transmitting either feedback information or transport format combination indicators;

sections of the intervals during which data having a low spreading factor are transmitted without transmitting either feedback information or transport format combination indicators; and

sections of the intervals during which feedback information or transport format combination indicators are transmitted.

14. A remote terminal of a wireless communication system comprising:

an antenna;

receiver circuitry connected to said antennas;

transmitter circuitry having a transmission power range;

a power amplification stage connected between said transmitter circuitry and said antenna and comprising a variable-gain amplifier covering the transmission power range; and

a processing stage connected to said receiver circuitry and to said power amplification stage for adjusting the transmission power by tuning a gain and a supply voltage of said variable-gain amplifier as a function of power information received by said receiver circuitry.

15. A remote terminal according to claim 14, wherein said variable-gain amplifier comprises at least two individually selectable power amplifiers capable together of covering the transmission power range, each power amplifier having an operating zone that is different from the operating zone of the other power amplifier and a common operating zone that is the same for each power amplifier;

and wherein said power amplification stage further comprises a selection circuit for connecting an output of said transmission circuitry to an input of one of said power amplifiers in response to a corresponding selection information item.

16. A remote terminal according to claim 15, wherein said processing stage comprises:

a memory for storing a correspondence table associating one of said power amplifiers with the transmission power range;

a monitoring circuit connected to said memory for verifying whether the received power information corresponds to a currently selected power amplifier; and

a control circuit connected to said monitoring circuit and to said selection circuit for providing the selection information item to said selection circuit for selecting the other power amplifier if the received power information does not correspond to the currently selected power amplifier, and for tuning a supply voltage of the selected power amplifier as a function of the power information received.

17. A remote terminal according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said power amplifiers has a variable gain;

and wherein said control circuit tunes a gain of said selected power amplifier as a function of the power information received.

18. A remote terminal according to claim 15, wherein said processing stage comprises:

a memory for storing a correspondence table associating one of said power amplifiers with the transmission power range;

a monitoring circuit connected to said memory for verifying whether the received power information corresponds to a currently selected power amplifier, and if not, then defining a switching time range that extends from when the power information was received to a predetermined duration compatible with limits of the common operating zone, and defining an interruption time range within the switching time range as a function of predetermined criteria for interrupting transmission; and

a control circuit connected to said monitoring circuit and to said selection circuit for continuing adjustment of the transmission power of the selected power amplifier until the interruption time range occurs, and if new power information received before the occurrence of the interruption time range does not correspond to the power amplifier currently selected, then disabling transmission of the selected power amplifier during the interruption time range, and selecting the other power amplifier for transmission by providing the selection information item to said selection circuit, and for tuning a supply voltage of the selected power amplifier as a function of the power information received.

19. A remote terminal according to claim 18, wherein the power information is defined by a plurality of chips and is transmitted within successive frames, with each frame being divided into a predetermined number of slots.

20. A remote terminal according to claim 19, wherein a duration of the switching range is within a range of about 4 to 8 slots;

and wherein a duration of the interruption time range is within a range of about 2 to 4 chips.

21. A remote terminal according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined criteria for interrupting transmission comprises at least one predetermined event occurring during a transmission;

the at least one predetermined event having an impact on a binary error rate when the transmission is interrupted during the occurrence of this predetermined event; and

wherein said monitoring circuit analyzes characteristics of the transmission for detecting this predetermined event within the switching range, and if detected, then placing the interruption time range during the occurrence of this predetermined event.

22. A remote terminal according to claim 21, wherein the at least one predetermined event comprises a plurality of predetermined events;

and wherein said monitoring means orders the plurality of predetermined events based upon a predetermined order of priority as a function of their respective impacts on the binary error rate when the transmission is interrupted during the occurrence of one of these plurality of predetermined events, and analyzes the characteristics based upon the order of priority for detecting the plurality of predetermined events within the switching range, and if one of the predetermined events is detected, than placing the interruption time range during the occurrence of a first predetermined event detected in the order of priority.

23. A remote terminal according to claim 22, wherein the power information received comprises data and monitoring indications, and is transmitted within successive frames, with each frame being subdivided into a predetermined number of slots;

and wherein the monitoring indications comprise feedback information and transport format combination indicators.

24. A remote terminal according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of particular events comprise, in descending order of priority, the following:

empty intervals during a compressed mode of transmission;

intervals in which the transmission has to be interrupted in a gated mode of transmission;

sections of silence intervals in a discontinuous mode of transmission, during which neither feedback information nor transport format combination indicators are transmitted;

sections of the intervals during which data having a high spreading factor are transmitted without transmitting either feedback information or transport format combination indicators;

sections of the intervals during which data having a low spreading factor are transmitted without transmitting either feedback information or transport format combination indicators; and

sections of the intervals during which feedback information or transport format combination indicators are transmitted.

25. A remote terminal according to claim 14, wherein said power amplification stage comprises a controllable chopped power supply for providing a varying supply voltage to said variable-gain amplifier.

26. A remote terminal according to one of claim 14, further comprising a power level circuit connected between said processing stage and said power amplification stage for monitoring power transmitted by said variable-gain amplifier based upon a signal present at an output of said power amplification stage and the received power information.

27. A remote terminal according to claim 14, wherein the remote terminal comprises a cellular mobile telephone.

28. A cellular mobile telephone comprising:

an antenna;

receiver circuitry connected to said antenna;

transmitter circuitry having a transmission power range;

a power amplification stage connected between said transmitter circuitry and said antenna and comprising at least two individually selectable power amplifiers capable together of covering the transmission power range, each power amplifier having an operating zone that is different from the operating zone of the other power amplifier and a common operating zone that is the same for each power amplifier; and

a processing stage connected to said receiver circuitry and to said power amplification stage for adjusting the transmission power by tuning a gain and a supply voltage of a selected power amplifier as a function of power information received by said receiver circuitry.

29. A cellular mobile telephone according to claim 28, wherein said power amplification stage further comprises a selection circuit for connecting an output of said transmission circuitry to an input of one of said power amplifiers in response to a corresponding selection information item.

30. A cellular mobile telephone according to claim 29, wherein said processing stage comprises:

a memory for storing a correspondence table associating one of said power amplifiers with the transmission power range;

a monitoring circuit connected to said memory for verifying whether the received power information corresponds to a currently selected power amplifier; and

a control circuit connected to said monitoring circuit and to said selection circuit for providing the selection information item to said selection circuit for selecting the other power amplifier if the received power information does not correspond to the currently selected power amplifier, and for tuning a supply voltage of the selected power amplifier as a function of the power information received.

31. A cellular mobile telephone according to claim 30, wherein at least one of said power amplifiers has a variable gain;

and wherein said control circuit tunes a gain of said selected power amplifier as a function of the power information received.

32. A cellular mobile telephone according to claim 28, wherein said processing stage comprises:

a memory for storing a correspondence table associating one of said power amplifiers with the transmission power range;

a monitoring circuit connected to said memory for verifying whether the received power information corresponds to a currently selected power amplifier, and if not, then defining a switching time range that extends from when the power information was received to a predetermined duration compatible with limits of the common operating zone, and defining an interruption time range within the switching time range as a function of predetermined criteria for interrupting transmission; and

a control circuit connected to said monitoring circuit and to said selection circuit for continuing adjustment of the transmission power of the selected power amplifier until the interruption time range occurs, and if new power information received before the occurrence of the interruption time range does not correspond to the power amplifier currently selected, then disabling transmission of the selected power amplifier during the interruption time range, and selecting the other power amplifier for transmission by providing the selection information item to said selection circuit, and for tuning a supply voltage of the selected power amplifier as a function of the power information received.

33. A cellular mobile telephone according to claim 32, wherein the predetermined criteria for interrupting transmission comprises at least one predetermined event occurring during a transmission, the at least one predetermined event having an impact on a binary error rate when the transmission is interrupted during the occurrence of this predetermined event;

and wherein said monitoring circuit analyzes characteristics of the transmission for detecting this predetermined event within the switching range, and if detected, then placing the interruption time range during the occurrence of this predetermined event.

34. A cellular mobile telephone according to claim 28, wherein said power amplification stage comprises a controllable chopped power supply for providing a varying supply voltage to said power amplifiers.

35. A cellular mobile telephone according to one of claim 28, further comprising a power level circuit connected between said processing stage and said power amplification stage for monitoring power transmitted by said power amplifiers based upon a signal present at an output of said power amplification stage and the received power information.