Power control circuit, semiconductor device and transceiver circuit using the same

• US 8,213,888 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Kuriyama, Akira, Tanaka, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B
• Application Number:
  US12/222,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20080305756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/68, 455/115.1, 455/126, 455/127.1, 455/127.2, 455/232.1, 455/234.1, 455/522, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 375/296, 375/297, 330/75, 330/103, 330/127, 330/129, 330/250, 330/278, 330/282
• US Class Current: 455/127.2
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3047 for intermittent signals, e.g. burst signals

Abstract

There is provided a power control circuit having a stable high-speed operation, and a semiconductor device and a transceiver circuit using it. The power control circuit controls the gain of an amplifier so that power outputted from the amplifier reaches a desired value according to a digital control signal. The power control circuit includes a digital feedback loop which converts a detected signal obtained by detecting a value of the output power of the amplifier to a digital signal, determines a differential between the digital signal and the digital control signal, converts the differential to an analog signal and outputs a first feedback signal, an analog feedback loop which outputs a high frequency element corresponding to a differential between an analog signal to which the digital control signal is converted and the detected signal, as a second feedback signal, and an adder which determines the sum of the first and the second feedback signal and outputs a gain control signal for controlling the gain of the amplifier.

Claims

1. A power control circuit that controls a gain of an amplifier in such a manner that output power of the amplifier reaches a desired power value according to a power control signal by using a directional coupler to take out a part of the output power of the amplifier at an output terminal of the amplifier and using a detector to detect a power value of the output power of the amplifier on a basis of an output value of the directional coupler, said power control circuit comprising:

a digital feedback loop which converts an output signal of the detector as a detected signal to a digital signal, determines a first differential between the detected signal converted to the digital signal and the power control signal, and converts the first differential to a first analog signal and outputs a first feedback signal;

an analog feedback loop which outputs a high frequency element of a second differential between the power control signal converted to a second analog signal and the output signal of the detector as the detected signal as a second feedback signal; and

an adder which determines the sum of the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal and outputs a gain control signal for controlling the gain of the amplifier.

2. The power control circuit according to claim 1, wherein said digital feedback loop includes:

an analog to digital converter which converts the detected signal to the digital signal and outputs the same therefrom,

a first comparator which outputs the first differential between a digital output signal of said analog to digital converter and the power control signal, and

a first digital to analog converter which converts a digital output signal of said first comparator to the first analog signal and outputs the first feedback signal, and

wherein said analog feedback loop includes;

a second digital to analog converter which converts the power control signal to the second analog signal and outputs the same therefrom,

a second comparator which determines the second differential between the detected signal and the power control signal converted to the second analog signal outputted from said second digital to analog converter, and

a high pass filter which takes out the high frequency element of a signal outputted from said second comparator and outputs the second feedback signal.

3. The power control circuit according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first sample and hold circuit which memorizes and holds the detected signal therein;

a second sample and hold circuit which memorizes and holds the power control signal therein; and

a third sample and hold circuit which is disposed between said first digital to analog converter and said first comparator and memorizes and holds the digital output signal of said first comparator,

wherein the detected signal is inputted to said analog to digital converter and said second comparator via said first sample and hold circuit, and the power control signal is inputted to said second digital to analog converter via said second sample and hold circuit.

4. The power control circuit according to claim 2, further comprising:

a sample and hold circuit which is disposed between said first digital to analog converter and said first comparator and memorizes and holds the digital output signal of said first comparator,

wherein said second comparator stops operating when said sample and hold circuit is in operation.

5. A semiconductor device comprising:

a circuit block including,

a receiver circuit which amplifies a received first signal;

a first frequency conversion circuit which converts the frequency of the first signal of post-amplification outputted from said receiver circuit to output a second signal;

a second frequency conversion circuit which inputs a third signal to be transmitted and converts the frequency of the third signal to output a fourth signal;

a first amplifier which amplifies the fourth signal outputted from said second frequency conversion circuit and whose gain is controlled by a second power control signal;

a second amplifier which amplifies the fourth signal outputted from said second frequency conversion circuit;

a directional coupler which takes out a part of the output power of said second amplifier at the output terminal of said second amplifier;

a detector which detects a power value of the output power of said second amplifier on a basis of an output value of said directional coupler; and

a power control circuit which controls output power of said second amplifier by use of a first power control signal in such a manner that the output power reaches a desired power value by using said directional coupler and said detector,

wherein said power control circuit comprises,

a digital feedback loop which converts an output signal of said detector as a detected signal obtained by detecting a power value of the output power of the external second amplifier to a digital signal, determines a first differential between the detected signal converted to the digital signal and the first power control signal, and converts the first differential to a first analog signal and outputs a first feedback signal;

an analog feedback loop which outputs a high frequency element of a second differential between the first power control signal converted to a second analog signal and the output signal of said detector as the detected signal as a second feedback signal; and

an adder which determines the sum of the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal and outputs a gain control signal for controlling the output power, and

wherein said circuit block is formed over the same semiconductor substrate.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein said digital feedback loop includes:

an analog to digital converter which converts the detected signal to the digital signal and outputs the same therefrom,

a first comparator which outputs the first differential between a digital output signal of said analog to digital converter and the first power control signal, and

a first digital to analog converter which converts a digital output signal of said first comparator to the first analog signal and outputs the first feedback signal, and

wherein said analog feedback loop includes;

a second digital to analog converter which converts the first power control signal to the second analog signal and outputs the same therefrom,

a second comparator which determines the second differential between the detected signal and the first power control signal converted to the second analog signal outputted from said second digital to analog converter, and

a high pass filter which takes out the high frequency element of a signal outputted from said second comparator and outputs the second feedback signal.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first sample and hold circuit which memorizes and holds the detected signal therein;

a second sample and hold circuit which memorizes and holds the first power control signal therein; and

a third sample and hold circuit which is disposed between said first digital to analog converter and said first comparator and memorizes and holds the digital output signal of said first comparator,

wherein the detected signal is inputted to said analog to digital converter and said second comparator via said first sample and hold circuit, and the first power control signal is inputted to said second digital to analog converter via said second sample and hold circuit.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a sample and hold circuit which is disposed between said first digital to analog converter and said first comparator and memorizes and holds the digital output signal of said first comparator,

wherein said second comparator stops operating when said sample and hold circuit is in operation.

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein a gain of the external second amplifier is controlled by the gain control signal and thereby the output power is controlled.

10. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein a gain of said first amplifier is controlled also by the gain control signal, and the output power is controlled according to the gain of said first amplifier controlled by the gain control signal.

11. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein the third signal to be transmitted is a signal of one selected from a first communication system and a second communication system, the second power control signal is used for the first communication system and the first power control signal is used for the second communication system.

12. A transceiver circuit comprising:

a circuit block including,

a first receiver circuit which amplifies a 1 ath signal of a first communication system, which is received by an antenna;

a second receiver circuit which amplifies a 1 bth signal of a second communication system, which is received by the antenna;

a first frequency conversion circuit which converts the frequency of the 1 ath or 1 bth signals of post-amplification outputted from said first or second receiver circuits to thereby output a second signal;

a second frequency conversion circuit which inputs a 3 ath signal to be transmitted of the first communication system or a 3 bth signal to be transmitted of the second communication system and executes frequency conversion to the same to thereby output a fourth signal;

a first amplifier which amplifies the fourth signal outputted from said second frequency conversion circuit and whose gain is controlled by a second power control signal;

a second amplifier which amplifies the fourth signal of post-amplification outputted from said first amplifier;

a directional coupler which takes out a part of the output power of said second amplifier at an output terminal of said second amplifier;

a detector which detects a power value of an output signal of said second amplifier on a basis of an output value of said directional coupler to output a detected signal; and

a power control circuit which controls an output power of said second amplifier by use of a first power control signal in such a manner that the output power reaches a desired power value by using said directional coupler and said detector,

wherein said power control circuit comprises,

a digital feedback loop which converts the detected signal outputted by the detector a digital signal, determines a first differential between the detected signal converted to the digital signal and the first power control signal, and converts the first differential to a first analog signal and outputs a first feedback signal;

an analog feedback loop which outputs a high frequency element of a second differential between the first power control signal converted to a second analog signal and the detected signal as a second feedback signal; and

an adder which determines the sum of the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal and outputs a gain control signal for controlling the output power.

13. The transceiver circuit according to claim 12, wherein said digital feedback loop includes:

an analog to digital converter which converts the detected signal to the digital signal and outputs the same therefrom,

a first comparator which outputs the first differential between a digital output signal of said analog to digital converter and the first power control signal, and

a first digital to analog converter which converts a digital output signal of said first comparator to the first analog signal and outputs the first feedback signal, and

wherein said analog feedback loop includes;

a second digital to analog converter which converts the first power control signal to the second analog signal and outputs the same therefrom.

a second comparator which determines the second differential between the detected signal and the first power control signal converted to the second analog signal outputted from said second digital to analog converter, and

a high pass filter which takes out the high frequency element of a signal outputted from said second comparator and outputs the second feedback signal.

14. The transceiver circuit according to claim 13, further comprising:

a first sample and hold circuit which memorizes and holds the detected signal therein;

a second sample and hold circuit which memorizes and holds the first power control signal therein; and

a third sample and hold circuit which is disposed between said first digital to analog converter and said first comparator and memorizes and holds the digital output signal of said first comparator,

wherein the detected signal is inputted to said analog to digital converter and said second comparator via said first sample and hold circuit, and the first power control signal is inputted to said second digital to analog converter via said second sample and hold circuit.

15. The transceiver circuit according to claim 12, wherein the second power control signal is used for the first communication system and the first power control signal is used for the second communication system.

16. The transceiver circuit according to claim 15, wherein a gain of the external second amplifier is controlled by the gain control signal and thereby the output power is controlled.

17. The transceiver circuit according to claim 15, wherein a gain of said first amplifier is controlled also by the gain control signal, and the output power is controlled according to the gain of said first amplifier controlled by the gain control signal.

18. The transceiver circuit according to claim 15, wherein the first communication system is W-CDMA (Wide-band Code Division Multiple Access) and the second communication system is at least either GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) or EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution).

19. The transceiver circuit according to claim 12, wherein the antenna comprises a first antenna and a second antenna, the 1ath signal of the first communication system is received by the first antenna, and the 1 bth signal of the second communication system is received by the second antenna.

20. The transceiver circuit according to claim 12, which is formed over the same substrate as a module.