Method and apparatus for improving power amplifier efficiency in wireless communication systems having high peak to average power ratios

• US 8,290,085 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Chan, Wen-Yen, Khan, Nasserullah, Jin, Xin, Sangary, Nagula Tharma, Habicher, Michael Franz, Jiao, Qingzhong
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Don N
• Application Number:
  US13/193,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20110319124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 375/296, 375/297
• US Class Current: 375/297
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 taking into account loading or congestion level

Abstract

A power management system and method for a wireless communication device generates an average desired transmit power signal based on at least one of a received signal strength indicator signal and a power control instruction signal from a base station. A power supply level adjustment signal is generated based on the data parameters of an outgoing data stream and at least one environmental information signal. A combination of the power supply level adjustment signal and the average desired transmit power or a gain control signal and an altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal is used to generate a variable power supply signal that is provided to an output amplifier block for sufficiently generating outgoing wireless device radio signals while reducing power loss in the output amplifier block.

Claims

1. A power management system for an amplification block of a wireless device transmitter comprising a power amplifier for generating an amplified transmission signal, the power management system comprising:

an average power level block configured to provide an average desired transmit power signal for the amplified transmission signal;

a power supply module coupled to the average power level block and configured to generate a variable power supply signal based on the average desired transmit power signal combined with a power supply level adjustment signal, the variable power supply signal for supplying power to the power amplifier;

an environmental sensor configured to provide at least one environmental information signal representing an operating environment of the power amplifier; and

a power supply level adjustment generator coupled to the environmental sensor and the power supply module, the power supply level adjustment generator configured to generate the power supply level adjustment signal based on a data parameter indicator of the amplified transmission signal at baseband and the at least one environmental information signal, and having values at which the power supply module generates the variable power supply signal with minimal headroom above the amplified transmission signal.

2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the amplification block further comprises a pre-amplifier and the power management system further comprises a gain control block coupled to the average power level block and configured to generate a gain control signal for the pre-amplifier based on the average desired transmit power signal.

3. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power supply module comprises:

a power supply control block configured to generate a power control signal based on the average desired transmit power signal combined with the power supply level adjustment signal; and

a switch converter coupled to the power supply control block and configured to generate the variable power supply signal based on the power control signal.

4. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one environmental information signal comprises at least one of:

a temperature information signal representing a hardware temperature in the wireless device transmitter;

a battery condition information signal representing a charge level of a battery used to power the wireless device transmitter;

or

a frequency information signal related to a transmission frequency of the amplified transmission signal.

5. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator comprises at least one peak to average power ratio mapper to determine the values of the power supply level adjustment signal based on the data parameter indicator and the at least one environmental information signal.

6. The power management system of claim 5, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator comprises a corresponding peak to average power ratio mapper for each of the at least one environmental information signal.

7. A wireless device transmitter comprising:

an amplification block comprising a power amplifier for generating an amplified transmission signal;

an average power level block configured to provide an average desired transmit power signal for the amplified transmission signal;

a power supply module coupled to the average power level block and configured to generate a variable power supply signal based on the average desired transmit power signal combined with a power supply level adjustment signal, the variable power supply signal for supplying power to the power amplifier;

an environmental sensor configured to provide at least one environmental information signal representing an operating environment of the power amplifier; and

a power supply level adjustment generator coupled to the environmental sensor and the power supply module, the power supply level adjustment generator configured to generate the power supply level adjustment signal based on a data parameter indicator of the amplified transmission signal at baseband and the at least one environmental information signal, and having values at which the power supply module generates the variable power supply signal with minimal headroom above the amplified transmission signal.

8. The wireless device transmitter of claim 7, wherein the amplification block further comprises a pre-amplifier and the wireless device transmitter further comprises a gain control block coupled to the average power level block and configured to generate a gain control signal for the pre-amplifier based on the average desired transmit power signal.

9. The wireless device transmitter of claim 7, wherein the power supply module comprises:

a power supply control block configured to generate a power control signal based on the average desired transmit power signal combined with the power supply level adjustment signal; and

a switch converter coupled to the power supply control block and configured to generate the variable power supply signal based on the power control signal.

10. The wireless device transmitter of claim 7, wherein the at least one environmental information signal comprises at least one of:

a temperature information signal representing a hardware temperature in the wireless device transmitter;

a battery condition information signal representing a charge level of a battery used to power the wireless device transmitter;

or

a frequency information signal related to a transmission frequency of the amplified transmission signal.

11. The wireless device transmitter of claim 7, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator comprises at least one peak to average power ratio mapper to determine the values of the power supply level adjustment signal based on the data parameter indicator and the at least one environmental information signal.

12. The wireless device transmitter of claim 11, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator comprises a corresponding peak to average power ratio mapper for each of the at least one environmental information signal.

13. A power management system for an amplification block of a wireless device transmitter comprising a pre-amplifier and a power amplifier for generating an amplified transmission signal, the power management system comprising:

an average power and gain control block configured to provide a gain control signal for the pre-amplifier;

a power supply module coupled to the average power and gain control block and configured to generate a variable power supply signal based on the gain control signal combined with an altered version of a power supply level adjustment signal, the variable power supply signal for supplying power to the power amplifier;

an environmental sensor configured to provide at least one environmental information signal representing an operating environment of the power amplifier; and

a power supply level adjustment generator coupled to the environmental sensor and the power supply module, the power supply level adjustment generator configured to generate the altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal based on a data parameter indicator of the amplified transmission signal at baseband and the at least one environmental information signal, and having values at which the power supply module generates the variable power supply signal with minimal headroom above the amplified transmission signal.

14. The power management system of claim 13, wherein the power supply module comprises:

a summer configured to generate a first power control signal based on the gain control signal and the altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal;

a clipper coupled to the summer and configured to generate a second power control signal based on the first power control signal;

a switch converter coupled to the clipper and configured to generate the variable power supply signal based on the second power control signal.

15. The power management system of claim 14, wherein the power supply module further comprises a reverse mapper coupled to the clipper and configured to generate a clipper adjustment signal based on an altered version of the gain control signal and the at least one environmental information signal, the clipper adjustment signal for adjusting at least one parameter of the clipper.

16. The power management system of claim 13, wherein the at least one environmental information signal comprises at least one of:

a temperature information signal representing a hardware temperature in the wireless device transmitter;

a battery condition information signal representing a charge level of a battery used to power the wireless device transmitter;

or

a frequency information signal related to a transmission frequency of the amplified transmission signal.

17. The power management system of claim 13, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator comprises at least one peak to average power ratio mapper to determine the values of the power supply level adjustment signal based on the data parameter indicator and the at least one environmental information signal.

18. The power management system of claim 17, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator comprises a corresponding peak to average power ratio mapper for each of the at least one environmental information signal.

19. A wireless device transmitter comprising:

an amplification block comprising a pre-amplifier and a power amplifier for generating an amplified transmission signal;

an average power and gain control block configured to provide a gain control signal for the pre-amplifier;

a power supply module coupled to the average power and gain control block and configured to generate a variable power supply signal based on the gain control signal combined with an altered version of a power supply level adjustment signal, the variable power supply signal for supplying power to the power amplifier;

an environmental sensor configured to provide at least one environmental information signal representing an operating environment of the power amplifier; and

a power supply level adjustment generator coupled to the environmental sensor and the power supply module, the power supply level adjustment generator configured to generate the altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal based on a data parameter indicator of the amplified transmission signal at baseband and the at least one environmental information signal, and having values at which the power supply module generates the variable power supply signal with minimal headroom above the amplified transmission signal.

20. The wireless device transmitter of claim 19, wherein the power supply module comprises:

a summer configured to generate a first power control signal based on the gain control signal and the altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal;

a clipper coupled to the summer and configured to generate a second power control signal based on the first power control signal;

a switch converter coupled to the clipper and configured to generate the variable power supply signal based on the second power control signal.

21. The wireless device transmitter of claim 20, wherein the power supply module further comprises a reverse mapper coupled to the clipper and configured to generate a clipper adjustment signal based on an altered version of the gain control signal and the at least one environmental information signal, the clipper adjustment signal for adjusting at least one parameter of the clipper.

22. The wireless device transmitter of claim 19, wherein the at least one environmental information signal comprises at least one of:

a temperature information signal representing a hardware temperature in the wireless device transmitter;

a battery condition information signal representing a charge level of a battery used to power the wireless device transmitter;

or

a frequency information signal related to a transmission frequency of the amplified transmission signal.

23. The wireless device transmitter of claim 19, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator comprises at least one peak to average power ratio mapper to determine the values of the power supply level adjustment signal based on the data parameter indicator and the at least one environmental information signal.

24. The wireless device transmitter of claim 23, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator comprises a corresponding peak to average power ratio mapper for each of the at least one environmental information signal.