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US 11,387,797 B2Granted
Envelope tracking systems for power amplifiers
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorsSerge Francois Drogi, Florinel G. Balteanu, David Richard Pehlke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Envelope tracking systems for power amplifiers are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracker is provided for a power amplifier that amplifies an RF signal. The envelope tracker includes an error amplifier that controls a voltage level of a power amplifier supply voltage of the power amplifier based on amplifying a difference between a reference signal and an envelope signal indicating an envelope of the RF signal. The envelope tracker further includes a multi-level switching circuit that generates an error amplifier supply voltage based on sensing a current of the error amplifier, and uses the error amplifier supply voltage to power the error amplifier.
Claims20
An envelope tracking system comprising:
- a power amplifier configured to amplify a radio frequency transmit signal;
- and
- an envelope tracker configured to generate a power amplifier supply voltage of the power amplifier, the envelope tracker including an error amplifier configured to control a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage based on amplifying a difference between a reference signal and an envelope signal indicating an envelope of the radio frequency transmit signal, the envelope tracker further including a multi-level switching circuit configured to control a voltage level of an error amplifier supply voltage of the error amplifier based on sensing a current of the error amplifier, the error amplifier including an output stage powered by the error amplifier supply voltage.
An envelope tracking system comprising:
- a power amplifier configured to amplify a radio frequency transmit signal;
- and
- an envelope tracker configured to generate a power amplifier supply voltage of the power amplifier, the envelope tracker including an error amplifier configured to control a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage based on amplifying a difference between a reference signal and an envelope signal indicating an envelope of the radio frequency transmit signal, the envelope tracker further including a multi-level switching circuit configured to control a voltage level of an error amplifier supply voltage of the error amplifier based on sensing a current of the error amplifier, the multi-level switching circuit including a multi-level supply DC-to-DC converter configured to generate a plurality of regulated voltages of different voltage levels, a modulator configured to receive the plurality of regulated voltages and to output the error amplifier supply voltage, and a control circuit configured to control the modulator based on the sensed current.
An envelope tracking system comprising:
- a power amplifier configured to amplify a radio frequency transmit signal;
- and
- an envelope tracker configured to generate a power amplifier supply voltage of the power amplifier, the envelope tracker including an error amplifier configured to control a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage based on amplifying a difference between a reference signal and an envelope signal indicating an envelope of the radio frequency transmit signal, the envelope tracker further including a multi-level switching circuit configured to control a voltage level of an error amplifier supply voltage of the error amplifier based on sensing a current of the error amplifier, the envelope tracker further including a DC-to-DC converter configured to generate a regulated voltage, and an AC combiner configured to combine the regulated voltage and an output current of the error amplifier to generate the power amplifier supply voltage.
A method of envelope tracking, the method comprising:
- amplifying a radio frequency transmit signal using a power amplifier;
- controlling a voltage level of a power amplifier supply voltage of the power amplifier based on amplifying a difference between a reference signal and an envelope signal using an error amplifier, the envelope signal indicating an envelope of the radio frequency transmit signal;
- sensing a current of the error amplifier;
- controlling a voltage level of an error amplifier supply voltage of the error amplifier based on the sensed current using a multi-level switching circuit;
- and
- comparing the sensed current of the error amplifier to a plurality of current thresholds of different levels using hysteresis.
3 more elements
A mobile device comprising:
- a transceiver configured to generate a radio frequency transmit signal;
- a front end circuit including a power amplifier configured to amplify the radio frequency transmit signal;
- and
- a power management circuit including an envelope tracker configured to generate a power amplifier supply voltage of the power amplifier, the envelope tracker including an error amplifier configured to control a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage based on amplifying a difference between a reference signal and an envelope signal indicating an envelope of the radio frequency transmit signal, the envelope tracker further including a multi-level switching circuit configured to control a voltage level of an error amplifier supply voltage of the error amplifier based on sensing a current of the error amplifier, the multi-level switching circuit including a multi-level supply DC-to-DC converter configured to generate a plurality of regulated voltages of different voltage levels, a modulator configured to receive the plurality of regulated voltages and to output the error amplifier supply voltage, and a control circuit configured to control the modulator based on the sensed current.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.