Multi-voltage generation circuit
AssigneeQorvo US, Inc.
InventorNadim Khlat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-voltage power generation circuit is disclosed. More specifically, the multi-voltage generation circuit includes multiple voltage modulation circuits that are configured to generate and maintain multiple modulated voltages. In a non-limiting example, the multiple modulated voltages can be used for amplifying multiple radio frequency (RF) signals concurrently. Contrary to using multiple direct-current (DC) to DC (DC-DC) converters for generating the multiple modulated voltages, the voltage modulation circuits are configured to share a single current modulation circuit based on time-division. By sharing a single current modulation circuit among the multiple voltage modulation circuits, it is possible to concurrently support multiple load circuits (e.g., power amplifier circuits) with significantly reduced footprint.
Claims20
A multi-voltage generation circuit comprising:
- a plurality of voltage modulation circuits each comprising:
- a respective one of a plurality of voltage amplifiers configured to generate a respective one of a plurality of modulated initial voltages based on a respective one of a plurality of modulated target voltages;
- and
- a respective one of a plurality of offset capacitors configured to raise the respective one of the plurality of modulated initial voltages by a respective one of a plurality of offset voltages to thereby generate a respective one of a plurality of modulated voltages;
- and
- a control circuit configured to:
- determine a plurality of charge intervals and a plurality of discharge intervals in each of one or more operation periods;
- and
- cause each of the plurality of offset capacitors to be:
- charged to the respective one of the plurality of offset voltages during a respective one of the plurality of charge intervals;
- and
- discharged to maintain the respective one of the plurality of modulated voltages during a respective one of the plurality of discharge intervals.
A method for generating and maintaining multiple voltages comprising:
- determining a plurality of charge intervals and a plurality of discharge intervals in each of one or more operation periods;
- generating a respective one of a plurality of modulated initial voltages during a respective one of the plurality of charge intervals;
- charging a respective one of a plurality of offset capacitors during the respective one of the plurality of charge intervals to a respective one of a plurality of offset voltages to thereby raise the respective one of the plurality of modulated initial voltages to a respective one of a plurality of modulated voltages;
- and
- discharging the respective one of the plurality of offset capacitors during a respective one of the plurality of discharge intervals to maintain the respective one of the plurality of modulated voltages.
A multi-voltage power management circuit comprising:
- a plurality of power amplifier circuits configured to concurrently amplify a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals based on a plurality of modulated voltages, respectively;
- and
- a multi-voltage generation circuit comprising:
- a plurality of voltage modulation circuits each comprising:
- a respective one of a plurality of voltage amplifiers configured to generate a respective one of a plurality of modulated initial voltages based on a respective one of a plurality of modulated target voltages;
- and
- a respective one of a plurality of offset capacitors configured to raise the respective one of the plurality of modulated initial voltages by a respective one of a plurality of offset voltages to thereby generate a respective one of the plurality of modulated voltages;
- and
- a control circuit configured to:
- determine a plurality of charge intervals and a plurality of discharge intervals in each of one or more operation periods;
- and
- cause each of the plurality of offset capacitors to be:
- charged to the respective one of the plurality of offset voltages during a respective one of the plurality of charge intervals;
- and
- discharged to maintain the respective one of the plurality of modulated voltages during a respective one of the plurality of discharge intervals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.