Methods for determining optimum power supply voltages for radio-frequency power amplifier circuitry

A method of testing a plurality of wireless electronic devices having storage and processing circuitry and power amplifier circuitry, comprising:

• with the storage and processing circuitry of each wireless electronic device, configuring that wireless electronic device to operate under a given operating condition;
• with test equipment, measuring a performance metric of the power amplifier circuitry for each wireless electronic device while that wireless electronic device is operating under the given operating condition;
• with the test equipment, measuring a power saving metric of the power amplifier circuitry for each wireless electronic device while that wireless electronic device is operating under the given operating condition;
• and
• with the test equipment, computing a cost function value for each wireless electronic device by taking a product of the performance metric and the power saving metric for that wireless electronic device.

A method of operating a wireless electronic device having storage and processing circuitry and power amplifier circuitry, comprising:

• during operation of the wireless electronic device in a wireless network, retrieving cost-function-derived optimum bias voltage settings stored on the storage and processing circuitry;
• with adjustable power supply circuitry, biasing the power amplifier circuitry with an adjustable power supply voltage;
• and
• with the storage and processing circuitry, adjusting the adjustable power supply circuitry to supply the adjustable power supply voltage based on the cost-function-derived optimum bias voltage settings.