# US 2016/0156316 A1 · Envelope tracking system with internal power amplifier characterization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0156316 A1 - Document ID: US20160156316A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/015,195 - Filed: 2016-02-04 - Published: 2016-06-02 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Quantance, Inc. - Applicants: Quantance, Inc. - Inventors: Serge Francois Drogi; Vikas Vinayak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160156316A1 ## CPC - H03F 1/0222: {by using a signal derived from the input signal} - H03F 1/0227: {using supply converters} - H03F 1/0238: {using supply converters} - H03F 1/32: Modifications of amplifiers to reduce non-linear distortion (by negative feedback H03F1/34) - H03F 3/189: High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers - H03F 3/19: with semiconductor devices only - H03F 3/21: with semiconductor devices only {(H03F3/245 takes precedence)} - H03F 3/24: of transmitter output stages - H03F 2200/102: A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit - H03F 2200/451: the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier - H03F: AMPLIFIERS ## Abstract An RF PA system that generates its own local characterization information. The RF PA system includes a PA to generate a RF output signal from a RF input signal, the PA powered by a supply voltage. A characterization block generates characterization information corresponding to a relationship between the supply voltage and performance (e.g., gain, power efficiency, distortion, receive band noise) of the RF PA system for a plurality of levels of one or more operating conditions (e.g., temperature, operating frequency, modulation format, antennae mismatch, etc.) of the RF PA system. An amplitude estimator block estimates an amplitude of the RF input signal. A supply control block generates a supply voltage control signal for controlling the supply voltage based on the characterization information and the amplitude of the RF input signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system comprising: a power amplifier configured to receive both a supply voltage and a RF input signal and generate a RF output signal; a feedback receiver configured to estimate an amplitude of the RF output signal; a characterization block including a distortion estimator configured to receive the amplitude of the RF output signal, estimate an amount of distortion in the RF output signal, and generate a distortion signal indicative of the amount of distortion in the RF output signal, the characterization block being configured to generate characterization information corresponding to a relationship between the supply voltage and performance of the RF power amplifier system based on the distortion signal; and a supply control block configured to receive the characterization information and generate a supply voltage control signal for controlling the supply voltage to the power amplifier based on the characterization information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The RF power amplifier system of claim 1 further comprising a RF upconverter configured to increase a frequency of a baseband signal to generate the RF input signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The RF power amplifier system of claim 2 wherein the distortion estimator is further configured to receive an amplitude of the baseband signal and estimate the amount of distortion in the RF output signal based on the amplitude of the baseband signal and the amplitude of the RF output signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The RF power amplifier system of claim 3 wherein the distortion estimator is further configured to compare the amplitude of the baseband signal with the amplitude of the RF output signal and estimate the amount of distortion in the RF output signal based on the comparison between the amplitude of the baseband signal and the amplitude of the RF output signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The RF power amplifier system of claim 1 wherein the distortion estimator is further configured to estimate at least one of amplitude distortion and phase distortion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The RF power amplifier system of claim 1 wherein the characterization block further includes a noise estimator configured to estimate an amount of receive band noise in a signal received by the power amplifier system and generate a noise signal indicative of the amount of receive band noise in the signal received by the power amplifier system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The RF power amplifier system of claim 6 wherein the characterization block is further configured to generate the characterization information based on the noise signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The RF power amplifier system of claim 1 wherein the characterization block further includes a table generation block configured to receive the distortion signal and generate at least one entry in a characterization table based on the distortion signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The RF power amplifier system of claim 8 wherein the characterization information includes the characterization table and the supply control block is further configured to generate a supply voltage control signal for controlling the supply voltage to the power amplifier based on the characterization table. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The RF power amplifier system of claim 1 wherein the characterization block is further configured to generate the characterization information for a plurality of levels of one or more operating conditions of the RF power amplifier system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The RF power amplifier system of claim 10 wherein the one or more operating conditions of the RF power amplifier system include at least one of temperature, operating frequency, modulation format, and antennae mismatch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The RF power amplifier system of claim 1 further comprising an amplitude estimator block configured to estimate an amplitude of the RF input signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The RF power amplifier system of claim 12 wherein the supply control block is further configured to receive the amplitude of the RF input signal and generate the supply voltage control signal for controlling the supply voltage to the power amplifier based on the amplitude of the RF input signal. ### Claim 14 A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system, comprising: a power amplifier configured to receive both a supply voltage and a RF input signal and generate a RF output signal; a feedback receiver configured to estimate an amplitude of the RF output signal; a characterization block including an efficiency estimator configured to receive the amplitude of the RF output signal, estimate an efficiency of the power amplifier based on the amplitude of the RF output signal, and generate a power efficiency signal indicative of the efficiency of the power amplifier, the characterization block being configured to generate the characterization information corresponding to a relationship between the supply voltage and performance of the RF power amplifier system based on the power efficiency signal; and a supply control block configured to receive the characterization information and generate a supply voltage control signal for controlling the supply voltage to the power amplifier based on the characterization information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The RF power amplifier system of claim 14 wherein the efficiency estimator is further configured to estimate an output power of the power amplifier based on the amplitude of the RF output signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The RF power amplifier system of claim 15 further comprising a sampling circuit to measure a voltage supplied to the power amplifier and a current supplied to the power amplifier. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The RF power amplifier system of claim 16 wherein the efficiency estimator is further configured to determine an amount of power consumed by the power amplifier based on the voltage supplied to the power amplifier and the current supplied to the power amplifier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The RF power amplifier system of claim 17 wherein the efficiency estimator is further configured to estimate the efficiency of the power amplifier based on the output power of the power amplifier and the amount of power consumed by the power amplifier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The RF power amplifier system of claim 14 wherein the characterization block further includes a distortion estimator configured to receive the amplitude of the RF output signal, estimate an amount of distortion in the RF output signal, and generate a distortion signal indicative of the amount of distortion in the RF output signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The RF power amplifier system of claim 19 wherein the characterization block is further configured to generate characterization information based on the distortion signal.