# US 2019/0356285 A1 · Charge-pump tracker circuitry > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0356285 A1 - Document ID: US20190356285A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/237,141 - Filed: 2018-12-31 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-21 - Assignees: Qorvo US, Inc. - Applicants: Qorvo US, Inc. - Inventors: Nadim Khlat; Michael R. Kay - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356285A1 ## CPC - H03F 3/211: {using a combination of several amplifiers (H03F3/60 takes precedence)} - H02M 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps} - H03F 1/02: Modifications of amplifiers to raise the efficiency, e.g. gliding Class A stages, use of an auxiliary oscillation - H03F 3/195: in integrated circuits - H03F 3/245: {with semiconductor devices only} - H03F 3/68: Combinations of amplifiers, e.g. multi-channel amplifiers for stereophonics {(power amplifiers using a combination of several semiconductor amplifiers H03F3/211; combinations of amplifiers using coupling networks with distributed constants H03F3/602)} - H02M 1/0043: {Converters switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved (non-isolated DC/DC converters H02M3/1586)} - H02M 3/076: {the clock signals being boosted to a value being higher than the input voltage value} - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H03F 2200/102: A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit - H03F 2200/105: A non-specified detector of the power of a signal being used in an amplifying circuit - H03F 2200/451: the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier - H03F: AMPLIFIERS - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract Charge-pump tracker circuitry is disclosed having a first switch network configured to couple a first capacitor between a voltage input terminal and a ground terminal during a first charging phase and couple the first capacitor between the voltage input terminal and a pump output terminal during a first discharging phase. A second switch network is configured to couple the second capacitor between the voltage input terminal and the ground terminal during a second charging phase and couple the second capacitor between the voltage input terminal and the pump output terminal during a second discharging phase. A switch controller is configured to control the first switch network and the second switch network so that the first discharging phase and the second discharging phase are in unison in a parallel mode and so that the first discharging phase and the second discharging phase alternate in an interleaved mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Charge-pump tracker circuitry comprising: a first capacitor; a first switch network configured to couple the first capacitor between a voltage input terminal and a ground terminal during a first charging phase and couple the first capacitor between the voltage input terminal and a pump output terminal during a first discharging phase; a second capacitor; a second switch network configured to couple the second capacitor between the voltage input terminal and the ground terminal during a second charging phase and couple the second capacitor between the voltage input terminal and the pump output terminal during a second discharging phase; and a switch controller configured to control the first switch network and the second switch network so that the first discharging phase and the second discharging phase are in unison in a parallel mode and so that the first discharging phase and the second discharging phase alternate in an interleaved mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The charge-pump tracker circuitry of claim 1 wherein the first capacitor is coupled between a first flying node and a second flying node, and the first switch network comprises: a first switch coupled between the first flying node and a voltage source terminal through which a first charging current flows into the first capacitor when the first switch is closed; a second switch coupled between the first flying node and a first output terminal that receives a first discharging current from the first capacitor when the second switch is closed; a third switch coupled between the second flying node and the voltage source terminal through which a voltage at the voltage source terminal is supplied to the second flying node when the third switch is closed; and a fourth switch coupled between the second flying node and a first ground node terminal that grounds the second flying node when the fourth switch is closed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The charge-pump tracker circuitry of claim 2 wherein the second capacitor is coupled between a third flying node and a fourth flying node, and the second switch network comprises: a fifth switch coupled between the third flying node and the voltage source terminal through which a second charging current flows into the second capacitor when the fifth switch is closed; a sixth switch coupled between the third flying node and the first output terminal that receives a second discharging current from the second capacitor when the sixth switch is closed; a seventh switch coupled between the fourth flying node and the voltage source terminal through which the voltage at the voltage source terminal is supplied to the fourth flying node when the seventh switch is closed; and an eighth switch coupled between the fourth flying node and a second ground node terminal that grounds the fourth flying node when the eighth switch is closed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The charge-pump tracker circuitry of claim 3 wherein the switch controller is configured to open and close the second switch and the sixth switch in unison in the parallel mode and simultaneously open the second switch and close the sixth switch and vice versa in the interleaved mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The charge-pump tracker circuitry of claim 1 wherein the first discharging phase and the second discharging phase provide a 100% duty cycle for the interleaved mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The charge-pump tracker circuitry of claim 1 further including a power inductor coupled between the pump output terminal and a radio frequency (RF) amplifier supply terminal, wherein the power inductor is configured to filter power flowing between the pump output terminal and the RF amplifier supply terminal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The charge-pump tracker circuitry of claim 6 further including a parallel amplifier having: a first amplifier input terminal coupled to the RF amplifier supply terminal to receive a feedback signal; a second amplifier input terminal configured to receive a target voltage waveform; and an amplifier output terminal communicatively coupled to the pump output terminal, wherein the parallel amplifier is configured to provide an amplified output waveform in response to a difference between the target voltage waveform and the feedback signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The charge-pump tracker circuitry of claim 7 wherein the target voltage waveform is an envelope tracking signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The charge-pump tracker circuitry of claim 7 wherein the target voltage waveform is an average power tracking signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The charge-pump tracker circuitry of claim 7 further including an offset capacitor coupled between the amplifier output terminal and the RF amplifier supply terminal, wherein the offset capacitor is configured to provide an offset voltage to increase dynamic range of the amplified output waveform in order to reduce a maximum voltage needed to supply the parallel amplifier. ### Claim 11 A charge-pump tracker system comprising: a first dual-boost charge pump configured to selectively provide a first discharging current from a first capacitor and a second discharging current from a second capacitor through a first RF amplifier supply terminal; a first switch controller configured to control the first dual-boost charge pump so that the first discharging current and the second discharging current flow simultaneously through the first RF amplifier supply terminal in a first parallel mode and so that the first discharging current and the second discharging current alternate through the first RF amplifier supply terminal in a first interleaved mode; a second dual-boost charge pump configured to selectively provide a third discharge current from a third capacitor and a fourth discharge current from a fourth capacitor through a second RF amplifier supply terminal; and a second switch controller configured to control the second dual-boost charge pump so that the third discharge current and the fourth discharge current flow simultaneously through the second RF amplifier supply terminal in a second parallel mode and so that the third discharge current and the fourth discharge current alternate through the second RF amplifier supply terminal in a second interleaved mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The charge-pump tracker system of claim 11 further including a plurality of RF amplifiers that are configured to receive power from the first RF amplifier supply terminal and the second RF amplifier supply terminal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The charge-pump tracker system of claim 12 further including auxiliary switches configured to selectively couple supply input terminals of at least some of the plurality of RF amplifiers to the first RF amplifier supply terminal and the second RF amplifier supply terminal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The charge-pump tracker system of claim 13 wherein the first switch controller and the second switch controller are configured to simultaneously provide power to some of the plurality of RF amplifiers by way of the first parallel mode and/or the second parallel mode and supply others of the plurality of RF amplifiers by way of the first interleaved mode and/or the second interleaved mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The charge-pump tracker system of claim 11 further comprising: a first parallel amplifier having: a first amplifier input terminal coupled to the first RF amplifier supply terminal to receive a first feedback signal; a second amplifier input terminal configured to receive a target voltage waveform; and a first amplifier output terminal communicatively coupled to a first pump output terminal, wherein the first parallel amplifier is configured to provide a first amplified output waveform in response to a difference between the target voltage waveform and the first feedback signal; and a second parallel amplifier having: a second amplifier input terminal coupled to the second RF amplifier supply terminal to receive a second feedback signal; a third amplifier input terminal configured to receive a target voltage waveform; and a fourth amplifier output terminal communicatively coupled to a second pump output terminal, wherein the second parallel amplifier is configured to provide a second amplified output waveform in response to a difference between the target voltage waveform and the second feedback signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The charge-pump tracker system of claim 15 wherein the target voltage waveform is an envelope tracking signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The charge-pump tracker system of claim 15 wherein the target voltage waveform is an average power tracking signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The charge-pump tracker system of claim 11 wherein the first discharging current and the second discharging current are provided by a first discharging phase and a second discharging phase that together provide a 100% duty cycle for the first interleaved mode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The charge-pump tracker system of claim 11 further including a first power inductor coupled between the first pump output terminal and the first RF amplifier supply terminal, wherein the first power inductor is configured to filter power flowing between the first pump output terminal and the first RF amplifier supply terminal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The charge-pump tracker system of claim 15 further including a second power inductor coupled between the second pump output terminal and the second RF amplifier supply terminal, wherein the second power inductor is configured to filter power flowing between the second pump output terminal and the second RF amplifier supply terminal.