Input drive control for switcher regulated power amplifier modules
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsWen-Yen Chan, Nasserullah Khan
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Abstract
Various embodiments described herein relate to a power management block and an amplification block used in the transmitter of a communication subsystem. The power management block provides improved control for the gain control signal provided to a pre-amplifier and the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier which are both in the amplification block. The power expended by the power amplifier is optimized by employing a continuous control method in which one or more feedback loops are employed to take into account various characteristics of the transmitter components and control values.
Claims21
A transmitter for a wireless communications device, wherein the transmitter comprises:
- a power amplification block comprising:
- a pre-amplifier configured to amplify a transmission signal to produce a pre-amplified transmission signal;
- and
- a power amplifier coupled to an output of the pre-amplifier and configured to amplify the pre-amplified transmission signal to produce an amplified transmission signal;
- a detector coupled to the output of the pre-amplifier to sense the pre-amplified transmission signal and provide a detected pre-amp output signal;
- and
- a power management block comprising:
- a power supply block configured to generate a supply voltage signal based on the detected pre-amp output signal, and to provide the supply voltage signal to the power amplifier;
- and
- a compensating control block coupled to an output of the power supply block in a compensating feedback loop and configured to generate a gain correction signal based on the supply voltage signal, the gain correction signal for adjusting an automatic gain control (AGC) signal to produce a modified AGC signal for controlling pre-amplifier gain.
A mobile communication device comprising:
- a main processor configured to control the operation of the mobile communication device;
- a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the communication subsystem being configured to send and receive data, the communication subsystem comprising:
- a power amplification block comprising a pre-amplifier configured to amplify a transmission signal to produce a pre-amplified transmission signal;
- and a power amplifier coupled to an output of the pre-amplifier and configured to amplify the pre-amplified transmission signal to produce an amplified transmission signal;
- a detector coupled to the output of the pre-amplifier to sense the pre-amplified transmission signal and provide a detected pre-amp output signal;
- and
- a power management block comprising a power supply block configured to generate a supply voltage signal based on the detected pre-amp output signal, and to provide the supply voltage signal to the power amplifier;
- and
- a compensating control block coupled to an output of the power supply block in a compensating feedback loop and configured to generate a gain correction signal based on the supply voltage signal, the gain correction signal for adjusting an automatic gain control (AGC) signal to produce a modified AGC signal for controlling pre-amplifier gain.
A method of controlling gain of a power amplification block of a transmitter, the power amplification block including a pre-amplifier and a power amplifier coupled to an output of the pre-amplifier, wherein the method comprises:
- sensing the output of the pre-amplifier to provide a detected pre-amp output signal;
- generating a supply voltage signal based on the detected pre-amp output signal and providing the supply voltage signal to the power amplifier;
- generating a gain correction signal based on the supply voltage signal;
- and
- adjusting an automatic gain control (AGC) signal based on the gain correction signal to produce a modified AGC signal for controlling pre-amplifier gain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.