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.
Claims20
A control system for a transmitter of a wireless device, the transmitter having a pre-amplifier and a power amplifier coupled to an output of the pre-amplifier, the control system comprising:
- a switching regulator control block configured to generate a switching supply control signal based on a pre-amplified transmission signal detected at the output of the pre-amplifier, the switching supply control signal comprising control values for controlling a switched mode power supply to generate a supply voltage signal for the power amplifier based on the pre-amplified transmission signal, in response to the control values of the switching supply control signal;
- and
- a compensating control block configured to generate a gain correction signal based on the supply voltage signal generated by the switched mode power supply, the gain correction signal for adjusting a gain control signal provided to the pre-amplifier for controlling gain in the pre-amplifier.
A method of controlling a transmitter of a wireless device, the transmitter having a pre-amplifier and a power amplifier coupled to an output of the pre-amplifier, the method comprising:
- generating a switching supply control signal based on a pre-amplified transmission signal detected at the output of the pre-amplifier, the switching supply control signal comprising control values for controlling a switched mode power supply;
- providing the switching supply control signal to the switched mode power supply to generate a supply voltage signal for the power amplifier based on the pre-amplified transmission signal, in response to the control values of the switching supply control signal;
- generating a gain correction signal based on the supply voltage signal;
- adjusting a gain control signal using the gain correction signal, the gain control signal for controlling gain in the pre-amplifier;
- and
- providing the gain control signal to the pre-amplifier.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor coupled to the storage medium, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts of a method of controlling a transmitter of a wireless device, the transmitter having a pre-amplifier and a power amplifier coupled to an output of the pre-amplifier, said acts comprising:
- generating a switching supply control signal based on a pre-amplified transmission signal detected at the output of the pre-amplifier, the switching supply control signal comprising control values for controlling a switched mode power supply;
- providing the switching supply control signal to the switched mode power supply to generate a supply voltage signal for the power amplifier based on the pre-amplified transmission signal, in response to the control values of the switching supply control signal;
- generating a gain correction signal based on the supply voltage signal;
- adjusting a gain control signal using the gain correction signal, the gain control signal for controlling gain in the pre-amplifier;
- and
- providing the gain control signal to the pre-amplifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.