POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR MULTI-CARRIERS TRANSMITTER

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/431,264, filed Jan. 10, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a power management system for a communications system.

[0003] Future cellular equipment types such as handsets, notebook computers, and tablet computers will require simultaneous transmission of signals at two different frequencies, referred to as multi-carriers. These multi-carriers require a wide bandwidth for each carrier. Each of the multi-carriers typically require up to 20 MHz of bandwidth. Long term evolution (LTE-Advanced) as currently defined allows for the possibility of multi-carrier transmission in a single band or in different bands. As a result, LTE-Advanced customers will be afforded relatively large data rates.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a spectrum diagram that demonstrates a peak data rate increase via a bandwidth increase. In this case, five multi-carriers each having a 20 MHz bandwidth can yield up to 100 MHz of total bandwidth for a given user.

[0005] FIG. 2 is a spectrum diagram depicting intra band component carriers (CC) that are contiguous within a band A. For this case, the multi-carriers are aggregated in the spectrum allocated to band A. Therefore, a typical power management system having a modern fast power converter referred to herein as a switcher can be used to drive a single power amplifier (PA) for transmitting multi-carriers that are contiguous within the band A. However, bandwidth requirements for the typical power management system can be exceeded even while using intra band component carriers (CC) that are contiguous within a single band.

[0006] FIG. 3 is a spectrum diagram depicting intra band CC that are non-contiguous within the band A. In this case, the problem of increased bandwidth requirement for a power management system is made even worse since the spectrum is not used in a contiguous manner.

[0007] FIG. 4 is a spectrum diagram depicting inter band CC within the band A and within a band B. The bandwidth requirement for a power management system is even greater in this case since multi-carriers are spread among the band A and the band B.

[0008] FIG. 5 depicts a related art power management system 10 that drives a single power amplifier (PA) 12 for multi-carriers. The power management system 10 includes a full size switcher 14 that converts power from an energy source such as a battery (not shown) to power levels that are appropriate for the single PA 12.

[0009] An output filter 16 that is coupled to an output node 18 of the second switching power supply is continuously coupled between the full size switcher 14 and a power supply node 20 of the single PA 12. The output filter 16 is an LC type filter for reducing output ripple voltage that is a component of a dynamic voltage output from the full size switcher 14. The output filter 16 includes an inductor LLINEAR coupled between the output terminal 18 and the power supply node 20 of the single PA 12. A capacitor CLINEAR is coupled between the inductor LLINEAR and a fixed voltage node such as ground GND. Typically, the inductor LLINEAR has an inductance value of a few nH, while the CLINEAR capacitor has a capacitance value of a few nF. For example, the inductor LLINEAR has an inductance value that ranges from about 1 nH to 10 nH, and the first capacitor CLINEAR has a capacitance value that ranges from about 1 nF to 10 nF.

[0010] An operational amplifier (OPAMP) 22 drives the full size switcher in response to an analog control signal VRAMP coupled to a first OPAMP input 24. An output 26 of the OPAMP 22 is coupled to a control input 28 of the full size switcher 14. Alternating current AC components are passed from the output 26 of the OPAMP 22 through an output capacitor COUT that is coupled between the output 26 and the power supply node 20. A sample of a common collector voltage (VCC) pseudo envelope following (PEF) signal is coupled from the power supply node 20 to a second OPAMP input 30. An enable signal EN is usable to enable and disable the single PA 12.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a spectrum diagram that depicts a VCC bandwidth (BW) of the full size switcher 14 for dual carriers that provide modulation for the single PA 12. In particular, the modulation bandwidth of the full size switcher 14 is a function of an offset frequency Df between a carrier #1 and a carrier #2. Therefore, the higher the offset frequency Df between the carrier #1 and the carrier #2, the higher the modulation bandwidth must be. At some point, the offset frequency Df is large enough that related art approaches for modulating the VCC PEF via the full size switcher 14 are no longer practical. Moreover, even if the offset frequency Df is equal to zero between two adjacent carriers having a 20 MHz bandwidth each, a resulting 50 MHz VCC BW is too large for efficient modulation of the VCC PEF via the full size switcher 14.

[0012] What is needed is a power management system that meets the VCC BW requirements for a multi-carriers transmitter that uses envelope tracking or pseudo envelope following for intra band component carriers (CC) that are contiguous or non-contiguous within the band A and for inter band CC within the band A and within the band B. In particular, there is a need for a power management system that includes a switcher type power supply that extends the use of envelope tracking or pseudo envelope following for a modulation bandwidth greater than 20 MHz such as 2×20 MHz required for high data rate applications like those allowed with LTE-Advanced.

[0013] The present disclosure provides a power management system for a multi-carriers transmitter that includes a switcher type power supply that extends the use of envelope tracking or pseudo envelope following for a modulation bandwidth greater than 20 MHz such as 2×20 MHz required for high data rate applications like those allowed with LTE-Advanced. In particular, the power management system includes a first switcher having a control input and a power output, and a second switcher having a control input and a power output. Also included is a mode switch having a mode control input, wherein the mode switch is adapted to selectively couple the power output of the first switcher to the power output of the second switcher in response to a mode control signal received by the mode control input. Further included is a control system adapted to generate the mode control signal. The control system is coupled to the mode control input of the mode switch.

[0014] In one embodiment, the power management system further includes an analog multiplexer having a control input coupled to the control system, a first analog input, a second analog input, a first analog output, and a second analog output. Also further included is a first operational amplifier (OPAMP) having a first input for receiving a first analog control signal, a second input communicatively coupled to the power output of the first switcher, and an output coupled to the first analog input to provide feedback to the control input of the first switcher and/or to provide feedback to the control input of the second switcher through the analog multiplexer in response to the mode control signal generated by the control system. The feedback provided by the first OPAMP corresponds to an output voltage provided at the power output of the first switcher.

[0015] Also further included is a second OPAMP having a first input for receiving a second analog control signal, a second input communicatively coupled to the power output of the second switcher, and an output coupled to the second analog input to provide feedback to the control input of the first switcher and/or to provide feedback to the control input of the second switcher through the analog multiplexer in response to the mode control signal generated by the control system. The feedback provided by the second OPAMP corresponds to an output voltage provided at the power output of the second switcher.

[0016] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the disclosure and realize additional aspects thereof after reading the following detailed description in association with the accompanying drawings.

[0030] The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and illustrate the best mode of practicing the disclosure. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

[0031] FIG. 7 depicts a multi-band power management system 30 for multi-carriers that is in accordance with the present disclosure. The multi-band power management system 30 includes a full size power converter 32 that converts power from an energy source such as a battery (not shown) to power levels that are appropriate for a first PA 34 and a second PA 36. The full size power converter 32 includes a first ½ size switcher 38 and a second ½ size switcher 40. The first ½ size switcher 38 and the second ½ size switcher 40 can each be a buck, buck/boost, or a buck/boost with charge pump type switcher. Moreover, the first ½ size switcher 38 is coupled to an output filter made up of a first inductor LLINEAR1 and a first capacitor CLINEAR 1. Similarly, the second ½ size switcher 40 is coupled to an output filter made up of a second inductor LLINEAR2 and a second capacitor CLINEAR2.

[0032] A first OPAMP 42 and a second OPAMP 44 control the first ½ size switcher 38 and the second ½ size switcher 40. A control system 46 drives an analog multiplexer 48 with three mode bits A, B, and C to control the modes of the multi-band power management system 30 and a mode switch 50. Preferably, the mode switch 50 is a field effect transistor (FET) with a gate, source and drain. Other switches such as micro-electromechanical mechanical systems (MEMS) switches may also be used for the mode switch 50. Table 1 below lists the modes of the multi-band power management system 30.

TABLE 1
	MODE	MODE	MODE
MODE	BIT A	BIT B	BIT C	PA 1	PA2
0	0	0	0	ON, ½ POWER	ON, ½ POWER
1	0	0	1	ON, FULL PWR	OFF
2	0	1	0	ON, ½ POWER	OFF
3	0	1	1	OFF	ON FULL PWR
4	1	0	0	OFF	ON, ½ POWER

[0033] As shown in FIG. 7 and according to Table 1, in a first mode (MODE 0), the first PA 34 and second PA 36 are both enabled via an enable signal EN1 and an enable signal EN2. Mode 0 is useful for supplying power such that dual carriers can be transmitted simultaneously using the first PA 34 to amplify a first carrier and the second PA 36 to amplify a second carrier. The control system 46 commands the analog multiplexer 48 via the control bits A, B, and C to route feedback from the first OPAMP 42 to the first ½ size switcher 38, and to route feedback from the second OPAMP 44 to the second ½ size switcher 40. The control system also commands the mode switch 50 open. As a result, the first PA 34 is supplied with half power (−3 dB) by the first ½ size switcher 38 and the second PA 36 is supplied with half power by the second ½ size switcher 40.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 8 and according to Table 1, in a second mode (MODE 1), the second PA 36 is not enabled and is off as indicated by dashed lines. As a result, MODE 1 is a single carrier transmission mode. The second PA 36 is disabled via the enable signal EN2. The second OPAMP 44 is also temporarily disabled so that it does not draw power. However, the first ½ size switcher 38 and the second ½ size switcher 40 are both on. The control system 46 commands the analog multiplexer 48 to route feedback from the first OPAMP 42 to both the first ½ size switcher 38 and the second ½ size switcher 40. The control system 46 also commands the mode switch 50 closed. As a result, the first PA 34 is supplied with full power while the second PA 36 is off. During MODE 1, the efficiency of the multi-band power management system 30 is slightly negatively impacted due to thermal losses that occur in the mode switch 50. However, it is possible to provide an extra switcher state during the modulation envelope of the VCC PEF in which the mode switch 50 is opened for a relatively short period of time. As a result, a required modulated current is allowed to flow briefly from the first ½ size switcher 38 only. In this way, any reduction in efficiency caused by the mode switch 50 is minimized. However, an engineering tradeoff pertaining to an efficiency cost of charging the gate and the drain and source of the mode switch 50 during each closure of the mode switch 50 should be considered.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 9 and according to Table 1, in a third mode (MODE 2), the second PA 36 and the second OPAMP 44 remain off. Moreover, in MODE 2, the second ½ size switcher 40 is off. The control system 46 commands the analog multiplexer 48 to route feedback only from the first OPAMP 42 to the first ½ size switcher 38. The control system 46 also commands the mode switch 50 open. As a result, the first PA 34 is supplied with half power while the second PA 36 is off. In a practical sense, the MODE 2 is a quasi improved segmentation mode since the second ½ size switcher 40 is off and does not load a first output node LX1 with relatively large off parasitic capacitances. This is due to a second output node LX2 having an off parasitic capacitance that is in series with the off parasitic capacitance of the mode switch 50.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 10 and according to Table 1, in a fourth mode (MODE 3), the first PA 34 is not enabled and is off. The first OPAMP 42 is also disabled so that it does not draw power. However, both the first ½ size switcher 38 and the second ½ size switcher 40 are both on, and the control system 46 commands the analog multiplexer 48 to route feedback from the second OPAMP 44 to both the first ½ size switcher 38 and the second ½ size switcher 40. The control system 46 also commands the mode switch 50 closed. As a result, the second PA 36 is supplied with full power while the first PA 34 is off.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 11 and according to Table 1, in a fifth mode (MODE 4), the first PA 34 and the first OPAMP 42 remain off. Moreover, in MODE 4, the first ½ size switcher 38 is off and the control system 46 commands the analog multiplexer 48 to route feedback from the second OPAMP 44 to the second ½ size switcher 40 only. The control system 46 also commands the mode switch 50 open. As a result, the second PA 36 is supplied with half power while the first PA 34 is off.

[0038] Turning now to FIG. 12, the multi-band power management system 30 is incorporated in a mobile terminal 52, such as a cellular handset, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like. The basic architecture of the mobile terminal 52 may include a receiver front end 54, an RF transmitter section 56, an antenna 58, a baseband processor 60, the control system 46, a frequency synthesizer 62, and an interface 64. The receiver front end 54 receives information bearing RF signals from one or more remote transmitters provided by a base station. A low noise amplifier (LNA) 66 amplifies the signal. A filter circuit 68 minimizes broadband interference in the received signal, while downconversion and digitization circuitry 70 downconverts the filtered, received signal to an intermediate or baseband frequency signal, which is then digitized into one or more digital streams. The receiver front end 54 typically uses one or more mixing frequencies generated by the frequency synthesizer 62.

[0039] The baseband processor 60 processes the digitized received signal to extract the information or data bits conveyed in the received signal. This processing typically comprises demodulation, decoding, and error correction operations. As such, the baseband processor 60 is generally implemented in one or more digital signal processors (DSPs).

[0040] On the transmit side, the baseband processor 60 receives digitized data, which may represent voice, data, or control information from the control system 46 which it encodes for transmission. The encoded data is output to the RF transmitter section 56, where it is used by a modulator 72 to modulate a carrier signal that is at a desired transmit frequency. The first PA 34 and the second PA 36 amplify multi-band modulated carrier signals to levels that are appropriate for transmission from the antenna 58. An RF switch 74 responsive to an RF SWITCH CONTROL signal generated by the control system 46 selectively transfers transmit signals to and from the antenna 58.

[0041] A user may interact with the mobile terminal 52 via the interface 64, which may include interface circuitry 76 associated with a microphone 78, a speaker 80, a keypad 82, and a display 84. The interface circuitry 76 typically includes analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, amplifiers, and the like. Additionally, it may include a voice encoder/decoder, in which case it may communicate directly with the baseband processor 60.

[0042] The microphone 78 will typically convert audio input, such as the user's voice, into an electrical signal, which is then digitized and passed directly or indirectly to the baseband processor 60. Audio information encoded in the received signal is recovered by the baseband processor 60 and converted into an analog signal suitable for driving the speaker 80 by the interface circuitry 76. The keypad 82 and the display 84 enable the user to interact with the mobile terminal 52 by inputting numbers to be dialed, address book information, or the like, as well as monitoring call progress information.

[0043] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.