Patent classifications
H03F1/025
System and method for controlling a charge pump
A charge pump controller for controlling a charge pump adapted to convert an input voltage into an output voltage with a conversion ratio is presented. The charge pump is operable in a plurality of modes corresponding to different conversion ratios. The controller includes a first selector for selecting a mode of operation of the charge pump. The first selector comprises a first input for coupling to a voltage supply; and a second input for coupling to a source signal. The first selector identifies a target value of the output voltage. The selector calculates a product of the conversion ratio and the input voltage. The selector compares the product with the target value and selects a mode of operation of the charge pump by increasing or decreasing the conversion ratio based on the comparison. The selector maintains the conversion ratio for a length of time before decreasing the conversion ratio.
Resonant power converters with switchable resonant modes
A system includes an input port having an input voltage, an output port having an output voltage, and a power converter having a switch network with a plurality of power switches and a first resonant tank having a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant inductor, where at least one resonant component within the first resonant capacitor and the first resonant inductor is a switchable component configured to switch between different values. The system further includes a resonant mode selection block configured to adjust a value of the switchable component to maintain a performance of the system, and a controller configured to adjust a switching frequency or a duty cycle of the power converter.
DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter and corresponding method for transitioning between a discontinuous conduction mode, DCM, and a continuous conduction mode, CCM, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to power a signal processing system within an integrated circuit, is provided. The method comprises receiving input data, wherein the input data is for inputting into the signal processing system; determining an amplitude of the input data; and transitioning between DCM and CCM based on the amplitude of the input data. A DC-DC converter and respective method for transitioning from CCM to DCM comprising determining an estimated current representative of an inductor current through an inductor of the DC-DC converter; and transitioning from CCM to DCM based on the estimated current, is provided. A DC-DC converter and respective method for transitioning from DCM to CCM comprising determining either an output voltage of the DC-DC converter or a duty cycle of the DC-DC converter; and transitioning from DCM to CCM based on the determined output voltage or duty cycle of the DC-DC converter, is provided.
Control of envelope tracker PMIC
A tracker circuit configured to provide a variable supply voltage to a power amplifier (PA) circuit is disclosed. The tracker circuit includes a state machine circuit comprising a plurality of states mapped in accordance with transitions associated with a mapping scheme. In some embodiments, the plurality of states of the state machine circuit identify one or more operational modes associated with the tracker circuit, wherein at least one operational mode comprises one or more voltage levels respectively associated therewith. In some embodiments, the one or more operational modes includes at least two active operational modes. In some embodiments, a transition between the one or more operational modes of the tracker circuit is controlled by a digital selection signal received from a digital communication interface associated therewith.
Polar modulation transmitter with wideband product mode control
A wideband polar modulation transmitter includes a power amplifier (PA), a PA driver, a dynamic power supply (DPS), a PA driver V.sub.H controller, and a phase modulator. The phase modulator modulates a radio frequency (RF) carrier by an input phase modulating signal PM(t) to produce a phase modulated RF carrier. Meanwhile, the DPS produces a DPS voltage for the PA that follows an input amplitude modulating signal AM(t). Using the phase modulated RF carrier, the PA driver generates a PA drive signal V.sub.DRV for driving the PA. The PA drive signal V.sub.DRV has a high drive level V.sub.H and a low drive level V.sub.L. The PA driver V.sub.H controller is configured to control the magnitude of the high drive level V.sub.H so that it remains sufficiently high to force the PA to operate in a compressed mode (C-mode) most of the time but lowers the high drive level V.sub.H to force the PA to operate in a product mode (P-mode) during times low-magnitude events occur in the DPS voltage.
Digital dynamic bias circuit
Circuits and methods for reducing the cost and/or power consumption of a user terminal and/or the gateway of a telecommunications system (550) that may include a telecommunications satellite. Embodiments generate a dynamic input bias signal based upon an information signal envelope (which may be pre-distorted) which is applied to the signal input of a power amplifier (PA), thus reducing average power consumption. Other embodiments further include dynamic linearization (518) of the information signal, and/or variation of the supply voltage to the power amplifier (PA) as a function of the envelope of the information signal. Another aspect is a multi-stage chained feedback regulated voltage supply circuit for providing two or more output voltages that may be used as alternative supply voltages to a power amplifier (PA).
SELF-BIASING AND SELF-SEQUENCING OF DEPLETION-MODE TRANSISTORS
A transistor circuit includes a transistor having a gate terminal and first and second conduction terminals, a first circuit configured to convert an AC input signal of the transistor circuit to a gate bias voltage and to apply the gate bias voltage to the gate terminal of the transistor, a second circuit configured to convert the AC input signal of the transistor circuit to a control voltage, and a switching circuit configured to apply a first voltage to the first conduction terminal of the transistor in response to the control voltage.
Envelope tracking power management circuit
An envelope tracking (ET) power management circuit is provided. The ET power management circuit includes an amplifier circuit(s) configured to output a radio frequency (RF) signal at a defined power level corresponding to a direct current, an alternating current, and an ET modulated voltage received by the amplifier circuit(s). The ET power management circuit can operate in a high-power ET mode when the defined power level exceeds a defined power level threshold and the RF signal is modulated to include no more than a defined number of resource blocks. The ET power management includes two ET tracker circuitries each generating a respective ET modulated voltage and two charge pump circuitries each generating a respective current. In the high-power ET mode, both charge pump circuitries are activated to each provide a reduced current to the amplifier circuit, thus helping to reduce a footprint and cost of the ET power management circuit.
DRIVER CIRCUIT AND OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT USED THEREIN
A driver circuit is provided. The driver circuit includes a first operational amplifier circuit, a second operational amplifier circuit, and at least one power switching circuit is provided. The first operational amplifier circuit receives a first input signal and generates a first output signal according to the first input signal. The second operational amplifier circuit receives a second input signal and generates a second output signal according to the second input signal. The at least one power switching circuit is configured to be coupled to switch a first input stage circuit to one of a first output stage circuit and a second output stage circuit, and the at least one power switching circuit is further coupled to switch a second input stage circuit to the other one of the first output stage circuit and the second output stage circuit.
Linearization circuits and methods for multilevel power amplifier systems
Circuits and methods for achieving high linearity, high efficiency power amplifiers, including digital predistortion (DPD) and pulse cancellation in switched-state RF power amplifier systems are described.