Methods and apparatus for envelope tracking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9288098-B2
Application number	US-201514612305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2015
Priority date	Jan 9, 2014
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A communication unit has an envelope tracking system operably coupled to a power amplifier, PA, module. The envelope tracking system has at least one slew rate module arranged to re-distribute a slew rate across a number of input samples according to a maximum slew rate of the number of input samples; and a supply modulator arranged to variably control a supply voltage for the PA module in response to an output of the at least one slew rate module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A communication unit comprising:
an envelope tracking system operably coupled to a power amplifier, PA, module and comprising:
at least one slew rate module arranged to re-distribute a slew rate across a number of input samples according to a maximum slew rate of the number of input samples, wherein the maximum slew rate is dynamically calculated; and
a supply modulator arranged to variably control a supply voltage for the PA module in response to an output of the at least one slew rate module.

2. The communication unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one slew rate module limits a slew rate of an output sequence from the supply modulator to be applied to a supply of the PA module.

3. The communication unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one slew-rate module takes the number of input samples (vpa i (n−N+m), m=0 . . . N−1) for each output sample provided by a envelope to reference voltage mapping module which is configured to map an envelope of an input signal of the communication unit to the supply voltage to be applied to the PA module.

4. The communication unit of claim 3 wherein the at least one slew-rate module calculates a current slew rate S(m) corresponding to a current input sample vpa i (n−N+m) of the N input samples according to the current input sample and an output sample provided by the envelope to reference voltage mapping module.

5. The communication unit of claim 4 wherein the at least one slew-rate module influences a current output sample vpa o (n−N) of the envelope to reference voltage mapping module according to:
vpa o ( n−N )= vpa o ( n−N− 1)+max[ S (1), S (2), S (3), . . . , S ( N )].

6. The communication unit of claim 1 wherein a slew rate of envelope to reference voltage mapping values of the envelope tracking system is manageable, wherein the envelope to reference voltage mapping values are utilized to control the supply voltage to be applied to the PA module.

7. The communication unit of claim 1 wherein a slew rate of envelope to reference voltage mapping values of the envelope tracking system is evenly distributed, wherein the envelope to reference voltage mapping values are utilized to control the supply voltage to be applied to the PA module.

8. A method of envelope tracking in a wireless communication unit, the method comprising:
receiving an input signal with an envelope that varies with time;
mapping the envelope of the input signal to a power supply voltage to be applied to a power amplifier module to produce a voltage reference signal;
sampling the voltage reference signal;
re-distributing a slew rate across a plurality of input samples of the voltage reference signal according to a maximum slew rate of the plurality of input samples so as to provide an output sample variably controlling a supply voltage for the PA module, wherein the maximum slew rate is dynamically calculated.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a slew rate of an output sample sequence variably controlling the supply voltage for the PA module is limited.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of re-distributing the slew rate across the plurality of input samples of the voltage reference signal comprises calculating a current slew rate S(m) corresponding to a current input sample vpa i (n−N+m) of the plurality of input samples.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of re-distributing the slew rate across the plurality of input samples of the voltage reference signal further comprises:
influencing a current output sample vpa o (n−N) utilized to variably control the supply voltage for the PA module according to:
vpa o ( n−N )= vpa o ( n−N− 1)+max[ S (1), S (2), S (3), . . . S ( N )].

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein a slew rate of the output sample variably controlling the supply voltage for the PA module is manageable.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein a slew rate of the output sample variably controlling the supply voltage for the PA module is evenly distributed.

14. A communication unit comprising:
an envelope tracking system operably coupled to a power amplifier, PA, module and comprising:
at least one slew rate module arranged to re-distribute a slew rate across a number of input samples according to a maximum slew rate of the number of input samples; and
a supply modulator arranged to variably control a supply voltage for the PA module in response to an output of the at least one slew rate module;

wherein the at least one slew rate module limits a slew rate of an output sequence from the supply modulator to be applied to a supply of the PA module.

15. A communication unit comprising:
an envelope tracking system operably coupled to a power amplifier, PA, module and comprising:
at least one slew rate module arranged to re-distribute a slew rate across a number of input samples according to a maximum slew rate of the number of input samples; and
a supply modulator arranged to variably control a supply voltage for the PA module in response to an output of the at least one slew rate module;

wherein a slew rate of envelope to reference voltage mapping values of the envelope tracking system is manageable, and the envelope to reference voltage mapping values are utilized to control the supply voltage to be applied to the PA module.

16. A method of envelope tracking in a wireless communication unit, the method comprising:
receiving an input signal with an envelope that varies with time;
mapping the envelope of the input signal to a power supply voltage to be applied to a power amplifier (PA) module to produce a voltage reference signal;
sampling the voltage reference signal; and
re-distributing a slew rate across a plurality of input samples of the voltage reference signal to provide an output sample variably controlling a supply voltage for the PA module;

wherein a slew rate of an output sample sequence variably controlling the supply voltage for the PA module is limited.

17. A method of envelope tracking in a wireless communication unit, the method comprising:
receiving an input signal with an envelope that varies with time;
mapping the envelope of the input signal to a power supply voltage to be applied to a power amplifier (PA) module to produce a voltage reference signal;
sampling the voltage reference signal; and
re-distributing a slew rate across a plurality of input samples of the voltage reference signal to provide an output sample variably controlling a supply voltage for the PA module;

wherein the step of re-distributing the slew rate across the plurality of input samples of the voltage reference signal comprises calculating a current slew rate S(m) corresponding to a current input sample vpa i (n−N+m) of the plurality of input samples.

18. A method of envelope tracking in a wireless communication unit, the method comprising:
receiving an input signal with an envelope that varies with time;
mapping the envelope of the input signal to a power supply voltage to be applied to a power amplifier (PA) module to produce a voltage reference signal;
sampling the voltage reference signal; and
re-distributing a slew rate across a plurality of input samples of the voltage reference signal to provide an output sample variably controlling a supply voltage for the PA module;

wherein a slew rate of the output sample variably controlling the supply voltage for the PA module is manageable.

Assignees

• Mediatek Inc
• Mediatek Inc

Inventors

• Yan Sheng-Hong
• Hong Hao-Ping

Classifications

• H03F2200/504

  the supply voltage or current being continuously controlled by a controlling signal, e.g. the controlling signal of a transistor implemented as variable resistor in a supply path for, an IC-block showed amplifier · CPC title

• H03F2200/105

  A non-specified detector of the power of a signal being used in an amplifying circuit · CPC title

• H03F3/24

  of transmitter output stages · CPC title

• H03F2200/465

  Power sensing · CPC title

• H04B1/0475 Primary

  with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion (H04B1/0483 takes precedence) · CPC title