Quick-start high-voltage boost

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9584012-B2
Application number	US-201615042330-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2016
Priority date	Feb 14, 2015
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

In one implementation, a voltage boost assembly including a boost converter having a capacitive element arranged at an output, and an inductive element connectable to an electrical supply. The voltage boost assembly also includes a sensor assembly provided to generate a quick-start enable signal in response to detecting that an electrical condition relative to an electrical output of the boost converter has breached a first threshold. The voltage boost assembly further includes a quick-start module responsive to the quick-start enable signal, and configured to drive the boost converter at a relatively high duty-cycle and so that the boost converter delivers an output current that satisfies a second threshold in order to charge the capacitive element arranged at the output.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A voltage boost assembly comprising:
a boost converter having a capacitive element arranged at an output, and an inductive element connectable to an electrical supply;
a sensor assembly provided to generate a quick-start enable signal in response to detecting that an electrical condition relative to an electrical output of the boost converter has breached a first threshold; and
a quick-start module responsive to the quick-start enable signal, and configured to drive the boost converter at a relatively high duty-cycle and so that the boost converter delivers an output current that satisfies a second threshold in order to charge the capacitive element arranged at the output.

2. The voltage boost assembly of claim 1 wherein detecting that an electrical condition relative to the electrical output of the boost converter has breached the first threshold includes detecting that a reference voltage indicates demand for an electrical output that is at least 10% higher than the current electrical output of the boost converter.

3. The voltage boost assembly of claim 1 wherein detecting that an electrical condition relative to an electrical output of the boost converter has breached the first threshold includes detecting that a reference voltage indicates demand for an electrical output that is at least 20% higher than the electrical output of the boost converter.

4. The voltage boost assembly of claim 1 wherein the quick-start module includes a charging circuit provided to charge the capacitive element so that an electrical output of an associated error amplifier satisfies a third threshold in response to the quick-start enable signal.

5. The voltage boost assembly of claim 4 wherein the third threshold is characterized in relation to a high voltage level that can be sustained at the output of the error amplifier.

6. The voltage boost assembly of claim 1 wherein the quick-start module includes a saturation limiting circuit provided to limit current through the inductive element to establish the output current in response to the quick-start enable signal.

7. The voltage boost assembly of claim 6 wherein the current through the inductive element is limited to a level that is characterized by a saturation condition of the inductive element.

8. The voltage boost assembly of claim 1 wherein the quick-start module includes a ripple control module provided to reduce current ripple in the output current by adjustment of a switching frequency in response to the quick-start enable signal.

9. The voltage boost assembly of claim 8 wherein the ripple control module includes an oscillator that provides a switching frequency that is increased in response to the quick-start enable signal.

10. The voltage boost assembly of claim 1 wherein the second threshold is characterized by a current level available to charge the capacitive element.

11. The voltage boost assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly is configured to turn off the quick-start enable signal in response to determining that the electrical output of the boost converter has satisfied a fourth threshold.

12. The voltage boost assembly of claim 11 wherein the fourth threshold is approximately 95% of a set-point output level.

13. A module comprising:
a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components;
a power amplifier; and
a voltage boost assembly including a boost converter having a capacitive element arranged at an output, and an inductive element connectable to an electrical supply, a sensor assembly provided to generate a quick-start enable signal in response to detecting that an electrical condition relative to an electrical output of the boost converter has breached a first threshold, and a quick-start module responsive to the quick-start enable signal, and configured to drive the boost converter at a relatively high duty-cycle and so that the boost converter delivers an output current that satisfies a second threshold in order to charge the capacitive element arranged at the output.

14. The module of claim 13 wherein the module is at least one of a power amplifier module (PAM) or a front-end module (FEM).

15. The module of claim 13 wherein the quick-start module includes a charging circuit provided to charge the capacitive element so that an electrical output of an associated error amplifier satisfies a third threshold in response to the quick-start enable signal.

16. The module of claim 13 wherein the quick-start module includes a saturation limiting circuit provided to limit current through the inductive element to establish the output current in response to the quick-start enable signal.

17. The module of claim 13 wherein the quick-start module includes a ripple control module provided to reduce current ripple in the output current level by adjustment of a switching frequency in response to the quick-start enable signal.

18. A radio frequency (RF) device comprising:
a transceiver configured to process RF signals;
a power amplifier module (PAM) in communication with the transceiver, the PAM including a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components, the PAM further including a power amplifier (PA) implemented on the packaging substrate, the PA configured to generate an amplified RF signal, and a voltage boost assembly implemented on the packaging substrate, the voltage boost assembly including a boost converter having a capacitive element arranged at an output, and an inductive element connectable to an electrical supply, a sensor assembly provided to generate a quick-start enable signal in response to detecting that an electrical condition relative to an electrical output of the boost converter has breached a first threshold, and a quick-start module responsive to the quick-start enable signal, and configured to drive the boost converter at a relatively high duty-cycle and so that the boost converter delivers an output current that satisfies a second threshold in order to charge the capacitive element arranged at the output; and
an antenna in communication with the PAM, the antenna is configured to facilitate transmission of the amplified RF signal.

19. The RF device of claim 18 wherein the RF device includes a wireless device.

20. The RF device of claim 19 wherein the wireless device includes at least one of a base station, a router, a repeater, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a computer, a laptop, a tablet computer, or a peripheral device.

Assignees

• Skyworks Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Ng Wendy
• Yeung Yin Chun
• Scheel Michael Lee

Classifications

• H04W52/36 Primary

  with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets · CPC title

• H04B1/38 Primary

  Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving · CPC title

• H02M3/156

  with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators · CPC title

• H03F2200/451

  the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier · CPC title

• H03F1/0211 Primary

  with control of the supply voltage or current · CPC title