Abstract: A circuit is for controlling a power transistor of a DC/DC converter. The circuit may include first and second first transistors coupled in series between a first reference voltage and a control terminal of the power transistor, the first and second transistors defining a first junction node. The circuit may include third and fourth transistors coupled in series between the control terminal and a second reference voltage, the third and fourth transistors defining a second junction node. The first and second transistors may have a first conductivity type different from a second conductivity type of the third and fourth transistors. The circuit may include a capacitive element coupled between the first and second junction nodes.

Abstract: A voltage converter device converts an input signal having a given input voltage value into an output signal having an output voltage different from the input voltage. The device comprises a main module, arranged between an input terminal and a first circuit node, The device is adapted to output at the first circuit node a pulse-width-modulated signal switching between a first voltage value and a second voltage value, defining a switching range, by switching successively between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The switching range of the pulse width modulation has an amplitude, calculated as the absolute difference between the first and the second voltage value, inferior or equal to half the input voltage.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter has a Step-Up stage connected to a Step-Down stage. A common Step-Down controller is designed and configured such that a single reference voltage is compared to the output voltage of the Step-Down stage by a single comparator, producing a single error signal. The error signal is then compared to two different saw signals to generate first and second pulse-width modulated signals respectively. The first and second pulse-width modulated signals are inputted to a control unit that generates a first pair of control signals and a second pair of control signals, which control switching of the Step-Up stage and of the Step-Down stage.

Abstract: The output of a Radio Frequency (RF) Power Amplifier (PA) is sampled and down-converted, and the amplitude envelope of the baseband feedback signal is extracted. This is compared to the envelope of a transmission signal, and the envelope tracking modulation of the RF PA supply voltage is adaptively pre-distorted to achieve a constant ISO-Gain (and phase) in the RF PA. In particular, a nonlinear function is interpolated from a finite number gain values calculated from the feedback and transmission signals. This nonlinear function is then used to pre-distort the transmission signal envelope, resulting in a constant gain at the RF PA over a wide range of supply voltage values. Since the gains are calculated from a feedback signal, the pre-distortion may be recalculated at event triggers, such as an RF frequency change.

Abstract: The output of a Radio Frequency (RF) Power Amplifier (PA) is sampled and down-converted, and the amplitude envelope of the baseband feedback signal is extracted. This is compared to the envelope of a transmission signal, and the envelope tracking modulation of the RF PA supply voltage VCC is adaptively pre-distorted to achieve a constant ISO-Gain (and phase) in the RF PA. In particular, a nonlinear function is interpolated from a finite number gain values calculated from the feedback and transmission signals. This nonlinear function is then used to pre-distort the transmission signal envelope, resulting in a constant gain at the RF PA over a wide range of supply voltage VCC values. Since the gains are calculated from a feedback signal, the pre-distortion may be recalculated at event triggers, such as an RF frequency change. Furthermore, the method improves nonlinearity in the entire transmitter chain, not just the RF PA.

Abstract: A power conversion circuit uses smaller, cheaper, and faster analog and digital circuits, e.g., buffers, comparators, and processing circuits, to provide the information necessary to control a multilevel power converter faster, cheaper, and with a smaller footprint than conventional techniques. For example, a current detection circuit indirectly measures a direction of a current through an inductor connected between midpoint node and an output node of a multilevel power converter based on comparisons between voltages associated with the multilevel power converter. A capacitor voltage detection detects a capacitor voltage across the flying capacitor to generate a logic signal based on a comparison between the capacitor voltage and a first reference voltage.

Abstract: A multi-mode, dynamic, DC-DC converter supplies a dynamically varying voltage, as required, from a battery to an RF power amplifier (PA). In envelope tracking mode, a fast DC-DC converter generates a dynamic voltage that varies based on the amplitude envelope of an RF signal, and regulates the voltage at the PA. A slow DC-DC converter generates a steady voltage and regulates the voltage across a link capacitor. The fast and slow converters are in parallel from the view of the PA, and the link capacitor is between the fast converter and the PA. Because different nodes are regulated, no current sharing is possible between the converters. The link capacitor boosts the dynamic voltage level, allowing a maximum dynamic voltage at the load to exceed the battery voltage. In power level tracking mode, the fast converter is disabled and the link capacitor is configured to be in parallel with the load.

Abstract: The invention proposes a direct current voltage conversion circuit which can operate as a step-up circuit, a step-down circuit, or operate as a step-up or step-down circuit depending on the modes of operation.

Abstract: The output of a Radio Frequency (RF) Power Amplifier (PA) is sampled and down-converted, and the amplitude envelope of the baseband feedback signal is extracted. This is compared to the envelope of a transmission signal, and the envelope tracking modulation of the RF PA supply voltage VCC is adaptively pre-distorted to achieve a constant ISO-Gain (and phase) in the RF PA. In particular, a nonlinear function is interpolated from a finite number gain values calculated from the feedback and transmission signals. This nonlinear function is then used to pre-distort the transmission signal envelope, resulting in a constant gain at the RF PA over a wide range of supply voltage VCC values. Since the gains are calculated from a feedback signal, the pre-distortion may be recalculated at event triggers, such as an RF frequency change. Furthermore, the method improves nonlinearity in the entire transmitter chain, not just the RF PA.

Abstract: There is described a DC-DC converter having a Step-Up stage (10) supplying a Step-Down stage (20). A common Step-Down controller is designed and configured such that a single reference voltage (VREF) is compared to the output voltage (VOUT_SD) of the Step-Down stage by a single comparator (61), producing a single error signal (VERROR). The error signal is then compared by comparators (62) and (63) to the two different saw signals (SAW1) and (SAW2) respectively in order to generate first and second pulse-width modulated signals (PWM_SU) and (PWW_SD) respectively that are inputted a the control unit (65) of the controller which, in turn, generates a first pair of control signals (1,2) and a second pair of control signals (3,4), which control switching of the Step-Up stage (10) supplying a Step-Down stage (20).

Abstract: A power conversion circuit uses smaller, cheaper, and faster analog and digital circuits, e.g., buffers, comparators, and processing circuits, to provide the information necessary to control a multilevel power converter faster, cheaper, and with a smaller footprint than conventional techniques. For example, a current detection circuit indirectly measures a direction of a current through an inductor connected between midpoint node and an output node of a multilevel power converter based on comparisons between voltages associated with the multilevel power converter. A capacitor voltage detection detects a capacitor voltage across the flying capacitor to generate a logic signal based on a comparison between the capacitor voltage and a first reference voltage.

Abstract: A multi-mode, dynamic, DC-DC converter supplies a dynamically varying voltage, as required, from a battery to an RF power amplifier (PA). In envelope tracking mode, a fast DC-DC converter generates a dynamic voltage that varies based on the amplitude envelope of an RF signal, and regulates the voltage at the PA. A slow DC-DC converter generates a steady voltage and regulates the voltage across a link capacitor. The fast and slow converters are in parallel from the view of the PA, and the link capacitor is between the fast converter and the PA. Because different nodes are regulated, no current sharing is possible between the converters. The link capacitor boosts the dynamic voltage level, allowing a maximum dynamic voltage at the load to exceed the battery voltage. In power level tracking mode, the fast converter is disabled and the link capacitor is configured to be in parallel with the load.

Abstract: There is described a device for converting an input signal having a given input voltage (Vbat) value (Vbat) into an output signal having an output voltage (Vout) (Vout) different from the input voltage (Vbat). The device comprises a main module (56), arranged between an input terminal (54) and a first circuit node (N1), The device is adapted to output at the first circuit node (N1) a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal switching between a first voltage value and a second voltage value, defining a switching range (SR(i)), by switching successively between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The switching range (SR(i)) of the pulse width modulation (PWM) has an amplitude, calculated as the absolute difference between the first and the second voltage value, inferior or equal to Vout half the input voltage (Vbat).

Abstract: The invention proposes a direct current voltage conversion circuit which can operate as a step-up circuit, a step-down circuit, or operate as a step-up or step-down circuit depending on the modes of operation.