The present invention refers to a multi-level tracker aiming at enhancing energy efficiency of radio frequency and microwave amplifiers, for radar and telecommunications applications.
| Patent title | Single-supply multi-level envelope tracker for RF power amplifier efficiency enhancement |
|---|---|
| Thematic area | Climate, Energy and Mobility |
| Ownership | University of Colorado, ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA' DI BOLOGNA |
| Inventors | tommaso cappello, zoya popovic, Corrado Florian |
| Protection | USA |
| Licensing status | Available for development agreements, option, license and other exploitation agreements |
| Keywords | Single supply multilevel converter, RF amplifier, Envelope Tracking, Supply modulation, RF amplifier efficiency |
| Filed on | 07 May 2018 |
The Multilevel Envelop Tracker is proposed for increasing the energy efficiency of radio frequency and microwave amplifiers. It operates through a single source of supply voltage by exploiting capacitors that implement different voltage levels: these capacitors are kept charged at the desired levels through a feedback network and a suitable control strategy that recharges the capacitors through the switches of the multilevel converter. The innovation lies in the use of a multi-level converter with a single supply voltage source for this type of application and in the capacitor’s charging control algorithm.
Applications:
- High energy efficiency radio frequency and microwave transmitters for telecommunications and radar applications.
Advantages:
- Reduction of complexity and cost of highly efficient RF and microwave transmitters.
T. Cappello, S. Verploegh, C. Florian and Z. Popovic, "Single-DC-Input Multi-Level Envelope Tracking of a High-Efficiency X-band Power Amplifier," 2019 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS), Boston, MA, USA, 2019, pp. 464-467. doi: 10.1109/MWSYM.2019.8701096