Patent Publication Number: US-2015079915-A1

Title: Method, rf module and test method for enabling power amplifier to support multiple powers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/334,962, filed on Dec. 15, 2008, which is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2007/070075, filed on Jun. 1, 2007, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200610087092.7, filed on Jun. 16, 2006, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a Radio Frequency (RF) technology, and more particular to a method, an RF module, and a test method for enabling a power amplifier to support multiple powers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, in a base station, an RF module receives the downlink data distributed by a baseband board. The downlink data is processed in the RF module, and becomes an RF signal. The processing to downlink data includes shaping filter, digital up-conversion, digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), amplification of Intermediate Frequency (IF) analog signals, and up-conversion of analog signals. The RF signal is then amplified by a power amplifier before being transmitted to an antenna. 
     In the prior art, the RF module includes a conversion module that converts a baseband board signal into an RF signal, a storage module, a control module, a power amplifier module, a power module, and an antenna linear device. 
     The conversion module that converts a baseband board signal into an RF signal converts the downlink data distributed by the baseband board into an RF signal. The storage module stores the manufacturing information about the RF module, such as the information about the hardware version; the control module reads and resolves the information about the hardware version stored in the storage module, and determines the power supported by the power amplifier module. The power amplifier module amplifies the received signal, and transmits the signal to an antenna through the antenna linear device. The power module supplies power to the power amplifier module, which outputs a fixed voltage to the power amplifier module, and ensures that the power amplifier module amplifies the signal based on the power supported by the power amplifier module. 
     When the RF module is manufactured, the production equipment writes the manufacturing information into the RF module. The information about the hardware version includes a byte indicating the power amplification capability of the module. The byte records the power supported by the RF module, for example, 20 W. When the RF module works, the control module of the RF module reads and resolves the byte to know the power amplification capability of the RF module. When the RF module transmits the signal, the maximum power is the maximum capability of power amplification. 
     Therefore, the power amplification capability of the RF module depends on the manufacturing information, which needs to be written precisely by the production equipment. Once the power amplification capability supported by the RF module is determined, the RF module can work with only the power amplifier module that supports the maximum power. In the RF module, the voltage provided to the power amplifier module is a fixed value. If the power amplifier modules which support different powers are used, these power amplifier modules may be burnt due to overlarge input voltages. In particular, if these power amplifier modules are improperly assembled during production, they are more likely to be burnt. 
     According to meet the requirements of different operators, the RF module of a base station needs to be supported by power amplifier modules with multiple powers. Therefore, the power amplifier modules with multiple powers needs to developed to meet the different application requirement. However, the power amplifier modules with multiple powers have different requirements on manufacturing, testing, and processes. Too many different types and numbers of the power amplification products reduce the productivity, and increase burden on the development and maintenance. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for enabling a power amplifier to support multiple powers, and an RF module capable of enabling a power amplifier to support application requirements for different transmit powers. Another embodiment of the present invention also provides a test method for determining a corresponding relationship between a transmit power and a power amplifier voltage. 
     The method for enabling a power amplifier to support multiple powers includes: receiving RF parameters delivered by a baseband board, and calculating a transmit power according to the RF parameters; determining a power amplifier voltage according to the transmit power and a determined corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage; and adjusting a supply voltage of the power amplifier according to the determined power amplifier voltage, so as to adjust an output power of the power amplifier. 
     The RF module includes a conversion module that converts a baseband board signal into an RF signal, an antenna linear device, and a power amplifier module. The RF module further includes an adjustable power module, a storage module, and a power control module. 
     The storage module stores the RF parameters delivered by the baseband board and the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage. 
     The power control module calculates the transmit power according to the RF parameters stored in the storage module, determines the power amplifier voltage according to the calculated transmit power and the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage, and adjusts an output voltage of the adjustable power module according to the determined power amplifier voltage. 
     The test method includes: debugging the power amplifier module and the RF module to obtain a corresponding relationship between transmit power and power amplifier voltage; and performing a production equipment performs index test on the RF module according to the power amplifier voltages corresponding to obtained different transmit powers after an aging treatment of the RF module. 
     It is determined whether the index tests satisfy specifications, and the power amplifier voltages corresponding to the different transmit powers are adjusted according to results of the index tests, and the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage is updated by the use of the adjusted power amplifier voltages. 
     As disclosed by the above technical schemes, in the embodiments of the present invention, the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage is determined by the test method of the present invention. Then, the determined corresponding relationship is stored in the RF module. The power module is set to be an adjustable power module. The RF module calculates the transmit power according to the received RF parameters delivered by the baseband board, determines the power amplifier voltage according to the calculated transmit power and the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage stored in the RF module, and adjusts the output power of the adjustable power module according to the determined power amplifier voltage, so as to adjust the output power of the power amplifier module, i.e., the transmit power of the RF module. Thus, the power amplifier can support multiple powers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a flow chart for determining a corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a structural view of an exemplary embodiment of an RF module of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for enabling a power amplifier to support multiple powers of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In order to make the objectives, technical schemes, and beneficial effects of the present invention more understandable, the present invention is described in more detail below by reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage is first determined, and then stored in the RF module, and the power module in the RF module is replaced by an adjustable power module. The RF module receives the RF parameters delivered by the baseband board, calculates the transmit power according to the received RF parameters, and determines the power amplifier voltage according to the calculated transmit power and the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage stored in the RF module. The supply voltage of the power amplifier is adjusted according to the determined voltage, so as to adjust the output power of the power amplifier. 
     In this embodiment, the method of the RF module determining the power amplifier voltage according to the calculated transmit power and the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage stored in the RF module specifically includes: the RF module queries the list in which the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage is stored and reads the power amplifier voltage corresponding to the calculated transmit power. If the query and reading succeeds, the read power amplifier voltage is determined to be the power amplifier voltage; and if the query and reading fails, the preset default value is determined to be the power amplifier voltage. 
       FIG. 1  is a flow chart for determining a corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes the following steps. 
     Step  101 : Production equipment debugs the power amplifier module and the RF module under the configuration of the tested RF module, and the obtained corresponding relationship between RF power and standard operating voltage of the power amplifier is written into the storage module of the RF module, namely, the different RF powers and the standard operating voltages of the power amplifier corresponding to the RF powers are written into the storage module of the RF module. 
     For the convenience of use, a table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier can be generated, and the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the standard operating voltage of the power amplifier obtained after debugging can be written into the table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier. 
     Step  102 : An aging treatment is performed on the RF module. 
     Step  103 : The production equipment performs index tests on the RF module after the aging treatment under the standard operating voltages, stored in the RF module, of the power amplifier corresponding to different transmit powers. The index tests include a spectrum index test and an efficiency index test. 
     In Step  104 , the production equipment determines whether the spectrum index and the efficiency index tested under all the standard operating voltages of the power amplifier satisfy relevant specifications. If the two indexes satisfy the specifications, Step  105  is performed. If the spectrum index tested under some standard operating voltages of the power amplifier does not satisfy the specifications, Step  106  is performed. If the efficiency index tested at some standard operating voltages of the power amplifier does not satisfy the specifications, Step  107  is performed. 
     Step  105 : The corresponding relationship between the RF power and the standard operating voltage of the power amplifier stored in the storage module of the RF module is kept unchanged. 
     Step  106 : The production equipment finely adjusts the standard operating voltages under which the tested spectrum index does not satisfy the specifications to lower values, until the spectrum index satisfies the specifications, and then Step  108  is performed. 
     Step  107 : The production equipment finely adjusts the standard operating voltages of the power amplifier under which the tested efficiency index does not satisfy the specifications to higher values, until the efficiency index satisfies the specifications. 
     Step  108 : The production equipment updates the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage stored in the RF module according to the power amplifier voltages obtained through the adjustment in Step  106  or  107 . 
     In order to improve the production efficiency, the written and adjusted corresponding relationship between the RF power and the power amplifier voltage needs to be maintained and updated periodically. The corresponding relationship between the RF power and the power amplifier voltage of the RF modules produced in a batch has a data standard, which exhibits the trend of the corresponding relationship between the RF power and the power amplifier voltage. Normally, the corresponding relationship between the RF power and power amplifier voltage of the RF modules produced in a production batch is basically the same, and a batch lasts several months. Therefore, if the corresponding relationship between the RF power and the power amplifier voltage of the RF modules produced in the batch is updated in time, the RF modules produced later will need less adjustment, which improves the production efficiency. 
     For the convenience of use, a table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier can be generated, and the corresponding relationship between the RF power and the power amplifier voltage can be written into the table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier. The table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier is maintained and updated periodically. 
       FIG. 2  is a structural view of a preferred embodiment of the RF module that enables a power amplifier to support multiple powers of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the RF module includes a power control module  201 , a power module  202 , a power amplifier module  203 , a conversion module  204  that converts a baseband board signal into an RF signal, and an antenna linear device  205 . 
     The conversion module  204  that converts a baseband signal into an RF signal is adapted to convert downlink data delivered by the baseband board into an RF signal. The antenna linear device  205  is adapted to transmit the RF signal amplified by the power amplifier module to the antenna. 
     The power module  202  is an adjustable power module, and includes a power control portion  206 , a power amplifier power source  207 , and a storage module  208 . In this embodiment, the power control portion  206  can be an adjustable chip. 
     The storage module  208  is connected to the power control module  201  through a bus. The power control portion  206  of the power module  202  is connected to the power control module  201  through the bus. The power amplifier power source  207  is connected to the power control portion  206  through a power cable. The power amplifier power source  207  is connected to the power amplifier module  203 , and supplies power to the power amplifier module  203 . 
     The storage module  208  stores a parameter carrier n, a power level Ln per carrier, a switch value of the power-saving mode, the table of voltage parameters written into the RF module by the production equipment and information about the power module  202  including coefficients for calculating a voltage control parameter, which are received by the RF module from the baseband board. 
     The power control portion  206  of the power module  202  is adapted to set the voltage control parameter output from the power control module  201  to the output voltage of the power amplifier power source  207 . 
     The functions of the power control module  201  include: 
     1) obtaining the switch value of the power-saving mode from the storage module  208  to determine whether to enable the power-saving mode, that is, whether to select the power amplifier that supports multiple functions. The switch value of the power-saving mode is a hexadecimal software tag. Normally, the value 0 indicates that the power-saving mode is disabled, and the value 1 indicates that the power-saving mode is enabled. 
     2) determining whether it is necessary to calculate the transmit power based on the RF parameters stored in the storage module  208  according to the switch value of the power-saving mode obtained from the storage module  208 , and determining the mode of reading the power amplifier voltage in the table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier. If the reading succeeds, the power amplifier voltage, for example, Vout is set to the read voltage; otherwise, the power amplifier voltage Vout is set to the default value. 
     3) reading the values of the coefficients, the coefficients for calculating a voltage control parameter K and B, for calculating the voltage control parameter from the storage module  208  of the power module. If the reading fails, the coefficients for calculating a voltage control parameter K and B are set to the default values. Then, the voltage control parameter is calculated with the formula Vc=K×Vout+B based on the determined values of the coefficients for calculating a voltage control parameter K and B. 
     4) outputting the obtained voltage control parameter to the power control portion  206 , and set to be the output voltage of the power amplifier power source  207  through the power control portion  206 , so as to control the output voltage of the power control power source. 
     In this embodiment, the storage module  208  is disposed in the power module  202 . In actual applications, the storage module  208  may also be disposed outside the power module  202 , or a part of the storage module  208  is disposed in the power module  202 , and the other part is disposed outside the power module  202 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of a method for enabling a power amplifier to support multiple powers of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , this method uses the method shown in  FIG. 1 . The table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier in which the corresponding relationship between the RF power and the power amplifier voltage is written is stored in the storage module of the RF module in advance. The method includes the following steps. 
     Step  301 : The RF module receives the RF parameters delivered by the baseband board, including the parameter carrier n, the power level Ln per carrier, and the switch value of the power-saving mode, and stores the parameters in the storage module thereof. 
     Step  302 : The power control module obtains the switch value of the power-saving mode from the storage module, and determines whether to enable the power-saving mode. 
     The switch value of the power-saving mode is a hexadecimal software tag delivered by the baseband board. Normally, the value 0 indicates that the power-saving mode is disabled, and the value 1 indicates that the power-saving mode is enabled. If the power-saving mode is disabled, Step  307  is performed; otherwise, Step  303  is performed. 
     Step  303 : The power control module calculates the transmit power according to the RF parameters stored in the storage module. In this embodiment, the RF parameters include the carrier number and the carrier power level, and the process of calculating the transmit power is to calculate the transmit power level. 
     Provided that the transmit power level is L, which can be calculated with the formula L=−100×log(10̂(L 1 /(−100))+ . . . +10̂(Ln/(−100)). Here, the values of L 1  to Ln range from 0 to 100. 
     The prerequisite for the transmit power level to represent the transmit power is that the power amplifier voltages corresponding to the transmit power levels are stored during debugging, that is, the different transmit power levels and the corresponding power amplifier voltages are stored in the table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier. 
     Step  304 : The power control module queries a corresponding power amplifier voltage in the table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier stored in the storage module according to the obtained transmit power level. If the query succeeds, Step  305  is performed; otherwise, Step  306  is performed. 
     Step  305 : The power control module sets the power amplifier voltage Vout to the queried power amplifier voltage. Then, Step  308  is performed. 
     Step  306 : The power control module sets the power amplifier voltage Vout to the default value. Then, Step  308  is performed. 
     Step  307 : The power control module reads the first power amplifier voltage in the table of voltage parameters of the power amplifier stored in the storage module, and sets the power amplifier voltage Vout to the value. 
     Steps  308  and  309 , the power control module reads the values of the coefficients for calculating a voltage control parameter K and B from the storage module. If the reading succeeds, Step  311  is performed; otherwise, Step  310  is performed. 
     Step  310 : The power control module sets the coefficients for calculating a voltage control parameter K and B to the default values. 
     The storage module is normally an E2PROM, which is a physical component. The E2PROM may become invalid due to the limitation on reading/writing times, or may have an exception because the bus is busy, which result in the failure of the power control module reading the E2PROM. Therefore, in order to ensure the continuity of the implementation process of the power control module, the default values of K and B are set in the power control module. When the power control module fails to read K and B, the default values are used in the calculation. 
     Step  311 : The power control module calculates the voltage control parameter Vc based on the values of K and B determined in Steps  308  and  309 , the power amplifier voltage Vout set in Step  305 ,  306 , or  307 , and the formula Vc=K×Vout+B, and outputs the voltage control parameter Vc to the power control portion of the power module. 
     Step  312 : The power control portion of the power module sets the value of the voltage control parameter Vc obtained in Step  311  to the output voltage of the power amplifier power source, so as to adjust the voltage of the power amplifier power source. 
     After the voltage of the power amplifier power source is adjusted, according to the formula Power=Input voltage×Input current, in the situation that the input current of the power amplifier module remains unchanged, the power of the power amplifier module can be adjusted by adjusting the input voltage of the power amplifier module. 
     It is known from the above embodiments that the RF module and the power amplifier module are debugged, the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage is obtained after the aging treatment and index tests, and the corresponding relationship is stored in the RF module. Meanwhile, the power control module is disposed in the RF module, and the power module in the RF module is set to an adjustable power module, such that the RF module can adjust the supply voltage of the power amplifier module according to the obtained transmit power and the stored power amplifier voltages corresponding to different transmit powers. Further, the power amplifier can support multiple powers. 
     In addition, the test method provided in an embodiment of the present invention can update the corresponding relationship between the transmit power and the power amplifier voltage stored in the RF module in real time if necessary. 
     In a word, the method and the RF provided in the embodiments of the present invention can enable a power amplifier to support multiple powers and satisfy the different application requirements by adjusting the output voltage that the power module supplies to the power amplifier module according to the different application requirements. Thus, it is unnecessary to produce and maintain power amplifiers with different transmit powers. The power amplifier can be used more flexibly, the maintenance cost of the power amplifier is reduced, and the production and use of the power amplifier becomes easier. 
     Finally, it should be understood that the above embodiments are used to explain, but not to limit the technological solution. In despite of describing the embodiments in detail, it should be understood that various modifications, changes or equivalent replacements could be made by an ordinary person skilled in the relevant field without departing from the spirit and scope of the technological solution, which should be covered in the extent of the claims.