
DATA SHEET CX77304-17
PA MODULE FOR TRI-BAND EGSM DCS PCS / GPRS
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. Phone [781] 376-3000 Fax [781] 376-3100 sales@skyworksinc.com www.skyworksinc.com
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July 29, 2004 Skyworks Proprietary and Confidential Information Products and Product Information are Subject to Change Without Notice. 101943B
due to Switching Transients, will increase the system noise level,
which may knock out other users on the system. The main
difficulty with TDMA power control is allowing the transmitter to
ramp the output power up and down gradually so switching
transients are not compromised while meeting the time mask
template at all output power levels in all operational bands. The
transmitter has 28
s to ramp up power from an off state to the
desired power level.
The GSM transmitter power control loop generally involves
feedback around the GaAs PA, which limits the bandwidth of
signals that can be applied to the PA bias input. Since the PA is
within the feedback loop, its own small-signal frequency
response must exhibit a bandwidth 5 to 10 times that of the
power control loop. As discussed in the previous section, the PA
bias is held at ground for inputs less than 700 mV. As the APC
input exceeds the enable threshold, the bias will activate. After an
8
s delay, the amplifier internal bias will quickly ramp to match
the ramp voltage applied to the VAPC input. Since the bias must be
wide band relative to the power control loop, the ramp will exhibit
a fast edge rate. If the APC input increases beyond 1 V before the
8
s switching delay is allowed to occur after the bias is enabled,
the PA will have significant RF output as the internal bias
approaches the applied bias. During this ramp, the internal power
control is running "open loop" and the edge rates are defined by
the frequency response of the PA bias rather than that of the
power control loop. This open loop condition will result in
switching transients that are directly correlated to the PA bias
bandwidth.
Application of an initial APC voltage, which enables the bias at
least 8
s before the VAPC voltage is ramped, will ensure that the
internal bias of the PAM will directly follow the applied VAPC. As a
result, the power control loop will define all edge transitions
rather than the PA internal bandwidth defining the transition.
Figure 11 and Figure 12 show the relationships of the internal
bias relative to the applied APC in two cases. One case has
ramping starting from ground; the other case has ramping
starting with an initial enable pedestal of 700 mV. It is evident that
the pedestal level is critical to ensure a predictable and well
behaved power control loop.
To enable the CMOS driver in the PAM prior to ramp-up, a PAC
output pedestal level to the APC input of the PAM (pin 14) should
be set to about 700 mV. This pedestal level should have a
duration of at least 8 ms directly prior to the start of ramp up.
Figure 13 shows typical signals and timings measured in a GSM
transmitter power control loop. This particular example is at GSM
Power Level 5, Channel 62. The oscilloscope traces are
TxVCO_enable, PAC_enable, DAC Ramp, and VAPC (pin 14).
NOTE:
When the TxVCO is enabled, the pedestal becomes set at
the APC input of the PAM, then the PAC is enabled, and
finally the DAC ramp begins.
The device specifications for enable threshold level and switching
delay are shown in Table 3.
Figure 11. PAM Internal Bias Performance—No Pedestal Applied
Figure 12. PAM Internal Bias Performance—Pedestal Applied
Figure 13. GSM Transmitter – Typical Ramp-up Signals