Transmit power amplification control for wireless device

摘要

A system and method are disclosed for controlling transmit power amplification in a wireless transmitting device. A processor receives data to determine whether a communication channel from a transmitting device to a receiving device is strong enough to support a target data transmit rate of the devices with a power amplifier either on or off. The processor controls a switching device between a data transmitter circuit and the transmitter's antenna based on the quality of the communication channel. In a first state, the switching device connects the data transmitter circuit to the power amplifier to increase the strength of the signal communicated to the antenna. In a second state, the switching device bypasses the power amplifier. The power amplifier is turned off when the switch is in the second state, thereby decreasing the power consumed by the transmitting device as it transmits data at the target data transmit rate.

主权项

1. A wireless local area network (WLAN) integrated circuit chip configured to be implemented in a first device, wherein the first device is configured to wirelessly transmit data signals, via an antenna, over a communication channel to a second device, the WLAN integrated circuit chip comprising:
a signal driver configured to output data signals; a switch configured to be controlled to provide the data signals output from the signal driver to at least one of
(i) a power amplifier, wherein the power amplifier amplifies the data signals output from the signal driver prior to the data signals being transmitted, via the antenna, over the communication channel to the second device, or(ii) the antenna so as to bypass the power amplifier; and a transmit power control circuit configured to monitor a quality of the communication channel and to determine whether a transmit rate is at or above a target transmit rate threshold and, wherein
in response to the quality of the communication channel being determined to be above a first predetermined threshold and the transmit rate being at or above the target transmit rate threshold, the transmit power control circuit is configured to control the switch to provide the data signals output from the signal driver to the antenna so as to bypass the power amplifier, andin response to the quality of the communication channel being determined to be below a second predetermined threshold, the transmit power control circuit is configured to control the switch to provide the data signals output from the signal driver to the power amplifier.