QUECTEL RG50xQ&RM5xxQ Series Thermal Management Instructions
- June 4, 2024
- QUECTEL
Table of Contents
QUECTEL RG50xQ&RM5xxQ Series Thermal Management
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About the Document
Revision History
Introduction
This document describes the use and AT commands related to the software thermal mitigation mechanism on Quectel 5G RG50xQ series and RM5xxQ series modules. When the temperature reaches the specific threshold, any thermal mitigation strategy can be adopted to cool down the module.
Applicable Modules
Table 1: Applicable Modules
AT Command Description
AT Command Introduction
Definitions
- < CR>
- Carriage return character.
- < LF>
- Line feed character.
- < …>
- Parameter name. Angle brackets do not appear on the command line.
- […]
- Optional parameter of a command or an optional part of TA information response. Square brackets do not appear on the command line. When an optional parameter is not given in a command, the new value equals to its previous value or the default settings, unless otherwise specified.
- Underline
- The default setting of a parameter.
AT Command Syntax
All command lines must start with AT or at and end with
Table 2: Types of AT Commands
Declaration of AT Command Examples
The AT command examples in this document are provided to help you learn about how to use the AT commands introduced herein. The examples, however, should not be taken as Quectel’s recommendation or suggestions about how you should design a program flow or what status you should set the module into. Sometimes multiple examples may be provided for one AT command. However, this does not mean that there exists a correlation among these examples, or that they should be executed in a given sequence.
AT+QTEMP Query Module Temperature
This command queries the module’s specific temperature.
AT+QTEMP Query Module Temperature
Test Command
AT+QTEMP=?
| Response
OK
Execution Command| Response
AT+QTEMP| +QTEMP:
| …
| OK
Maximum Response Time| 300 ms
Characteristics| /
Parameter
- < sensor> String type. Sensor type.
-
- “qfe_wtr_pa0” QPM5621 – 4G/5G low band ET PA module
- “qfe_wtr_pa1” QPM5670 – 4G/5G mid/high band ET PA module
- “qfe_wtr_pa2” QPM5677 – 5G LB/MB GHz ET PA module
- “qfe_wtr_pa3” QPM6585 – 5G n41 PA module
- “aoss0-usr” Always-on subsystem unit
- “mdm-q6-usr” DSP processor
- “ipa-usr” IP accelerator unit
- “cpu0-a7-usr” ARM processor
- “mdm-5g-usr” Modem processor core1
- “mdm-vpe-usr” Modem processor core3
- “ mdm-core-usr” Modem processor core3
- “ xo-therm-usr” Crystal oscillator
- “sdx-case-therm-usr” BB chipset
- “ambient-therm-usr” Ambient temperature detection
- < temp> Integer type. Unit: ºC.
Example
AT+QTEMP //Query the module’s specific temperature
- +QTEMP:”qfe_wtr_pa0 “,”35”
- +QTEMP:” qfe_wtr_pa1″,”32″
- +QTEMP:” qfe_wtr_pa2″,”30″
- +QTEMP:” qfe_wtr_pa3″,”29″
- +QTEMP:” aoss0-usr”,”31″
- +QTEMP:” mdm-q6-usr”,”30″
- +QTEMP:” ipa-usr”,”30″
- +QTEMP:” cpu0-a7-usr”,”31″
- +QTEMP:” mdm-5g-usr”,”30″
- +QTEMP:” mdm-vpe-usr”,”30″
- +QTEMP:” mdm-core-usr”,”30″
- +QTEMP:” xo-therm-usr”,”29″
- +QTEMP:” sdx-case-therm-usr”,”29″
- +QTEMP:” ambient-therm-usr”,”29″
OK
NOTE
When the queried temperature is 0 ºC or -273 ºC, it means that the current sensor is inactive, and the corresponding parameter for temperature query is invalid.
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem” Set PA Thermal Mitigation Level
This command sets the PA thermal mitigation level. When the module temperature
reaches the
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem” **Set PA Thermal Mitigation Level**
Write Command| Response| | |
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem”| If the optional parameters are omitted,|
return| the| current
[,
| +QCFG: “thermal5g/modem”,1,
| +QCFG: “thermal5g/modem”,2,
+QCFG: “thermal5g/modem”,3,
If the optional parameters are specified, set the thermal mitigation level of PA:
OK
Or
ERROR
---|---
Maximum Response Time| 300 ms
Characteristics| The command takes effect after rebooting.
The configurations will be saved automatically.
Parameter
- < level>
- Integer type. Thermal mitigation level.
- 1 Level 1, limits uplink data throughput rate (See Chapter 3.1.1)
- 2 Level 2 , restricts PA power and limits UL data throughput rate simultaneously (See Chapter 3.1.2)
- 3 Level 3 , enters Limited Service Mode. In Limited Service Mode, data calls are not allowed, and the UE only allows emergency voice calls. (See Chapter 3.1.3)
- < trig>
- Integer type. Temperature threshold for triggering thermal mitigation. Range: 0–120. Unit: ºC.
- When
=1, is the temperature threshold for limiting UL data throughput rate. - Default value : 105.
- When
=2, is the temperature threshold for restricting transmission power (PA output power) and limiting UL data throughput rate simultaneously. - Default value : 110.
- When
=3, is the temperature threshold for entering Limited Service Mode. - Default value : 115.
- < clr>
- Integer type. Temperature threshold for cancelling thermal mitigation. Range: 0–120. Unit: ºC.
- When
=1, is the temperature threshold to stop limiting UL data throughput rate. - Default value : 100.
- When
=2, is the temperature threshold for restricting the PA power and limiting - UL data throughput rate simultaneously. Default value: 105.
- When
=3, is the temperature threshold for exiting the Limited Service Mode. - Default value: 110.
Example
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem”,1,105,100
//Cool down the device by limiting UL data throughput rate at Level 1. If the
temperature reaches 105 ºC, it limits the UL data throughput rate; if the
temperature drops below 100 ºC, it stops limiting UL data throughput rate and
exits from Level 1.
OK
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem” //Query the current thermal mitigation strategy
level
- +QCFG: “ thermal5g/modem”,1,105,100
- +QCFG: “ thermal5g/modem”,2,110,105
- +QCFG: “thermal5g/modem”,3,115,110
OK
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/mdm” Set MDM Thermal Mitigation Level
This command sets the MDM thermal mitigation level. When the module
temperature reaches
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/mdm” **Set Thermal Mitigation Level of MDM**
Write Command AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/mdm”[, < level>,
If the optional parameters are omitted, return the current configuration:
+QCFG: “thermal5g/mdm”,1,
+QCFG: “thermal5g/mdm”,2,
+QCFG: “thermal5g/mdm”,3,
If the optional parameters are specified, set the thermal mitigation level of MDM:
OK
Or
ERROR
Maximum Response Time| 300 ms
Characteristics| The command takes effect after rebooting.
The configurations will be saved automatically.
Parameter
- < level>
- Integer type. Thermal mitigation level.
- 1 Level 1 (Currently not supported)
- 2 Level 2, performs LTE fallback (see Chapter 3.2.1)
- 3 Level 3, enters Limited Service Mode. In Limited Service Mode, data calls are not allowed. The UE only allows emergency voice calls. (See Chapter 3.2.2)
- < trig>
- Integer type. Temperature threshold for triggering thermal mitigation.
- Range : 0–120. Unit: ºC.
- When
=1, is the temperature threshold of Level 1. Default value: 100. (Currently not supported) - When
=2, is the temperature threshold of LTE fallback. Default value: 105. - When
=3, is the temperature threshold for entering Limited Service Mode. - Default value : 110.
- < clr>
- Integer type. Temperature threshold for cancelling thermal mitigation. Range: 0–120. Unit: ºC.
- When
=1, is the temperature threshold of Level 1. Default value: 97. (Currently not supported) - When
=2, is the temperature threshold for cancelling LTE fallback. Default value: 98. - When
=3, is the temperature threshold for exiting Limited Service Mode. Default - value: 103.
Example
- AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/mdm”,2,105,98 //Cool down the device by limiting UL data throughput rate at Level 1. If the temperature reaches 105 ºC, it limits the UL data throughput rate; if the temperature drops below 100 ºC, it stops limiting UL data throughput rate and exits from Level 1.
- OK
- AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/mdm” //Query the current thermal mitigation strategy level of MDM.
- +QCFG: “thermal5g/mdm”,1,100,97
- +QCFG: “thermal5g/mdm”,2,105,98
- +QCFG: “thermal5g/mdm”,3,110,103
- OK
Thermal Mitigation Strategy
Table 3: Thermal Mitigation Strategy
5G NR Sub-6 GHz PA
Limit UL Data Throughput Rate
Limit UL Data Throughput Rate
- PUSCH transmission duty cycle is limited and the PA ON time is reduced by limiting the uplink throughput rate so that PA temperature is lowered.
- By executing AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem”,1,
, , the module limits the UL throughput rate at different target rates based on the configured temperature thresholds within a certain period. - Taking AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem”,1,105,100 as an example, the thermal mitigation strategy is as follows:
- When the temperature obtained by any sensor from “qfe_wtr_pax0” to “qfe_wtr_pax3” reaches 105 ºC, the module will automatically limit the UL throughput rate; PA will be turned off when there is no data transmission. After entering Level 1 (temperature mitigation level), the initial target rate is reduced to 100 Mbps by default. In addition, the target UL throughput rate will be reduced by 20 Mbps every 15 s until it is down to 20 Mbps/s or the module exits Level 1. After entering Level 1, the uplink data are transmitted in cycles of 130 ms transmission periods and 130 ms stop periods. During the stop period, the PA is temporarily powered off to reduce PA output power.
NOTE
The principle of limiting the uplink data throughput rate and intermittently transmitting data is that the UE reports a false BSR to the base station, and the base station controls the UL channel throughput rate of the UE.
Restrict PA Power
Restricting the PA power is a good way to lighten PA workload. By executing
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem”,2,
Table 4: PA Power Back-off Information
| Parameter Type | Parameter Name | Value Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Reference power back-off | _Pbackoff | 3 dBm |
| Maximum power back-off | _Maxbackoff | 15 dBm The power |
back-off sequence
(e.g. initial transmission power is
Duration of normal power| _Ton| 30 ms 21 dBm):
Duration of power back-off| _Toff| 21 dBm, 18 dBm, 15 dBm, 15
30 ms dBm, 15 dBm…
Detection cycle| _Steptimer| 15 s
NOTE
When the module enters Level 2, the thermal mitigation mechanism of Level 1 takes effect at the same time, that is, executing reducing the uplink data transmission rate and the PA power at the same time.
Enter Limited Service Mode
If the temperature mitigation cannot provide cooling down of the module by
limiting the uplink data throughput rate and restricting PA power, the module
will stop all services to protect the hardware from damage due to overheating.
According to the temperature threshold set with
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem”,3,
Taking AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/modem”,3,115,110 as an example, when the temperature
obtained by any sensor from “qfe_wtr_pax0” to “qfe_wtr_pax3” reaches 115 ºC,
the module enters Level 3. After entering Level 3, the module allows only
emergency voice calls.
NOTE
After executing thermal mitigation in Level 3, the module can work normally again only when the temperature of the module is lower than the temperature threshold for exiting Level 1, that is, the highest temperature value obtained by any sensor (“qfe_wtr_pax0” to “qfe_wtr_pax3”) falls below the temperature threshold for terminating the lowering of the uplink rate.
5G NR Sub-6 GHz MDM
Back off to LTE
When the module is in 5G NSA, falling back to LTE backoff is performed to
reduce MDM CPU workload and PA power consumption to cool down the module after
executing AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/mdm”,2,
NOTE
The network falls back to LTE only under 5G NSA and no operation is performed under 5G SA.
Enter Limited Service Mode
When the temperature rises to 110 ºC, the module enters Level 3 and stops all
services to protect the hardware from damage due to overheating
AT+QCFG=”thermal5g/mdm”,3,
NOTE
After executing thermal mitigation in Level 3, the module can only work again only when the temperature of the module is lower than the temperature threshold of exiting Level 1.
LTE PA
The PA thermal mitigation strategy under LTE is the same as that of 5G NR Sub- 6GHz PA, see Chapter 3.1 for more information.
Appendix Reference
Table 5: Terms and Abbreviations
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