Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including a direct cartesian 2-branch embodiment
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
157 Citations
129 Claims
-
1-24. -24. (canceled)
-
25. A method of power amplification, comprising:
-
receiving information;
receiving a frequency reference signal in accordance with a desired output signal frequency;
generating first and second substantially constant envelope signals using said received information and said frequency reference signal;
providing said first and second substantially constant envelope signals to a MISO (multiple input singal output) amplifier comprising two or more circuit branches each comprising one or more transistors, wherein outputs of said transistors in said circuit branches form a single circuit node, wherein said first and second substantially constant envelope signals are simultaneously amplified and combined to create a desired output signal of said MISO amplifier at said single circuit node. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123)
-
-
59. An apparatus for power amplification, comprising:
-
input circuitry that receives information, and that generates in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals from said received information;
vector modulation circuitry, coupled to said input circuitry, that receives said amplitude control signals and a frequency reference signal, and that generates first and second substantially constant envelope signals using said frequency reference signal and said amplitude control signals; and
power amplification circuitry, coupled to said vector modulation circuitry, that comprises two or more circuit branches each comprising one or more transistors, wherein outputs of said transistors in said circuit branches form a single circuit node, wherein said first and second substantially constant envelope signals are simultaneously amplified and combined at said single circuit node of said power amplification circuitry to create a desired output signal. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 128, 129)
-
-
106. An apparatus for power amplification, comprising:
-
input circuitry that includes digital control circuitry and one or more digital-to-analog converters;
vector modulation circuitry, coupled to said input circuitry, that includes one or more vector modulators; and
power amplification circuitry, coupled to said vector modulation circuitry, that includes one or more transistors, wherein outputs of said transistors form a single circuit node, wherein outputs of said vector modulation circuitry are simultaneously amplified and combined at said single circuit node to create a desired output signal of said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (107, 108, 109, 124, 125, 126, 127)
-
-
110. An apparatus for power amplification, comprising:
-
input circuitry that receives information, and that generates in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals from said received information;
mixer circuitry, coupled to said input circuitry, that receives said amplitude control signals and a frequency reference signal, and that generates first and second substantially constant envelope signals using said frequency reference signal and said amplitude control signals; and
power amplification circuitry, coupled to said mixer circuitry, that comprises two or more circuit branches each comprising one or more transistors, wherein outputs of said transistors in said circuit branches form a single circuit node, wherein said first and second substantially constant envelope signals are simultaneously amplified and combined at said single circuit node of said power amplification circuitry to create a desired output signal. - View Dependent Claims (111, 112, 113)
-
-
114. An apparatus for power amplification, comprising:
-
input circuitry that receives information, and that generates in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals from said received information;
phase shifter circuitry, coupled to said input circuitry, that receives said amplitude control signals and a frequency reference signal, and that generates first and second substantially constant envelope signals using said frequency reference signal and said amplitude control signals; and
power amplification circuitry, coupled to phase shifter circuitry, that comprises two or more circuit branches each comprising one or more transistors, wherein outputs of said transistors in said circuit branches form a single circuit node, wherein said first and second substantially constant envelope signals are simultaneously amplified and combined at said single circuit node of said power amplification circuitry to create a desired output signal. - View Dependent Claims (115, 116, 117)
-
Specification