Method and apparatus for discrete power synthesis of multicarrier signals with constant envelope power amplifiers
First Claim
1. A power synthesizer comprising a plurality of n stages in parallel with one another, wherein n is an integer at least equal to two, each of the n stages comprising:
- a modulator and a discrete amplitude amplifier in series with one another, each nth discrete amplitude amplifier for applying a gain that is unique as compared to all other of the discrete amplitude amplifiers; and
an actuator for simultaneously switching the n modulators.
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Abstract
A power synthesizer is in several (n) discrete stages, each stage having a discrete amplitude, constant envelope amplifier coupled in series with a continuous phase modulator. Each modulator is actuated simultaneously, but not necessarily to modulate the signal phase similarly. For circuit power combining, the modulators are coupled to inputs of the amplifiers, while the separately modulated and amplified bits are combined prior to being fed to the antenna. For spatial power combining, each modulator is coupled to the input of an amplifier which in turn feeds one of several antennas. Each stage operates on one bit, and each successive nth stage amplifies the input bit by a factor of a0/2n-1. Preferably, a discrete amplitude generator converts an (analog) output of an IFFT block to a binary sequence, and each bit is fed to a separate stage. The power synthesizer converts a digital output of the discrete amplitude generator to analog at RF rather than at baseband, rendering a baseband DAC, and a separate upconverter, unnecessary.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A power synthesizer comprising
a plurality of n stages in parallel with one another, wherein n is an integer at least equal to two, each of the n stages comprising: -
a modulator and a discrete amplitude amplifier in series with one another, each nth discrete amplitude amplifier for applying a gain that is unique as compared to all other of the discrete amplitude amplifiers; and
an actuator for simultaneously switching the n modulators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 30, 31)
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8. (canceled)
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13. In a transmitter comprising, in series, an encoder, a serial to parallel converter, a parallel to serial converter for outputting a digital signal at baseband, and at least one transmit antenna, the improvement comprising:
a power synthesizer block comprising at least two discrete amplifier stages in parallel, each stage disposed between the parallel to serial converter and the at least one transmit antenna, and each discrete amplifier stage comprises a discrete amplitude amplifier for applying a gain that differs from that applied by each other discrete amplitude amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 32, 33)
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23. A method of transmitting a signal on a multicarrier communication channel comprising:
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providing a separate bit of a bit stream on each of n parallel inputs each bit of the bit stream representing a different significance;
for each of the n parallel inputs, controlling a phase of the input bit and amplifying a power of the input bit at a power that is unique respecting all other n parallel inputs;
combining all n phase controlled and amplified bits in one of a spatial manner and a circuit manner. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34, 35)
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36. A power synthesizer comprising:
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a plurality of n stages in parallel with one another, wherein n is an integer at least equal to two, each of the n stages comprising modulating means in series with amplitude amplifying means, wherein each of the n amplitude amplifying means is for applying a gain that is unique as compared to all other of the n amplitude amplifying means; and
actuating means for simultaneously switching the n modulating means. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification