Apparatus, system, and method for digital base modulation of power amplifier in polar transmitter

• US 20070146090A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eagle Technology, LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: M/A-Com Eurotec BV (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Carey, Eoin, Nagle, Pierce
• Granted Patent: US 8,884,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 332/112
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 5/00 Amplitude modulation and angle modulation produced simultaneously or at will by the same modulating signal H03C7/00 takes precedence

Abstract

An amplifier receives an amplitude signal of a polar modulated signal at a base terminal of a transistor and receives a phase modulated carrier signal of the polar modulated signal at the base terminal of the transistor. The amplifier combines the amplitude signal and the phase modulated signal to produce a full complex waveform at a collector terminal of the transistor.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an amplitude signal of a polar modulated signal at a base terminal of a transistor;

receiving a phase modulated carrier signal of said polar modulated signal at said base terminal of said transistor; and

combining said amplitude signal and said phase modulated signal to produce a full complex waveform at a collector terminal of said transistor.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising pre-distorting said amplitude signal to compensate for non-linearity of said transistor.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising pre-distorting said phase modulated carrier signal to compensate for non-linearity of said transistor.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving digital segment control signals at an input portion of a digital to analog converter; and

producing said polar modulated signal at an output portion of said digital to analog converter.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving a power supply signal; and

combining said phase modulated carrier signal and said amplitude signal with said power supply signal.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising:

adjusting a voltage at a collector terminal of said transistor under backed off conditions in accordance with output power of said transistor.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a first amplifier to receive a first amplitude signal of a polar modulated signal at a base terminal of a first transistor;

to receive a first phase modulated carrier signal of said polar modulated signal at said base terminal of said first transistor; and

to combine said first amplitude signal and said first phase modulated signal to produce a first full complex waveform at a collector terminal of said first transistor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising an amplitude correction module to pre-distort said amplitude signal to compensate for non-linearity of said transistor.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising a phase correction module to pre-distort said first phase modulated carrier signal to compensate for non-linearity of said first transistor.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising a digital to analog converter to receive digital segment control signals at an input portion to produce said polar modulated signal at an output portion of said digital to analog converter.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising an interface module to receive a power supply signal and to combine said first phase modulated carrier signal and said first amplitude signal with said power supply signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said interface module is to adjust a voltage at a collector terminal of said first transistor under backed off conditions in accordance with output power of said first transistor.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising:

a second amplifier to receive a second amplitude signal of said polar modulated signal at a base terminal of a second transistor;

to receive a second phase modulated carrier signal of said polar modulated signal at said base terminal of said second transistor; and

to combine said second amplitude signal and said second phase modulated signal to produce a second full complex waveform at a collector terminal of said second transistor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising a mode select switch to select either said first amplifier or said second amplifier.

15. An system, comprising:

a first antenna; and

a first amplifier coupled to said first antenna, said first amplifier to receive a first amplitude signal of a polar modulated signal at a base terminal of a first transistor;

to receive a first phase modulated carrier signal of said polar modulated signal at said base terminal of said first transistor; and

to combine said first amplitude signal and said first phase modulated signal to produce a first full complex waveform at a collector terminal of said first transistor.

16. The system of claim 15, comprising an amplitude correction module to pre-distort said amplitude signal to compensate for non-linearity of said transistor.

17. The system of claim 15, comprising a phase correction module to pre-distort said first phase modulated carrier signal to compensate for non-linearity of said first transistor.

18. The system of claim 15, comprising a digital to analog converter to receive digital segment control signals at an input portion to produce said polar modulated signal at an output portion of said digital to analog converter.

19. The system of claim 15, comprising an interface module to receive a power supply signal and to combine said first phase modulated carrier signal and said first amplitude signal with said power supply signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said interface module is to adjust a voltage at a collector terminal of said first transistor under backed off conditions in accordance with output power of said first transistor.

21. The system of claim 15, comprising:

a second antenna; and

a second amplifier coupled to said second antenna, said second amplifier to receive a second amplitude signal of said polar modulated signal at a base terminal of a second transistor;

to receive a second phase modulated carrier signal of said polar modulated signal at said base terminal of said second transistor; and

to combine said second amplitude signal and said second phase modulated signal to produce a second full complex waveform at a collector terminal of said second transistor.

22. The system of claim 21, comprising a mode select switch to select either said first amplifier or said second amplifier.