Multi-mode selectable modulation architecture calibration and power control apparatus, system, and method for radio frequency power amplifier

• US 20070183531A1
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eagle Technology, LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: M/A Com, Inc. (MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ahmed, Walid Khairy, Douglas, Dale
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/297
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3047 for intermittent signals, e.g. burst signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

A control input signal to select a modulation architecture. When a first modulation architecture is selected based on the control input signal, a time varying and substantially known baseband bias control signal is applied to a bias input of a power amplification module and a time varying and substantially known baseband modulation envelope signal is applied to an input of the power amplification module. When a second modulation architecture is selected based on the control input signal, the time varying and substantially known baseband modulation envelope signal is applied to the bias input of the power amplification module and the time varying and substantially known baseband bias control signal is applied to the input of the power amplification module.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a modulation architecture, comprising:

receiving a control input signal to select a modulation architecture;

when a first modulation architecture is selected based on said control input signal;

applying a time varying and substantially known baseband bias control signal to a bias input of a power amplification module; and

applying a time varying and substantially known baseband modulation envelope signal to an input of said power amplification module; and

when a second modulation architecture is selected based on said control input signal;

applying said time varying and substantially known baseband modulation envelope signal to said bias input of said power amplification module; and

applying said time varying and substantially known baseband bias control signal to said input of said power amplification module.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving a first signal from said input of said power amplification module;

receiving a second signal from an output of said power amplification module;

producing a third signal using either one of said first and second signals;

mixing said first and said second signals to produce a first signal component;

mixing said first and said third signal to produce a second signal component;

wherein either one of said first and second signal components represents a phase and an amplitude difference between said first and second signals.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

phase shifting either one of said first and second signals by substantially ninety degrees (90°

) to produce said third signal;

mixing said first and said second signals to produce an in-phase first signal component;

mixing said first and said third signal to produce a quadrature second signal component.

4. The method of claim 2, comprising receiving said first and second signals at predetermined times.

5. The method of claim 2, comprising:

selecting either said first signal or a fourth signal using a first switch; and

selecting either said second signal or a fifth signal using a second switch.

6. The method of claim 2, comprising producing first and second output signals comprising distortion information associated with said second input signal to compensate said second input signal for said distortion.

7. The method of claim 2, comprising receiving said first signal or said second signal from any one of an amplifier, modulator, local oscillator, and other signal generator.

8. The method of claim 2, comprising processing said first signal and said second signal prior to mixing.

9. The method of claim 2, comprising processing said first component and said second signal component.

10. An apparatus to select a modulation architecture, comprising:

a baseband processing module to receive a control input signal to select a modulation architecture; and

a radio frequency (RF) processing module to apply a time varying and substantially known baseband bias control signal to a bias input of a power amplification module and to apply a time varying and substantially known baseband modulation envelope signal to an input of said power amplification module when a first modulation architecture is selected based on said control input signal; and

said RF processing module to apply said time varying and substantially known baseband modulation envelope signal to said bias input of said power amplification module and to apply said time varying and substantially known baseband bias control signal to said input of said power amplification module when a second modulation architecture is selected based on said control input signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a first input to receive a first signal from said input of said power amplification module, said first signal exhibiting a varying phase and a varying and substantially known envelope;

a second input to receive a second signal from an output of said power amplification module;

a first mixer coupled to said first and second inputs to mix said first and said second signals and to produce a first signal component;

a second mixer coupled to said second input and a third signal to mix said first and said third signal to produce a second signal component;

wherein either one of said first and second signal components represents a phase and an amplitude difference between said first and second signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising a phase shifter coupled to either one of said first and second signal to phase shift either one of said first and second signals;

wherein said phase shifter is to phase shift either one of said first and second signals by substantially ninety degrees (90°

) to produce said third signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising:

a first switch having a first and second input terminal to select either said first signal coupled to said first input terminal or a fourth signal coupled to said second input terminal, said selected signal coupled to a first output terminal of said first switch; and

a second switch having a third and fourth input terminal to select either said second signal coupled to said third input terminal or a fifth signal coupled to said fourth input terminal, said selected signal coupled to a second output terminal of said second switch.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising:

a first signal processor coupled to said first output terminal of said first switch and coupled to said first mixer; and

a second signal processor coupled to said second output terminal of said second switch and coupled to said mixer;

wherein any one of said first and second signal processor module is to couple, amplify or attenuate either one of said first and second signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising:

a third signal processor coupled to said first mixer to process said first signal component; and

a fourth signal processor coupled to said second mixer to process said second signal component;

wherein any one of said third and fourth signal processor is to couple, amplify or attenuate either one of said first and second signal components.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising a first and second output to provide first and second output signals comprising distortion information associated with said second input signal to compensate said second input signal for said distortion.

17. A system to select a modulation architecture, comprising:

an amplifier comprising a bias input, an input, and an output; and

a detection module comprising;

a first input coupled to said input of said amplifier to receive a first signal, said first signal exhibiting a time varying and substantially known baseband modulation envelope signal when a first modulation architecture is selected based on a control input signal and said first signal exhibiting time varying and substantially known baseband bias control signal when a second modulation architecture is selected based on said control input signal;

a second input coupled to said output of said amplifier to receive a second signal;

a first mixer coupled to said first and second inputs of said detection module to mix said first and said second signals and to produce a first signal component;

a second mixer coupled to said second input of said detection module to mix said first signal and a third signal and to produce a second signal component;

wherein either one of said first and second signal components represents a phase and an amplitude difference between said first and second signals.

18. The system of claim 17, comprising a phase shifter coupled to either one of said first and second signal to phase shift either one of said first and second signals;

wherein said phase shifter is to phase shift either one of said first and second signals by substantially ninety degrees (90°

) to produce said third signal.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said detection module comprises:

a first switch having a first and second input terminal to select either said first signal coupled to said first input terminal or a fourth signal coupled to said second input terminal, said selected signal coupled to a first output terminal of said first switch; and

a second switch having a third and fourth input terminal to select either said second signal coupled to said third input terminal or a fifth signal coupled to said fourth input terminal, said selected signal coupled to a second output terminal of said second switch.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said detection module comprises:

a first signal processor coupled to said first output terminal of said first switch and coupled to said first mixer; and

a second signal processor coupled to said second output terminal of said second switch and coupled to said mixer;

wherein any one of said first and second signal processor module is to couple, amplify or attenuate either one of said first and second signals.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said detection module comprises:

a third signal processor coupled to said first mixer to process said first signal component; and

a fourth signal processor coupled to said second mixer to process said second signal component;

wherein any one of said third and fourth signal processor is to couple, amplify or attenuate either one of said first and second signal components.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein said detection module comprises a first and second output to provide first and second output signals comprising distortion information associated with said second input signal to compensate said second input signal for said distortion.