Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including architectural embodiments of same

• US 20070249301A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Rawlins, Gregory S., Sorrells, David F., Rawlins, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/118
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/165 at least two frequency changers being located in different paths, e.g. in two paths with carriers in quadrature combined with amplitude demodulation H03D1/2245, combined with angle demodulation H03D3/007; N-path filters H03H19/002
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/30 Modifications of amplifiers to reduce influence of variations of temperature or supply voltage or other physical parameters in differential amplifiers H03F3/45479
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3241 using predistortion circuits H03F1/3211, H03F1/3217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 17/08 Networks for phase shifting
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/21 providing two or more phase shifted output signals, e.g. n-phase output
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, comprising:

a digital control module in accordance with FIG. 57; and

analog circuitry in accordance with FIGS. 61 A-D coupled to said digital control module;

wherein said digital control module comprises;

an input interface;

an output interface; and

a state machine;

wherein said analog circuitry comprises;

one or more circuit signal paths, each of said circuit signal paths enabling RF transmission in a respective frequency band;

wherein each of said circuit signal paths comprises one or more output paths, each of said output paths enabling RF transmission according to a respective technology mode.