Techniques for Adaptive Predistortion Direct Current Offset Correction in a Transmitter

• US 20100048149A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Tang, Clive K., Xu, Bing
• Granted Patent: US 8,412,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/114.300
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3247 using feedback acting on predistortion circuits H03F1/3264 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2201/3233 Adaptive predistortion using lookup table, e.g. memory, RAM, ROM, LUT, to generate the predistortion
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0475 with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion H04B1/0483 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/06 Dc level restoring means; Bias distortion correction ; Decision circuits providing symbol by symbol detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/366 Arrangements for compensating undesirable properties of the transmission path between the modulator and the demodulator

Abstract

A technique for performing adaptive predistortion in a transmitter includes receiving, at a first input of an error signal unit, a delayed version of a baseband input signal. The technique also includes receiving, at a second input of the error signal unit, a power amplifier feedback signal from an output of a power amplifier. An input error signal that corresponds to a difference between the delayed version of the baseband input signal and the power amplifier feedback signal is then provided at an output of the error signal unit. The input error signal is then received at an input of a signal conditioner. An adjusted error signal that has a lower direct current offset than the input error signal is provided at an output of the signal conditioner.

Claims

1. An adaptive predistortion unit for a transmitter, comprising:

an error signal unit having a first input configured to receive a delayed version of a baseband input signal, a second input configured to receive a power amplifier feedback signal from an output of a power amplifier, and an output configured to provide an input error signal that corresponds to a difference between the delayed version of the baseband input signal and the power amplifier feedback signal; and

a signal conditioner having an input configured to receive the input error signal and an output configured to provide an adjusted error signal that has a lower direct current offset than the input error signal.

2. The adaptive predistortion unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a delay unit including an input configured to receive the baseband input signal and an output configured to provide the delayed version of the baseband input signal.

3. The adaptive predistortion unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a look-up table including multiple predistortion functions, wherein one of the multiple predistortion functions is selected based on the adjusted error signal to provide a function for multiplication with the baseband input signal.

4. The adaptive predistortion unit of claim 3, further comprising:

a predistortion adjustment unit configured to multiply the selected one of the multiple predistortion functions with the baseband input signal.

5. The adaptive predistortion unit of claim 1, wherein the signal conditioner further comprises:

a direct current distortion estimator including an input configured to receive the input error signal and an output configured to provide an estimated distortion signal; and

a summer including a first input configured to receive the input error signal, a second input configured to receive the estimated distortion signal, and an output configured to provide the adjusted error signal, wherein the adjusted error signal corresponds to a difference between the input error signal and the estimated distortion signal.

6. The adaptive predistortion unit of claim 5, wherein the direct current distortion estimator comprises a moving average block filter.

7. The adaptive predistortion unit of claim 5, wherein the direct current distortion estimator comprises a finite impulse response filter.

8. The adaptive predistortion unit of claim 5, wherein the direct current distortion estimator comprises an infinite impulse response filter.

9. A method for performing adaptive predistortion in a transmitter, comprising:

receiving, at a first input of an error signal unit, a delayed version of a baseband input signal;

receiving, at a second input of the error signal unit, a power amplifier feedback signal from an output of a power amplifier;

providing, at an output of the error signal unit, an input error signal that corresponds to a difference between the delayed version of the baseband input signal and the power amplifier feedback signal;

receiving, at an input of a signal conditioner, the input error signal; and

providing, at an output of the signal conditioner, an adjusted error signal that has a lower direct current offset than the input error signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, at an input of a delay unit, the baseband input signal; and

providing, at an output of the delay unit, the delayed version of the baseband input signal.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

selecting, from a look-up table that includes multiple predistortion functions, one of the multiple predistortion functions based on the adjusted error signal to provide a function for multiplication with the baseband input signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

multiplying the selected one of the multiple predistortion functions with the baseband input signal.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, at an input of a direct current distortion estimator, the input error signal;

providing, at an output of the direct current distortion estimator, an estimated distortion signal;

receiving, at a first input of a summer, the input error signal;

receiving, at a second input of a summer, the estimated distortion signal; and

providing, at an output of a summer, the adjusted error signal, wherein the adjusted error signal corresponds to a difference between the input error signal and the estimated distortion signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the direct current distortion estimator is selected from a group consisting of a moving average block filter, a finite impulse response filter, and an infinite impulse response filter.

15. A transmitter, comprising:

a power amplifier; and

an adaptive predistortion unit, comprising;

an error signal unit having a first input configured to receive a delayed version of a baseband input signal, a second input configured to receive a power amplifier feedback signal from an output of the power amplifier, and an output configured to provide an input error signal that corresponds to a difference between the delayed version of the baseband input signal and the power amplifier feedback signal; and

a signal conditioner having an input configured to receive the input error signal and an output configured to provide an adjusted error signal that has a lower direct current offset than the input error signal, wherein lowering the direct current offset associated with the input error signal reduces a transmitted signal distortion associated with the power amplifier.

16. The transmitter of claim 15, wherein the adaptive predistortion unit further comprises:

a look-up table including multiple predistortion functions, wherein one of the multiple predistortion functions is selected based on the adjusted error signal to provide a function for multiplication with the baseband input signal.

17. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein the adaptive predistortion unit further comprises:

a predistortion adjustment unit configured to multiply the selected one of the multiple predistortion functions times the baseband input signal.

18. The transmitter of claim 15, wherein the adaptive predistortion unit further comprises:

a delay unit including an input configured to receive the baseband input signal and an output configured to provide the delayed version of the baseband input signal.

19. The transmitter of claim 15, wherein the signal conditioner further comprises:

a direct current distortion estimator including an input configured to receive the input error signal and an output configured to provide an estimated distortion signal; and

a summer including a first input configured to receive the input error signal, a second input configured to receive the estimated distortion signal, and an output configured to provide the adjusted error signal, wherein the adjusted error signal corresponds to a difference between the input error signal and the estimated distortion signal.

20. The transmitter of claim 19, wherein the direct current distortion estimator is selected from a group consisting of a moving average block filter, a finite impulse response filter, and an infinite impulse response filter.