TRANSMITTER UTILIZING A DUTY CYCLE ENVELOPE REDUCTION AND RESTORATION MODULATOR
First Claim
1. A method for conserving power over a wide dynamic range in a power amplifier in response to a power level signal indicating a low, medium, or high power range, the method comprising the steps of:
- operating the power amplifier in a duty cycle modulation envelope reduction and restoration (“
DCM ERR”
) mode wherein power output of the power amplifier is selected to be between a first predetermined power threshold and a second predetermined power threshold when the power level signal indicates the medium power range; and
operating the power amplifier in a duty cycle modulation (“
DCM”
) mode wherein power output of the power amplifier is selected to be below the second predetermined power threshold when the power level signal indicates the low power range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A broad power band transmitter utilizing a duty cycle modulator achieves 80dB of power range for 3G signals. The present invention greatly improves the efficiency of transmitters used in mobile phones, for example, by using the duty cycle modulator during medium and low power levels of the transmitting power amplifier. The power amplifier operates in three different modes based upon the amplifier power level selected. The power amplifier operates in an EER mode during high power levels, in a DCM ERR mode during medium power levels, and in a DCM mode during low power levels.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for conserving power over a wide dynamic range in a power amplifier in response to a power level signal indicating a low, medium, or high power range, the method comprising the steps of:
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operating the power amplifier in a duty cycle modulation envelope reduction and restoration (“
DCM ERR”
) mode wherein power output of the power amplifier is selected to be between a first predetermined power threshold and a second predetermined power threshold when the power level signal indicates the medium power range; andoperating the power amplifier in a duty cycle modulation (“
DCM”
) mode wherein power output of the power amplifier is selected to be below the second predetermined power threshold when the power level signal indicates the low power range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for conserving power in an RF transmitter comprising:
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means for generating a power level signal indicating a low, medium, or high power range; and a power amplifier including a supply port and an RF input port, the power amplifier operating in a DCM ERR mode wherein power output of the power amplifier is selected to be between a first predetermined power threshold and a second predetermined power threshold when the power level signal indicates the medium power range, the power amplifier operating in a DCM mode wherein power output of the power amplifier is selected to be below the second predetermined power threshold when the power level signal indicates the low power range. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method for conserving power over a wide dynamic range in a power amplifier having an RF input port and a supply port, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a power level signal indicating a low, medium, or high power range; preparing a first amplitude component, above a predetermined amplitude threshold, a second amplitude component below the predetermined amplitude threshold, and a phase component, based on an in-phase component and a quadrature component; modulating the second amplitude component onto a pulse sequence to generate a duty cycle modulated signal when the power level signal indicates the low or medium power range for the power amplifier causing the power output of the power amplifier to be below a first predetermined power threshold; generating a constant envelope signal from the phase component; combining the duty cycle modulated signal and the constant envelope signal; supplying the combined signal to the RF input port of the power amplifier; and supplying the first amplitude component to the supply port of the power amplifier when the power level signal indicates the medium or high power range for the power amplifier causing the power output of the power amplifier to be above a second predetermined power threshold which is below the first predetermined power threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for conserving power in an RF transmitter comprising:
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means for generating a power level signal indicating a low, medium, or high power range; a power amplifier having an RF input port and a supply port; a signal decomposer preparing a first amplitude component above a predetermined amplitude threshold, a second amplitude component below the predetermined amplitude threshold, and a phase component, based on an in-phase component and a quadrature-phase component; a duty cycle modulator receiving the second amplitude component and modulating the second amplitude component onto a pulse sequence to generate a duty cycle modulated signal, when the power level signal indicates the low or medium power range for the power amplifier causing the power output of the power amplifier to be below a first predetermined power threshold; a constant envelop generator receiving the phase component and generating a constant envelope signal; a combining unit combining the duty cycle modulated signal and the constant envelope signal and supplying the combined signal to the RF input port; and a supply modulator receiving the first amplitude component from the signal decomposer and supplying the first amplitude component to the supply port when the power level signal indicates the medium or high power range for the power amplifier causing the power output of the power amplifier to be above a second predetermined power threshold, which is below the first predetermined power threshold. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification