Communications Transmitter Having High-Efficiency Combination Modulator
First Claim
1. A combination modulator for a communications transmitter, comprising:
- a quadrature modulator configurable to modulate a carrier signal by in-phase and quadrature components representing a message to be transmitted; and
an angle modulator, separate and distinct from said quadrature modulator, coupled to said quadrature modulator and configurable to modulate a carrier signal by an angle component representing a message to be transmitted and also configurable to generate an unmodulated carrier signal for said quadrature modulator when said quadrature modulator is configured to modulate according to in-phase and quadrature components representing a message to be transmitted.
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Abstract
A communications transmitter includes a combination modulator and a baseband processor configured to generate amplitude, angle, in-phase and quadrature signals. The combination modulator is configured to modulate in the quadrature domain or the polar domain, depending on an output power level of the transmitter and/or the type of modulation scheme being used. When configured to modulate in the quadrature domain, the baseband processor is configured to generate time-varying in-phase and quadrature modulating signals and time-invariant amplitude and angle signals for the combination modulator. When configured to modulate in the polar domain, the baseband processor is configured to generate time-varying amplitude and angle modulating signals and time-invariant in-phase and quadrature signals for the combination modulator. In another embodiment of the invention, the communications transmitter is configurable to operate in three different operational modes: linear, envelope tracking and switch modes. Which operational mode the communications transmitter is configured to transmit depends on the type of modulation scheme being used and/or the transmitter output power level.
37 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A combination modulator for a communications transmitter, comprising:
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a quadrature modulator configurable to modulate a carrier signal by in-phase and quadrature components representing a message to be transmitted; and an angle modulator, separate and distinct from said quadrature modulator, coupled to said quadrature modulator and configurable to modulate a carrier signal by an angle component representing a message to be transmitted and also configurable to generate an unmodulated carrier signal for said quadrature modulator when said quadrature modulator is configured to modulate according to in-phase and quadrature components representing a message to be transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A multi-mode communications method for a communications transmitter, comprising:
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generating in-phase, quadrature, amplitude and angle signal components representing a message to be transmitted; modulating a carrier signal in the quadrature domain using said in-phase and/or quadrature signal components while holding the amplitude and angle signal components constant or in the polar domain using said amplitude and/or angle signal components while holding said in-phase and quadrature components constant; and configuring an amplifier to amplify the modulated carrier signal in a linear mode, envelope tracking (ET) mode, or switch mode, wherein which one of said linear, ET and switch modes said amplifier is configured to operate is dependent on an output power level the communications transmitter is set or directed to transmit.
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11. A multi-mode communications method for a communications transmitter, comprising:
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generating in-phase, quadrature, amplitude and angle signal components representing a message to be transmitted; modulating a carrier signal in the quadrature domain using said in-phase and/or quadrature signal components while holding the amplitude and angle signal components constant or in the polar domain using said amplitude and/or angle signal components while holding said in-phase and quadrature components constant; and configuring an amplifier to amplify the modulated carrier signal in a linear mode, envelope tracking (ET) mode, or switch mode, wherein which one of said linear, ET and switch modes said amplifier is configured to operate is dependent on the type of modulation scheme being employed or a characteristic or property of the modulated carrier signal.
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12. A multi-mode communications method for a communications transmitter, comprising:
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generating in-phase, quadrature, amplitude and angle baseband components representing a message to be transmitted; applying said in-phase, quadrature, amplitude, and angle baseband components to in-phase, quadrature, amplitude, and angle inputs a combination modulator that is configurable to modulate in the quadrature domain and alternatively in the polar domain; and using said combination modulator, modulating a carrier signal by said in-phase and quadrature baseband components while maintaining the amplitude and angle inputs of the combination modulator constant or, alternatively, modulating the carrier signal by said amplitude and angle baseband components while maintaining the in-phase and quadrature inputs of the combination modulator constant. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification