Method and apparatus for amplifying, modulating and demodulating
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for processing a first signal to generate a second signal, the processing arrangement comprising:
- input means for receiving said first signal and generating first and second process reference signals of said first signal;
first and second feedback loops, each loop comprising a voltage controlled oscillator responsive to a control signal for generating a loop output signal and a comparator for generating the control signal;
combining means for combining the loop output signals from each loop for deriving the second signal;
means for providing first and second feedback loop operating signals, dependent on the combined loop output signals from the combining means and in phase quadrature with one another;
the feedback loop operating signals being applied to corresponding inputs of the comparators of the first and second loops, respectively, andanother input of each comparator being coupled to receive a respective one of said first and second process reference signals.
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Abstract
A highly efficient linear amplifier and/or modulator and demodulator comprising first and second feedback loops is provided. Each loop processes a component of the input signal and the component signals are recombined at, for example, a summing junction 18. The feedback signals for each loop are dependent upon the output signal and are in phase quadrature. The input signal is separated into I and Q signals, which are also in phase quadrature, by a component separator 10.
115 Citations
32 Claims
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1. Apparatus for processing a first signal to generate a second signal, the processing arrangement comprising:
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input means for receiving said first signal and generating first and second process reference signals of said first signal; first and second feedback loops, each loop comprising a voltage controlled oscillator responsive to a control signal for generating a loop output signal and a comparator for generating the control signal; combining means for combining the loop output signals from each loop for deriving the second signal; means for providing first and second feedback loop operating signals, dependent on the combined loop output signals from the combining means and in phase quadrature with one another; the feedback loop operating signals being applied to corresponding inputs of the comparators of the first and second loops, respectively, and another input of each comparator being coupled to receive a respective one of said first and second process reference signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17)
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14. Apparatus for processing a first signal to generate a second signal, the processing arrangement comprising:
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input means for receiving said first signal and generating first and second process reference signals of said first signal; first and second feedback loops, each loop comprising a voltage controlled oscillator responsive to a control signal for generating a loop output signal and a comparator for generating the control signal; combining means for combining the loop output signals from each loop for deriving the second signal; means for providing first and second feedback loop operating signals, dependent on the combined loop output signals from the combining means and in phase quadrature with one another; the feedback loop operating signals being applied to corresponding inputs of the comparators of the first and second loops, respectively, and another input of each comparator being coupled to receive a respective one of said first and second process reference signals; detection means for detecting zero crossings in one of the first signal or the envelope thereof; and noise-reduction switching means for changing over the voltage controlled oscillator between loops when a zero crossing is detected by the detection means.
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18. A method of processing a first signal to generate from said first signal a second signal comprising the steps of:
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providing said first signal and generating first and second process reference signals of said first signal; using first and second feedback loops, to generate a loop output signal for each loop having a frequency which is variable in response to a control signal; combining the loop output signals from each loop for deriving the second signal; generating feedback loop operating signals, in phase quadrature with one another, from the, combined loop output signals; and comparing each feedback loop operating signal with a respective one of said first and second process reference signals to provide the respective control signals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. Apparatus for demodulating an input signal having an associated carrier frequency, comprising:
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a summing circuit for combining the input signal to be demodulated with first and second feedback signals to output an error signal; first and second feedback loops each receiving the error signal from the summing circuit and providing to the summing circuit said first and second feedback signals replicating Cartesian components of the input signal; an oscillator for providing to said first and second feedback loops corresponding first and second operating signals at the carrier frequency but in phase quadrature with one another; and each loop comprising; a comparator for generating a control signal derived at least in part from the error signal, and a voltage controlled oscillator having at least one of a frequency or phase characteristic which varies in response to the control signal, the oscillator generating in response to the control signal one of the first and second feedback signals; and first and second out-of-loop mixers, one associated with each of said first and second feedback loops, for receiving corresponding ones of the first and second operating signals and first and second feedback signals for outputting therefrom respective output signals. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of demodulating an input signal having an associated carrier frequency, comprising the steps of:
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combining the input signal to be demodulated at a summing circuit with first and second feedback signals for producing an error signal therefrom; receiving the error signal from the summing circuit at first and second feedback loops and providing to the summing circuit from the loops said first and second feedback signals replicating Cartesian components of the input signal; providing to said first and second feedback loops corresponding first and second operating signals at the carrier frequency but in phase quadrature with one another; and within each loop; mixing, within the loop, a corresponding first and second operating signal with the error signal to output an in-loop mixed signal, comparing the in-loop mixed signal to a reference signal to generate a control signal, and generating a voltage controlled oscillation signal having at least one of a frequency or phase characteristic which varies in response to the control signal to thereby generate in response to the control signal one of the first and second feedback signals; receiving, at mixers outside of the loops, corresponding ones of the first and second operating signals and corresponding ones of the first and second feedback signals to provide respective output signals associated with each of said loops. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification