Waste energy control and management in power amplifiers

• US 5,771,444 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson), Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Dent, Paul W., Lampe, Ross Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/481,868
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343, 455/127, 455/38.3, 455/33.1, 455/126, 455/41, 455/95, 455/115, 455/129, 330/297, 363/67, 363/68
• US Class Current: 455/127.5
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3229 using a loop for error extraction and another loop for error subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3252 using multiple parallel paths between input and output H03F1/3258, H03F1/3282, H03F1/3294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/34 Negative-feedback-circuit arrangements with or without positive feedback H03F1/02 - H03F1/30, H03F1/38 - H03F1/50, H03F3/50 take precedence ; for rejection of common mode signals H03F3/45479
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/602 Combinations of several amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/52 Hybrid arrangements, i.e. arrangements for transition from single-path two-direction transmission to single-direction transmission on each of two paths or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0433 with linearisation using feedback

Abstract

An efficient transmitter is disclosed which comprises a direct current power source and an amplifier for amplifying a drive signal so as to produce a desired signal and a waste energy signal. An antenna is used to transmit the desired signal. A plurality of rectifier stages are connected in a cascade formation and convert the waste energy signal to direct current which is fed to the direct power source. Furthermore, power reflected when an amplifier load deviates from a perfect match in one amplifier stage is sent to a next amplifier stage in the cascade formation so that the reflected power is transferred to the direct power source.

Claims

1. An efficient transmitter comprising:

a direct current power source;

an amplifier for amplifying a drive signal so as to produce a desired signal and a waste energy signal;

an antenna for transmitter said desired signal;

a plurality of rectifier stages connected in a cascade formation for converting said waste energy signal to direct current which is fed to the direct power source, wherein power reflected when a rectifier load deviates from a perfect match in one rectifier stage is sent to a next rectifier stage in said cascade formation. said rectifier stages being efficient at a level of residual power passed to each rectifier stage from a preceding rectifier stage, so that reflected power is transferred to the direct power source.

2. An efficient transmitter according to claim 1, wherein said rectifier stages are diode rectifier stages.

3. An efficient transmitter according to claim 2, wherein each diode rectifier stage comprises a quadrature coupler driving a pair of identical diode rectifiers.

4. An efficient transmitter according to claim 3, wherein said diode rectifiers are full-wave rectifiers.

5. An efficient transmitter for transmitting a plurality of signals, comprising:

a first current power source;

a plurality of power amplifiers each adapted to amplify one of said signals;

combining means for combining the outputs of said power amplifiers to produce a desired sum signal and a second plurality of waste energy signals; and

at least one rectified circuit for converting at least one of said waste energy signals into direct current which is fed back to said direct current source so as to reduce net power consumption, wherein each rectified circuit comprises a plurality of rectifier stages in a cascade formation, wherein power reflected when a rectifier load deviates from a perfect match in one rectifier stage is sent to a next rectifier stage in said cascade formation, said rectifier stages being efficient at a level of residual power passed to each rectifier stage from a preceding rectifier stage, so that reflected power is transferred to said direct power source.

6. An efficient transmitter according to claim 5, wherein said rectifier stages are diode rectifier stages.

7. An efficient transmitter according to claim 6, wherein each diode rectifier stage comprises a quadrature coupler driving a pair of identical diode rectifiers.

8. An efficient transmitter according to claim 7, wherein said diode rectifiers are full-wave rectifiers.