Method and apparatus for efficient signal power amplification
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a power combiner responsive to first and second input signals to generate a first output signal representing a sum of the first and second input signals, and a second output signal representing a difference between the first and second input signals, wherein the second output signal is generated from the first and second input signals, and the second output signal is coupled to the power recovery circuit, the power combiner further comprising;
first, second and third ports, the first and second ports being coupled to the first and second input signals respectively, the third port providing the first output signal;
a first impedance transformer coupled between the first and second ports; and
a second impedance transformer coupled between the second and third ports;
wherein each impedance transformer has a substantially equal phase shift;
a power recovery circuit coupled to one of the first and second output signals;
an amplification circuit coupled to the power combiner, the amplification circuit having first and second amplification paths that provide the first and second input signals, respectively, wherein the first and second amplification paths comprise substantially non-linear amplifiers;
wherein the second output signal is generated from the first and second input signals, and the second output signal is coupled to the power recovery circuit.
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Abstract
An apparatus (100) uses power recovery from a combining circuit (125) to improve efficiency. A power combiner (125) generates multiple output signals (127, 133) from a combination of input signals (113, 114). One of the output signals from the power combiner is coupled to a power recovery circuit (135), and energy is recovered and preferably stored for later use.
116 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a power combiner responsive to first and second input signals to generate a first output signal representing a sum of the first and second input signals, and a second output signal representing a difference between the first and second input signals, wherein the second output signal is generated from the first and second input signals, and the second output signal is coupled to the power recovery circuit, the power combiner further comprising; first, second and third ports, the first and second ports being coupled to the first and second input signals respectively, the third port providing the first output signal; a first impedance transformer coupled between the first and second ports; and a second impedance transformer coupled between the second and third ports; wherein each impedance transformer has a substantially equal phase shift; a power recovery circuit coupled to one of the first and second output signals; an amplification circuit coupled to the power combiner, the amplification circuit having first and second amplification paths that provide the first and second input signals, respectively, wherein the first and second amplification paths comprise substantially non-linear amplifiers; wherein the second output signal is generated from the first and second input signals, and the second output signal is coupled to the power recovery circuit.
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2. An apparatus, comprising:
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a power combiner responsive to first and second input signals to generate a first output signal representing a sum of the first and second input signals, and a second output signal representing a difference between the first and second input signals; and a power recovery circuit coupled to one of the first and second output signals; wherein; the combiner includes first, second, third, and fourth ports; the first and second ports are coupled to the first and second input signals, respectively; the third and fourth ports provide the first and second output signals respectively; the first output signal is generated from a portion of the first input signal and a portion of the second input signal, which portions have a first phase difference therebetween; the second output signal being generated from a portion of the first input signal and a portion of the second input signal, which portions have a second phase difference therebetween that is substantially equal to the first phase difference plus 180 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. An apparatus, comprising:
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a power combiner responsive to first and second input signals to generate a first output signal representing a sum of the first and second input signals, and a second output signal representing a difference between the first and second input signals; and a power recovery circuit coupled to one of the first and second output signals, wherein the power recovery circuit comprises a full wave rectifier circuit, the rectifier circuit having a single ended input port, and being coupled to one output signal of the combiner through a series capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method of efficient power amplification comprising the steps of:
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combining two radio frequency input signals using sum and difference combining to generate an amplitude modulated signal and a power recovery signal; and storing energy derived from the power recovery signal for reuse as a power source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11)
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10. A method of efficient power amplification comprising the steps of:
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combining two radio frequency input signals to generate an amplitude modulated signal and a power recovery signal, wherein the two input signals have constant amplitude and a varying phase relationship with respect to each other, including the steps of; providing a phase shift between the two input signals by a first amount, relative to each other, to generate the amplitude modulated signal; and providing a phase shift between the two input signals by the first amount, plus an additional phase shift of substantially 180 degrees relative to each other in order to generate the power recovery signal; and storing energy derived from the power recovery signal for reuse as a power source.
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12. A method of efficient power amplification comprising the steps of:
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combining two radio frequency input signals to generate an amplitude modulated signal and a power recovery signal; rectifying the power recovery signal to provide direct current power; and storing energy derived from the power recovery signal for reuse as a power source, including the step of storing the direct current power on a capacitor.
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13. A method of recovering radio frequency energy in a transmitter, comprising the steps of:
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generating first and second amplified radio frequency signals having a particular varying phase relationship, and having substantially constant amplitudes; combining the first and second amplified radio frequency signals using a sum and difference combiner to generate an amplitude modulated radio frequency signal and a power recovery radio frequency signal; and converting the power recovery radio frequency signal into a direct current power signal. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A communication device comprising:
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a transmitter having a linear amplifier, the linear amplifier comprising substantially non-linear components, and a combiner having an input of two input signals having a constant amplitude and a varying phase relationship with respect to each other, and an output of an amplitude modulated signal derived from the two input signals; and a power recovery circuit coupled to the combiner of the linear amplifier to store unused energy from the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification