Method and apparatus utilizing a compensated multiple output signal source

• US 5,901,346 A
• Filed: 12/17/1996
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stengel, Robert E., Olson, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US08/773,798
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 455/91, 455/95, 455/115, 455/116, 455/117, 455/126, 455/127, 330/109, 330/129, 330/149, 330/126 R, 375/295, 375/296
• US Class Current: 455/126
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3247 using feedback acting on predistortion circuits H03F1/3264 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3294 Acting on the real and imaginary components of the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2201/3233 Adaptive predistortion using lookup table, e.g. memory, RAM, ROM, LUT, to generate the predistortion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/367 using predistortion

Abstract

A compensated signal source (210, 220) utilizes baseband signals and a radio frequency carrier signal to generate a set of source output signals (226, 227) which are coupled to a particular circuit (230, 240, 250). The signal source (210, 220) is operable in a characterizing mode in which a test configuration is applied, and outputs from the signal source and the particular circuit measured to develop parameters representing imperfections within the signal source and within the particular circuit. The signal source (210, 220) is operable in a normal mode, in which compensation based on the measured parameters is applied to account for the imperfections. In a preferred embodiment, the particular circuit (230, 240, 250) and compensated signal source (210, 220) form part of an amplifier (200) that implements linear amplification using nonlinear components (LINC) techniques.

Claims

1. A method utilizing a signal source having a plurality of signal outputs coupled to particular circuit and provide inputs thereto, the particular circuit having an output, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a training configuration to the signal source to highlight imperfections within the signal source and within the particular circuit;

measuring parameters, during application of the training configuration, to develop an error model representing the imperfections in the signal source and in the particular circuit, wherein at least some of the parameters are measured at the plurality of signal outputs, and wherein at least one of the parameters is measured at the output of the particular circuit; and

applying compensation to the signal source based on the parameters, which compensation affects the plurality of signal outputs and compensates for the imperfections in the signal source and in the particular circuit;

wherein;

the imperfections are related to amplitude and phase imbalance among at least two of the plurality of signal outputs; and

the step of measuring parameters further comprises the step of measuring power level at the plurality of signal outputs from the signal source, and at the output of the particular circuit, to determine the parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying compensation further comprises the step of deriving amplitude and phase correction values derived from the power level measurements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal source has a plurality of baseband signal inputs, and a radio frequency (RF) signal input, that are combined to generate the plurality of signal outputs, and the step of applying a training configuration comprises the step of manipulating the baseband signal inputs to generate predefined test conditions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of applying compensation comprises the step of modifying the plurality of baseband signal inputs according to parameters measured during application of the training configuration.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the particular circuit is an amplification circuit.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the particular circuit comprises a linear amplification with non-linear components (LINC) amplifier having first and second amplification paths coupled to first and second signal outputs of the plurality of signal outputs, and the step of applying compensation comprises the step of modifying the plurality of baseband signal inputs to balance amplitude and phase for signals traversing the first and second amplification paths.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the LINC amplifier has a combining juncture having an output of a combination of the first and second amplification paths, and the step of measuring parameters comprises the step of measuring power level at the output of the combining juncture to adjust amplitude and phase components of signals sourced from the first and second signal outputs of the plurality of signal outputs.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of applying compensation further comprises the step of adjusting gain within at least one of the first and second amplification paths.

9. A method, comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals from a signal source by modulating a RF carrier signal with baseband signals;

coupling the plurality of RF signals to a particular circuit to generate an output;

alternatively operating the signal source in a characterizing mode and in a normal mode;

when in the characterizing mode;

characterizing imperfections within the particular circuit and within the signal source through manipulation of the baseband signals according to a predefined configuration;

measuring the plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals and the output of the particular circuit to develop parameters representing the imperfections within the particular circuit; and

when in the normal mode, manipulating the baseband signals based on information derived from the parameters to compensate for the imperfections within the particular circuit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the particular circuit comprises an amplification circuit.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of, when in the normal mode, adjusting gain in the amplification circuit based on information derived from the parameters.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the amplification circuit comprises a linear amplification with non-linear components (LINC) amplifier having first and second amplification paths coupled to first and second RF signals of the plurality of RF signals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of characterizing imperfections further comprises the step of generating data characterizing amplitude and phase imbalances between the first and second amplification paths.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of measuring further comprises the steps of:

measuring signal power levels at the plurality of RF signals and at the output of the particular circuit; and

deriving amplitude and phase compensation values from the measured signal power levels.

15. An apparatus operable in a characterizing mode and in a normal mode, comprising:

a signal source having as inputs a plurality of baseband signals and a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal, and having as outputs first and second source signals derived from a combination of the plurality of baseband signals and the RF carrier signal;

a particular circuit having as inputs the first and second source signals and having an output signal;

wherein when operating in the characterizing mode, the apparatus;

characterizes imperfections within the particular circuit and within the signal source through manipulation of the plurality of baseband signals according to a predefined configuration; and

measures the first and second source signals and the output signal to develop parameters representing the imperfections within the particular circuit; and

wherein when operating in the normal mode, the apparatus manipulates the plurality of baseband signals based on information derived from the parameters to compensate for the imperfections within the particular circuit.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the particular circuit comprises an amplification circuit.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a gain adjuster coupled to the amplification circuit, wherein when operating in the normal mode, the apparatus manipulates the gain adjuster based on information derived from the parameters to compensate for the imperfections within the particular circuit.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the amplification circuit comprises a linear amplification with non-linear components (LINC) amplifier having first and second amplification paths coupled to first and second source signals.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the imperfections comprises amplitude and phase imbalances between the first and second amplification paths.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

first and second power detectors coupled to the first and second source signals, respectively; and

a third power detector coupled to the output signal of the particular circuit;

wherein the apparatus measures signal power levels using the first, second, and third power detectors, and derives amplitude and phase compensation values therefrom.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the particular circuit is an open loop circuit.

22. A linear amplification with non-linear components (LINC) amplifier responsive to an input information signal to output an amplified version of the input information signal, comprising:

a constant envelope signal generation circuit responsive to a plurality of baseband signals and a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal to provide as output first and second source signals, the constant envelope signal generation circuit being alternatively operable in a characterizing mode and in a normal mode;

a first amplification circuit coupled to the first source signal and responsive thereto to provide as output a first amplified signal;

a second amplification circuit coupled to the second source signal and responsive thereto to provide as output a second amplified signal;

a combining circuit coupled to the first and second amplified signals and responsive thereto to provide an output of the amplified version of the input information signal;

a first power detector coupled to the first source signal;

a second power detector coupled to the second source signal; and

a third power detector coupled to the output of the combining circuit;

wherein when operating in the characterizing mode, the constant envelope signal generation circuit;

characterizes imperfections within the first and second amplification circuits through manipulation of the plurality of baseband signals according to a predefined configuration; and

measures the first and second source signals and the output of the combining circuit using the first, second, and third power detectors to develop parameters representing the imperfections within the first and second amplification circuits; and

wherein when operating in the normal mode, the constant envelope signal generation circuit manipulates the plurality of baseband signals based on information derived from the parameters to compensate for the imperfections within the first and second amplification circuits.

23. The LINC amplifier of claim 22, further comprising first and second gain adjusters coupled to the first and second amplification circuits, respectively, and responsive to adjust gain therein based on information derived from the parameters.

24. A radio, comprising:

communication circuitry; and

a transmitter coupled to the communication circuitry, the transmitter including a LINC amplifier comprising;

a signal source having as inputs a plurality of baseband signals and a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal, and having as outputs first and second source signals derived from a combination of the plurality of baseband signals and the RF carrier signal;

amplification circuitry having as inputs the first and second source signals and having an output signal;

wherein the LINC amplifier is operable in a first mode to;

characterize imperfections within the amplification circuitry and within the signal source through manipulation of the plurality of baseband signals according to a predefined configuration; and

measure the first and second source signals and the output signal to develop parameters representing the imperfections within the amplification circuitry; and

wherein the LINC amplifier is operable in a second mode to manipulate the plurality of baseband signals based on information derived from the parameters to compensate for the imperfections within the amplification circuitry.

25. The radio of claim 24, wherein the amplification circuitry further comprises first and second amplification paths, respectively, and the parameters developed relate to phase and amplitude imbalance between the first and second amplification paths.