Systems and methods for converting a stream of complex numbers into a modulated radio power signal
First Claim
1. A method of generating a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the method comprising the steps of:
- sampling an information signal at a predetermined sampling rate to produce a series of samples of the information signal;
generating a stream of complex numbers representing the series of samples of the information signal;
representing a real part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of first digits of decreasing numerical significance;
representing an imaginary part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of second digits of decreasing numerical significance;
grouping a respective one of the first digits and a respective one of the second digits of like numerical significance to form a plurality of phase control symbols;
using a respective phase control symbol to control the phase of an output signal at the radio carrier frequency from a respective one of a plurality of power amplifiers, each of the power amplifiers providing an output power level at an amplifier output that is related to the numerical significance of the first and second digits that form the associated phase control symbol; and
combining the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers to form the modulated radio power signal.
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Abstract
Modulation systems and methods can modulate a stream of complex numbers representing a desired modulation of a radio signal by representing a real part of each of the complex numbers in a stream of complex numbers representing a desired modulation of a radio signal, as a plurality of first digits of decreasing numerical significance and representing an imaginary part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of second digits of decreasing numerical significance. A respective one of the first digits and a respective one of the second digits of like numerical significance are grouped to form a plurality of phase control symbols. A respective phase control symbol is then used to control the phase of an output signal at the radio carrier frequency from a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers. Each of the power amplifiers provides an output power level that is related to the numerical significance of the first and second digits that form the associated phase control symbol. The output power levels of the plurality of power amplifiers are combined to thereby form the modulated radio power signal.
193 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method of generating a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the method comprising the steps of:
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sampling an information signal at a predetermined sampling rate to produce a series of samples of the information signal;
generating a stream of complex numbers representing the series of samples of the information signal;
representing a real part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of first digits of decreasing numerical significance;
representing an imaginary part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of second digits of decreasing numerical significance;
grouping a respective one of the first digits and a respective one of the second digits of like numerical significance to form a plurality of phase control symbols;
using a respective phase control symbol to control the phase of an output signal at the radio carrier frequency from a respective one of a plurality of power amplifiers, each of the power amplifiers providing an output power level at an amplifier output that is related to the numerical significance of the first and second digits that form the associated phase control symbol; and
combining the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers to form the modulated radio power signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
applying a respective amplifier output to a respective quarter wave transmission line; and
coupling the quarter wave transmission lines to one another to produce the modulated radio power signal.
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4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
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coupling at least two of the phase control symbols of the least numerical significance to at least one linear amplifier to produce a linear output; and
wherein the combining step comprises the step of combining the linear output and the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers to form the modulated radio power signal.
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5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the digits are binary digits such that each of the phase control symbols is one of four values.
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6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of power amplifiers are a plurality of saturated power amplifiers that produce a constant radio frequency voltage output.
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7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of power amplifiers are a plurality of bilateral power amplifiers that allow current to flow from and to an amplifier power supply.
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8. A system for generating a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the system comprising:
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a sampler that samples an information signal at a predetermined sampling rate to produce a series of samples of the information signal;
a device that generates a stream of complex numbers representing the series of samples of the information signal;
a processor that represents a real part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of first digits of decreasing numerical significance, and that represents an imaginary part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of second digits of decreasing numerical significance to form a plurality of phase control symbols from a respective one of the first digits and a respective one of the second digits of like numerical significance;
a plurality of power amplifiers, a respective one of which amplifies a respective one of the phase control symbols modulated on the radio carrier frequency, each of the power amplifiers providing an output power level at an amplifier output that is related to the numerical significance of the first and second digits that form the associated phase control symbol; and
a combining circuit that combines the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers to form the modulated radio power signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for generating a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the system comprising:
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means for sampling an information signal at a predetermined sampling rate to produce a series of samples of the information signal;
means for generating a stream of complex numbers representing the series of samples of the information signal;
means for representing a real part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of first digits of decreasing numerical significance and for representing an imaginary part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of second digits of decreasing numerical significance to form a plurality of phase control symbols from a respective one of the first digits and a respective one of the second digits of like numerical significance;
means for power amplifying a respective one of the phase control symbols modulated on the radio carrier frequency to provide a plurality of output power levels that are related to the numerical significance of the first and second digits that form the associated phase control symbol; and
means for combining the output power levels to form the modulated radio power signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
means for serially combining the plurality of output power levels to produce the modulated radio power signal.
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17. A system according to claim 15 wherein the combining means comprises:
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means for converting the plurality of output power levels to a plurality Of output currents; and
means for combining the plurality of output currents to produce the modulated radio power signal.
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18. A system according to claim 15 wherein the digits are binary digits such that each of the phase control symbols has one of four values.
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19. A system according to claim 15 further comprising means for generating a linear output voltage that is proportional to the combined values of at least two of the first and second digits of least numerical significance, wherein the combining means comprises means for combining the linear output voltage and the output power levels to form the modulated radio power signal.
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20. A system for generating a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the system comprising:
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a sampler that samples an information signal at a predetermined sampling rate to produce a series of samples of the information signal;
a device that generates a stream of complex numbers representing the series of samples of the information signal;
a processor that represents a real part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of first digits of decreasing numerical significance, and that represents an imaginary part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of second digits of decreasing numerical significance;
a plurality of phase modulators, a respective one of which is responsive to a respective one of the plurality of first digits and a respective one of the plurality of second digits of like numerical significance, and to the radio carrier frequency, to produce a phase modulated output at the radio carrier frequency;
a plurality of power amplifiers, a respective one of which amplifies a respective one of the phase modulated outputs of the phase modulators to an amplifier power level at an amplifier output thereof; and
a combining circuit that combines the amplifier outputs of the power amplifiers according to a combining ratio to produce the modulated radio power signal, at least one of the amplifier power level and the combining ratio being selected such that the modulated radio power signal is related to the numerical significance of the plurality of first and second digits. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for generating a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the system comprising:
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means for sampling an information signal at a predetermined sampling rate to produce a series of samples of the information signal;
means for generating a stream of complex numbers representing the series of samples of the information signal;
means for representing a real part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of first digits of decreasing numerical significance and for representing an imaginary part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of second digits of decreasing numerical significance;
means for producing a plurality of phase modulated outputs at the radio carrier frequency in response to the plurality of first digits, the plurality of second digits and the radio carrier frequency;
means for amplifying a respective one of the phase modulated outputs to a respective power level; and
means for combining the amplified phase modulated outputs according to a combining ratio to produce the modulated radio power signal, at least one of the respective amplifier power level and the combining ratio being selected such that the modulated radio power signal is related to the numerical significance of the plurality of first and second digits. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
means for serially combining the plurality of power levels to produce the modulated radio power signal.
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35. A system according to claim 30 wherein the combining means comprises:
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means for converting the plurality of power levels to a plurality of output currents; and
means for combining the plurality of output currents to produce the modulated radio power signal.
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36. A system according to claim 30 wherein the digits are binary digits such that each of the phase modulated outputs has one of four values.
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37. A system according to claim 30 further comprising means for generating a linear output voltage that is proportional to the combined values of at least two of the first and second digits of least numerical significance, wherein the combining means comprises means for combining the linear output voltage and the output power levels to form the modulated radio power signal.
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38. A method for generating a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the method comprising the steps of:
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sampling an information signal at a predetermined sampling rate to produce a series of samples of the information signal;
generating a stream of complex numbers representing the series of samples of the information signal;
representing a real part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of first digits of decreasing numerical significance;
representing an imaginary part of each of the complex numbers as a plurality of second digits of decreasing numerical significance;
modulating a respective one of the plurality of first digits and a respective one of the plurality of second digits of like numerical significance onto the radio carrier frequency, to produce a plurality of phase modulated outputs at the radio carrier frequency;
amplifying a respective one of the phase modulated outputs to a power level; and
combining the amplified phase modulated outputs according to a combining ratio to produce the modulated radio power signal, at least one of the power level and the combining ratio being selected such that the modulated radio power signal is related to the numerical significance of the plurality of first and second digits. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
serially combining the plurality of power levels to produce the modulated radio power signal.
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43. A method according to claim 38 wherein the combining step comprises the steps of:
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converting the plurality of power levels to a plurality of output currents; and
combining the plurality of output currents to produce the modulated radio power signal.
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44. A method according to claim 38 wherein the digits are binary digits such that each of the phase modulated outputs has one of four values.
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45. A method according to claim 38 further comprising the step of generating a linear output voltage that is proportional to the combined values of at least two of the first and second digits of least numerical significance, wherein the combining step comprises the step of combining the linear output voltage and the output power levels to form the modulated radio power signal.
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46. A method according to claim 38 wherein the real part is represented at successive odd instants of a clock and the imaginary part is represented at successive even instants of the clock.
Specification