IQ modulation systems and methods that use separate phase and amplitude signal paths and perform modulation within a phase locked loop

• US 7,072,421 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VideoLabs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Bengtsson, Erik, Hadjichristos, Aristotle, Justice, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, KHANH C
• Application Number:
  US09/746,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 375/298, 375/300, 375/301, 375/302, 375/322, 375/327, 375/317, 375/296, 375/371, 375/373, 375/375, 375/376, 375/269, 375/279, 375/297, 375/258, 375/306, 375/345, 332/108, 332/119, 332/120, 332/123, 332/125, 332/126, 332/127, 332/128, 332/145, 332159-160, 332/162, 455/138, 455/139, 455/137, 455/110, 455/114.3, 455/126, 455/127.1, 455/127.2
• US Class Current: 375/298
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 3/0941 applying frequency modulation at more than one point in the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 3/0966 modulating the reference clock
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 3/0983 containing in the loop a mixer other than for phase detection
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 3/40 using two signal paths the outputs of which have a predetermined phase difference and at least one output being amplitude-modulated
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/336 A I/Q, i.e. phase quadrature, modulator or demodulator being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/504 the supply voltage or current being continuously controlled by a controlling signal, e.g. the controlling signal of a transistor implemented as variable resistor in a supply path for, an IC-block showed amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/362 Modulation using more than one carrier, e.g. with quadrature carriers, separately amplitude modulated H04L27/366 takes precedence

Abstract

A digital signal processor generates in-phase, quadrature-phase and amplitude signals from a baseband signal. A modulator modulates the in-phase and quadrature-phase signals to produce a modulated signal. A phase locked loop is responsive to the modulated signal. The phase locked loop includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator input. An amplifier includes a signal input, amplitude control input and an output. The signal input is responsive to the controlled oscillator output and the amplitude control input is responsive to the amplitude signal. The phase locked loop that is responsive to the modulated signal includes a controlled oscillator output and a feedback loop between the controlled oscillator input and the controlled oscillator output. The feedback loop includes a mixer that is responsive to a local oscillator. The modulator may be placed in the phase locked loop. In particular, the modulator may be placed in the feedback loop between the controlled oscillator output and the mixer, between the local oscillator and the mixer, or between the mixer and the controlled oscillator input.

Claims

1. A modulation system comprising:

a quadrature modulator that modulates in-phase and quadrature-phase signals to produce a modulated signal;

a phase tracking subsystem that is responsive to the quadrature modulator to produce a phase signal that is responsive to phase changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of amplitude changes in the modulated signal;

an amplitude tracking subsystem that is responsive to the quadrature modulator to produce an amplitude signal that is responsive to amplitude changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of phase changes in the modulated signal; and

an amplifier having a signal input, an amplitude control input and an output, wherein the signal input is responsive to the phase signal and the amplitude control input is responsive to the amplitude signal;

wherein the phase tracking subsystem comprises a phase locked loop that includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator input, a controlled oscillator output that produces the phase signal and a feedback loop between the controlled oscillator input and the controlled oscillator output, the feedback loop including a mixer that is responsive to a local oscillator, and wherein the quadrature modulator is included within the feedback loop between the controlled oscillator output and the mixer, between the local oscillator and the mixer, or between the mixer and the controlled oscillator input.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the amplitude tracking subsystem comprises an automatic gain control subsystem that is responsive to the modulated signal to produce the amplitude signal.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the phase tracking system further comprises a limiter between the quadrature modulator and the phase locked loop.

4. A system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a power amplifier that is responsive to the output of the amplifier having a signal input, an amplitude control input and an output; and

a transmit antenna that is responsive to the power amplifier.

5. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a transmit antenna that is responsive to the output of the amplifier and a user interface that generates the in-phase and quadrature signals in response to user input, to provide a wireless communications terminal.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the amplifier is a power amplifier.

7. A modulation system comprising:

a quadrature modulator that modulates in-phase and quadrature-phase signals to produce a modulated signal;

a phase tracking subsystem that is responsive to the quadrature modulator to produce a phase signal that is responsive to phase changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of amplitude changes in the modulated signal;

an amplitude tracking subsystem that is responsive to the quadrature modulator to produce an amplitude signal that is responsive to amplitude changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of phase changes in the modulated signal, wherein the amplitude tracking subsystem comprises an automatic gain control subsystem that is responsive to the modulated signal to produce the amplitude signal;

an amplifier having a signal input, an amplitude control input and an output, wherein the signal input is responsive to the phase signal and the amplitude control input is responsive to the amplitude signal;

wherein the phase tracking subsystem comprises a phase locked loop that includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator output that produces the phase signal and wherein the quadrature modulator is included within the phase locked loop; and

wherein the automatic gain control subsystem further comprises;

a first envelope detector that is responsive to the modulated signal;

a second envelope detector that is responsive to the phase locked loop; and

a comparator that is responsive to the first and second envelope detectors to produce the amplitude signal.

8. A modulation system comprising:

a quadrature modulator that modulates in-phase and quadrature-phase signals to produce a modulated signal;

a phase tracking subsystem that is responsive to the quadrature modulator to produce a phase signal that is responsive to phase changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of amplitude changes in the modulated signal;

an amplitude tracking subsystem that is responsive to the quadrature modulator to produce an amplitude signal that is responsive to amplitude changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of phase changes in the modulated signal, wherein the amplitude tracking subsystem comprises an automatic gain control subsystem that is responsive to the modulated signal to produce the amplitude signal;

an amplifier having a signal input, an amplitude control input and an output, wherein the signal input is responsive to the phase signal and the amplitude control input is responsive to the amplitude signal;

wherein the phase tracking subsystem comprises a phase locked loop that includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator output that produces the phase signal and wherein the quadrature modulator is included within the phase locked loop

wherein the automatic gain control subsystem further comprises;

a first envelope detector that is responsive to the modulated signal;

a second envelope detector that is responsive to the amplifier; and

a comparator that is responsive to the first and second envelope detectors to produce the amplitude signal.

9. A modulation system comprising:

a quadrature modulator that modulates in-phase and quadrature-phase signals to produce a modulated signal;

a phase tracking subsystem that is responsive to the quadrature modulator to produce a phase signal that is responsive to phase changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of amplitude changes in the modulated signal;

an amplitude tracking subsystem that is responsive to the quadrature modulator to produce an amplitude signal that is responsive to amplitude changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of phase changes in the modulated signal;

an amplifier having a signal input, an amplitude control input and an output, wherein the signal input is responsive to the phase signal and the amplitude control input is responsive to the amplitude signal;

wherein the phase tracking subsystem comprises a phase locked loop that includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator output that produces the phase signal and wherein the quadrature modulator is included within the phase locked loop; and

wherein the amplitude tracking subsystem further comprises an envelope detector that is responsive to the modulated signal to produce the amplitude signal.

10. A modulation method comprising:

modulating in-phase and quadrature signals to produce a modulated signal;

producing a phase signal from the modulated signal that is responsive to phase changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of amplitude changes in the modulated signal using a phase locked loop that includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator input, a controlled oscillator output and a feedback loop between the controlled oscillator input and the controlled oscillator output, the feedback loop including a mixer that is responsive to a local oscillator, wherein the modulating is performed in the feedback loop between the controlled oscillator output and the mixer, between the local oscillator and the mixer, or between the mixer and the controlled oscillator input;

producing an amplitude signal from the modulated signal that is responsive to amplitude changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of phase changes in the modulated signal; and

amplifying the phase signal at a gain that is varied in response to the amplitude signal.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the producing an amplitude signal from the modulated signal comprises automatic gain controlling the modulated signal to produce the amplitude signal.

12. A method according to claim 10 further comprising limiting the modulated signal, and wherein the applying the modulated signal to a phase locked loop comprises applying the limited modulated signal to a phase locked loop that includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator output that produces the phase signal.

13. A method according to claim 10 further comprising:

transmitting the amplified phase signal.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising:

generating the in-phase and quadrature signals in response to user input, to provide a wireless communications method.

15. A modulation method comprising:

modulating in-phase and quadrature signals to produce a modulated signal;

producing a phase signal from the modulated signal that is responsive to phase changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of amplitude changes in the modulated signal using a phase locked loop that includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator output, wherein the modulating is performed within the phase locked loop;

producing an amplitude signal from the modulated signal that is responsive to amplitude changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of phase changes in the modulated signal;

amplifying the phase signal at a gain that is varied in response to the amplitude signal;

wherein the producing an amplitude signal from the modulated signal comprises automatic gain controlling the modulated signal to produce the amplitude signal; and

wherein the automatic gain controlling comprises;

envelope detecting the modulated signal;

envelope detecting a signal in the phase locked loop; and

comparing the envelope detected modulated signal and the envelope detected signal in the phase locked loop to produce the amplitude signal.

16. A modulation method comprising:

modulating in-phase and quadrature signals to produce a modulated signal;

producing a phase signal from the modulated signal that is responsive to phase changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of amplitude changes in the modulated signal using a phase locked loop that includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator output, wherein the modulating is performed within the phase locked loop;

producing an amplitude signal from the modulated signal that is responsive to amplitude changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of phase changes in the modulated signal;

amplifying the phase signal at a gain that is varied in response to the amplitude signal;

wherein the producing an amplitude signal from the modulated signal comprises automatic gain controlling the modulated signal to produce the amplitude signal; and

wherein the automatic gain controlling comprises;

envelope detecting the modulated signal;

envelope detecting the amplified phase signal; and

comparing the envelope detected modulated signal and the envelope detected amplified phase signal to produce the amplitude signal.

17. A modulation method comprising:

modulating in-phase and quadrature signals to produce a modulated signal;

producing a phase signal from the modulated signal that is responsive to phase changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of amplitude changes in the modulated signal using a phase locked loop that includes a controlled oscillator having a controlled oscillator output, wherein the modulating is performed within the phase locked loop;

producing an amplitude signal from the modulated signal that is responsive to amplitude changes in the modulated signal and that is independent of phase changes in the modulated signal;

amplifying the phase signal at a gain that is varied in response to the amplitude signal; and

wherein the producing an amplitude signal from the modulated signal comprises;

envelope detecting the modulated signal to produce the amplitude signal.