Linear amplification with non-linear components (LINC) modulator and method for generating out-phased signals for a LINC transmitter
First Claim
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1. A linear amplification with non-linear components (LINC) modulator comprising:
- a first modulator to amplitude-modulate an in-phase RF oscillator signal with a first envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a first differential current signal;
a second modulator to amplitude-modulate an out-of-phase RF oscillator signal with a second envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a second differential current signal; and
a sum-delta element to sum the current signals from the first and second modulators to generate a first constant-envelope signal and to subtract the current signals from the first and second modulators to generate a second constant-envelope signal;
wherein the first modulator comprises;
a first differential pair of transistors to receive the first envelope-modulated baseband signal; and
second and third differential pairs of transistors coupled with the first differential pair to receive the in-phase RF signal and to generate the first differential current signal.
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Abstract
Embodiments of a linear amplification with non-linear components (LINC) modulator and method for generating out-phased signals for a LINC transmitter are generally disclosed.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A linear amplification with non-linear components (LINC) modulator comprising:
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a first modulator to amplitude-modulate an in-phase RF oscillator signal with a first envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a first differential current signal; a second modulator to amplitude-modulate an out-of-phase RF oscillator signal with a second envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a second differential current signal; and a sum-delta element to sum the current signals from the first and second modulators to generate a first constant-envelope signal and to subtract the current signals from the first and second modulators to generate a second constant-envelope signal; wherein the first modulator comprises; a first differential pair of transistors to receive the first envelope-modulated baseband signal; and second and third differential pairs of transistors coupled with the first differential pair to receive the in-phase RF signal and to generate the first differential current signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of generating out-phased constant-envelope phase-modulated signals comprising:
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amplitude modulating an in-phase RF oscillator signal with a first envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a first differential current signal; amplitude modulating an out-of-phase RF oscillator signal with a second envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a second differential current signal; and summing the first and second differential current signals to generate a first constant-envelope signal; and subtracting the first and second differential current signals to generate a second constant-envelope signal; wherein amplitude modulating an in-phase RF oscillator signal includes; applying said first envelope-modulated baseband signal to a first differential pair of transistors; and applying said in-phase RF oscillator signal to second and third differential pairs of transistors, that are coupled to said first differential pair of transistors, said second and third differential pairs of transistors to output said first differential current signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A transmitter comprising:
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a signal component separator and baseband envelope modulator element to separate amplitude and phase components of an input baseband signal and to convert the amplitude component to first and second envelope-modulated baseband signals; and a LINC modulator comprising; a first modulator to amplitude-modulate an in-phase RF oscillator signal with the first envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a first differential current signal; a second modulator to amplitude-modulate an out-of-phase RF oscillator signal with the second envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a second differential current signal; and a sum-delta element to sum the current signals from the first and second modulators to generate a first constant-envelope signal and to subtract the current signals from the first and second modulators to generate a second constant-envelope signal; wherein the first modulator comprises; a first differential pair of transistors to receive the first envelope-modulated baseband signal; and second and third differential pairs of transistors coupled with the first differential pair to receive the in-phase RF signal and to generate the first differential current signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wireless communication device comprising:
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a transmitter to generate an RF signal for transmission; and a dipole antenna to transmit the RF signal generated by the transmitter; wherein the transmitter includes a LINC modulator to amplitude-modulate first and second envelope modulated baseband signals and generate out-phased constant-envelope phase-modulated RF signals, the out-phased constant-envelope phase-modulated RF signals to be amplified and combined before transmission, said LINC modulator comprising; a first modulator to amplitude-modulate an in-phase RF oscillator signal with the first envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a first differential current signal; a second modulator to amplitude-modulate an out-of-phase RF oscillator signal with the second envelope-modulated baseband signal to generate a second differential current signal; and a sum-delta element to sum the current signals from the first and second modulators to generate a first constant-envelope signal and to subtract the current signals from the first and second modulators to generate a second constant-envelope signal; wherein the first modulator comprises; a first differential pair of transistors to receive the first envelope-modulated baseband signal; and second and third differential pairs of transistors coupled with the first differential pair to receive the in-phase RF signal and to generate the first differential current signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification