Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including embodiments for gain and phase control
First Claim
1. An apparatus for at least power amplification, comprising:
- first circuitry to generate amplitude and phase information from I and Q data;
second circuitry to generate a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using at least said amplitude and phase information;
third circuitry to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to create an output signalfourth circuitry to measure amplitude and phase imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals; and
fifth circuitry to generate gain and phase balance control signals to compensate for said imbalances.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
540 Citations
68 Claims
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1. An apparatus for at least power amplification, comprising:
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first circuitry to generate amplitude and phase information from I and Q data; second circuitry to generate a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using at least said amplitude and phase information; third circuitry to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to create an output signal fourth circuitry to measure amplitude and phase imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals; and fifth circuitry to generate gain and phase balance control signals to compensate for said imbalances. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for at least power amplification, comprising:
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means for generating amplitude and phase information from I and Q data; means for generating a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using at least said amplitude and phase information; an amplifier to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to create an output signal; means for measuring amplitude imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals; and means for generating a gain balance control signal to compensate for said imbalances. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for at least power amplification, comprising:
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means for generating amplitude and phase information from I and Q data; means for generating a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using at least said amplitude and phase information; circuitry to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to create an output signal; means for measuring phase imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals; and means for generating a phase balance control signal to compensate for said imbalances. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A power amplifier, comprising:
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a module to receive I and Q data and to generate amplitude and phase information; a plurality of circuitry to generate substantially constant envelope signals from at least said amplitude and phase information; an amplifier to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to generate an output signal; and differential amplitude and phase feedback circuitry to measure amplitude and phase imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals and to generate at least one of a gain balance control signal and a phase balance control signal to compensate for said imbalances. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A power amplifier, comprising:
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a module to receive I and Q data and to generate amplitude and phase information; a plurality of circuitry to generate substantially constant envelope signals from at least said amplitude and phase information; an amplifier to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to generate an output signal; and differential amplitude feedback circuitry to measure amplitude imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals and to generate a gain balance control signal to compensate for said imbalances. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A power amplifier, comprising:
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a module to receive I and Q data and to generate amplitude and phase information; a plurality of circuitry to generate substantially constant envelope signals from at least said amplitude and phase information; an amplifier to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to generate an output signal; and differential phase feedback circuitry to measure phase imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals and to generate a phase balance control signal to compensate for said imbalances. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for at least power amplification, comprising:
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generating amplitude and phase information from I and Q data; generating a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using at least said amplitude and phase information; amplifying and combining said substantially constant envelope signals to create an output signal; measuring amplitude and phase imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals; and generating gain and phase balance control signals to compensate for said imbalances. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method for at least power amplification, comprising:
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generating amplitude and phase information from I and Q data; generating a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using at least said amplitude and phase information; amplifying and combining said substantially constant envelope signals to create an output signal; measuring amplitude imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals; and generating a gain balance control signal to compensate for said imbalances. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method for at least power amplification, comprising:
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generating amplitude and phase information from I and Q data; generating a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using at least said amplitude and phase information; amplifying and combining said substantially constant envelope signals to create an output signal; measuring phase imbalances between said substantially constant envelope signals; and generating a phase balance control signal to compensate for said imbalances. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification