Generation and amplification of substantially constant envelope signals, including switching an output among a plurality of nodes

• US 8,026,764 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2009
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Rawlins, Gregory S., Sorrells, David F., Rawlins, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHANH V
• Application Number:
  US12/629,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20100073085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 330/51, 330/124.R, 330/126, 330/295, 455/127.1, 455/127.3
• US Class Current: 330/124.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/02 Modifications of amplifiers to raise the efficiency, e.g. gliding Class A stages, use of an auxiliary oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0205 in transistor amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0211 with control of the supply voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0261 with control of the polarisation voltage or current, e.g. gliding Class A
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/32 Modifications of amplifiers to reduce non-linear distortion by negative feedback H03F1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/102 A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2201/3206 Multiple channels are combined and amplified by only one amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/38 DC amplifiers with modulator at input and demodulator at output; Modulators or demodulators specially adapted for use in such amplifiers switched capacitor amplifiers H03F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for power amplification, comprising:

a first circuit configured to generate a plurality of control signals;

a second circuit configured to receive said control signals and a frequency reference signal, wherein said second circuit generates a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using said frequency reference signal and said plurality of control signals;

a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier configured to amplify and combine said plurality of substantially constant envelope signals to generate an output signal;

a plurality of output nodes; and

a switch configured to switch said output signal to one of said plurality of output nodes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said MISO amplifier supports different output frequency bands.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said MISO amplifier supports different output technology modes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control module configured to control said switch to couple said output signal to one of said plurality of output nodes based on a desired transmission mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control module configured to control said switch to couple said output signal to one of said plurality of output nodes based on a desired output frequency.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of pull-up impedances coupled between an output stage voltage supply and said plurality of output nodes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein values of said plurality of pull-up impedances are based in part on an impedance of said switch.

8. A method of power amplification, comprising:

generating a plurality of control signals;

generating a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using a frequency reference signal and said plurality of control signals;

amplifying and combining said plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier to generate an output signal; and

switching said output signal to one of a plurality of output nodes.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said switching comprises:

coupling said output signal to one of said plurality of output nodes based on a desired transmission mode.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said switching comprises:

coupling said output signal to one of said plurality of output nodes based on a desired output frequency.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said amplifying and combining comprises supporting different frequency bands.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said amplifying and combining comprises supporting different output technology modes.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said switching comprises coupling said output signal to one of said plurality of output nodes based on a desired transmission mode.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said switching comprises coupling said output signal to one of said plurality of output nodes based on a desired output frequency.