RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification embodiments, including control circuitry for controlling power amplifier output stages
First Claim
1. An apparatus for power amplification, comprising:
- one or more vector modulators configured to generate a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals;
a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier configured to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to generate an output signal, wherein said MISO amplifier comprises at least a driver stage and a power amplifier stage; and
a control module configured to control a power level of said output signal based on an adjustment of one or more characteristics of said substantially constant envelope signals, wherein said control module comprises a transfer function module, the transfer function module having an output coupled to a corresponding input of the one or more vector modulators, said transfer function module output being configured to cause said one or more vector modulators to adjust an amplitude of said substantially constant envelope signals prior to amplification by the MISO amplifier.
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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.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for power amplification, comprising:
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one or more vector modulators configured to generate a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals; a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier configured to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to generate an output signal, wherein said MISO amplifier comprises at least a driver stage and a power amplifier stage; and a control module configured to control a power level of said output signal based on an adjustment of one or more characteristics of said substantially constant envelope signals, wherein said control module comprises a transfer function module, the transfer function module having an output coupled to a corresponding input of the one or more vector modulators, said transfer function module output being configured to cause said one or more vector modulators to adjust an amplitude of said substantially constant envelope signals prior to amplification by the MISO amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of power amplification, comprising:
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generating a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals using one or more vector modulators; amplifying and combining said substantially constant envelope signals using a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier to generate an output signal, wherein said MISO amplifier comprises at least a driver stage and a power amplifier stage; and adjusting a power level of said output signal, using a control module, based on an adjustment of one or more characteristics of said substantially constant envelope signals, wherein said control module comprises a transfer function module, the transfer function module having an output coupled to a corresponding input of the one or more vector or phase modulators, said transfer function module output being configured to cause said one or more vector modulators to adjust an amplitude of said substantially constant envelope signals prior to amplification by the MISO amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for power amplification, comprising:
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one or more phase modulators configured to generate a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals; a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier configured to amplify and combine said substantially constant envelope signals to generate an output signal, wherein said MISO amplifier comprises at least a driver stage and a power amplifier stage; and a control module configured to control a power level of said output signal based on an adjustment of one or more characteristics of said substantially constant envelope signals, wherein said control module comprises a transfer function module and wherein the output of said transfer function module is configured to cause said one or more phase modulators to adjust one or more amplitudes of said substantially constant envelope signals, the one or more phase modulators configured to receive a corresponding one or more outputs from said transfer function module. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification