Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation and amplification

• US 8,334,722 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Sorrells, David F., Rawlins, Gregory S., Rawlins, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM D
• Application Number:
  US12/216,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20090091384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 330/10, 330/51, 330/127, 330/124.R
• US Class Current: 330/127
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0211 with control of the supply voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0272 by using a signal derived from the output signal
• 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 2200/336 A I/Q, i.e. phase quadrature, modulator or demodulator being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/345 Pulse density modulation being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/21106 An input signal being distributed in parallel over the inputs of a plurality of power amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/193 with field-effect devices H03F3/195 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence

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. A method for real-time amplifier class control in a power amplifier, comprising:

determining a power level of an output waveform;

determining a desired amplifier class of operation according to said determined power level; and

controlling said power amplifier to operate according to said desired amplifier class of operation;

wherein controlling said power amplifier comprises providing a logic function by biasing said power amplifier into a non-linear switch mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said power amplifier comprises a MISO (multiple input single output) amplifier configuration.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said MISO amplifier configuration includes collector-coupled first and second transistors forming a common collector node;

and wherein;

base terminals of said first and second transistors provide a first input and a second input, respectively;

an output terminal is provided by said common collector node; and

said MISO amplifier configuration can be operated as a Boolean NOR function.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said MISO amplifier configuration includes emitter-coupled first and second transistors forming a common emitter node;

and wherein;

base terminals of said first and second transistors provide a first input and a second input, respectively;

an output terminal is provided by said common emitter node; and

said MISO amplifier configuration can be operated as a Boolean OR function.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said MISO amplifier configuration includes collector-coupled first and second transistors forming a common collector node, and emitter-coupled third and fourth transistors forming a common emitter node;

and wherein;

emitters of said first and second transistors are respectively coupled to collectors of said third and fourth transistors;

a base terminal of said first transistor is coupled to a base terminal of said fourth transistor to form a first input;

a base terminal of said second transistor is coupled to a base terminal of said third transistor to form a second input;

an output terminal is provided by said common collector node; and

said MISO amplifier configuration can be operated as a Boolean NAND function.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said MISO amplifier configuration includes collector-coupled first and second transistors forming a common collector node, and emitter-coupled third and fourth transistors forming a common emitter node;

and wherein;

emitters of said first and second transistors are respectively coupled to collectors of said third and fourth transistors;

a base terminal of said first transistor is coupled to a base terminal of said fourth transistor to form a first input;

a base terminal of said second transistor is coupled to a base terminal of said third transistor to form a second input;

an output terminal is provided by said common emitter node; and

said MISO amplifier configuration can be operated as a Boolean AND function.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a power amplification function by said MISO amplifier configuration in addition to providing a logic function; and

inputting an output of said MISO amplifier configuration into a bandpass filter to generate a continuous multi-level waveform output.

8. An apparatus for real-time amplifier class control in a power amplifier, comprising:

a module operable to determine a power level of an output waveform;

a module operable to determine a desired amplifier class of operation according to said determined power level; and

a module operable to control said power amplifier to operate according to said desired amplifier class of operation;

wherein said module operable to control comprises a module operable to provide a logic function by biasing said power amplifier into a non-linear switch mode.