RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including direct cartesian 2-branch embodiments

• US 8,428,527 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Sorrells, David F., Rawlins, Gregory S., Rawlins, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Lana N
• Application Number:
  US11/512,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,428 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.3, 455/127.2, 455/127.1, 455/114.3, 330/10, 330/295, 330/296, 330/297, 330/96
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 5/00 Amplitude modulation and angle modulation produced simultaneously or at will by the same modulating signal H03C7/00 takes precedence
• 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 1/0233 by using a signal derived from the output signal, e.g. bootstrapping the voltage supply
• 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 1/3205 in field-effect transistor amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3223 using feed-forward H03F1/3211 takes precedence
• 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 2200/387 A circuit being added at the output of an amplifier to adapt the output impedance of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2201/3215 To increase the output power or efficiency
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45071 with semiconductor devices only
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0475 with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion H04B1/0483 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 : Transmitters with multiple parallel paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/045 : with means for improving efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0491 : with frequency synthesizers, frequency converters or modulators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/20 : Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/36 : Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/362 : Modulation using more than one carrier, e.g. with quadrature carriers, separately amplitude modulated H04L27/366 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 of at least one of power transmission, modulation, and power amplification, comprising:

receiving information;

receiving a frequency reference signal in accordance with a particular output signal frequency;

generating first and second substantially constant envelope signals using said received information and said frequency reference signal;

determining (a) a bias control signal from said received information and (b) a phase difference between said first and second substantially constant envelope signals;

amplifying and combining said first and second substantially constant envelope signals to create an output signal; and

varying instantaneous signal output power using said bias control signal and said phase difference.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving information comprises:

receiving one or more baseband information signals.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving information comprises:

receiving in-phase and quadrature phase baseband information signals.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving information comprises:

receiving analog in-phase and analog quadrature phase baseband information signals.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving information comprises:

receiving digital in-phase and digital quadrature phase baseband information signals.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving information comprises:

receiving a time-varying radio frequency (RF) signal.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving information comprises:

receiving in-phase and quadrature phase radio frequency (RF) signals.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said generating step further comprises:

generating in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals of said first and second substantially constant envelope signals using said received information;

generating secondary frequency reference signals from said frequency reference signal, wherein one or more of said secondary frequency reference signals are phase shifted relative to said frequency reference signal;

multiplying said secondary frequency reference signals by respective said amplitude control signals, thereby controlling said secondary frequency reference signals; and

combining subsets of said controlled secondary frequency reference signals to generate said first and second substantially constant envelope signals.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said step of generating in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals further comprises:

determining a relative phase angle and magnitude information from said received information; and

processing said determined relative phase angle and magnitude information to generate said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said determining step comprises:

determining a phase shift from said received information relative to a reference signal; and

determining a complex envelope from said received information.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said processing step further comprises:

determining a phase shift angle using said complex envelope, wherein said phase shift angle is equal to a phase difference between said first and second substantially constant envelope signals; and

using said phase shift and said phase shift angle to generate said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said phase shift angle is determined according to:

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals are generated according to:

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said phase shift angle is determined according to a function mathematically equivalent to:

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals are generated according to functions mathematically equivalent to:

16. The method according to claim 8, wherein said step of generating in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals further comprises:

converting from digital to analog said generated in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

17. The method according to claim 8, wherein said step of generating in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals further comprises:

interpolation filtering said generated in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

18. The method according to claim 8, wherein said step of generating secondary frequency reference signals comprises generating in-phase and quadrature phase secondary frequency reference signals relative to said frequency signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said multiplying step comprises multiplying the in-phase secondary frequency reference signals by the in-phase amplitude control signals and the quadrature phase secondary frequency reference signals by the quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said combining subsets step comprises combining the controlled secondary frequency reference signals of the first substantially constant envelope signal to generate the first substantially constant envelope signal, and combining the controlled secondary frequency reference signals of the second substantially constant envelope signal to generate the second substantially constant envelope signal.

21. The method according to claim 8, wherein said step of generating a plurality of amplitude control signals comprises:

generating said amplitude control signals from said received information and transfer functions, said transfer functions having been generated so as to enable said simultaneous amplification and combination of said first and second substantially constant envelope signals at said single circuit node.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said amplifying and controlling step is performed by a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier, further comprising:

controlling biasing of one or more power amplification stages of said MISO amplifier according to said received information.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

using a bias control function to control one or more of output power efficiency, output linearity, and amplification stage protection of said MISO amplifier.

24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

non-linearly power amplifying said first and second substantially constant envelope signals.

25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

harmonically shaping said output signal.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second substantially constant envelope signals are combined using one or more biasing control functions.

27. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

combining said first and second substantially constant envelope signals with substantially no resistive, inductive, or capacitive components between said substantially constant envelope signals.

28. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

combining said first and second substantially constant envelope signals with no resistive, inductive, or capacitive components between said substantially constant envelope signals.

29. The method according to claim 1, farther comprising:

combining said first and second substantially constant envelope signals with substantially no electrical isolation.

30. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

combining said first and second substantially constant envelope signals with one or more of substantially no electrical isolation and substantially no magnetic isolation.

31. The method according to claim 1, wherein said amplifying and controlling step is performed by a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier, further comprising:

combining said first and second substantially constant envelope signals by connecting collector or emitter terminals of two or more transistors of said MISO amplifier.

32. The method according to claim 1, wherein said amplifying and controlling step is performed by a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier, further comprising:

combining said first and second substantially constant envelope signals by connecting drain or source terminals of two or more transistors of said MISO amplifier.

33. The method according to claim 1, wherein said amplifying and controlling step is performed by a multiple-input single-output (MISO) amplifier, wherein said amplifying and combining step comprises:

dynamically controlling transistors of said MISO amplifier to thereby transition operation of said transistors along an operational range that includes switching amplifier operation and current source amplifier operation.

34. The method according to claim 1, wherein said amplifying and controlling step is performed by a multiple-input single-output (<

vIISO) amplifier, wherein said amplifying and combining step comprises;

simultaneously controlling an input differential phase and a bias of transistors of said MISO amplifier based on requirements of said output signal.

35. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

controlling said output signal by using said received information to control phase of said first and second substantially constant envelope signals and said bias control signal.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the phase difference comprises measuring or calculating a phase difference value.

37. An apparatus for at least one of power transmission, modulation, and power amplification, comprising:

first circuitry configured to receive information, and configured to generate in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals from said received information;

second circuitry configured to receive said amplitude control signals and a frequency reference signal, and configured to generate first and second substantially constant envelope signals using said frequency reference signal and said amplitude control signals; and

third circuitry configured to determine (a) a bias control signal from said received information, and (b) a phase difference between said first and second substantially constant envelope signals;

power amplification circuitry comprising two or more circuit branches each comprising one or more transistors, and configured to amplify and combine said first and second substantially constant envelope signals to create an output signal, and that varies instantaneous signal output power using said bias control signal and said phase difference.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said received information comprises one or more baseband information signals.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said received information comprises in-phase and quadrature phase baseband information signals.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said received information comprises analog in-phase and analog quadrature phase baseband information signals.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said received information comprises digital in-phase and digital quadrature phase baseband information signals.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said received information comprises a time-varying radio frequency (RF) signal.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said received information comprises in-phase and quadrature phase radio frequency (RF) signals.

44. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising biasing control circuitry coupled to said power amplification circuitry.

45. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

one or more digital-to-analog converters coupled between said first circuitry and said second circuitry.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

one or more anti-aliasing filters coupled to outputs of said digital-to-analog converters.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

one or more interpolation filters coupled to outputs of said digital-to-analog converters.

48. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a synthesizer configured to generate said frequency reference signal.

49. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first circuitry comprises one or more digital-to-analog converters configured to that convert from digital to analog said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

50. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first circuitry is configured to generate analog in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

51. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first circuitry includes digital circuitry configured to process said received information and configured to generate said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

52. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first circuitry includes one or more lookup tables which are configured to process said received information and configured to generate said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising interpolation circuitry configured to interpolate between values in said look up tables.

54. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first circuitry comprises:

circuitry configured to determine a relative phase angle and magnitude information from said received information; and

circuitry configured to process said determined relative phase angle and magnitude information to generate said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

55. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first circuitry comprises transfer function circuitry configured to determine a relative phase angle and magnitude information from said received information.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said transfer function circuitry comprises:

circuitry configured to determine a phase shift relative to a reference signal from said received information; and

circuitry configured to determine a complex envelope from said received information.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said transfer function circuitry further comprises:

means for determining a phase shift angle using said complex envelope, wherein said phase shift angle is equal to a phase difference between said first and second substantially constant envelope signals; and

means for processing said phase shift and said phase shift angle to generate said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for determining a phase shift angle implements the function:

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for processing generates said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals according to:

60. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for determining a phase shift angle implements a function mathematically equivalent to:

61. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for processing generates said in-phase and quadrature phase amplitude control signals according to functions mathematically equivalent to:

62. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said second circuitry comprises:

means for generating a plurality of secondary frequency reference signals from said frequency reference signal, wherein one or more of said secondary frequency reference signals are phase shifted relative to said frequency signal;

means for multiplying said secondary frequency reference signals by respective said amplitude control signals to generate controlled secondary frequency reference signals; and

means for combining subsets of said controlled secondary frequency reference signals to generate said first and second substantially constant envelope signals.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said means for generating said secondary frequency reference signals comprises means for generating in-phase and quadrature phase secondary frequency reference signals relative to said frequency signal.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein said means for multiplying comprises means for multiplying the in-phase secondary frequency reference signals by the in-phase amplitude control signals and the quadrature phase secondary frequency reference signals by the quadrature phase amplitude control signals.

65. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said means for generating said secondary frequency reference signals comprises one or more phase splitters.

66. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said means for multiplying comprises one or more vector modulators.

67. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said means for multiplying comprises one or more mixers.

68. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said means for combining comprises one or more summing circuits.

69. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises one or more harmonic control circuits.

70. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises one or more power amplification sub-stages.

71. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises bias control circuitry configured to control one or more of output power efficiency, output linearity, and amplification stage protection.

72. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises a multiple-input, single output (MISO) power amplifier.

73. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises a bias controlled multiple-input, single output (MISO) power amplifier.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, further comprising means for using a bias control function to control one or more of output power efficiency, output linearity, and amplification stage protection of said bias controlled MISO power amplifier.

75. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises one or more non-linear amplifiers.

76. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises two or more collector or emitter coupled transistors.

77. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises two or more source or drain coupled transistors.

78. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises a plurality of npn and/or pnp transistors.

79. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said power amplification circuitry comprises a plurality of NMOS and/or PMOS transistors.

80. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first and second substantially constant envelope signals are directly coupled together with substantially no or no resistive, inductive, or capacitive components.

81. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first and second substantially constant envelope signals are directly coupled together with substantially no electrical isolation and/or substantially no magnetic isolation.

82. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first and second substantially constant envelope signals are coupled together with a conducting wire.

83. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first and second substantially constant envelope signals are coupled together solely with a conducting wire.

84. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

circuitry configured to control said output signal by using said received information to control phase of said first and second substantially constant envelope signals and said bias control signal.

85. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the third circuitry is configured to determine the phase difference by measuring or calculating a phase difference value.