Power amplification based on frequency control signal

• US 8,548,093 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Sorrells, David F., Rawlins, Gregory S., Rawlins, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bocure, Tesfaldet
• Application Number:
  US13/444,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 375/259, 375/295, 375/296, 375/297, 375/377, 375/267, 375/299, 455/93, 455/101, 330/51, 330/124.R, 330/126, 330/295, 330/129, 330/132
• US Class Current: 375/297
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/602 Combinations of several amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04

Abstract

Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals is 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 comprising:

a vector modulator configured to generate a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals;

a switch configured to receive the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals and a plurality of frequency control signals; and

a plurality of multiple-input-single-output (MISO) devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of MISO devices is selected, based on the plurality of frequency control signals, to combine the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply circuit configured to selectively provide a power supply signal to each of the plurality of MISO devices based on the plurality of frequency control signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vector modulator is configured to generate the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals based on a frequency reference signal and at least one control signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of frequency control signals comprises a desired output frequency supported by at least one of the plurality of MISO devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to selectively pass the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals to the at least one selected MISO device based on the plurality of frequency control signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one selected MISO device is configured to receive a power supply signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of MISO devices is configured to output a differential branch amplitude signal and a differential branch phase signal to monitor amplitude and phase variations in the at least one selected MISO device.

8. A method comprising:

generating a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals;

receiving the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals and a plurality of frequency control signals;

selecting at least one multiple-input-single-output (MISO) device from a plurality of MISO devices based on the plurality of frequency control signals; and

combining the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals with the at least one selected MISO device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selectively providing a power supply signal to each of the plurality of MISO devices based on the plurality of frequency control signals.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the generating comprises generating the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals based on a frequency reference signal and at least one control signal.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the at least one MISO device that supports a desired output frequency.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the selecting comprises passing the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals to the at least one selected MISO device based on the plurality of frequency control signals.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the selecting comprises providing a power supply signal to the at least one selected MISO device.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the combining comprises monitoring amplitude and phase variations in the at least one selected MISO device via a differential branch amplitude signal and a differential branch phase signal from the at least one selected MISO device.

15. A system comprising:

a digital control module configured to generate a plurality of frequency control signals;

a power supply module configured to generate a plurality of power supply signals; and

a combining module configured to receive the plurality of frequency control signals and the plurality of power supply signals, wherein the combining module comprises;

a vector modulator configured to generate a plurality of substantially constant envelope signals;

a switch configured to receive the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals and the plurality of frequency control signals; and

a plurality of multiple-input-single-output (MISO) devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of MISO devices is selected, based on the plurality of frequency control signals, to combine the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the combining module is configured to selectively provide a power supply signal from the plurality of power supply signals to each of the plurality of MISO devices based on the plurality of frequency control signals.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the vector modulator is configured to generate the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals based on a frequency reference signal and at least one control signal.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of frequency control signals comprises a desired output frequency supported by at least one of the plurality of MISO devices.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the switch is configured to selectively pass the plurality of substantially constant envelope signals to the at least one selected MISO device based on the plurality of frequency control signals.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one selected MISO device is configured to receive a power supply signal from the plurality of power supply signals.