Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including architectural embodiments of same

• US 7,949,365 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Rawlins, Gregory S., Sorrells, David F., Rawlins, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao; Minh D
• Application Number:
  US11/725,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20070249301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/127.4, 455/143, 455/275, 455/303, 455/43, 455/130, 330/2, 330/69, 330/258
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/165 at least two frequency changers being located in different paths, e.g. in two paths with carriers in quadrature combined with amplitude demodulation H03D1/2245, combined with angle demodulation H03D3/007; N-path filters H03H19/002
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/30 Modifications of amplifiers to reduce influence of variations of temperature or supply voltage or other physical parameters in differential amplifiers H03F3/45479
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3241 using predistortion circuits H03F1/3211, H03F1/3217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 17/08 Networks for phase shifting
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/21 providing two or more phase shifted output signals, e.g. n-phase output
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths

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 RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, comprising:

a digital control module; and

analog circuitry coupled to said digital control module;

wherein said digital control module comprises;

an input interface;

an output interface; and

a state machine;

wherein said analog circuitry comprises;

one or more circuit signal paths, each of said circuit signal paths enabling RF transmission in a respective frequency band;

wherein each of said circuit signal paths comprises one or more output paths, each of said output paths enabling RF transmission according to a respective technology mode, and wherein each of said output paths includes;

(a) one of a first band vector modulator bank and a second band vector modulator bank of said analog circuitry;

(b) at least one power amplification output stage, including a multiple input single output (MISO) amplifier, said MISO amplifier configured according to said respective frequency band and said respective technology mode; and

(c) a switch that couples said one of said first band vector modulator bank and said second band vector modulator bank to said at least one power amplification output stage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more circuit signal paths supports both TDD (Time Division Duplexing) and FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing) technology modes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analog circuitry includes an input stage that receives data signals from the digital module, and wherein one of said first band vector modulator bank and second band vector modulator bank generates substantially constant envelope signals from said data signals.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein one of said first band vector modulator bank and second band vector modulator bank provides said substantially constant envelope signals to said at least one power amplification output stage.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the input stage includes interpolation filter circuitry.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first band vector modulator bank and second band vector modulator bank correspond respectively to a lower frequency band and an upper frequency band.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein only one of said first band vector modulator bank and second band vector modulator bank is active based on a selected frequency band of operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of frequency synthesizers that generate radio frequencies in said lower frequency band and said upper frequency band.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of frequency synthesizers provide respective clock signals to the first band vector modulator bank and second band vector modulator bank.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first band vector modulator bank and second band vector modulator bank modulate said data signals with appropriately derived versions of said respective clock signals to generate said substantially constant envelope signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the digital module selectively turns on one of said plurality of frequency synthesizers according to a selected frequency band of operation.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital module controls the first band vector modulator bank and second band vector modulator bank using a phase balance control signal to cause a change in phase in said substantially constant envelope signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital module controls the at least one power amplification output stage using a gain balance control signal to cause a change in gain in the MISO amplifier.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analog circuitry includes power supply circuitry that control and deliver power to components of the analog circuitry.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the digital module controls said power supply circuitry to turn on active portions of the analog circuitry and to turn off inactive portions of the analog circuitry.