Systems and methods for improved power yield and linearization in radio frequency transmitters

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a linearizer, a first intermediate frequency transmit signal;
• receiving, by the linearizer, a first intermediate frequency feedback signal;
• comparing, by the linearizer, a reference signal to the first intermediate frequency feedback signal to generate a first distortion;
• determining, by the linearizer, first predistortion based on the first distortion;
• evaluating an amount based on the first distortion or based on the first predistortion to determine whether to signal at least one other component in the system;
• upconverting a second signal to produce a first radio frequency transmit signal, the second signal being based on the first intermediate frequency transmit signal;
• amplifying, by a radio frequency power amplifier, a third signal to produce an amplified radio frequency transmit signal, the third signal being based on the first radio frequency transmit signal, the radio frequency power amplifier causing second distortion in the amplified radio frequency transmit signal, the first distortion having been previously caused at least in part by the second distortion;
• generating a first radio frequency feedback signal based on the amplified radio frequency transmit signal;
• downconverting a fourth signal to produce a fifth signal, the fourth signal being based on the first radio frequency feedback signal, the first intermediate frequency feedback signal being based on the fifth signal;
• and
• adding, by the linearizer, the first predistortion to a future intermediate frequency transmit signal to produce an adjusted future intermediate frequency transmit signal.

A system, comprising:

• linearizer means for receiving a first intermediate frequency transmit signal and a first intermediate frequency feedback signal, for comparing a reference signal to the first intermediate frequency feedback signal to generate a first distortion, for determining first predistortion based on the first distortion, for adding the first predistortion to a future intermediate frequency transmit signal to produce an adjusted future intermediate frequency transmit signal, and for evaluating an amount based on the first distortion or based on the first predistortion to determine whether to signal at least one other component in the system;
• means for upconverting a second signal to produce a first radio frequency transmit signal, the second signal being based on the first intermediate frequency transmit signal;
• radio frequency power amplifier means for amplifying a third signal to produce an amplified radio frequency transmit signal, the third signal being based on the first radio frequency transmit signal, the radio frequency power amplifier causing second distortion in the amplified radio frequency transmit signal, the first distortion having been previously caused at least in part by the second distortion;
• means for generating a first radio frequency feedback signal based on the amplified radio frequency transmit signal before the linearizer means adds the first predistortion to the future intermediate frequency transmit signal;
• and
• means for downconverting a fourth signal to produce a fifth signal, the fourth signal being based on the first radio frequency feedback signal, and the first intermediate frequency feedback signal being based on the fifth signal.