System, method, and outphasing power amplifier having vector generator and IQ modulators

An apparatus, comprising:

• an input amplifier configured to:
• receive a radio frequency (RF) drive from an exciter;
• amplify the RF drive;
• and output an amplified RF drive, wherein the RF drive includes phase and envelope information of a modulated signal;
• an input limiter configured to:
• receive the amplified RF drive;
• cap the amplified RF drive to no more than a predetermined voltage;
• and output a capped amplified RF drive;
• a first in-phase component signal (I) and quadrature component signal (Q) modulator (IQ modulator) configured to:
• receive the capped amplified RF drive;
• receive an I and a Q;
• based at least on the I and the Q, produce a zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal that changes relative to an input envelope of an RF drive waveform of the RF drive;
• and output the zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal;
• a first amplifier path configured to:
• receive the zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal;
• and output a first phase modulated signal;
• a second IQ modulator configured to:
• receive the capped amplified RF drive;
• receive the I and a negative Q (−Q);
• based at least on the I and the −Q, produce a zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal that changes relative to the input envelope of the RF drive waveform of the RF drive;
• and output the zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal;
• a second amplifier path configured to:
• receive the zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal;
• and output a second phase modulated signal, wherein the second phase modulated signal is complementary to the first phase modulated signal;
• and
• a vector generator configured to:
• generate at least the Q and the −Q;
• output the Q to the first IQ modulator;
• and output the −Q to the second IQ modulator.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by an input amplifier, a radio frequency (RF) drive from an exciter;
• amplifying, by the input amplifier, the RF drive;
• outputting, by the input amplifier, an amplified RF drive, wherein the RF drive includes phase and envelope information of a modulated signal;
• receiving, by an input limiter, the amplified RF drive;
• capping, by the input limiter, the amplified RF drive to no more than a predetermined voltage;
• outputting, by the input limiter, a capped amplified RF drive;
• receiving, by a first in-phase component signal (I) and quadrature component signal (Q) modulator (IQ modulator), the capped amplified RF drive;
• receiving, by the first IQ modulator, an I and a Q;
• based at least on the I and the Q, producing, by the first IQ modulator, a zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal that changes relative to an input envelope of an RF drive waveform of the RF drive;
• outputting, by the first IQ modulator, the zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal;
• receiving, by a first amplifier path, the zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal;
• outputting, by the first amplifier path, a first phase modulated signal;
• receiving, by a second IQ modulator, the capped amplified RF drive;
• receiving, by the second IQ modulator, the I and a negative Q (−Q);
• based at least on the I and the −Q, producing, by the second IQ modulator, a zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal that changes relative to the input envelope of the RF drive waveform of the RF drive;
• outputting, by the second IQ modulator, the zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal;
• receiving, by a second amplifier path, the zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal;
• outputting, by the second amplifier path, a second phase modulated signal, wherein the second phase modulated signal is complementary to the first phase modulated signal;
• generating, by a vector generator, at least the Q and the −Q;
• outputting, by the vector generator, the Q to the first IQ modulator;
• and
• outputting, by the vector generator, the −Q to the second IQ modulator.