# US 12,191,827 B2 · System, method, and outphasing power amplifier having vector generator and IQ modulators > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,191,827 B2 - Document ID: US12191827B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/576,291 - Filed: 2022-01-14 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-14 - Assignees: Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Applicants: Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Inventors: Timothy L. Kean - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191827B2 ## CPC - H03F 3/19: with semiconductor devices only - H03F 3/245: {with semiconductor devices only} - H03F 1/0294: {using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals} - H03F 3/2176: {Class E amplifiers} - H03F 3/2178: {using more than one switch or switching amplifier in parallel or in series (H03F3/2173, H03F3/2175 take precedence)} - H03F 3/24: of transmitter output stages - H03F 3/45475: {using IC blocks as the active amplifying circuit} - H03F 2200/102: A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit - H03F 2200/336: A I/Q, i.e. phase quadrature, modulator or demodulator being used in an amplifying circuit - H03F 2200/451: the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier - H03F: AMPLIFIERS ## Abstract A system may include a first IQ modulator configured to: based on an I and a Q, produce a zero to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal that changes relative to an input envelope of an RF drive waveform of the RF drive. The system may include a first amplifier path configured to: output a first phase modulated signal. The system may include a second IQ modulator configured to: based on the I and the −Q, produce a zero to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal that changes relative to the input envelope. The system may include a second amplifier path configured to: output a second phase modulated signal, wherein the second phase modulated signal is complementary to the first phase modulated signal. The system may include a vector generator configured to: generate the Q and the −Q for the first and second IQ modulators, respectively. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first amplifier path comprises a first squaring amplifier, a first squaring limiter, and a first final output amplifier; wherein the first squaring amplifier is configured to: receive the zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal; amplify the zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal; and output an amplified zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal; wherein the first squaring limiter is configured to: receive the amplified zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal; square the amplified zero degree to ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal to provide a first square wave drive signal; and output the first square wave drive signal; wherein the first final output amplifier is configured to: receive the first square wave drive signal; amplify the first square wave drive signal to provide the first phase modulated signal; and output the first phase modulated signal; wherein the second amplifier path comprises a second squaring amplifier, a second squaring limiter, and a second final output amplifier; wherein the second squaring amplifier is configured to: receive the zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal; amplify the zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal; and output an amplified zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal; wherein the second squaring limiter is configured to: receive the amplified zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal; square the amplified zero degree to negative ninety degree variable phase shifted output signal to provide a second square wave drive signal; and output the second square wave drive signal; wherein the second final output amplifier is configured to: receive the second square wave drive signal; amplify the second square wave drive signal to provide the second phase modulated signal; and output the second phase modulated signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second final output amplifiers is a class D, E, or F amplifier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising an output balanced transformer configured to: receive the first phase modulated signal and the second phase modulated signal; combine the first phase modulated signal and the second phase modulated signal as a combined complementary phase modulated signal; and output the combined complementary phase modulated signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, further comprising a low pass filter configured to: receive the combined complementary phase modulated signal; filter off harmonics produced by the first and second final output amplifiers while providing a predetermined amount of impedance to the combined complementary phase modulated signal; and output a filtered combined complementary phase modulated signal as a forward signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, further comprising an antenna configured to: receive the forward signal; and transmit an RF signal based on the forward signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, further comprising a directional coupler configured to: receive the forward signal; sample the forward signal; and output the forward signal to an antenna. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the directional coupler is further configured to: sample the forward signal to monitor power of the forward signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the directional coupler is further configured to: sample the forward signal for monitoring feedback of an envelope of the modulated signal; and output a sample of the forward signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising an input detector, a feedback error amplifier, and a variable attenuator; wherein the input detector is configured to: receive the amplified RF drive; strip the envelope from the amplified RF drive; and output an input envelope of the amplified RF drive; wherein the feedback error amplifier is configured to: receive the sample of the forward signal and the input envelope of the amplified RF drive; compare an output envelope of the sample and the input envelope to create a difference signal; and output the difference signal; wherein the variable attenuator is configured to: receive the difference signal and the input envelope; correct an envelope amplitude based on the difference signal and the input envelope; and based on the corrected envelope amplitude, output the I to the first IQ modulator, the second IQ modulator, and the vector generator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vector generator is an analog Q vector generator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the analog Q vector generator uses an equation of Q equals 1 minus the I to generate the Q and the −Q. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the analog Q vector generator comprises a difference amplifier and an inverter amplifier, wherein the difference amplifier is configured to compare the I to a reference voltage of 1 volt to generate the Q; wherein the inverter amplifier is configured to generate the −Q. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vector generator is a digital Q vector generator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the digital Q vector generator is configured to: generate the Q and the −Q through use of at least one of: 1) a first equation of Q=√{square root over (1−I2)}; 2) a second equation of Q=1−I to generate the Q and the −Q; or 3) a third equation of Q = A tan ⁡ ( π ⁢ A z ) . wherein A is amplitude. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the digital Q vector generator comprises a field-programmable gate array. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an input detector configured to: receive the amplified RF drive; strip the envelope from the amplified RF drive; and output an input envelope of the amplified RF drive; wherein the vector generator is a digital I and Q vector generator, wherein the digital I and Q vector generator is configured to: receive the input envelope of the amplified RF drive; based at least on the input envelope of the amplified RF drive, generate the I; output the I; and generate the Q and the −Q through use of at least one of: 1) a first equation of Q=√{square root over (1−I2)}; 2) a second equation of Q=1−I to generate the Q and the −Q; or 3) a third equation of Q = A tan ⁡ ( π ⁢ A z ) . wherein A is amplitude. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the digital I and Q vector generator comprises a field-programmable gate array. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 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.