Power- conserving drive-modulation method for envelope-elimination-and-restoration (EER) transmitters

A transmitter comprising:

• a) a first modulator, said first modulator having a first signal input, a first supply-voltage input, and a first modulator output;
• b) a second modulator separate from said first modulator, said second modulator having a second signal input, a second supply-voltage input, and a second modulator output;
• c) a driver having a third supply-voltage input and a driver output, said second modulator output being coupled to said third supply-voltage input of said driver for modulating said driver;
• and
• d) a final amplifier having a final amplifier input coupled to said driver output, said final amplifier having a drive level, an RF output, and a fourth supply-voltage input, said first modulator output being coupled to said fourth supply-voltage input of said final amplifier for modulating said final amplifier.

A transmitter having a signal input, said transmitter comprising:

• a) an envelope detector for forming an envelope signal;
• b) a delay module, said signal input being coupled to both said envelope detector and said delay module;
• c) a limiter coupled to said delay module;
• d) a first modulator, said first modulator having a first supply-voltage input and a first modulator output;
• e) a second modulator separate from said first modulator, said second modulator having a second supply-voltage input and a second modulator output, said envelope detector being coupled to both said first and second modulators;
• f) a local oscillator and a mixer coupled to said limiter for providing a delayed phase-modulated signal;
• g) a driver accepting said delayed phase-modulated signal, said driver having a third supply-voltage input and a driver output, said second modulator output being coupled to said third supply-voltage input of said driver for modulating said driver;
• and
• h) a final amplifier having a final amplifier input coupled to said driver output, said final amplifier having a drive level, an RF output, and a fourth supply-voltage input, said first modulator output being coupled to said fourth supply-voltage input of said final amplifier for modulating said final amplifier.

A transmitter having an RF signal input, said transmitter comprising:

• a) a modulator, said modulator having an envelope signal input, a first supply-voltage input, and a modulator output;
• b) a driver having a driver input, a second supply-voltage input, and a driver output;
• c) an envelope detector operating on said signal input of said transmitter and whose envelope output is coupled to said envelope signal input of said modulator;
• d) a final amplifier having a final amplifier input coupled to said driver output, said final amplifier having a drive level, an RF output, and a third supply-voltage input, said modulator output being coupled to said third supply-voltage input of said final amplifier for modulating said final amplifier;
• and
• e) a first variable gain control device operating on said RF signal input and coupled to said driver input.

A transmitter having a baseband or other input, comprising:

• a) a first modulator, said first modulator having a first signal input, a first supply-voltage input, and a first modulator output;
• b) a second modulator separate from said first modulator, said second modulator having a second signal input, a second supply-voltage input, and a second modulator output;
• c) a driver having a third supply-voltage input and a driver output, said second modulator output being coupled to said third supply-voltage input of said driver for modulating said driver;
• d) a digital signal processor and digital-to-analog converter circuit, said digital signal processor operating on said baseband or other input of the transmitter and said circuit having a first analog or digital envelope output coupled to said first modulator, and a second analog or digital output coupled to said second modulator, said second analog or digital output including both gain and DC-offset adjustments to said envelope;
• and
• e) a final amplifier having a final amplifier input coupled to said driver output, said final amplifier having a drive level, an RF output, and a fourth supply-voltage input, said first modulator output being coupled to said fourth supply-voltage input of said final amplifier for modulating said final amplifier.