Systems and methods for converting a stream of complex numbers into an amplitude and phase-modulated radio power signal

A system for converting a stream of complex numbers representing a desired modulation of a radio signal into a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the system comprising:

• a processor that converts the complex numbers into polar form, including an amplitude-representative part and a phase-representative part, and that represents the amplitude-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers as a plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance;
• a phase modulator that modulates the phase-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers at the radio carrier frequency, to produce a phase-modulated drive signal;
• a plurality of power amplifiers, a respective one which provides a contribution to the modulated radio power signal at a respective amplifier output that is related to a respective one of the digits of decreasing numerical significance, a respective one of the plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance being applied to a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers to thereby control the output amplitude of a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers;
• and
• a combining circuit that combines the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers to form the modulated radio power signal.

A system for converting a stream of complex numbers representing a desired modulation of a radio signal into a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the system comprising:

• means for converting the complex numbers into polar form, including an amplitude-representative part and a phase-representative part, and for representing the amplitude-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers as a plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance;
• means for phase modulating the phase-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers at the radio carrier frequency, to produce a phase-modulated drive signal;
• means for power amplifying the phase-modulated drive signal in a plurality of power amplifiers, a respective one which provides a contribution to the modulated radio power signal at a respective amplifier output that is related to a respective one of the digits of decreasing numerical significance, a respective one of the plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance being applied to a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers to thereby control the output amplitude of a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers;
• and
• means for combining the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers to form the modulated radio power signal.

A system for converting a stream of complex numbers representing a desired modulation of a radio signal into a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the system comprising:

• a processor that converts the complex numbers into polar form, including an amplitude-representative part and a phase-representative part, and that represents the amplitude-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers as a plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance;
• a phase modulator that phase modulates the phase-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers at the radio carrier frequency, to produce a phase-modulated drive signal;
• a plurality of power amplifiers, a respective one which provides an output voltage level at a respective amplifier output thereof, a respective one of the plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance being applied to a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers;
• and
• a combining circuit that combines the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers according to a combining ratio to produce the modulated radio power signal, at least one of the output voltage level and the combining ratio being selected such that the modulated radio power signal is related to the numerical significance of the plurality of digits.

A system for converting a stream of complex numbers representing a desired modulation of a radio signal into a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the system comprising:

• means for converting the complex numbers into polar form, including an amplitude-representative part and a phase-representative part, and for representing the amplitude-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers as a plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance;
• means for phase modulating the phase-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers at the radio carrier frequency, to produce a phase-modulated drive signal;
• means for power amplifying the phase-modulated drive signal in a plurality of power amplifiers, a respective one which provides an output voltage level at a respective amplifier output, a respective one of the plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance being applied to a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers;
• and
• means for combining the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers according to a combining ratio to produce the modulated radio power signal, at least one of the output voltage level and the combining ratio being selected such that the modulated radio power signal is related to the numerical significance of the plurality of digits.

A method for converting a stream of complex numbers representing a desired modulation of a radio signal into a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the method comprising the steps of:

• converting the complex numbers into polar form, including an amplitude-representative part and a phase-representative part;
• representing the amplitude-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers as a plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance;
• phase modulating the phase-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers at the radio carrier frequency, to produce a phase-modulated drive signal;
• power amplifying the phase-modulated drive signal in a plurality of power amplifiers, a respective one which provides an output voltage level at a respective amplifier output;
• applying a respective one of the plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance to a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers;
• and
• combining the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers according to a combining ratio to produce the modulated radio power signal, at least one of the output voltage level and the combining ratio being selected such that the modulated radio power signal is related to the numerical significance of the plurality of digits.