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US 6,799,020 B1Granted
Parallel amplifier architecture using digital phase control techniques
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsPeter D. Heidmann, Joseph P. Burke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for using parallel amplifiers to efficiently amplify an information signal are disclosed. The improved apparatus utilizes digital signal manipulation techniques in optimizing the phase of the upconverted input signals provided to each of the parallel amplifiers. The phase and amplitude of the input signals are adjusted such that the power measured at the output of a combiner is maximized as compared to the sum of the power of combiner input signals.
Claims56
Parallel amplifier transmitter comprising:
- a) first signal transmission subsystem comprising a phase-controlled digital oscillator for generating a first phase-controlled digital mixing signal having a phase based on a first phase control signal, wherein the first signal transmission subsystem uses the first phase-controlled digital mixing signal to produce a first phase-controlled amplified signal having a first phase based on the first phase control signal;
- b) at least one additional signal transmission subsystem, each producing an additional phase-controlled amplified signal;
- c) combiner means for combining said phase-controlled amplified signals to produce a combined amplified signal;
- d) combiner power measurement means, operably connected to said combiner means, for measuring the power of said combined amplified signal and producing a combiner power measurement;
- and
- e) control module, operably connected to said combiner power measurement means and to each of said signal transmission subsystems, for receiving said combiner power measurement from said combiner power measurement means and for receiving a subsystem power measurement based on each of said phase-controlled amplified signals produced by each of said signal transmission subsystems, and for adjusting said first digital phase control signal based on the values of said combiner power measurement and said subsystem power measurements.
3 more elements
Apparatus for upconverting and amplifying a signal comprising:
- a) combiner means for combining a plurality of amplified signals to produce a combined amplified signal;
- b) combiner power measurement means, operably connected to said combiner means, for measuring the power of said combined amplified signal and producing a combiner power measurement;
- and
- c) at least two signal transmission subsystems, operably connected to said combiner means, each signal transmission subsystem further comprising:
- 1) amplifier for amplifying a phase-controlled signal and producing one amplified signal of said plurality of amplified signals;
- 2) subsystem power measurement means for measuring the power of said one amplified signal and producing a subsystem power measurement;
- and
- 3) linear digital filter, operably connected to said amplifier, for subjecting a signal to a controlled group delay to produce said phase-controlled signal, wherein said controlled group delay is based on a digital phase control signal.
5 more elements
A process for amplifying a signal comprising the steps of:
- a) combining at least two amplified signals to produce a combined amplified signal;
- b) measuring the power of said combined amplified signal and producing a combiner power measurement;
- and
- c) generating each of said at least two amplified signals, wherein said step of generating for each amplified signal further comprises:
- 1) mixing a signal with a digitally phase-controlled mixing signal to produce an upconverted signal;
- 2) amplifying said upconverted signal to produce one amplified signal of said plurality of amplified signals;
- 3) measuring the power of said one amplified signal and producing a subsystem power measurement;
- 4) generating said digitally phase-controlled mixing signal in accordance with a digital phase control signal;
- 5) adjusting said digital phase control signal based on a combining efficiency measurement;
- and
- 6) generating said combining efficiency measurement based on the subsystem power measurement generated from each of said at least two amplified signals and on said combiner power measurement.
8 more elements
A process for amplifying a signal comprising the steps of:
- a) combining at least two amplified signals to produce a combined amplified signal;
- b) measuring the power of said combined amplified signal and producing a combiner power measurement;
- and
- c) generating each of said at least two amplified signals, wherein said step of generating for each amplified signal further comprises:
- 1) performing linear digital filtering of a signal to produce a group delay equivalent to a phase shift of said signal to produce a phase-controlled signal, wherein said filtering is adjusted such that the magnitude of said phase shift is based on a digital phase control signal;
- 2) adjusting said digital phase control signal based on a combining efficiency measurement;
- and
- 3) generating said combining efficiency measurement based on the subsystem power measurement generated from each of said at least two amplified signals and on said combiner power measurement.
5 more elements
A process for amplifying a signal comprising the steps of:
- a) generating a first digital phase control signal;
- b) using a first phase-controlled oscillator to generate a first phase-controlled mixing signal based on said first digital phase control signal;
- c) mixing said first phase-controlled mixing signal with a first input signal to produce a first upconverted signal;
- d) amplifying said first upconverted signal to produce a first amplified signal;
- e) measuring the power of said first amplified signal to produce a first power measurement signal;
- f) generating a second upconverted signal;
- g) amplifying said second upconverted signal to produce a second amplified signal;
- h) measuring the power of said second amplified signal to produce a second power measurement signal;
- i) combining said first amplified signal and said second amplified signal to produce a combined amplified signal;
- j) measuring the power of said combined amplified signal to produce a combined power measurement signal;
- k) generating a first power combining efficiency signal based on said first power measurement signal, said second power measurement signal, and said combined power measurement signal;
- l) adding an offset to said first digital phase control signal to cause modification of said first phase-controlled mixing signal;
- m) thereafter generating a second power combining efficiency signal;
- and
- n) where said second power combining efficiency signal is less than said first power combining efficiency signal, subtracting said offset from said first digital phase control signal.
12 more elements
Apparatus for upconverting and amplifying a signal comprising:
- combiner for combining a plurality of amplified signals to produce a combined amplified signal;
- and
- at least two signal transmission subsystems, wherein each signal transmission subsystem comprises:
- phase-controlled digital oscillator for generating a phase-controlled digital mixing signal, wherein the phase of said phase-controlled digital mixing signal is based on a digital phase control signal;
- digital mixer for mixing a digital signal with said phase-controlled digital mixing signal to produce an upconverted signal;
- amplifier for amplifying said upconverted signal to produce one amplified signal of said plurality of amplified signals;
- and
- control module for generating each of said digital phase control signals based on a combiner power measurement measured at the output of said combiner.
5 more elements
Apparatus for upconverting and amplifying a signal comprising:
- combiner for combining a plurality of amplified signals to produce a combined amplified signal;
- and
- at least two signal transmission subsystems, wherein each signal transmission subsystem comprises:
- phase-controlled digital oscillator for generating a phase-controlled digital signal, wherein the phase of said phase-controlled digital signal is based on a digital phase control signal;
- digital-to-analog converter for receiving a phase-controlled digital signal and producing a phase-controlled analog mixing signal;
- analog mixer for mixing an analog information signal with said phase-controlled analog mixing signal to produce an upconverted signal;
- and
- amplifier for amplifying said upconverted signal and producing one amplified signal of said plurality of amplified signals.
5 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first signal transmission subsystem, the first signal transmission subsystem comprising:
- a first upconverter configured to upconvert a data signal to provide a first upconverted signal;
- and
- a first amplifier configured to amplify the first upconverted signal to provide a first amplified signal having a first amplified signal phase;
- and
- a second signal transmission subsystem, the second signal transmission subsystem comprising:
- a phase-controlled digital oscillator configured to generate a phase-controlled digital mixing signal having a mixing signal phase based on a phase control signal;
- a second upconverter configured to upconvert the data signal using the phase-controlled digital mixing signal to provide a second upconverted signal;
- and
- a second amplifier configured to amplify the second upconverted signal to provide a second amplified signal having a second amplified signal phase, wherein the phase control signal is adjusted based on a difference between the first amplified signal phase and the second amplified signal phase.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.