Dual mode multi-slot EGPRS transmitter

A dual mode multi-timeslot RF transmitter, comprising:

• a programmable power amplifier;
• and
• a multi-timeslot control unit outputting control signals to said programmable power amplifier, said control unit operating, prior to a first timeslot, for setting a plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a first modulation format used during the first timeslot and, during a guard period between the first timeslot and a next, temporally adjacent timeslot, for setting the plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a second modulation format used during the second timeslot, where the first modulation format differs from the second modulation format, where one of the plurality of control signals sets a power amplifier mode of operation where another one of plurality of control signals is coupled to an RF attenuator having an output that is coupled to an input of said power amplifier, and where the mode of operation is one of variable gain and fixed gain.

A method to operate a dual mode EDGE RF transmitter, comprising:

• prior to a first timeslot, setting a plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a first modulation format used during a first timeslot;
• and
• during a guard period between the first timeslot and a next, temporally adjacent timeslot, setting the plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a second modulation format used during the second timeslot, where one of the modulation formats is 8-PSK using a power amplifier in a fixed gain mode and where the other of the modulation formats is GMSK using the power amplifier in a variable gain mode, where one of the plurality of control signals sets the power amplifier gain and is ramped during the guard period, where a different one of plurality of control signals is coupled to an RF attenuator having an output that is coupled to an input of the power amplifier, and where another one of the plurality of control signals sets the power amplifier quiescent current.

A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium the execution of which operates a dual mode multi-timeslot RF transmitter, comprising operations of:

• prior to a first timeslot, setting a plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a first modulation format used during the first timeslot;
• and
• during a guard period between the first timeslot and a next, temporally adjacent timeslot, setting the plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a second modulation format used during the second timeslot, where the first modulation format differs from the second modulation format, where one of the plurality of control signals sets a power amplifier mode of operation, where another one of plurality of control signals is coupled to an RF attenuator having an output that is coupled to an input of a power amplifier, and where the mode of operation is one of a variable gain power amplifier and a fixed gain power amplifier.

An electronic device for operation in a wireless communication system, comprising a dual mode multi-timeslot RF transmitter comprising a programmable power amplifier and a control unit outputting control signals to said programmable power amplifier, said control unit operating, prior to a first timeslot, for setting a plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a first modulation format used during the first timeslot and, during a guard period between the first timeslot and a next, temporally adjacent timeslot, for setting the plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a second modulation format used during the second timeslot, where the first modulation format differs from the second modulation format, where one of the plurality of control signals sets a programmable power amplifier mode of operation, where another one of plurality of control signals is coupled to an RF attenuator having an output that is coupled to an input of the programmable power amplifier, and where the mode of operation is one of variable gain and fixed gain.

An RF transmitter comprising programmable power amplifier means and control means for outputting control signals to said programmable power amplifier means, said control means operating, prior to a first timeslot, for setting a plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a first modulation format used during the first timeslot and, during a guard period between the first timeslot and a next, temporally adjacent timeslot, for setting the plurality of control signals for the RF transmitter in accordance with a second modulation format used during the second timeslot, where the first modulation format differs from the second modulation format, where one of the plurality of control signals sets a mode of operation of the programmable power amplifier means, where another one of plurality of control signals is coupled to RF attenuator means having an output that is coupled to an input of the programmable power amplifier means, and where the mode of operation is one of variable gain and fixed gain.