US 7,095,796 B1 · Low power radio transmitter using pulse transmissions

Abstract

A low power radio transmitter includes an intermediate frequency stage, signal-to-pulse conversion module, and a power amplifier. The intermediate frequency stage up-converts the frequency of a base-band digital signal into an N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency. The signal-to-pulse conversion module converts the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into a pulse signal of M-bits at the radio frequency. As such, the signal-to-pulse conversion module is taking an N-bit signal (e.g., an 8-bit digital signal) and converting it into an M-bit pulse signal (e.g., a 1-bit pulse stream). Accordingly, the M-bit signal at the radio frequency is essentially a square-wave, which has a peak to average ratio of zero, is subsequently amplified by the power amplifier.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A radio transmitter comprises:

intermediate frequency stage operably coupled to up-convert frequency of a baseband digital signal into an N-bit signal at an intermediate frequency;
signal to pulse conversion module operably coupled to convert the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into an M-bit signal at a radio frequency, wherein N is greater than M, and wherein the signal to pulse conversion module includes:
rate converter operably coupled to increase rate of the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency to produce a rate increased K-bit signal at the intermediate frequency;
pulse density modulator operably coupled to convert the rate increased K-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into an J-bit pulse density signal at the intermediate frequency;
second rate converter operably coupled to increase rate of the J-bit pulse density signal at the intermediate frequency to produce a rate increased L-bit signal at the intermediate frequency;
and
radio frequency module operably coupled to increase frequency of the rate increased L-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into the M-bit signal at the radio frequency;
and
power amplifier operably coupled to amplify the M-bit signal at the radio frequency.

6 more elements

A method for radio frequency signal transmissions, the method comprises:

up-converting frequency of a baseband digital signal into an N-bit signal at an intermediate frequency;
converting the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into an M-bit signal at a radio frequency, wherein N is greater than M, and wherein the converting of the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into the M-bit signal at the radio frequency includes:
increasing rate of the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency to produce a rate increased K-bit signal at the intermediate frequency;
pulse density modulating the rate increased K-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into an J-bit pulse density signal at the intermediate frequency;
increasing rate of the J-bit pulse density signal at the intermediate frequency to produce a rate increased L-bit signal at the intermediate frequency;
and
increasing frequency of the rate increased L-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into the M-bit signal at the radio frequency;
and
amplifying the M-bit signal at the radio frequency.

6 more elements

An apparatus for radio frequency signal transmissions, the apparatus comprises:

processing module;
and
memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes operational instructions that cause he processing module to:
up-convert frequency of a baseband digital signal into an N-bit signal at an intermediate frequency;
convert the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into an M-bit signal at a radio frequency by:
increasing rate of the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency to produce a rate increased K-bit signal at the intermediate frequency;
pulse density modulating the rate increased K-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into an J-bit pulse density signal at the intermediate frequency;
increasing rate of the J-bit pulse density signal at the intermediate frequency to produce a rate increased L-bit signal at the intermediate frequency;
and
increasing frequency of the rate increased L-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into the M-bit signal at the radio frequency;
wherein N is greater than M;
and
amplify the M-bit signal at the radio frequency.

10 more elements

A radio transmitter comprises:

intermediate frequency stage operably coupled to up-convert frequency of a baseband digital signal into an N-bit signal at an intermediate frequency;
signal to pulse conversion module operably coupled to convert the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into an M-bit signal at a radio frequency, wherein N is greater than M, the signal to pulse conversion module including:
a rate converter operably coupled to increase rate of the N-bit signal at the intermediate frequency to produce a rate increased K-bit signal at the intermediate frequency;
pulse density modulator operably coupled to convert the rate increased K-bit signal at the intermediate frequency into an J-bit pulse density signal at the intermediate frequency;
and
radio frequency module operably coupled to increase frequency of the J-bit pulse density signal at the intermediate frequency into the M-bit signal at the radio frequency;
and
power amplifier operably coupled to amplify the M-bit signal at the radio frequency.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low power radio transmitter using pulse transmissions

Life of this patent

Low power radio transmitter using pulse transmissions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26