Methods and apparatus for implementing and/or using amplifiers and/or for performing various amplification related operations

An apparatus for use in amplifying signals, the apparatus comprising:

• a delta sigma modulator having a first input, a correction input and a multiple level signal output for outputting a signal having a plurality of discrete output levels;
• a correction computation module having a first signal input coupled to the first signal input of said delta sigma modulator and a second signal input coupled to the delta sigma modulator output for generating a delta sigma modulator correction signal which is supplied to said correction input of the delta sigma modulator;
• a switching amplifier coupled to the output of said delta sigma modulator, said switching amplifier switching between two states;
• a filter and load module coupled to the output of said switching amplifier, said filter and load module including a filter and a load electrically coupled together;
• wherein the delta sigma modulator is complex;
• wherein the correction signal is complex;
• wherein the real and imaginary correction signal components each depend on both the real and imaginary signal input components of a complex input to the complex delta sigma modulator;
• and
• wherein said load is between 10 and 60 ohms, the bandwidth of said filter is between 1 MHz and 30 MHz, and the output of a carrier center frequency of a signal applied across said load is in the RF range of 400-5000 MHz.

An apparatus for use in amplifying signals, the apparatus comprising:

• a delta sigma modulator having a first input, a correction input and a multiple level signal output for outputting a signal having a plurality of discrete output levels;
• a correction computation module having a first signal input coupled to the first signal input of said delta sigma modulator and a second signal input coupled to the delta sigma modulator output for generating a delta sigma modulator correction signal which is supplied to said correction input of the delta sigma modulator;
• a switching amplifier coupled to the output of said delta sigma modulator, said switching amplifier switching between two states;
• a filter and load module coupled to the output of said switching amplifier, said filter and load module including a filter and a load electrically coupled together;
• wherein the delta sigma modulator is complex;
• wherein the correction signal is complex;
• wherein the real and imaginary correction signal components each depend on both the real and imaginary signal input components of a complex input to the complex delta sigma modulator;
• wherein said filter is a bandpass filter which is coupled in series with said load;
• and
• wherein said correction module includes a module for using an estimate of a current envelope of a current entering said filter and load module to produce said delta sigma modulator correction signal.

An apparatus for use in amplifying signals, the apparatus comprising:

• a complex delta sigma modulator having a first input, a correction input and a multiple level signal output for outputting a signal having a plurality of discrete output levels;
• a complex correction computation module having a first signal input coupled to the first signal input of said complex delta sigma modulator and a second signal input coupled to the output of the delta sigma modulator for generating a complex delta sigma modulator correction signal which is supplied to said correction input of the delta sigma modulator;
• and
• a switching amplifier coupled to the output of said complex delta sigma modulator, said switching amplifier switching between a plurality of states;
• and
• a receiver module coupled to the output of the switching amplifier for performing a receiver operation on the signal output by the power.

A method for use in amplifying signals through the use of an electrical delta sigma modulator which supports a plurality of discrete signal output levels and a correction computation module, the method comprising:

• operating the electrical delta sigma modulator to generate an electrical output signal as a function of a current input signal and a correction signal generated from a previous output of the delta signal modulator;
• and
• operating the correction computation module to generate said correction signal as a function of the current input signal to the delta sigma modulator and the output of the delta sigma modulator;
• wherein the delta sigma modulator is complex;
• and
• wherein the correction signal is complex.

A method for use in amplifying signals through the use of a delta sigma modulator which supports a plurality of discrete signal output levels and a correction computation module, the method comprising:

• operating the delta sigma modulator to generate an output signal as a function of a current input signal and a correction signal generated from a previous output of the delta sigma modulator;
• and
• operating the correction computation module to generate said correction signal as a function of the current input signal to the delta sigma modulator and the output of the delta sigma modulator;
• operating a switching amplifier coupled to the output of said delta sigma modulator to amplify said delta sigma modulator output by switching between two states;
• subjecting the output of said switching amplifier to a filtering and loading operation;
• wherein generating said correction signal includes generating a real correction signal component as a function of both a real input signal component and an imaginary input signal component of the complex input to the complex delta sigma modulator and generating an imaginary correction signal component as a function of both said real input signal component and said imaginary input signal component of the complex input to the complex delta sigma modulator;
• wherein the delta sigma modulator is complex;
• wherein the correction signal is complex;
• wherein subjecting the output of said switching amplifier to a filtering and loading operation includes passing the output of said switching amplifier through a filter and load module which includes a filter and a load electrically coupled together;
• and
• wherein generating said correction signal includes computing a correction feedback value to be communicated in said delta sigma modulator correction signal from an estimate of a current envelope of a current entering said filter and load module.

A method for use in amplifying signals through the use of a delta sigma modulator which supports a plurality of discrete signal output levels and a correction computation module, the method comprising:

• operating the delta sigma modulator to generate an output signal as a function of a current input signal and a correction signal generated from a previous output of the delta sigma modulator;
• operating the correction computation module to generate said correction signal as a function of the current input signal to the delta sigma modulator and the output of the delta sigma modulator;
• and
• operating clocking circuitry to control said correction module to produce a complex correction value at the same rate as an update rate of the delta sigma modulator.

A method for use in amplifying signals through the use of a complex delta sigma modulator which supports a plurality of discrete signal output levels and a complex correction computation module, the method comprising:

• operating the complex delta sigma modulator to generate a complex output signal as a function of a current input signal and a correction signal generated from a previous output of the complex delta sigma modulator;
• operating the complex correction computation module to generate said correction signal as a function of the current input signal to the complex delta sigma modulator and the output of the complex delta sigma modulator;
• operating a switching amplifier coupled to the output of said complex delta sigma modulator to amplify said complex delta sigma modulator output by switching between two states;
• and
• performing a receiver operation on the amplified signal output by said switching amplifier.

An apparatus for use in amplifying signals, the apparatus comprising:

• delta sigma modulator means for generating an output signal as a function of a current input signal and a correction signal generated from a previous output of the delta sigma modulator means;
• and
• correction computation means for generating said correction signal as a function of the current input signal to the delta sigma modulator means and the output of the delta sigma modulator means
• switching amplifier means coupled to the output of said delta sigma modulator means, said switching amplifier switching between two states;
• filter and load module means coupled to the output of said switching amplifier means, said filter and load module means including filter means and a load electrically coupled to said filter means;
• wherein the delta sigma modulator means is complex;
• wherein the correction signal is complex;
• wherein the real and imaginary correction signal components each depend on both the real and imaginary signal input components of a complex input to the complex delta sigma modulator means;
• and
• wherein said load is between 10 and 60 ohms, the bandwidth of said filter is between 1 MHz and 30 MHz, and the output of a carrier center frequency of a signal applied across said load is in the RF range of 400-5000 MHz.

An apparatus for use in amplifying signals, the apparatus comprising:

• delta sigma modulator means for generating an output signal as a function of a current input signal and a correction signal generated from a previous output of the delta sigma modulator means;
• correction computation means for generating said correction signal as a function of the current input signal to the delta sigma modulator means and the output of the delta sigma modulator means;
• switching amplifier means for amplifying a delta sigma modulator output by switching between two states;
• means for subjecting the output of said switching amplifier means to a filtering and loading operation;
• receiver means coupled to the power amplifier means for performing a receiver operation on a signal output by the power amplifier means;
• parameter estimation means for estimating, from an output of said receiver means, at least one parameter to be by used by said correction computation means in generating said correction signal;
• wherein the delta sigma modulator means is a complex delta sigma modulator;
• and
• wherein the correction signal is complex.

A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for implementing a method of using a delta sigma modulator which supports a plurality of discrete signal output levels and a correction computation module, the method comprising:

• operating the delta sigma modulator to generate an output signal as a function of a current input signal and a correction signal generated from a previous output of the delta sigma modulator;
• operating the correction computation module to generate said correction signal as a function of the current input signal to the delta sigma modulator and the output of the delta sigma modulator;
• operating a switching amplifier coupled to the output of said delta sigma modulator to amplify said delta sigma modulator output by switching between two states;
• subjecting the output of said switching amplifier to a filtering and loading operation;
• wherein generating said correction signal includes generating a real correction signal component as a function of both a real input signal component and an imaginary input signal component of the complex input to the complex delta sigma modulator and generating an imaginary correction signal component as a function of both said real input signal component and said imaginary input signal component of the complex input to the complex delta sigma modulator;
• wherein the delta sigma modulator is complex;
• wherein the correction signal is complex;
• wherein subjecting the output of said switching amplifier to a filtering and loading operation includes passing the output of said switching amplifier through a filter and load module which includes a filter and a load electrically coupled together;
• and
• wherein generating said correction signal includes computing a correction feedback value to be communicated in said correction signal from an estimate of a current envelope of a current entering said filter and load module.

An apparatus operable in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• operate a delta sigma modulator to generate an output signal as a function of a current input signal and a correction signal generated from a previous output of the delta sigma modulator;
• and
• operate a computation module to generate said correction signal as a function of the current input signal to the delta sigma modulator and the output of the delta sigma modulator;
• operate a switching amplifier coupled to the output of said delta sigma modulator to amplify said delta sigma modulator output by switching between two states;
• subject the output of said switching amplifier to a filtering and loading operation;
• wherein operating a computation module to generate said correction signal includes controlling the computation module to generate a real correction signal component as a function of both a real input signal component and an imaginary input signal component of the complex input to the complex delta sigma modulator and generate an imaginary correction signal component as a function of both said real input signal component and said imaginary input signal component of the complex input to the complex delta sigma modulator;
• wherein the delta sigma modulator is complex;
• wherein the correction signal is complex;
• wherein subjecting the output of said switching amplifier to a filtering and loading operation includes passing the output of said switching amplifier through a filter and load module which includes a filter and a load electrically coupled together;
• and
• wherein generating said correction signal includes computing a correction feedback value to be communicated in said correction signal from an estimate of a current envelope of a current entering said filter and load module.

A communications device, comprising:

• a complex delta sigma modulator having a first input, a correction input and a multiple level signal output for outputting a complex signal having a plurality of discrete output levels;
• a complex correction computation module having a first signal input coupled to the first signal input of said complex delta sigma modulator and a second signal input coupled to the output of said complex delta sigma modulator for generating a complex delta sigma modulator correction feedback signal which is supplied to said correction input of the delta sigma modulator;
• a switching type amplifier coupled to the output of the complex delta sigma modulator;
• and
• an antenna coupled to an output of the switching type amplifier.

A communications device, comprising:

• a complex delta sigma modulator having a first input, a correction input and a multiple level signal output for outputting a signal having a plurality of discrete output levels;
• a complex correction computation module having a first signal input coupled to the first signal input of said delta sigma modulator and a second signal input coupled to the output of the delta sigma modulator for generating a complex delta sigma modulator correction feedback signal which is supplied to said correction input of the complex delta sigma modulator;
• a switching type amplifier coupled to the output of the complex delta sigma modulator;
• and
• an antenna coupled to the switching type amplifier output;
• a receiver coupled to the switching type amplifier output;
• and
• a parameter estimation module for determining a parameter from a demodulated signal generated by said receiver, said parameter being used by said correction computation module in generating said correction feedback signal.