Single envelope tracking system for an active antenna array

A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and the non-volatile computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions for the manufacture of an active antenna array comprising:

• a plurality of transmission paths in the active antenna array, the plurality of transmission paths being adapted to process a plurality of transmission path signals similar to each other, wherein each of the plurality of transmission paths comprises an amplifier having a power input and a signal input for one of the plurality of transmission path signals;
• a variable common power supply unit connected to the power inputs of the amplifiers for supplying power to the amplifiers;
• an envelope detection system connected to an envelope input of the variable common power supply unit and adapted to provide a common envelope signal for the plurality of transmission path signals to the variable common power supply unit,
• wherein one of the variable common power supply unit and the envelope detection system comprises a predistorter adapted to predistort the common envelope signal.

A method for performing envelope tracking on a plurality of amplifiers that amplify a plurality of similar transmission path signals in an active antenna array, the method comprising:

• detecting an envelope of at least one of the plurality of similar transmission path signals;
• generating a common envelope signal based on the detected envelope of the at least one of the plurality of t similar transmission path signals;
• controlling a variable common power supply unit with the common ^ envelope signal;
• distributing and supplying power provided by the variable common power supply unit to the plurality of amplifiers,
• wherein one of the variable common power supply unit and the envelope detection system comprises a predistorter adapted to predistort the common envelope signal.

A computer program product stored on a non-transitory medium and comprising control logic stored therein for causing a computer to execute instructions that enable a processor to carry out a method comprising:

• detecting an envelope of at least one of the plurality of similar transmission path signals in an active antenna array;
• generating a common envelope signal based on the detected envelope of the at least one of the plurality of similar transmission path signal;
• controlling a variable common power supply unit with the common envelope signal;
• distributing and supplying power provided by the variable common power supply unit to the plurality of amplifiers,
• wherein one of the variable common power supply unit and the envelope detection system comprises a predistorter adapted to predistort the common envelope signal.

A chip set for an active antenna array comprising:

• a plurality of transmission paths in the active antenna array, the plurality of transmission paths being adapted to carry a plurality of similar transmission path signals, wherein at least one of the plurality of transmission paths comprises an amplifier having a power input and a signal input for one of the plurality of similar transmission path signals;
• a variable common power supply unit connected to the power input of the amplifier for supplying power to the amplifier;
• an envelope detection system connected to an envelope input of the variable common power supply unit and adapted to provide a common envelope signal for the plurality of similar transmission path signals to the variable common power supply unit,
• wherein one of the variable common power supply unit and the envelope detection system comprises a predistorter adapted to predistort the common envelope signal.