The present invention, generally speaking, provides methods and apparatus for producing an amplitude modulated communications
signal, in which a constant-envelope
carrier signal is modified in response to a
power control signal to produce a modified constant-envelope
carrier signal. The modified constant-envelope
carrier signal is amplified in response to an
amplitude modulation signal to produce a communications signal having
amplitude modulation and having an average output power proportional to a
signal level of the modified constant-envelope carrier signal. This manner of operation allows
wide dynamic range of average output power to be achieved. Because
amplitude modulation is applied after amplitude varying circuitry used to produce the modified constant-envelope carrier signal, the amplitude modulation is unaffected by possible non-linearities of such circuitry. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, operation in the foregoing manner at comparatively low average output power levels is combined with switch mode operation at comparatively high average output power levels, enabling high
overall efficiency to be achieved. Hence, the disclosed modulator and
amplifier combination, in addition to supporting very low power signals, also supports high power signals.