Origin-Avoiding Circuit for LINC Amplifier Ringing Suppression

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Ringing in the signal after passing through low pass filters in LINC type linear amplifiers disrupts the continuous saturated operation of nonlinear amplifiers, reducing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An origin avoiding circuit is introduced upstream of the LINC type linear amplifier to modify input signals sampled near the origin, preventing ringing by replacing sampled values with fixed values based on the complex plane quadrant, thereby ensuring constant amplitude signals are maintained.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If low pass filters are used to limit high-frequency components in constant amplitude signals, then signal quality is improved, but ringing occurs causing amplitude variations that prevent continuous saturated operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidconstant amplitude
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The origin avoiding circuit performs preliminary action by detecting signals near the origin before they pass through the low pass filter and replaces them with fixed values. This prevents the generation of ringing in the first place, rather than attempting to remove it afterward. The circuit calculates replacement values based on historical data and quadrant information, ensuring that the signal maintains constant amplitude characteristics before entering the filtering stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The origin avoiding circuit applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively counteracting the condition that causes ringing. By detecting when the signal approaches the origin (where phase changes cause ringing) and replacing those samples with predetermined fixed values, the circuit prevents the harmful amplitude variations from occurring. This is done by anticipating the problem before it manifests in the filtered output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Adaptability or versatility

If signals near the origin are sampled, then signal coverage is improved, but phase changes cause ringing that disrupts saturated operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal coverageVSAvoidringing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The origin avoiding circuit converts the harmful effect of origin sampling into a benefit by using the detected origin conditions to trigger a replacement mechanism. When the circuit detects that a signal is near the origin (where phase changes would cause ringing), it replaces that sample with a fixed value calculated from historical data. This transforms the problematic origin samples into controlled replacement values that maintain constant amplitude, thereby converting a source of ringing into a mechanism for ensuring signal stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Use of energy by moving object

If nonlinear amplifiers operate in saturated state, then power efficiency is improved, but ringing causes amplitude variations that prevent continuous operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidcontinuous operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The origin avoiding circuit ensures continuous saturated operation by performing preliminary action to prevent ringing before it occurs. By replacing origin-proximity samples with fixed values based on historical data and quadrant information, the circuit ensures that the signal maintains constant amplitude characteristics. This allows nonlinear amplifiers to operate continuously in their efficient saturated state without being disrupted by amplitude variations caused by ringing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3468033B1Linear amplifying device, input signal supplying method, and origin avoiding circuit used therein
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 NEC NETWORK & SENSOR SYST
  • EP3468033B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3468033B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3468033B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Ringing of a signal after passing through a low pass filter in an LINC type linear amplifier is remedied. A linear amplifying device includes the linear amplifier including the low pass filter for removing high-frequency components; and an origin avoiding circuit which receives an original input signal and is provided upstream of the linear amplifier. If the original input signal is sampled in the vicinity of an origin, the origin avoiding circuit modifies a sampled value so at to replace the sampled value with a fixed value, and supplies the modified input signal to the linear amplifier.