Millimeter-Wave Transmitter Using Saturated Parallel Amplifier Chains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter wave transmitters face inefficiencies due to the need for linear power amplifiers and odd harmonics, which reduce output power and overall efficiency in modulation techniques like OOK and QPSK.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a millimeter wave transmitter with phase modulation circuitry, amplifier multiplier chains, and power combiner circuitry that operates power amplifiers in saturation and utilizes even harmonics, such as frequency doubling, to enhance output power and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If linear power amplifiers are used for modulation techniques like OOK and QAM, then modulation accuracy is improved, but output power and overall efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter is divided into multiple parallel paths (e.g., I-path and Q-path), each with its own power amplifier operating in saturation. These segmented paths are then combined through a phasor combiner to achieve the desired modulation, allowing each amplifier to operate efficiently while maintaining overall modulation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional linear amplification approach to a multi-dimensional approach using multiple parallel amplifier paths with different phase relationships. By operating amplifiers in saturation in one dimension and combining them through phase relationships in another dimension, the system achieves both high efficiency and accurate modulation.
2Ease of operation
If odd harmonics are used in frequency multiplication for QPSK, then modulation is achieved, but output power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using the conventional odd harmonics (3rd, 5th, etc.) for frequency multiplication, the system inverts the approach by utilizing even harmonics (2nd, 4th, etc.). This inversion allows the power amplifiers to operate in saturation while still achieving the desired frequency multiplication and modulation, thereby maintaining high output power.
3Reliability
If power amplifiers operate in linear region, then modulation fidelity is improved, but overall efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter is divided into multiple parallel paths (e.g., I-path and Q-path), each with its own power amplifier operating in saturation. These segmented paths are then combined through a phasor combiner to achieve the desired modulation, allowing each amplifier to operate efficiently while maintaining overall modulation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameter of power amplifiers from linear region to saturation region. By operating amplifiers in saturation and combining their outputs through phase relationships, the system achieves both high efficiency and accurate modulation, fundamentally changing the operating parameters of the amplifiers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration achieves higher output power and lower conversion loss, enabling efficient generation of complex MMW waveforms with improved power amplification and harmonic utilization.
Implementation Method 1
Each amplifier multiplier chain circuitry includes a power amplifier and a frequency multiplier circuitry. Each amplifier multiplier chain circuitry is configured to amplify and frequency multiply the respective phase modulation circuitry output signal
Implementation Method 2
The power combiner circuitry is configured to sum a plurality of power combiner input signals to yield an output signal
Data Source
AI summary
A millimeter wave (MMW) circuitry includes a phase modulation circuitry, a plurality of amplifier multiplier chain circuitries and a power combiner circuitry. The phase modulation circuitry is configured to receive input data and a plurality of divided input signals and to provide as output a plurality of phase modulation circuitry output signals. Each phase modulation circuitry output signal corresponds to a respective divided input signal. At least one phase modulation circuitry output signal has a nonzero phase relative to the divided input signals that is related to the input data. Each amplifier multiplier chain circuitry is configured to amplify and frequency multiply and phase multiply the respective phase modulation circuitry output signal to yield a respective power combiner input signal. The power combiner circuitry is configured to sum a plurality of power combiner input signals to yield an output signal. A modulation of the output signal is related to the input data.