Outphasing Transmitter Dual-Polarized Antenna Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in amplifying and transmitting RF signals with time-varying amplitudes, as power amplifiers used for constant-amplitude signals are more nonlinear and less power efficient, while variable-envelope signals are more spectral efficient but challenging to handle due to power loss and linearity issues in combining constant-amplitude components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of outphasing transmit and receive wireless systems using dual-polarized antennas, where variable amplitude signals are decomposed into constant amplitude signals, amplified separately by power amplifiers, and transmitted using vertically and horizontally polarized probes, minimizing power loss and non-linearity, and eliminating the need for combiners that cause inter-modulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If variable envelope signals are used for communication, then spectral efficiency is improved, but power amplifier efficiency deteriorates and linearity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The variable envelope signal is segmented into two constant envelope signals that are processed separately through individual power amplifiers. This segmentation allows each amplifier to operate efficiently while maintaining the overall signal's spectral efficiency through subsequent combining at the receiver.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly amplifying the variable envelope signal (conventional approach), the system inverts the approach by decomposing it into constant envelope components, amplifying those efficiently, and then reconstructing the original signal at the receiver. This inversion resolves the power efficiency contradiction.
2Use of energy by moving object
If constant amplitude signals are amplified using separate power amplifiers and combined, then power efficiency is improved, but signal loss increases due to combining requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the amplitude modulation information from the constant envelope signals and transfers it to the phase domain. By doing so, the signals can be combined phase-coherently without requiring lossy amplitude combining, thus maintaining power efficiency while minimizing signal loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/electrical amplitude combining system with a phase-based combining approach. Instead of using lossy power combiners to add amplitude-modulated signals, the system uses phase-coherent combining of constant envelope signals, substituting a more efficient mechanism.
3Loss of energy
If loss-less combiners are used to combine constant amplitude signals, then power loss is reduced, but non-linearity increases due to amplifier interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces phase information as an intermediary carrier for the amplitude modulation data. Instead of directly combining amplitude-modulated signals (which causes non-linearity), the phase serves as a mediator that allows independent amplifier operation while preserving the combined signal's integrity through phase-coherent reconstruction.
4Use of energy by moving object
If dual-polarized antennas are used for outphasing transmission, then power efficiency and signal linearity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-polarized antenna system is designed to perform multiple functions: transmitting and receiving both in-phase and quadrature components of the signal, as well as enabling outphasing transmission. By making the antenna system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby managing complexity while achieving power efficiency improvements.
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 approach enhances power efficiency, reduces distortion, and maintains signal linearity by decomposing variable amplitude signals into constant amplitude components before amplification, allowing for efficient transmission and reception using a single antenna element, thereby overcoming the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
transmitted using vertically and horizontally polarized probes
Data Source
AI summary
An outphasing transmitter includes a decomposition block, first and second power amplifiers, and a dual-polarized antenna in a phased array antenna panel. The decomposition block decomposes a composite input signal into first and second decomposed RF signals. The first and second decomposed RF signals are coupled to the first and second power amplifiers. The first power amplifier is coupled to a vertically-polarized probe, and the second power amplifier is coupled to a horizontally-polarized probe. A plurality of dual-polarized antennas may be utilized. The first power amplifier is coupled to each vertically-polarized probe; while the second power amplifier is coupled to each horizontally-polarized probe. Alternatively, the first power amplifier may be coupled to vertically-polarized probes in each odd column, and to horizontally-polarized probes in each even column; while the second power amplifier may be coupled to horizontally-polarized probes in each odd column, and to vertically-polarized probes in each even column.