RF Signal Phase Shifting for Low-Noise Polar Transmitters

The patent segments the time quantization process into two independent components: integer number of periods (N) and fractional part (delta). This segmentation allows the system to use a relatively large integer period quantization (easier to implement) while separately compensating for the fractional time offset through phase adjustment, thereby reducing out-of-band noise without sacrificing implementation ease.

The patent changes the parameter representation from direct time quantization to a composite parameter system involving integer periods and fractional phase offsets. By introducing the phase offset parameter that can be continuously adjusted within each quantized period, the system achieves finer effective time resolution without requiring extremely fine discrete time quantization steps.

The patent divides the time quantization task into a coarse integer period component (handled by simple counters) and a fine fractional component (handled by phase offset adjustment). This segmentation eliminates the need for sophisticated DTC circuits that would be required to achieve fine time quantization directly, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining low out-of-band noise.

The patent introduces phase offset as an intermediary parameter that mediates between the coarse time quantization and the required fine time precision. Instead of directly quantizing time with high precision (which requires complex circuits), the system uses phase offset adjustment as an intermediate step to achieve the effective fine timing control needed to reduce out-of-band noise.

The patent introduces dynamic phase offset adjustment that varies for each time interval based on the instantaneous signal characteristics. This dynamic adjustment breaks the periodic pattern of fixed time quantization, preventing the generation of spurious signal components while maintaining the simplicity of integer period-based time management.

The patent changes the time quantization parameter from a fixed periodic value to a variable composite parameter (integer period + fractional phase offset). By allowing the phase offset parameter to vary dynamically, the system eliminates the periodic pattern that causes spurious signals while keeping the implementation relatively simple through the use of standard counter and phase adjustment circuits.

The patent segments the signal generation process into integer period counting and fractional phase offset adjustment. This segmentation enables the system to achieve high signal approximation accuracy through phase fine-tuning while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure based on conventional counter and DAC components.

The patent enhances the conventional polar transmitter by introducing an additional controllable parameter (phase offset within each period) to the existing integer period structure. This parameter change allows the system to achieve better signal approximation accuracy without fundamentally redesigning the entire transmitter architecture.