Vector Power Amplification Using Constant-Envelope Signal Decomposition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional power amplifiers face a tradeoff between linearity and efficiency, with linear amplifiers being inefficient and non-linear amplifiers producing spectrally distorted output signals, particularly in wireless communication systems, and existing outphasing techniques suffer from insertion loss and limited bandwidth, making them unsuitable for complex signal amplification.
Innovation Solution
The method involves decomposing time-varying complex envelope signals into substantially constant envelope signals, amplifying these signals individually, and then recombining them to form an amplified version of the original signal, allowing for efficient amplification with minimal non-linear distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional linear power amplifiers are used to maintain signal linearity, then output signal quality is improved, but power efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex modulated signal into multiple constant envelope signals through signal decomposition. Each constant envelope signal is then amplified separately by efficient non-linear power amplifiers, and the amplified signals are recombined to reconstruct the original complex signal with both high efficiency and preserved linearity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If non-linear power amplifiers are used to improve power efficiency, then power consumption is reduced, but output signal distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex modulated signal into multiple constant envelope signals. Since constant envelope signals have uniform amplitude, they can be amplified by highly efficient non-linear power amplifiers without introducing spectral distortion. The segmented signals are then recombined to form the amplified complex signal, achieving both high efficiency and signal fidelity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces constant envelope signals as intermediary representations of the original complex signal. These intermediary signals serve as a bridge that allows efficient non-linear amplification while preserving the original signal's linearity characteristics through proper reconstruction.
3Ease of operation
If traditional power combining circuitry is used to combine amplified signals, then signal combination is achieved, but insertion loss increases and bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical power combining circuitry with a digital signal processing approach. The constant envelope signals are combined in the digital domain through arithmetic operations, eliminating the need for physical power combiners and their associated insertion losses and bandwidth limitations.
4Ease of operation
If traditional power combining circuitry is used to combine amplified signals, then signal combination is achieved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky physical power combining circuitry with compact digital signal processing operations. The combination of amplified constant envelope signals is performed through digital arithmetic in the baseband, dramatically reducing the size and complexity of the required hardware while maintaining full functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.