Wideband Power Amplifier With Integrated Harmonic Cancellation

Solution Overview

Problem

In communication systems, particularly wireless communication, harmonics generated due to imperfections in electronic components cause signal distortions and increase costs by requiring additional filtering components, which consume power and add manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A circuit comprising a frequency oscillator, frequency divider, and power amplifier that generates and cancels harmonic frequencies by using equally spaced phases of the fundamental signal frequency, eliminating the need for external harmonic filters and reducing component count and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional external harmonic filters are added to eliminate harmonics, then signal quality is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the harmonic filtering function with the existing power amplifier by adding a feedback path that senses output harmonics and injects canceling signals. This integration eliminates the need for separate external harmonic filters, reducing device complexity while maintaining signal quality through active harmonic cancellation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful harmonic signals into beneficial canceling signals by sensing the harmonics through a feedback path and injecting equal-magnitude opposite-phase signals. This transforms the harmful effect of harmonics into a useful harmonic cancellation mechanism, improving signal quality without adding external filtering components.

Inventive Principle:

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

2Reliability

If traditional external harmonic filters are added to eliminate harmonics, then signal quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the harmonic filtering function with the existing power amplifier by adding a feedback path that senses output harmonics and injects canceling signals. This integration eliminates the need for separate external harmonic filters, reducing device complexity while maintaining signal quality through active harmonic cancellation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful harmonic signals into beneficial canceling signals by sensing the harmonics through a feedback path and injecting equal-magnitude opposite-phase signals. This transforms the harmful effect of harmonics into a useful harmonic cancellation mechanism, improving signal quality without adding external filtering components.

Inventive Principle:

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

3Power

If high voltage transistors and external filtering components are used to sustain high waveform swing and filter harmonics, then transmission efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful harmonic signals into beneficial canceling signals by sensing the harmonics through a feedback path and injecting equal-magnitude opposite-phase signals. This transforms the harmful effect of harmonics into a useful harmonic cancellation mechanism, improving signal quality without adding external filtering components.

Inventive Principle:

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a feedback path that senses the output signal for harmonic content and uses this information to generate canceling signals. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic harmonic cancellation that adapts to varying operating conditions, maintaining transmission efficiency while reducing the need for power-hungry external filtering components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10530402B2Wideband low distortion power amplifier

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

A circuit and apparatus for filtering harmful harmonics is disclosed. The circuit and apparatus include a power amplifier core that uses equally sized inverter based amplifiers. The amplifier core cells provide uniform load to all phases of a fundamental frequency to cancel all harmonics at an output. The power amplifier stages are driven into nonlinearity, and the combination of harmonics is performed at the output by varying series connected capacitors. The harmonic combination is performed at the outputs, leaving no further scope of nonlinearity in the signal chain.