Systems and Methods of RF Power Transmission, Modulation, and Amplification, including Embodiments for Extending RF Transmission Bandwidth

• Main Authors: SORRELLS DAVID F, RAWLINS GREGORY S, RAWLINS MICHAEL W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.11.2008
• Subjects: AMPLIFIERS; BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY; CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; TRANSMISSION

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.