Abstract: A frequency upconverter using mixers operating on one or more signals and inverted versions thereof and a subtractor, such as a balun, for subtractively combining the mixer outputs to produce an upconverted signal.

Abstract: A sample acquisition apparatus for sampling first and second signals within a signal processing arrangement, includes a sampler for capturing sections of the waveforms of both the first and second signals, a switch for alternating correction of the sampler to a point in the arrangement where said first signal can be sampled and a point in said arrangement where said second signal can be sampled. A timer for timing the operation of the switch causes the sampler to capture a first waveform section of the first signal and a second waveform section of the second signal, wherein the second signal is responsive to the first signal and the timing of the switch is such that the second section includes a portion that has been generated in response to the first section.

Abstract: A digital predistorter comprises a module J for producing a counteracting signal Vm1 for combination with the input signal of a power amplifier to correct the output of the amplifier for distorting memory effects within the amplifier. The module J produces the contracting signal Vm1 by convolving (see FIG. 6) functions of the input signal with impulse response characteristics related to the memory effects being corrected. The counteracting signal Vm1 is produced by a function fm and parameters in that function are adjusted to minimize any residual distortion in the amplifier output.

Abstract: A sample acquisition apparatus for sampling first and second signals within a signal processing arrangement, includes a sampler for capturing sections of the waveforms of both the first and second signals, a switch for alternating correction of the sampler to a point in the arrangement where said first signal can be sampled and a point in said arrangement where said second signal can be sampled. A timer for timing the operation of the switch to causes the sampler to capture a first waveform section of the first signal and a second waveform section of the second signal, wherein the second signal is responsive to the first signal and the timing of the switch is such that the second section includes a portion that has been generated in response to the first section.

Abstract: Errors present in the output of an amplifier (10) are compared with the amplifier input in a control unit (24) to derive corrected coefficients for a look-up table used by predistorter (12) to eliminate distortion in the output of the amplifier (10). Depending on the format of the predistorter (12), at least some of the coefficients are corrected using measured errors that have been rendered independent of the input signal's amplitude.

Abstract: A method of controlling an amplifier, the method comprising a sampling step of using a sampler to obtain digital samples of both an output signal of said amplifier and a reference signal, a derivation step of obtaining from said samples values of a first parameter and associated values of a second parameter, an averaging step of averaging the first parameter values over ranges of the second parameter such that, for each range, an average of the first parameter is obtained by averaging the first parameter values whose associated second parameter values lie in the range, a generation step of generating a control signal for said amplifier from said averages, a suppression step of using said samples of said reference signal to inhibit the effect upon said control signal of errors in the operation of said sampler and a control step of applying the control signal to said amplifier to direct the operation of said amplifier. The invention also relates to apparatus involved in carrying out the method.

Abstract: Envelope-type signals are detected for the input and output of a linearised amplifier (12). The variance of the signal obtained from the output is measured and a variable delay (24) between the detected signals is adjusted to minimise the variance. The value of the variable delay then gives the propagation delays through the linearised amplifier. Further envelope-type signal from the output and interpolation can be used to enhance the adjustment of the delay to minimise variance.

Abstract: Sample acquisition apparatus for sampling first and second signals within a signal processing arrangement, said apparatus comprising a sampler for capturing sections of the waveforms of both the first and second signals, a switch for alternating correction of the sampler to a point in the arrangement where said first signal can be sampled and a point in said arrangement where said second signal can be sampled and a timer for timing the operation of the switch to cause the sampler to capture a first waveform section of said first signal and a second waveform section of said second signal, wherein said second signal is responsive to said first signal and the timing of said switch is such that said second section comprises a portion that has been generated in response to said first section.

Abstract: Sample acquisition apparatus for sampling first and second signals within a signal processing arrangement, said apparatus comprising a sampler for capturing sections of the waveforms of both the first and second signals, a switch for alternating correction of the sampler to a point in the arrangement where said first signal can be sampled and a point in said arrangement where said second signal can be sampled and a timer for timing the operation of the switch to cause the sampler to capture a first waveform section of said first signal and a second waveform section of said second signal, wherein said second signal is responsive to said first signal and the timing of said switch is such that said second section comprises a portion that has been generated in response to said first section.