Using Feedback To Reduce Distortion, Noise Or Other Interference Patents (Class 332/162)
  • Patent number: 11777540
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for correcting distortion of radio signals A transmit radio signal corresponding to an output of a transmitting radio signal processing system is obtained. A pre-distorted radio signal is then generated by processing the transmit radio signal using a nonlinear pre-distortion machine learning model. The nonlinear pre-distortion machine learning model includes model parameters and at least one nonlinear function to correct radio signal distortion or interference. A transmit output radio signal is obtained by processing the pre-distorted radio signal through the transmitting radio signal processing system. The transmit output radio signal is then transmitted to one or more radio receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: DeepSig Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy James O'Shea, James Shea
  • Patent number: 11777544
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for retraining digital pre-distortion are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a mobile device includes a transmit chain and a front end system. The transmit chain generates a transmit signal and converts the transmit signal to a radio frequency input signal, and includes a digital pre-distortion circuit that provides digital pre-distortion to the transmit signal. The front end system includes a power amplifier that amplifies the radio frequency input signal to generate a radio frequency output signal, and a power detector that generates a detection signal based on detecting an output power of the power amplifier. The detection signal controls initiation of a retraining sequence of the digital pre-distortion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Serge Francois Drogi
  • Patent number: 11563453
    Abstract: A transmitter for a communication system comprises a digital pre-distortion (DPD) circuit and adaptation circuitry. The DPD circuit is configured to generate a digital intermediate signal by compensating an input signal for distortions resulting from an amplifier. The amplifier is configured to output an output signal based on the digital intermediate signal. The DPD circuit includes one or more an infinite impulse response (IIR) filters configured to implement a first transfer function based on a first parameter, and a second transfer function based on the first parameter and a time constant. The DPD circuit is configured to generate an adjustment signal based on the first transfer function and the second transfer function. The adaptation circuitry is configured to update the first parameter based on the adjustment signal, the input signal, and the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Hongzhi Zhao, Vincent C. Barnes, Xiaohan Chen, Hemang M. Parekh
  • Patent number: 11378633
    Abstract: A radio frequency amplifying device according to an embodiment includes amplifying circuitry, obtaining circuitry, and correcting circuitry. The amplifying circuitry is configured to output an amplified signal obtained by amplifying a signal input thereto. The obtaining circuitry is configured to obtain an envelope indicating a waveform of a radio frequency signal as digital data. The correcting circuitry is configured to correct the obtained envelope on the basis of a rising characteristic of the amplifying circuitry and to input the signal generated on the basis of the envelope resulting from the correction to the amplifying circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Murakoshi, Susumu Kawaguchi, Masaki Tanji, Hirofumi Yamaki, Hajime Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10574499
    Abstract: A multicarrier-radio transmitter has a digital signal processor to produce a multicarrier signal at IF, and a transmit amplifier circuit to amplify and transmit the multicarrier signal at RF. A feedback loop of the transmit amplifier circuit has a subtractor, an I/Q demodulator in the forward path, a loop-filter system in the forward path at baseband, an I/Q modulator in the forward path, a power amplifier in the forward path, a pick-off node to pick off the multicarrier RF signal, and a down converter in the reverse path to down-convert the picked-off multicarrier RF signal to IF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Damm Cellular Systems A/S
    Inventor: Hans Damm
  • Patent number: 8798198
    Abstract: A calibration system may be provided for calibrating wireless communications circuitry in an electronic device during manufacturing. The calibration system may include data acquisition equipment for receiving an amplitude-modulated calibration signal from the electronic device. The calibration system may include calibration computing equipment for extracting pre-distortion coefficients from the amplitude-modulated calibration signal. The calibration computing equipment may be configured to detect a bulk phase drift in the amplitude-modulated calibration signal. The calibration computing equipment may be configured to remove the bulk phase drift from the amplitude-modulated calibration signal. The wireless communications circuitry may include a power amplifier that distorts a signal generated by the wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include a pre-distortion compensator for countering the distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Lang Do
  • Patent number: 8737939
    Abstract: A measurement signal, the measurement signal indicative of a bias in a signal received via a communication channel, is generated. A detection signal, the detection signal indicative of presence of an unmodulated radio frequency (RF) carrier prior to a communication frame in the signal received via the communication channel, is generated using the measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Hsiao-Cheng Tang, Atul Salhotra
  • Patent number: 8509341
    Abstract: A communications device includes a modulator and a filter downstream therefrom and operable to generate an output wideband complex signal with a frequency notch therein. The filter includes a finite impulse response (FIR) filter with L taps to generate N output values, with L>N. A Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) block is downstream from the FIR filter and has a length N so that filter transition regions occur between frequency bins of the FFT block. A notching block is downstream from the FFT block to generate the frequency notch. An Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) block is downstream from the notching block and has the length N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 8269572
    Abstract: Signal modulation apparatus for applying a modulation signal to a carrier signal, the apparatus comprising: an amplitude modulator for modulating the amplitude of the carrier signal in accordance with a control signal; first mixing means for mixing together fractions of the carrier signal before and after action of the amplitude modulator to produce a first detection signal indicative of the amplitude modulation applied by the amplitude modulator; and detection means for comparing the control signal with a first detection signal to evaluate distortion in the first detection signal as compared with the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventor: Per-Olof Brandt
  • Patent number: 8259779
    Abstract: A wireless network (20) with at least a first radio communication unit (24) and a second radio communication unit (26) transmits and receives signals with minimal interference from the surrounding environment of the first unit (24) and second unit (26). The first radio communication unit (24) determines frequencies (54) having power level above a threshold (52), and creates a list of these frequencies (50) to be transmitted to the second radio communication unit (26). The second radio communication unit (26) places notches (140) in its transmission band (88) based on frequencies (54) in the list (50), reserved frequencies (132), and local frequencies (92) having signal energy above a threshold (90). When transmitting a signal (42), the second radio communication unit (26) avoids transmitting in frequencies that have notches (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott David Blanchard, Randall K. Bahr
  • Patent number: 8121215
    Abstract: Low noise phase quadrature signals are generated after receiving a clock signal and adjusting the clock signal in response to a feedback signal to generate a phase adjusted clock signal. The clock signal and the phase adjusted clock signal are exclusive-ored to generate a frequency doubled signal. An in-phase local oscillator signal and a quadrature local oscillator signal are generated from the frequency doubled signal such that the in-phase local oscillator and the quadrature local oscillator signal are out-of-phase with each other. In addition, a phase relationship between the in-phase local oscillator signal and the quadrature local oscillator signal are detected, and the feedback signal is generated based upon the phase relationship between the in-phase local oscillator signal and the quadrature local oscillator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Wilhite
  • Patent number: 8032095
    Abstract: A method and circuit for indicating signal faults in wireless transmissions, particularly, a carrier leak, includes an input to receive a wireless signal, a bias detector that detects a bias in a portion of the signal and outputs a bias value indicative of the bias, an evaluator configured to compare the bias value to at least one allowable transmission signal value, and output a signal when the bias value is outside the allowable transmission signal value, and an output, responsive to the evaluator, to indicate a carrier leakage in the wireless signal. A buffer may be provided between the input and the evaluator. The sensitivity of the circuit may be adjusted and a protocol determination may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Hsiao-Cheng Tang, Atul Salhotra
  • Patent number: 7995674
    Abstract: There is a need for effectively compensating distortion when a predistortion transmitter is subject to not only a memory effect due to nonlinearity of an amplifier, but also a modulator's DC offset, IQ unbalance, or local quadrature error. A predistortor to be used is a polynomial predistortor including a polynomial basis generation portion and an inner product calculation portion. The polynomial basis generation portion delays a real part and an imaginary part of a complex input signal Sx=Ix+jQx for up to M samples to generate 2(M+1) signals, duplicately combines these signals to generate monomials having maximum degree N, and outputs, as a basis vector, all or part of the monomials depending or needs. The inner product calculation portion performs an inner product calculation using a coefficient vector, i.e., a set of complex numbers sized equally to the basis vector to find a polynomial value and outputs the value as a complex signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hori, Shouhei Murakami, Yuji Ishida, Tomoya Uchiike, Yoshiaki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7893787
    Abstract: A DC offset cancellation circuit used for compensating a carrier leak at an output signal of a modulator has a sign extraction unit for extracting sign of an information signal which is applied to the modulator, an envelope detecting unit for performing envelope detection on the output signal of the modulator to output the resulting envelope, a slope detecting unit for performing polarity detection on the slope of the envelope; and a signal processing unit for generating a DC offset cancellation signal for compensating the carrier leak based on the result of the sign extraction and the result of the polarity detection. The signal processing unit preferably calculates the DC offset cancellation signal by multiplying the sign of the information signal by the polarity of the slope of the envelope and accumulating the result of multiplication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Walkington
  • Patent number: 7864874
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a peak power reduced OFDM communications signal are disclosed. The system and method provide peak reduction processing in the time domain followed by inter-symbol interference (ISI) control processing in the frequency domain to maintain modulation errors introduced by the peak reduction processing to an acceptable level. The processing is preferably done on a parallel signal path and the peak corrections with ISI control are added into the main signal path to provide the peak reduced OFDM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Powerwave Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Hunton
  • Patent number: 7864882
    Abstract: A multi-mode communication device (100) uses a quadrature transmitter (102) for transmitting both amplitude and constant envelope angle-modulated signals. For angle modulation, a separate feedback path is used from that used for amplitude modulated signal transmission. An FM receiver (136) is used to produce error signals (214, 216) used in correcting the I and Q quadrature signals (206, 208).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Anderson, Jose E. Korneluk, Gregory S. Raven
  • Patent number: 7769103
    Abstract: A predistortion linearized amplifier system that uses analog polynomial based predistortion is disclosed. An analog polynomial function generator receives polynomial parameter updates from a polynomial parameter generator. The polynomial parameter generator uses a combination of analog and digital signal processing to create the parameter updates. This processing is performed on input signal amplitude, detected using analog circuits, and RF coupled samples of the input signal, and the output signal. By using a combination of analog and digital signal processing means, digital processing can be performed at sub-Nyquist rates, significantly reducing the cost of digital circuits. Also, since the predistortion modulation signal is created with an analog function generator, time correlating delay is minimized reducing circuit costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Powerwave Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Carichner, Richard Neil Braithwaite, Nikolai Maslennikov, Matthew J. Hunton
  • Patent number: 7570127
    Abstract: An IF receiver receives a tapped portion of a modulated communication signal. A processor, local with respect to the IF receiver, receives an interrupt from a main processor instructing it to evaluate the power levels of desired and undesired components of the communication signal. The interrupt may be sent for a variety of reasons, such as according to a predetermined schedule, or in response to changes in a communication network, such as new equipment installation and temperature changes. The local processor instructs the IF receiver to tune it's LO so that the evaluation range of the receiver and feedback loop to parameter-adjustable components includes the frequency, or frequencies, of a specified signal component. The local processor evaluates the power level of the specified signal component. Based on the evaluation, the local processor instructs parameter-adjustable signal processing components to alter parameters to optimize characteristics of the communication signal for transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald P. Ryan, Ubaldo Cepeda
  • Patent number: 7471739
    Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and apparatus that advantageously permit the more efficient use of an input range of an analog-to-digital converter used by an adaptive predistortion linearized RF transmitter. A main signal component of a down-converted output of an RF transmitter is removed prior to the analog-to-digital conversion of the down-converted output, thereby allowing more of the input range of the analog-to-digital converter to capture an error signal component of the down-converted output. Embodiments of the present invention can thus adaptively tune the predistortion stage to a higher degree of linearity or can use lower cost analog-to-digital converters with fewer quantization steps for the same performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: PMC-Sierra, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew S. Wright
  • Patent number: 7460611
    Abstract: A transmitting station side transmits a transmitting signal obtained by a process of segmenting transmission information into a plurality of frames, of encoding each frame, of power amplifying each encoded signal with different amplitude, and of interleaving all signals with each amplitude signal collected into one. A receiving station side reproduces of the above transmitting signal into original segmental frames by a process of de-interleaving the above transmitting signal, of successively decoding codes of the signal in descending order of SINR, and of re-encoding the decoded signal to successively cancel the re-encoded signal from the above transmitting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Chihiro Fujita, Mitsuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7382887
    Abstract: A method and device for reducing error components of a multi-channel modulator. The method comprises the steps of inverting substantially half of the channels of a modulator, and reducing error components between said inverted channels and said non inverted channels by inductive and/or capacitive summing. The method is especially suitable for synchronized pulses and similar signals to be modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Panu Brodkin
  • Patent number: 7187911
    Abstract: The invention provides a communication semiconductor integrated circuit (RF IC) that, when a transmission oscillator is incorporated into a semiconductor chip, secures the oscillation operation over a wide frequency range, prevents a deterioration of a transmission spectrum, and thereby enhances the accuracy of an oscillation frequency. The integrated circuit corrects a dispersion of the KV characteristic of the transmission oscillator by calibrating a current Icp of the charge pump inside the phase control loop. More in concrete, the integrated circuit measures a KV value Kv of the transmission oscillator, and calibrates the current Icp of the charge pump so that Kv·Icp falls into a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Satoshi Arayashiki, Hirotaka Oosawa, Noriyuki Kurakami, Akira Okasaka, Yasuyuki Kimura, Toshiya Uozumi, Hirokazu Miyagawa, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7127020
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a burst FSK signal having precisely shaped transitions between modulation states. The apparatus uses feedforward compensation of phase gain and phase preemphasis coefficients for compensating the frequency conversion gain of the apparatus, and the phase gain coefficient is used for stabilizing a frequency synthesis loop. The phase gain and preemphasis coefficients are determined in a calibration within the time constraints of on-line signal bursts based upon measured phase errors and accelerated predicted phase gain and preemphasis phase errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: James E. C. Brown
  • Patent number: 7123665
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a burst FSK signal having precisely shaped transitions between modulation states. The apparatus uses feedforward compensation of phase gain and phase preemphasis coefficients for compensating the frequency conversion gain of the apparatus, and the phase gain coefficient is used for stabilizing a frequency synthesis loop. The phase gain and preemphasis coefficients are determined in a calibration within the time constraints of on-line signal bursts based upon measured phase errors and accelerated predicted phase gain and preemphasis phase errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Bret Rothenberg
  • Patent number: 7123666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a burst FSK signal having precisely shaped transitions between modulation states. The apparatus uses feedforward compensation of phase gain and phase preemphasis coefficients for compensating the frequency conversion gain of the apparatus, and the phase gain coefficient is used for stabilizing a frequency synthesis loop. The phase gain and preemphasis coefficients are determined in a calibration within the time constraints of on-line signal bursts based upon measured phase errors and accelerated predicted phase gain and preemphasis phase errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Bret Rothenberg, Chienkuo Vincent Tien
  • Patent number: 7062236
    Abstract: A polar loop transmitter includes separate phase and envelope paths providing a linearising scheme for an efficient non-linear power amplifier. Loop filters are included in each of the phase and envelope paths to enable the path characteristics to be matched to one another. A polar loop transmitter and other types of envelope elimination and restoration transmitters control the output envelope of the power amplifier by connecting the output of the envelope detector, or in an envelope feedback transmitter, the envelope error signal, to the bias control input of the power amplifier. The transmitter can further include compensation means for compensating for non-linearities in the envelope control means and a loss of feedback control detector to ensure that the feedback signal remains within acceptable limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Midtgaard, Oluf Bagger
  • Patent number: 6924711
    Abstract: A phase-amplitude modulator for mobile communications employs a phase lock loop as an input to a nonlinear power amplifier providing phase information with amplitude information used to modulate the power amplifier output to synthesize phase-amplitude for the RF transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: UTStarcom, Inc.
    Inventor: Dongtai Liu
  • Patent number: 6907085
    Abstract: First, a digital section constituting a linearizer is activated. Then, a feedback loop for updating a distortion compensation coefficient is opened. Then, the analog section on the antenna side is activated from an ADC, including a PA, etc., or a DAC. Then, both the ATT value of an ATT installed in a feedback route for updating the distortion compensation coefficient and the signal delay amount of a signal delay unit are adjusted to make a state such that the distortion compensation coefficient can be accurately updated. Then, the feedback loop is closed, a distortion compensation table having the distortion compensation coefficient as an entry is generated and after the generation is completed, the operation shifts to the normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tokuro Kubo, Takayoshi Ode, Kazuo Nagatani, Hajime Hamada, Hiroyoshi Ishikawa, Yasuyuki Oishi
  • Patent number: 6844788
    Abstract: A polar loop transmitter circuit arrangement includes a circuit input, a circuit output, a controllable signal source, a modulator connected between the signal source and the output, a first amplifier having its input connected to the circuit input, a second amplifier having its input connected to the circuit output, and a comparator. Each amplifier preferably includes respective amplitude detector and signal modifier portions connected in series between their respective inputs and outputs. An output of each of the amplifiers is connected to a respective input of the comparator, and an output of the comparator is connected to a control input of the modulator. The amplifiers may each be characterized by transfer functions that are generally logarithmic. Each amplifier's signal modifier portion may further include an analog-to-digital converter, a digital signal modifier, and a digital-to-analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Peter Edward Chadwick
  • Patent number: 6657510
    Abstract: A system and method for producing a phase corrected M-QAM signal is described. In one embodiment, a phase-correcting M-QAM modulator comprises a feedback loop for dynamically adjusting the phase relationship between the two carrier signals as a function of the difference between the phase relationship of the two carrier signals and the phase relationship of the I and Q input signals. In another embodiment where a second carrier signal is derived from the first carrier signal by means of a phase shifting circuit, the amount of phase shift applied to the first carrier signal is a function of the difference between the phase relationship of the two component signals comprising the output QAM signal and the phase relationship between the input I and Q signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Afshin Haghighat
  • Patent number: 6614854
    Abstract: Distortion introduced into a multiamplitude signal format or amplitude and phase signal format by a high power microwave amplifier is compensated by a system which adapts itself to non-linearities present in the amplifier and predistorts the input signals before they are subjected to the non-linearities created by the amplifier. The degree of predistortion is non-fixed and varies or is updated as the non-linear conversion characteristics of the amplifier change with time. The distortion can also be compensated by using a power curve look-up table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Carriercomm, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter El Kwan Chow, Roger A. Babb, Donna M. Krizman
  • Patent number: 6567478
    Abstract: In a radio apparatus which compensates for non-linear distortion of a transmission power amplifier, a distributor feeds back the output signal of the transmission power amplifier, an error-signal estimating arithmetic unit digitally estimates an error signal, which is ascribable to non-linear distortion of the power amplifier, using a transmit signal and feedback signal, the transmit signal and the error signal are DA-converted by separate DA converters, and a combiner combines the output signals of the DA converters and inputs the combined signal to the transmission power amplifier to perform distortion compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Oishi, Takeshi Takano, Kazuo Nagatani, Tokuro Kubo, Takayoshi Ode
  • Patent number: 6518849
    Abstract: The present invention monitors the average switching frequency at the output of the comparator and adjusts the delay compensation accordingly. That is, the switching frequency monitoring circuit looks at the average switching frequency and maintains the average switching frequency in a “frequency zone” which corresponds to a high elbow and a low noise floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Tripath Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Cary L. Delano
  • Patent number: 6414560
    Abstract: A modulator loop is described having an associated band pass frequency range and including a switching stage having a first delay associated therewith. The modulator loop also includes a modulator stage having a feedback input. The output of the modulator stage is coupled to the input of the switching stage. A first feedback path is coupled between the output of the switching stage and the modulator stage. A notch filter corresponding to the band pass frequency range is coupled between the output of the modulator stage and the feedback input of the modulator stage for compensating for the first delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Tripath Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Cary L. Delano
  • Patent number: 6373346
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a modulator circuit, a first and a second control circuit. The modulator circuit may be configured to generate a modulated differential output signal in response to a differential input signal. The first control circuit may be configured to control a first predistortion of the differential input signal in response to a first portion of the differential output signal. The second control circuit may be configured to control a second predistortion of the differential input signal in response to a second portion of the differential output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sirenza Microdevices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Wesley Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6362702
    Abstract: A controlled oscillation modulator includes a comparator and a power amplification stage for pulse modulation, and a higher order oscillating loop comprising first feedback means (21) and first forward means (22) securing stable oscillating conditions. The modulator is characterized by current measurement means, arranged to measure a value (iL) of a current supplied by said power amplification stage to a load (5) connected to the modulator, said measured value being supplied to said first feedback means (21), wherein said first feedback means (21) has a transfer function adapted to generate said first feedback signal based on said measured value (iL), and said first forward means (21) has a transfer function adapted to generate said modulating signal based on said first feedback means and an input signal (Vi). Applications are general DC-DC and DC-AC power conversion with inductive loading. In a preferred embodiment the system implements a precision transconductance amplifier by a current feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Bang & Olufsen PowerHouse A/S
    Inventors: Karsten Nielsen, Thomas Frederiksen
  • Publication number: 20010026196
    Abstract: A modulator loop is described having an associated band pass frequency range and including a switching stage having a first delay associated therewith. The modulator loop also includes a modulator stage having a feedback input. The output of the modulator stage is coupled to the input of the switching stage. A first feedback path is coupled between the output of the switching stage and the modulator stage. A notch filter corresponding to the band pass frequency range is coupled between the output of the modulator stage and the feedback input of the modulator stage for compensating for the first delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Tripath Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Cary L. Delano
  • Patent number: 6285255
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are presented for adaptively compensating for carrier signal phase distortion caused by amplitude modulating an RF carrier signal. A modulator-amplifier network receives an RF carrier signal and modulates it by a received amplitude varying signal to obtain therefrom a modulated RF carrier signal which is phase shifted from the phase of the carrier signal applied to the network by an amount that varies with the value of the amplitude varying signal. A phase shifter receives the RF carrier signal and phase shifts it in accordance with the value of a received phase correction signal to provide a pre-phase shifted carrier signal that is applied to the modulator-amplifier network. A phase detector receives and compares the modulated RF carrier signal and the carrier signal and provides an error signal in accordance with the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Ky Thoai Luu, Wayne Douglas Duello, Douglas J. Posey
  • Patent number: 6169463
    Abstract: A quadrature modulator with set-and-forget carrier leakage compensation. The quadrature modulator comprises an in-phase and a quadrature branch. In the in-phase and quadrature branches, real-time digital signals are converted to analog signals, the analog signals are filtered, and the filtered analog signals are modulated with a carrier signal and a ninety degrees phase shifted version of the carrier, respectively. The modulated in-phase and quadrature signals are added so as to form a quadrature amplitude modulated signal. Preferably upon powering up of the quadrature modulator, in the in-phase and quadrature branches, carrier leakage is measured. The measured carrier leakage is supplied to comparators, which toggle, when carrier leakage is minimal in the respective in-phase and quadrature branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Philips Electronic North America Corp.
    Inventors: Rishi Mohindra, Petrus M. Stroet
  • Patent number: 6141390
    Abstract: A system for linearly transmitting an amplified output signal using predistortion is disclosed. The system uses a straight inverse modeling scheme with orthogonal predictor variables to more easily and accurately determine the inverse of the distortion caused by a power amplifier of a RF transmitter. The direct inverse modeling scheme of the present invention indexes the LUT using the modulated input signals instead of the potentially noisier output signals, which helps to increase the accuracy of the predistortion. The predistorter system stores complex coefficients in the LUT, which are then used as the tap weights of a non-linear digital filter implementing the predistorter. Finally, the trainer uses a modified version of the power amplifier output signal which results in better predistortion performance. The modified power amplifier output signal has the in-band distortion removed from the power amplifier output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Glenayre Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Armando Cova
  • Patent number: 5909153
    Abstract: A modulator loop designed to operate in a frequency range of interest is described. The loop includes a loop output terminal and a switching stage, the output of which is coupled to the loop output terminal. The switching stage has a first delay associated therewith. The output of a modulator stage is coupled to the input of the switching stage. A first feedback path is coupled between the loop output terminal and the feedback input of the modulator stage. A feedback filter is coupled between the output of the modulator stage and the feedback input of the modulator stage which compensates for the first delay. The feedback filter is operable to transmit frequencies outside the frequency range of interest and attenuate frequencies in the frequency range of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Tripath Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary L. Delano, Adya S. Tripathi
  • Patent number: 5900778
    Abstract: A high power amplifier system includes an on-line adaptive predistorter for generating predistorted complex data signals to a high power amplifier in response to receiving incoming complex data signals from a remote source. The predistorted complex data signals enable the high powered amplifier to output signals corresponding to the incoming complex data signals. The amplifier system includes an off-line adaptive predistorter which has an adaptive parametric forward filter for combining predistorted complex data signals and demodulated complex data signals, produced from the output of the high power amplifier, to produce an optimized forward amplitude filter that emulates the forward amplitude response of the amplifier, and an optimized inverse phase filter that emulates the inverse phase response of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventors: John T. Stonick, Virginia L. Stonick, Jose M. F. Moura
  • Patent number: 5883551
    Abstract: A quadrature modulator including two mixers to which two carrier signals are applied and to each of which a modulating signal is applied, output signals of the mixers being applied to a combiner to constitute a modulated signal. A defect estimator for the modulator detects a first signal representative of the instantaneous power of the modulated signal, generates a second signal representative of a reference envelope obtained from the modulating signals, and corrects the amplitude of one of the first and second signals in accordance with the mean amplitude difference observed between this amplitude corrected signal and the other signal. A processor supplies from the observed amplitude difference between the amplitude corrected signal and the other signal, at least one signal relating to the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'Electricite
    Inventors: Rossano Marchesani, Jean-Xavier Canonici
  • Patent number: 5798674
    Abstract: A band limited Amplitude Shift Keyed (ASK) modulator employing linear modulation and an efficient Class C power amplifier. Band-limited operation is provided by filtering a digital baseband input signal prior to modulation. Closed loop feedback is employed around the amplifier to assure linear modulation over a wide modulation range which preserves the frequency characteristics of the baseband signal on the modulation envelope. Further filtering is accomplished by exploiting the closed loop system response, incorporating it in the filter characteristic as an added filter pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Eric Fountain
  • Patent number: 5768699
    Abstract: A feed forward amplifier circuit which includes a main amplifier, an error correction circuit producing a message error signal, an error amplifier for producing an amplified message error signal that is then subtracted from the amplified and distorted message signal output of the main amplifier prior to a final output circuit, a negative feedback circuit coupled to the final output circuit responsive to a test signal for compensating and minimizing drift in the operation of the error amplifier, and circuitry associated with the negative feedback circuit for detuning performance of the error correction circuit at the test frequency so as to improve the overall circuit performance across a desired operating frequency band while diminishing its performance at the test signal frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: AML Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott T. Behan, Daniel L. Gerlach, Benoni Achiriloaie
  • Patent number: 5748678
    Abstract: A radio communications apparatus employs a training routine for optimizing performance and has a modulator (64, 66) to modulate a radio channel with digital information, to provide baseband signals (I, Q) at a first data rate. A power amplifier (36) amplifies signals fed from the modulator. A feedback loop (40, 42, 44, 30) samples the output signals of the power amplifier and adjusts at least one of the amplitude and phase of the baseband signals to compensate for distortion introduced by the power amplifier. The data rate of the baseband signals is reduced during the training routine to reduce adjacent channel transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas Valentine, Anthony John Wray
  • Patent number: 5719527
    Abstract: A highly efficient linear amplifier and/or modulator and demodulator comprising first and second feedback loops is provided. Each loop processes a component of the input signal and the component signals are recombined at, for example, a summing junction 18. The feedback signals for each loop are dependent upon the output signal and are in phase quadrature. The input signal is separated into I and Q signals, which are also in phase quadrature, by a component separator 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Bateman, Kam Yuen Chan
  • Patent number: 5699383
    Abstract: In a high-power transmitter, an input complex signal is multiplied in a complex multiplier by control signals. The output complex signal from the multiplier is converted to a high frequency signal and amplified by a power amplifier for transmission. The amplitude of the input complex signal is detected to access a memory where amplitude and phase correction values are stored. During a read mode of the memory, a set of amplitude and phase correction values is specified by the detected amplitude and supplied to the complex amplifier as the control signals. During a write mode of the memory, a set of amplitude and phase correction values is specified by a delayed version of the detected amplitude and rewritten with a set of new amplitude and phase correction values. The amplified high frequency signal is down-converted to a low frequency complex signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Ichiyoshi
  • Patent number: 5663691
    Abstract: An estimator for estimating an operating defect in a quadrature modulator, including two mixers to which respective carrier signals are applied, and to which respective modulating signals are also applied. The output signals from the mixers are applied to a summing circuit so as to constitute a modulated signal. The estimator includes detection circuitry for detecting the instantaneous power of said modulated signal; multiplication circuitry for multiplying the detected instantaneous power by at least one of the modulating signals; and integration circuitry for integrating the result of the multiplication and for supplying a signal indicative of the operating defect of the modulator. The modulator is particularly applicable to removing the residual amount of the carrier signals that remains in the modulated signal, and to correcting the quadrature between the signals output by the mixers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Alcatel Telspace
    Inventors: Francis Kowalik, Marc Isard
  • Patent number: 5661442
    Abstract: An amplitude control system uses a pair of parallel integrators to rapidly adjust the amplitude of a test signal between two precisely determined power levels in an RF signal generator. The amplitude control system initializes a first power level by switching a first integrator into a feedback signal path to establish a first drive voltage, corresponding to the first power level. A second power level is initialized by switching a second integrator into the feedback signal path to establish a second drive voltage, corresponding to the second power level. The amplitude control system then alternately switches each of the integrators into the feedback signal path to alternately apply the first and second drive voltages to a level modulator, which rapidly adjusts the amplitude of the test signal to each of the two initialized power levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Stephen T. Sparks