Amplitude Modulation Patents (Class 455/108)
  • Patent number: 6839549
    Abstract: A radio frequency power amplifier circuit provides linear amplitude modulation of a radio frequency output signal while operating in a saturated amplification mode. The power amplifier circuit incorporates a lossy modulator that functions as a variable resistance responsive to an amplitude modulation signal. A supply voltage is coupled to the voltage supply input of the power amplifier circuit through the lossy modulator, such that the supply voltage applied to the power amplifier varies with the amplitude modulation signal. The radio frequency power amplifier circuit modulates the envelope of an RF output signal generated by saturated mode amplification of a constant envelope radio frequency input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Pehlke, Aristotle Hadjichristos, William O. Camp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6819910
    Abstract: A radio includes a self-calibrating transmitter that uses a portion of a receiver section to perform self-calibration. Accordingly, the radio includes a transmitter section, mixer, analog receiver section, calibration switch module, digital receiver section, calibration determination module, and calibration execution module. The transmitter section produces a modulated RF signal from base-band signal and a transmitter local oscillation. The mixer mixes the modulated RF signal with the transmitter local oscillation to produce a base-band representation of the modulated RF signal. In calibration mode, the calibration switch module provides the base-band representation to the receiver section, which processes the representation to produce a 2nd base-band digital signal. The calibration determination module interprets frequency components of the 2nd base-band digital signal to produce a calibration signal that compensates for imbalances within the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Broadcom Corp.
    Inventors: Hong Shi, Henrik T. Jensen
  • Publication number: 20040198257
    Abstract: A polar-loop wireless communication apparatus includes, on a forward path between an amplitude detector and a power amplifier which constitute an amplitude control loop, a variable gain amplifier and a switch to change characteristics of a loop filter to output a frequency bandwidth of the amplitude control loop to an order less than an order for normal operation. The system is operated with the characteristics set to the lower order to measure outputs from the power amplifier to calibrate the output power of the power transmitter, and the register is operated with the characteristics set to the higher order to measure the open loop gain of the amplitude control. According to results of the calculation, data to correct gain characteristics of the variable gain amplifier with respect to an output control signal is stored in a nonvolatile memory of a baseband circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Ryoichi Takano, Kenji Toyota, Patrick Wurm, Robert Astle Henshaw, David Freeborough
  • Publication number: 20040198273
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for mobile communication system capable of constructing a system such as a mobile phone by setting a voltage corresponding to the characteristic variation of a PA even when a PA having characteristic variation is used. The mobile phone is the one employing the polar loop method, which comprises an antenna (1) for transmission and reception of signal waves; an antenna switch (2) for switching the transmission mode and the reception mode; a BBLSI (3) having a function to control the transmission and reception; an RFIC (4) having a function for modulating and demodulating the transmitted and received signals; and a PA (5) for amplifying up to the target output power by means of the amplitude modulation at the time of the transmission, wherein a bias voltage corresponding to the characteristic variation of the PA is set and supplied by a BIASDAC (6) formed of a register and a DAC so as to achieve the target output power at the time of the amplitude modulation in the PA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Okada, Kazuhiko Hikasa, Patrick Wurm, David Freeborough
  • Publication number: 20040198258
    Abstract: A transmission circuit includes: a modulated signal generator for outputting a modulated signal; an envelope detector for outputting an amplitude modulated voltage; an amplitude roll-off LPF for attenuating the amplitude modulated voltage by using a damping property represented by an exponential function in which an argument is exponentially proportional to a frequency; a power-supply-voltage generator for generating a power supply voltage in accordance with an amplitude value of the amplitude modulated voltage; a phase detector for outputting a phase modulated signal; a phase roll-off LPF for attenuating the phase modulated signal by using a damping property represented by an exponential function in which an argument is exponentially proportional to an offset frequency with respect to a center frequency; and an RF power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Mitsuru Tanabe, Noriaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20040185803
    Abstract: A transmission circuit includes: a modulated signal generator; a modulated signal line where an OFDM modulated wave flows; a detector; a phase component line for transmitting a phase component; an amplitude component line for transmitting an amplitude component; a level judging circuit for judging the level of the amplitude component; a constant-voltage supply line; first and second selectors; a quadrature converter; and an RF power amplifier. An EER or pseudo-EER technique is performed in a region where the RF input-output characteristic of the RF power amplifier with an EER technique exhibits a linear response, whereas usual modulation is performed in a region where a nonlinear response is exhibited. The modulation method is switched using the level judging circuit and the selectors with reference to a threshold value which is the boundary between the region where the linear response is exhibited and the region where the nonlinear response is exhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Tanabe, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6785521
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a power amplifier biased for saturated mode operation, and a controllable current source to provide supply current to the power amplifier. The controllable current source effects desired amplitude modulation of the output signal from the power amplifier by modulating the supply current it provides responsive to an amplitude information signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: Aristotele Hadjichristos, David R. Pehlke
  • Publication number: 20040132417
    Abstract: A shaped-wave application section inputs a first pulse signal corresponding to transmission data output from a transmission data output section, and applies, to a modulation and amplification section, a signal wave corresponding to a second pulse signal such that the waveform of the first pulse signal is shaped. The pulse signal applied to the base of the transistor of the modulation and amplification section is amplitude-modulated into an amplitude-modulated wave in which the amplitude-modulated portion is strengthened, in accordance with the signal wave corresponding to the second pulse signal applied to the emitter thereof. The amplitude-modulated wave is supplied to an antenna section including a resonance circuit via the collector thereof, and is transmitted as an electromagnetic wave from the antenna section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Maeda, Akihiko Yamagata
  • Patent number: 6745015
    Abstract: This invention is a method of carrier suppression tuning of a wireless communication device (100) utilizing a quadrature modulator (104) in a transmission path (102). A power detector (128) and a processor (132) are coupled to the ends of the transmission path (102) to provide feedback to the quadrature modulator (104) and, thus, minimizes carrier feedthrough. For this invention, the transmission path (102) of the device (100) is enabled and “I” and “Q” DC offset values are set to default values. Then, output voltages from the power detector (128) are sampled and the “I” DC offset value is adjusted based on the sampled voltages. Similarly, output voltages from the power detector (128) are sampled and the “Q” DC offset value is adjusted based on the sampled voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald M. Yochem
  • Patent number: 6737973
    Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to an efficient amplifier for use in radio-frequency identification (RFID) applications. In particular, the invention provides a highly efficient amplifier that requires little power, yet has significant modulation bandwidth to achieve high data communication rates. The amplifier makes use of many components of a class E amplifier including a first transistor, an inductor coupling the first transistor to a power supply, and a shunt capacitor connected in parallel to the first transistor. A second transistor is connected in parallel to the first transistor. A controller selectively controls the first and second transistors to achieve amplitude modulation at a high modulation bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Ronald David Jesme
  • Patent number: 6738432
    Abstract: A branched power amplifier circuit includes two or more amplifier segments or branches, each with a corresponding lossy modulator. The branched power amplifier may be dynamically resized by enabling different ones of its branches, to deliver peak efficiency at a number of different amplifier output power levels. Each amplifier branch operates in a saturated mode and selectively amplifies an RF input signal. The lossy modulators provide either supply voltage or supply current modulation to corresponding amplifier branches, thus imparting highly linear amplitude modulation to the overall output signal generated by branched power amplifier, despite its saturated mode operation. The branched power amplifier circuit may be configured such that particular combinations of segments have peak efficiencies matched to the needs of one or more air interface standards used in wireless mobile communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Pehlke, Aristotele Hadjichristos
  • Patent number: 6724441
    Abstract: A tuning system and a tuning method in a broadcast signal receiver, in which a radio frequency (RF) spectrum signal adopting an inverting method is filtered by an asymmetric bandpass filter of a tuner to improve the receiving sensitivity. This tuning system includes a first mixer, a filter and a second mixer. The first mixer mixes a predetermined oscillation frequency with an inverted 8 VSB digital broadcast signal in the idle space between upper and lower normal NTSC broadcast signals of high frequency band received from a transmitter, transfers the upper NTSC broadcast signal to the lower side and the lower NTSC broadcast signal to the upper side, inverts the transferred NTSC broadcast signals, and changes the state of the 8 VSB digital broadcast signal into a normal state. The filter attenuates the inverted upper and lower NTSC broadcast signals output from the first mixer to a predetermined band and amplifies the normal 8 VSB digital broadcast signal into a predetermined band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-ho Choi
  • Publication number: 20040048586
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for verifying the frequency of an AM carrier signal having a target frequency. The apparatus includes a high frequency clock that produces a clock signal having a higher frequency than the target frequency. A counter is advanced by the clock signal and reset after each cycle of the carrier signal. A first comparison portion compares the value recorded by the counter to a first reference value, and a second comparison portion compares the value recorded by the counter to a second reference value. An error determination portion attenuates the carrier signal if the comparisons conducted by the first and second comparison portions indicate an error condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Gavin Martin Monson
  • Patent number: 6701134
    Abstract: The present invention provides power amplification circuitry having multiple amplifier stages in series and adapted to facilitate polar modulation. As such, the amplifier circuitry receives a frequency signal representing the frequency and phase components of the signal to be transmitted, as well as an amplitude signal presenting the amplitude component of the signal to be transmitted. The frequency component is amplified by the amplification circuitry. The amplitude component controls the supply voltage provided to the amplifier stages in the amplification circuitry. To increase the dynamic range of the amplification circuitry, the final stage or stages of the amplification circuitry are selectively disabled when lower output powers are necessary, and enabled when higher output powers are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Epperson
  • Patent number: 6697436
    Abstract: A predistortion system adaptively compensates for distortion introduced along one or more amplification chains of a power amplifier system. In one embodiment, the predistortion system includes a plurality of compensation circuits, each of which is coupled to, and configured to digitally predistort an input transmission signal to, a respective amplification chain of an antenna array system. Each such amplification chain has an output coupled to a respective antenna of the antenna array system. A processing unit monitors the input transmission signals to, and corresponding output signals from, each of the amplification chains on a time-shared basis, and generates updates to the compensation parameters used the corresponding compensation circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: PMC-Sierra, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Wright, Bartholomeus T. W. Klijsen, Paul V. Yee, Chun Yeung Kevin Hung, Steven J. Bennett
  • Patent number: 6674997
    Abstract: A communication system for communicating utility data from a utility distribution network comprises a transmitter for transmitting the utility data. The transmitter comprises a processor that modulates the utility data into a plurality of carrier frequencies. A modulator is connected to the processor and receives the modulated utility data. The modulator modulates the modulated utility data in the AM frequency band forming multi-tone modulated data wherein the transmitter transmits the multi-tone modulated data/transmitted information in the AM frequency band. The communication system also comprises a receiver that receives the transmitted information. The receiver comprises a demodulator that receives the transmitted information and demodulates the transmitted information into a received signal. A processor is connected to the demodulator and receives the demodulated information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ralph Thomas Hoctor
  • Patent number: 6665525
    Abstract: Methods and systems for amplitude-modulating a power amplifier based on sensed current and sensed voltage provided to the power amplifier are provided. The sensed current and sensed voltage may be summed to provided both current and voltage feedback to modulate the power supplied to the power amplifier. Alternatively, both the current feedback and the voltage feedback may be selectively utilized to modulate the power supplied to the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Dent, David R. Pehlke, Aristotle Hadjichristos
  • Patent number: 6658238
    Abstract: Transmitter systems in which an output signal is obtained by the summation of signals with predetermined discreet levels given by several amplification cells. Given a signal to be sent with an amplitude A and a phase &phgr;0, a control circuit determines (&agr;) a number of amplification cells sufficient to obtain slightly more than the value A with the phase &phgr;0 but to carry out a phase adjustment (&bgr;) such that at least two of the cells are phase-shifted, one in advance and the other delayed with respect to &phgr;0, so that the total sum of the signals delivered by the cells gives the signal A, &phgr;0. Such transmission may find particular application to amplification cell transmitters with discrete output levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: François Ursenbach, Arnaud de Grammont
  • Patent number: 6640090
    Abstract: A synchronization circuit modulates a data signal with an amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation method using an ASK modulation signal to output a modulated signal under the condition that the ASK modulation system and data signal are synchronized with each other. A drive circuit executes a push-pull operation based on the modulated signal and a resonance circuit resonates, under the push-pull operation of the drive circuit, to transmit a transmission signal in a radio wave. The synchronous signal controls a switching device to cut off a connection between the resonance circuit and the ground in synchronization with the modulated signal. Thereby, the transmission signal is generated sharply in the signal transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takahide Kitahara, Mitsugi Ohtsuka, Noritoshi Furuta, Fumio Asakura
  • Publication number: 20030199255
    Abstract: In a contactless IC card system, a modulating circuit manufactured in an IC form is operable at a high power efficiency. The demodulating apparatus is configured to include: first signal output means for outputting a first output signal having a predetermined phase with respect to that of an input signal, a second signal output means for outputting a second output signal having a predetermined phase with respect to that of the input signal, gate means for gating at least the second output signal, calculation means for adding, or subtracting the first output signal and the second output signal; and control means for controlling the operation of the gate means in response to a logic level of input data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Shigeru Arisawa
  • Patent number: 6631254
    Abstract: A radio frequency amplifier uses an offset phase locked loop to produce a radio frequency signal from a baseband signal. In order to allow the phase locked loop to process the signal as one of constant amplitude, the signal is amplitude limited prior to application to the phase comparator, and envelope restoration is achieved by envelope-modulating the output in the RF power amplifier stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Securicor Wireless Technology Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Wilson, Rick A. Hillum
  • Patent number: 6629283
    Abstract: A quantization error correcting device corrects quantization error included in audio information at the time of decoding. The audio information is divided into a plurality of frequency bands and compressive-encoded for each frequency band with bit allocation determined based on audible frequency characteristic. The device includes: a detecting unit for detecting, based on bit allocation information indicating bit allocation and encoded values of the compressive-encoded audio information, a range of quantization error indicating a range in which audio information value before compressive-encoding corresponding to the encoded value exists; and an outputting unit for outputting a decoded value corresponding to one of the encoded values based on the detected range of quantization error and the ranges of quantization errors of other correlated ones of the encoded values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Toyama
  • Publication number: 20030157905
    Abstract: A transmitter for improving the spectral characteristics of a transmitted output signal includes a phase modulator for receiving a signal and modifying the phase of the signal, a power amplifier for receiving the phase modified signal from the first operation and amplifying the phase modified signal, and an amplitude modulator for receiving the amplified phase modified signal and modifying the amplitude of the amplified phase modified signal. Although the phase and amplitude modulation are performed separately in order to minimize the amplitude distortion without complicating the design of the phase modulator, the combined effect of the phase and amplitude modulation is to filter the out of band spectral emissions of the transmitted output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Bo Holmqvist
  • Publication number: 20030153285
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for determining the separate radio frequency gains for carriers in a multi-carrier transmitter of a radio transmission unit of a radio communications system. In order to enable a simple and accurate estimation of the gains, it is proposed to determine the individual gains (G1-GN) of the different carriers mathematically from different sets of powers (REF1-REFN) at some point in each single carrier unit and the corresponding total output powers of the transmitter. Alternatively, the relation of the powers of the different carriers to each other is determined just before the carriers are combined to a single multi-carrier signal. This relation is used for determining the contribution of the different carriers to the transmission power of the multi-carrier signal and for therefrom determining the radio frequency gains for the different carriers. The invention equally relates to corresponding radio transmission units and modules of such radio transmission units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Andr?eacute; Dekker
  • Patent number: 6600516
    Abstract: A digital radio frequency transmitter system having an input circuit for receiving digital signals to be amplified and transmitted. A digital-to-analog converter converts the digital signals into analog signals. A series circuit is provided including a radio frequency filter and a radio frequency amplifier located downstream from the converter and wherein the filter and the amplifier respectively introduce linear and non-linear distortions into the analog signals for transmission by the transmitter. A digital pre-correction circuit is located upstream from the digital-to-analog converter for pre-correcting the digital signals in a manner to compensate for at least some of the distortions. An analog pre-correction circuit is interposed between the digital-to-analog converter and the series circuit for pre-correcting the analog signals to additionally compensate for at least some of the distortions prior to application to the series circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: David Christopher Danielsons, Paul Henry Mizwicki
  • Patent number: 6600905
    Abstract: The present invention includes backscatter communication systems, interrogators, methods of communicating in a backscatter system, and backscatter communication methods. According to one aspect of the present invention, a backscatter communication system includes an interrogator including a transmitter configured to output a forward link communication and a receiver configured to receive a return link communication having a carrier signal, the receiver being configured to reduce the amplitude of the carrier signal of the return link communication; and a communication device configured to modulate the carrier signal to communicate the return link communication responsive to reception of the forward link communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Greeff, David K. Ovard
  • Publication number: 20030139153
    Abstract: Described is a closed-loop power detector/controller for wireless systems employing a non-constant amplitude envelope modulation scheme. Any AM component in the feedback signal resulting from non-constant amplitude envelope signals is eliminated via feed-forward cancellation of the envelope signal. Generally, a signal representative of the AM variation in the non-constant amplitude envelope signals prior to amplification is obtained. This AM variation signal is then used to cancel any AM component in the feedback signal resulting from the non-constant envelope to create a power amplifier control signal without any AM variation, only the desired ramp profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Robert J. McMorrow, Eamon Nash
  • Publication number: 20030092405
    Abstract: Envelope limiting for a polar modulator. A system is provided that intelligently compresses the amplitude modulation in a polar modulator so that it can be implemented with a single-stage variable gain amplifier. Limiting the amplitude modulation range on the low side prevents collapse of the transmit signal's time-varying envelope and eases circuit implementation. Limiting the amplitude modulation range on the high side reduces the peak-to-average ratio of the waveform and thereby improves the efficiency of the radio transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: John B. Groe, Carl Thomas Hardin, Mahbuba Sheba
  • Publication number: 20030054777
    Abstract: A communication system for communicating utility data from a utility distribution network comprises a transmitter for transmitting the utility data. The transmitter comprises a processor that modulates the utility data into a plurality of carrier frequencies. A modulator is connected to the processor and receives the modulated utility data. The modulator modulates the modulated utility data in the AM frequency band forming multi-tone modulated data wherein the transmitter transmits the multi-tone modulated data/transmitted information in the AM frequency band. The communication system also comprises a receiver that receives the transmitted information. The receiver comprises a demodulator that receives the transmitted information and demodulates the transmitted information into a received signal. A processor is connected to the demodulator and receives the demodulated information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Ralph T. Hoctor
  • Patent number: 6529716
    Abstract: A highly efficient radio frequency (RF) transmitter provides both wide bandwidth and an extended power control range. The RF transmitter includes stage switching, bias adjustment, and drain supply modulation. These components are used to provide fine and coarse power control and EER envelope fluctuations. The RF transmitter is useful in wireless communications to increase both handset talk time and battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Eidson, Mats Lindstrom, Robert Edmund Grange
  • Patent number: 6526262
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bandpass filtering a radio frequency (RF) signal in a cellular transmit path to provide a filtered RF signal to a power amplifier. The methods comprise bandpass filtering the RF signal by tracking, without translating, the carrier frequency of the RF signal with a phase-locked loop prior to power amplifying the signal for transmission. The tracking filter provides symmetrical filtering by centering the pass band of the tracking filter on the RF carrier, irrespective of where the RF carrier is within the pass band of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony N. Kurlovich
  • Patent number: 6512799
    Abstract: A digital communication system and method is provided for increasing bit-rates while maintaining the reliability of transmitted digital information and avoiding increased power demands. The communication system includes a transmitter that modulates one or more bits onto a carrier signal to generate and transmit a first transmission signal during the first part of a pulse time TB, receives an additional bit, and based on the value of the additional bit, either transmits the first transmission signal again during the second part of the pulse time TB or transmits a second transmission signal during the second part of the pulse time TB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: University of South Alabama
    Inventor: Mazeb Al-Khatib
  • Publication number: 20030003882
    Abstract: A transmitter is disclosed. The transmitter has an RF portion having an amplifier for amplifying a signal for transmission. The RF portion is fed by a baseband portion. The baseband portion comprises: means for generating a pair of in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) data signals; and a limiter arrangement for preventing the amplitude of both the I and Q data signals exceeding a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: John Samuels, Christopher Callender
  • Publication number: 20020183019
    Abstract: Methods and systems for amplitude-modulating a power amplifier based on sensed current and sensed voltage provided to the power amplifier are provided. The sensed current and sensed voltage may be summed to provided both current and voltage feedback to modulate the power supplied to the power amplifier. Alternatively, both the current feedback and the voltage feedback may be selectively utilized to modulate the power supplied to the power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Paul W. Dent, David R. Pehlke, Aristotle Hadjichristos
  • Publication number: 20020183020
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique feedback system in a wireless communication system wherein the transmission channel is always overloaded with data, which is configured and modulated at a select order of modulation. Based on the channel conditions, only a portion of the data can be successfully received. As such, the receiver will attempt to receive the data using demodulation techniques corresponding to the different levels of modulation used to encode the data transmitted. The receiver will determine the data that is recovered, or the highest order of modulation at which the data is recovered, and provide feedback to the transmitter. The transmitter will then retransmit the data that was not properly received. By overloading the channel at all times, the maximum amount of data capable of being transmitted over the channel is optimized without requiring or heavily relying on the receiver feeding back channel condition information to the transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Peiying Zhu, Wen Tong, Claude C. Royer
  • Publication number: 20020177420
    Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides methods and apparatus for producing an amplitude modulated communications signal, in which a constant-envelope carrier signal is modified in response to a power control signal to produce a modified constant-envelope carrier signal. The modified constant-envelope carrier signal is amplified in response to an amplitude modulation signal to produce a communications signal having amplitude modulation and having an average output power proportional to a signal level of the modified constant-envelope carrier signal. This manner of operation allows wide dynamic range of average output power to be achieved. Because amplitude modulation is applied after amplitude varying circuitry used to produce the modified constant-envelope carrier signal, the amplitude modulation is unaffected by possible non-linearities of such circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Wendell B. Sander, Ronald A. Meck, Earl W. McCune, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6445750
    Abstract: In a communications system implementing an in-band on channel AM (IBOC-AM) (also known as “hybrid IBOC-AM”) scheme, digitally modulated signals are transmitted in a 30 kHz digital band centered at an analog host AM carrier frequency fc. The host AM carrier is assigned to the geographic area served by the communications system for AM radio broadcast. It is likely that a similar IBOC-AM scheme is implemented in an adjacent area which is assigned a second analog host AM carrier having a frequency which is either 20 kHz higher or lower than fc. In that case, the transmission of the digitally modulated signals are interfered by a similar transmission in the adjacent area. The interference is known as “second adjacent channel interference.” To reduce such interference, selected power profiles in accordance with the invention are used to allocate the relative transmission power to the digitally modulated signals in the digital band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Chen, Carl-Erik Wilhelm Sundberg
  • Patent number: 6430401
    Abstract: In a communications system implementing, e.g., an in-band on channel AM (IBOC-AM) (also known as “hybrid IBOC-AM”) scheme, multiple bit streams are used to represent an audio signal to be transmitted over one or more frequency bands including, e.g., parts of an AM frequency band for radio broadcast. These bit streams contain various and/or equivalent amounts of audio information. In an illustrative embodiment, at least one of the bit streams is a core bit stream containing core audio information. The remaining bit streams are enhancement bit streams containing enhancement audio information. The core bit stream is necessary for recovering the audio signal with minimal acceptable quality. Such quality is enhanced when the core bit stream, together with one or more of the enhancement bit streams, is used to recover the audio signal. In accordance with the invention, the AM frequency band is divided into subbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Ling Lou, Deepen Sinha, Carl-Erik Wilhelm Sundberg
  • Patent number: 6418300
    Abstract: A process for transmitting mixed analog and digital signals. A composite signal is transmitted whose frequency spectrum is composed of a first analog spectrum representative of the amplitude of single-sideband modulation and of a second spectrum composed of multi-subcarriers. The two spectra occupy two disjoint frequency bands. The device may be used for simultaneous broadcast of the same program or its reception by analog or digital receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Pierre André Laurent
  • Publication number: 20020082052
    Abstract: A method for operating a base station employing a CDMA technique comprises combining a plurality of spread spectrum data signals into a combined signal having a fluctuating power level corresponding to the data signals; modulating the combined signal to produce an RF signal; measuring average power of the combined signal over a selected time period; adaptively limiting the combined signal power to a calculated level based at least in part on the measured power; and transmitting the RF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Fatih M. Ozluturk, Brian Kiernan
  • Publication number: 20020058484
    Abstract: A sinusoidal RF carrier is modulated for the transmission of digital binary data streams through the amplitude suppression of carrier wavelets. These wavelets are defined between zero crossover positions representing zero energy locations. This modulation is accomplished when the carrier is slightly amplitude modulated with a modulation signal that is equal in frequency to the carrier itself and the modulation always begins or ends upon the exact zero voltage crossing point of the RF cycle phase. The modulation is applied as a slight shift of the amplitude of any single cycle, each cycle representing a single bit of data. A single cycle of RF will either represent a “1” or “0” depending upon the amplitude of the cycle, relative to other adjacent cycles in the same carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph A. Bobier, Nadeem Khan
  • Patent number: 6385233
    Abstract: A method 1100 and apparatus 1200 utilizing unbalanced modulation for providing users in a communication system with different amounts of effective communication energy according to their individual communication environments. A user's communication energy needs are determined based on conditions such as weather, signal-to-noise ratio, and cell location. Signals destined for a user are modulated according to the determined needs of the user. A signal destined for a user operating in a relatively friendly communication environment is modulated with less effective energy than a signal destined for a user operating in a relatively hostile communication environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Harvey L. Berger
  • Patent number: 6377784
    Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides for high-efficiency power control of a high-efficiency (e.g., hard-limiting or switch-mode) power amplifier in such a manner as to achieve a desired modulation. In one embodiment, the spread between a maximum frequency of the desired modulation and the operating frequency of a switch-mode DC-DC converter is reduced by following the switch-mode converter with an active linear regulator. The linear regulator is designed so as to control the operating voltage of the power amplifier with sufficient bandwidth to faithfully reproduce the desired amplitude modulation waveform. The linear regulator is further designed to reject variations on its input voltage even while the output voltage is changed in response to an applied control signal. This rejection will occur even though the variations on the input voltage are of commensurate or even lower frequency than that of the controlled output variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Tropian, Inc.
    Inventor: Earl McCune
  • Patent number: 6359506
    Abstract: A power amplifier uses a modulation technique that varies amplitude of a drive signal and, optionally, phase angle of the drive signal. The power amplifier comprises two coupled amplifiers, a first one of which is operated saturated to produce a constant voltage output. The first amplifier is coupled to a second one of the amplifiers via a quarter wave transmission line. The second amplifier is operated in a linear mode to deliver an output signal controlled by an amplitude-modulating signal. The amplitude-modulating signal may be a bipolar modulation signal that produces both positive and negative outputs from the second amplifier that add to or subtract from the output from the first amplifier to develop at a load impedance net output signal amplitudes varying between a minimum or “trough” amplitude and a maximum or “crest” amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Camp, Jr., Paul W. Dent
  • Patent number: 6356209
    Abstract: A system for visually indicating receipt of a radio communication directed to a user having an associated unique identification code. The system includes a radio transponder having an audio output, means for obtaining and storing the unique identification code; a speech recognition circuit operably connected to the radio transponder audio output and the stored identification code; and a visual indicator operably connected to an output of the speech recognition circuit, such that when the stored identification code and said audio input are substantially the same the visual indicator is driven to activation. A method is similarly disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventors: Robert P. Mitchell, Wayne C. Crouch, Martin J. Foley
  • Patent number: 6326860
    Abstract: A transmission front-end processor modulates the amplitude of a carrier wave with baseband data, and sets the power of the resultant modulated wave at a required value while controlling power leakage to adjoining channel to thereby output transmission data. The processor includes a first filter connected to an input terminal to which the baseband data are applied, for removing frequency components which would otherwise cause the power of the baseband data to leak to adjoining channels. The carrier wave and the baseband data passed through the first filter are applied to a power modulator. The power modulator controls the amplitude of the carrier wave with the baseband data, sets the power of the result of the control at the required value, and then outputs the power. A second filter removes higher order components from the carrier wave included in the output of the power modulator to thereby output the transmission data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bun Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6321074
    Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and method for reducing frequency pulling. Further, the invention provides amplitude modulation techniques to eliminate spurious signals and injection locking of the VCO to the output transmitted carrier. The architecture includes at least one synthesizer, a plurality of frequency dividers, an output VCO, a low pass filter, a mixer, a pretransmission filter and an amplifier connected in a manner to generate an output frequency which is non-harmonically related to the synthesizer VCO and to maintain the magnitude of the output frequency at, preferably, exactly 1.5 times higher than the VCO frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventor: Normand T. Lemay
  • Patent number: 6295442
    Abstract: An RF amplifier for a transmitter develops a phase modulation command representing a desired phase modulation of an RF signal, and an amplitude modulation command representing a desired amplitude modulation of the RF signal. An oscillator develops an RF input signal phase modulated based on the phase modulation command. A power amplifier receives the RF input signal and amplifies the RF input signal based on the amplitude modulation command to develop an RF output signal. A modulation control is operatively associated with the oscillator. The modulation control includes a phase memory for storing phase correction information correlating the amplitude modulation commands to a phase modulation error and a phase control for varying the phase modulation command based on the phase modulation error to correct for unintended phase errors created by amplitude modulation of the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Camp, Jr., Jeffrey A. Schlang, Charles Gore, Jacob Mannerstrale
  • Patent number: 6266517
    Abstract: In a transmitter (200) that includes a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (218), a predistortion signal loop (234, 240, 209, 208), and a feedforward correction loop (242, 246, 248, 250, 252, 258, 261, 262), a method and apparatus is provided for correcting distortion introduced into the transmitter by the RF power amplifier. The predistortion signal loop determines a RF power amplifier characterization function that characterizes a relationship between a signal input into the RF power amplifier and the resulting signal output by the RF power amplifier. The predistortion signal loop also determines a predistorted input signal that is based on an input signal received from an information source and on the RF power amplifier characterization function, which predistorted input signal is input into the RF power and includes input signal modifications that are meant to compensate for the distortion introduced introduced by the RF power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Fitzpatrick, Clark D. Fischbach
  • Patent number: 6256482
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for high-efficiency linear RF-power amplification over a wide range of amplitudes from zero to peak output includes a final RF-power amplifier operating at or near saturation, an RF driver amplifier, a high-level amplitude modulator for the final amplifier, preferably a high-level amplitude modulator for the driver amplifier, and a means for determining the supply-voltage input to the final amplifier and for controlling the amplitude of the drive. The means for determining the supply-voltage input and for controlling the amplitude acts so that the final amplifier drive varies from a minimum level to peak as the desired transmitter output varies from zero to peak. The transmitter is preferably of the envelope-elimination-and-restoration type or the envelope-tracking type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Frederick H. Raab