Systems and Methods of Amplification including Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) Amplifiers

Abstract

Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 decomposing a time-varying complex envelope signal into a first substantially constant envelope signal and a second substantially constant envelope signal;   combining said first substantially constant envelope signal and said second substantially constant envelope signal to generate an amplified version of said time-varying complex envelope signal; and   controlling a phase shift angle between components of said first substantially constant envelope signal to control an output power of said amplified version of said time-varying complex envelope signal.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said controlling comprises:
 controlling a magnitude of said amplified version of said time-varying complex envelope signal by symmetrically shifting said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said controlling comprises:
 constraining said phase shift angle between said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said controlling comprises:
 achieving a maximum output power by imposing a minimum phase shift angle condition on said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said controlling comprises:
 achieving a minimum output power by imposing a maximum phase shift angle condition on said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said controlling comprises:
 controlling an output power resolution as a function of a power increment and decrement step size of said phase shift angle.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said controlling said output power resolution comprises:
 defining a minimum phase shift angle step size.   
     
     
         32 . An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry configured to decompose a time-varying complex envelope signal into a first substantially constant envelope signal and a second substantially constant envelope signal; and   a combiner configured to combine said first substantially constant envelope signal and said second substantially constant envelope signal to generate an amplified version of said time-varying complex envelope signal,   wherein a phase shift angle between components of said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled to control an output power of said amplified version of said time-varying complex envelope signal.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by symmetrically shifting said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by constraining said phase shift angle between said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by imposing a minimum phase shift angle condition on said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal to achieve a maximum output power. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by imposing a maximum phase shift angle condition on said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal to achieve a minimum output power. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by controlling an output power resolution as a function of a power increment and decrement step size of said phase shift angle. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein said controlling output power resolution comprises:
 defining a minimum phase shift angle step size.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said combiner comprises a multiple-input single-output (MISO) device. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry configured to:
 decompose a time-varying complex envelope signal into an in-phase vector component and a quadrature vector component; 
 decompose said in-phase vector component into a first substantially constant envelope signal and a second substantially constant envelope signal; and 
 decompose said quadrature vector component into a third substantially constant envelope signal and a fourth substantially constant envelope signal; and 
   a combiner configured to combine said first substantially constant envelope signal, said second substantially constant envelope signal, said third substantially constant envelope signal, and said fourth substantially constant envelope signal to generate an amplified version of said time-varying complex envelope signal,   wherein a phase shift angle between components of said first substantially constant envelope signal controls an output power of said amplified version of said time-varying complex envelope signal.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by symmetrically shifting said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by constraining said phase shift angle between said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by imposing a minimum phase shift angle condition on said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal to achieve a maximum output power. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by imposing a maximum phase shift angle condition on said components of said first substantially constant envelope signal to achieve a minimum output power. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said first substantially constant envelope signal is controlled by controlling an output power resolution as a function of a power increment and decrement step size of said phase shift angle. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein said function defines a minimum phase shift angle step size. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said combiner comprises a multiple-input single-output (MISO) device.