Upstream power amplifier

Abstract

A communication device includes a communication interface, a number of variable power amplifiers (VPAs), and a processor. Some of the VPAs are configured to process analog signals to generate processed analog signals (e.g., each VPA configured to process one of the analog signals to generate one of the processed analog signals based on a respective VPA control signal). A composite VPA processes a summation of the processed analog signals, which are generated by certain of the VPA, to generate a processed composite signal based on a composite VPA control signal. The processor generates the a first, a second, and a composite VPA control signals based, at least in part, on configuration information from another communication device via the communication interface. The processor may be configured to consider other information as well, such as locally generated information (within the communication device), operational history, current operating conditions, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication device comprising:
 a plurality of variable power amplifiers (VPAs) configured to process a plurality of analog signals to generate a plurality of processed analog signals, wherein a first variable power amplifier (VPA) is configured to process a first analog signal based on a first VPA control signal, wherein a second VPA is configured to process a second analog signal based on a second VPA control signal;   a composite VPA configured to process, based on a composite VPA control signal, a composite signal that is a summation of the plurality of processed analog signals to generate and output a processed composite signal; and   a processing circuitry configured to provide the first VPA control signal to the first VPA, the second VPA control signal to the second VPA, and the composite VPA control signal to the composite VPA.   
     
     
         2 . The communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a communication interface; and 
 the processing circuitry configured to:
 receive, via the communication interface, configuration information from another communication device; 
 process the configuration information to determine the first VPA control signal, the second VPA control signal, and the composite VPA control signal; and 
 transmit, via the communication interface, the processed composite signal to the another communication device. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the configuration information includes at least one of a maximum power per signal for the plurality of analog signals, a bandwidth, or a frequency range allocated for the plurality of analog signals, or a number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) sub-carriers assigned for one analog signal of the plurality of analog signals. 
     
     
         4 . The communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first integrated circuit that includes a communication interface configured to receive the plurality of analog signals from a second integrated circuit that includes a first digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to provide the first analog signal to the first VPA and a second DAC configured to provide the second analog signal to the second VPA. 
 
     
     
         5 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the first analog signal is based on single-carrier (SC) signaling, and the second analog signal is based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multi-carrier signaling. 
     
     
         6 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first analog signal is based on single-carrier (SC) signaling and compliant with a first communication protocol;   the second analog signal is based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multi-carrier signaling and compliant with a second communication protocol; and   the first communication protocol is a legacy version of the second communication protocol.   
     
     
         7 . The communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cable modem configured to transmit the processed composite signal to another communication device that includes a cable headend transmitter or a cable modem termination system (CMTS). 
 
     
     
         8 . The communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a communication interface, coupled to the processing circuitry, that is configured to support communications within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-optic communication system, or a mobile communication system. 
 
     
     
         9 . An integrated circuit comprising:
 a plurality of variable power amplifiers (VPAs) configured to process a plurality of analog signals to generate a plurality of processed analog signals, wherein a first variable power amplifier (VPA) is configured to process a first analog signal based on a first VPA control signal, wherein a second VPA is configured to process a second analog signal based on a second VPA control signal;   a composite VPA configured to process, based on a composite VPA control signal, a composite signal that is a summation of the plurality of processed analog signals to generate and output a processed composite signal; and   a processing circuitry configured to provide the first VPA control signal to the first VPA, the second VPA control signal to the second VPA, and the composite VPA control signal to the composite VPA.   
     
     
         10 . The integrated circuit of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a communication interface configured to receive the plurality of analog signals from another integrated circuit that includes a first digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to provide the first analog signal to the first VPA and a second DAC configured to provide the second analog signal to the second VPA. 
 
     
     
         11 . The integrated circuit of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a communication interface; and 
 the processing circuitry configured to:
 receive, via the communication interface, configuration information from another communication device; 
 process the configuration information to determine the first VPA control signal, the second VPA control signal, and the composite VPA control signal; and 
 transmit, via the communication interface, the processed composite signal to the another communication device. 
 
 
     
     
         12 . The integrated circuit of  claim 11 , wherein the configuration information includes at least one of a maximum power per signal for the plurality of analog signals, a bandwidth, or a frequency range allocated for the plurality of analog signals, or a number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) sub-carriers assigned for one analog signal of the plurality of analog signals. 
     
     
         13 . The integrated circuit of  claim 11 , wherein the integrated circuit is included within a cable modem configured to transmit the processed composite signal to another communication device that includes a cable headend transmitter or a cable modem termination system (CMTS). 
     
     
         14 . A method for execution by a communication device, the method comprising:
 operating a plurality of variable power amplifiers (VPAs) to process a plurality of analog signals to generate a plurality of processed analog signals including operating a first variable power amplifier (VPA) to process a first analog signal based on a first VPA control signal and including operating a second VPA to process a second analog signal based on a second VPA control signal;   operating a composite VPA to process, based on a composite VPA control signal, a composite signal that is a summation of the plurality of processed analog signals to generate a processed composite signal; and   outputting the processed composite signal.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 receiving, via a communication interface of the communication device, configuration information from another communication device; 
 processing the configuration information to determine the first VPA control signal, the second VPA control signal, and the composite VPA control signal; and 
 transmitting, via the communication interface of the communication device, the processed composite signal to the another communication device. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the configuration information includes at least one of a maximum power per signal for the plurality of analog signals, a bandwidth, or a frequency range allocated for the plurality of analog signals, or a number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) sub-carriers assigned for one analog signal of the plurality of analog signals. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the communication device includes a first integrated circuit that includes a communication interface that operates to receive the plurality of analog signals from a second integrated circuit that includes a first digital to analog converter (DAC) that provides the first analog signal to the first VPA and a second DAC that provides the second analog signal to the second VPA. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the first analog signal is based on single-carrier (SC) signaling and compliant with a first communication protocol; 
 the second analog signal is based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multi-carrier signaling and compliant with a second communication protocol; and 
 the first communication protocol is a legacy version of the second communication protocol. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the communication device includes a cable modem that operates by transmitting the processed composite signal to another communication device that includes a cable headend transmitter or a cable modem termination system (CMTS). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 operating a communication interface of the communication device to support communications within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-optic communication system, or a mobile communication system.