Patent ID: 6049248
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: H03F

Abstract:
A circuit for generating, from an input signal having information contained in a phase component and an amplitude component, a driver signal for driving a non-linear amplifier for generating linear amplification, comprising:a voltage controlled oscillator for receiving the phase component of the input signal and for outputting a phase modulated carrier signal containing the phase component information, said carrier signal having a series of pulses having corresponding pulse widths; anda driver stage for receiving and amplifying said carrier signal, said driver stage comprising an inverter having a threshold voltage value and including a pair of MOSFET transistors, each said transistor having a gate terminal, a drain terminal, a source terminal, and a backgate terminal, said transistor pair being configured for receiving said carrier signal at said gate terminals and for receiving, at a backgate terminal of at least one of the transistors in said transistor pair, said amplitude component so that the threshold voltage of the inverter is varied in accordance with the amplitude component for adjusting the pulse widths of the series of pulses in said carrier signal for producing a pulse width modulated output signal containing phase and amplitude component information.