Patent ID: 6411655
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of converting a stream of complex numbers representing a desired modulation of a radio signal into a modulated radio power signal at a radio carrier frequency, the method comprising the steps of:converting the complex numbers into polar form, including an amplitude-representative part and a phase-representative part; representing the amplitude-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers as a plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance; phase modulating the phase-representative part of each of the converted complex numbers at the radio carrier frequency, to produce a phase-modulated drive signal; amplifying the phase-modulated drive signal in a plurality of power amplifiers, a respective one of the power amplifiers providing a contribution to the modulated radio power signal at a respective amplifier output that is related to a respective one of the digits of decreasing numerical significance; controlling the output amplitude of a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers by applying a respective one of the plurality of digits of decreasing numerical significance to a respective one of the plurality of power amplifiers; and combining the amplifier outputs of the plurality of power amplifiers to form the modulated radio power signal.