Compensating for variations in the response of a power supply

Apparatus includes an equalizer having a signal input, a control input and an output; a controllable power supply having a control input and an output, the input of the controllable power supply being coupled to the output of the equalizer; a power amplifier having a main signal input, a power supply input, and an output, the power supply input being coupled to the output of the controllable power supply; and a controller having first and second inputs and an output, the first input being coupled directly or indirectly to the output of the controllable power supply, the second input being coupled to a node upstream of the equalizer, and the output being coupled to the control input of the equalizer; the equalizer being configured to apply equalization to an envelope signal received at its input and to provide a resulting equalized envelope signal at its output, the controllable power supply being configured to provide a power signal at its output based on the equalized envelope signal received at its input, the power amplifier being configured to utilize power received at its power supply input to provide on its output a modulated transmission signal representative of a signal received at the main signal input, and the controller being configured to compare input signals received at its first input to signals received at its second input, and to utilize the results of the comparison to configure the equalizer to correct for variations in the response of the controllable power supply at different frequencies.

FIELD

This invention relates to compensating for variations in the response of a controllable power supply, for instance an SMPS.

BACKGROUND

It is well known to use switched mode power supplies (SMPSs) in mobile telephones. An SMPS rapidly switches a power transistor between saturation and cutoff with a variable duty cycle whose average leads to the desired output voltage. The resulting rectangular waveform is low-pass filtered with an inductor and capacitor. The main advantage of SMPSs is greater efficiency because the switching transistor dissipates little power in the saturated state and the off state compared to the semiconducting state. Other advantages include smaller size and lighter weight and lower heat generation from the higher efficiency. Disadvantages include complexity, the need to block high amplitude, high frequency energy, and a ripple voltage at the switching frequency and harmonic frequencies thereof.

SUMMARY

A first aspect of the invention provides apparatus comprising:an equalizer having a signal input, a control input and an output;a controllable power supply having a control input and an output, the input of the controllable power supply being coupled to the output of the equalizer;a power amplifier having a main signal input, a power supply input, and an output, the power supply input being coupled to the output of the controllable power supply; anda controller having first and second inputs and an output, the first input being coupled directly or indirectly to the output of the controllable power supply, the second input being coupled to a node upstream of the equalizer, and the output being coupled to the control input of the equalizer;the equalizer being configured to apply equalisation to an envelope signal received at its input and to provide a resulting equalized envelope signal at its output,the controllable power supply being configured to provide a power signal at its output based on the equalized envelope signal received at its input,the power amplifier being configured to utilize power received at its power supply input to provide on its output a modulated transmission signal representative of a signal received at the main signal input, andthe controller being configured to compare input signals received at its first input to signals received at its second input, and to utilize the results of the comparison to configure the equalizer to correct for variations in the response of the controllable power supply at different frequencies.

In the apparatus of the first aspect, the control input of the controllable power supply may be coupled to the output of the equalizer via a digital to analogue converter (DAC).

The apparatus of the first aspect may comprise a source of envelope signals having an input connected to receive an input signal and an output coupled to the signal input of the equalizer. Here, the second input of the controller may be coupled to the output of the source of envelope signals. Alternatively, the source of envelope signals may comprise a Cartesian-to-polar converter having amplitude and phase outputs, and the amplitude output of the Cartesian-to-polar converter may be coupled to the signal input of the equalizer.

The source of envelope signals may comprise an envelope detector. The source of envelope signals may comprise an envelope detector in series with a filter. The source of envelope signals may comprise an envelope detector in series with a non-linear filter

In any of these configurations, the second input of the controller may be coupled to the output of the source of envelope signals.

The apparatus of the first aspect may comprise a predistortion arrangement arranged to receive the input signal at a first input and to receive the envelope signal at a second input and to provide therefrom a predistorted signal on an output, the output of the predistortion arrangement being coupled to the main signal input of the power amplifier.

The apparatus of the first aspect may comprise a delay element connected upstream of the main signal input of the power amplifier.

The apparatus of the first aspect may comprise a modulator connected upstream of the main signal input of the power amplifier. Here, the modulator may be a phase modulator. Alternatively, the modulator may be a linear modulator.

In the apparatus of the first aspect, the first input of the controller may be coupled to the output of the controllable power supply via an analogue to digital converter (ADC).

In the apparatus of the first aspect, the first input of the controller may be coupled to the output of the power amplifier.

In the apparatus of the first aspect, the first input of the controller may be coupled to the output of the power amplifier via a power sensor.

In the apparatus of the first aspect, the first input of the controller may be coupled to the output of the controllable power supply via a power sensor.

In the apparatus of the first aspect, the equalizer may be a digital filter.

In the apparatus of the first aspect, the equalizer may be a finite impulse response filter.

The apparatus of the first aspect may comprise a test tone generator having an output coupled to the signal input of the equalizer, the test tone generator being configured to generate test tone signals at a frequency and provide them to the signal input of the equalizer, and then to generate test tone signals at a different frequency and provide them to the signal input of the equalizer.

In the apparatus of the first aspect, the controller may be configured to configure the equalizer to correct for variations in the response of the controllable power supply at different frequencies by being configured to approximate the inverse frequency response of the controllable power supply across a range of frequencies of interest.

A second aspect of the invention provides apparatus comprising:equalizer means having a signal input, a control input and an output;controllable power supply means having a control input and an output, the input of the controllable power supply means being coupled to the output of the equalizer means;power amplifier means having a main signal input, a power supply input, and an output, the power supply input being coupled to the output of the controllable power supply means; andcontrol means having first and second inputs and an output, the first input being coupled directly or indirectly to the output of the controllable power supply means, the second input being coupled to a node upstream of the equalizer means, and the output being coupled to the control input of the equalizer means;the equalizer means being configured to apply equalisation to an envelope signal received at its input and to provide a resulting equalized envelope signal at its output,the controllable power supply means being configured to provide a power signal at its output based on the equalized envelope signal received at its input,the power amplifier means being configured to utilize power received at its power supply input to provide on its output a modulated transmission signal representative of a signal received at the main signal input, andthe control means being configured to compare input signals received at its first input to signals received at its second input, and to utilize the results of the comparison to configure the equalizer means to correct for variations in the response of the controllable power supply at different frequencies.

Apparatus according to either the first or the second aspects may form part of a battery-powered communications device.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method comprising:generating an envelope signal from an input signal;using an equalizer to filter the envelope signal;using the filtered envelope signal to control a controllable power supply to provide power to a power amplifier;comparing an output of the controllable power supply to signals at a node upstream of the equalizer; andconfiguring the equalizer to correct for variations in the response of the controllable power supply at different frequencies.

The method may comprise using an input signal and the envelope signal to provide a predistorted signal, and providing the predistorted signal to a main signal input of the power amplifier.

The method may comprise using a delay element to delay signals provided to a main signal input of the power amplifier.

Comparing the output of the controllable power supply to signals at a node upstream of the equalizer may comprise sensing power at an output of the power amplifier. Alternatively, comparing the output of the controllable power supply to signals at a node upstream of the equalizer may comprise sensing signals at an output of the controllable power supply.

The method may comprise generating test tone signals at a frequency and providing them to the signal input of the equalizer, and then generating test tone signals at a different frequency and providing them to the signal input of the equalizer.

The control means may be configured to configure the equalizer means to correct for variations in the response of the controllable power supply means at different frequencies by being configured to approximate the inverse frequency response of the controllable power supply means across a range of frequencies of interest. Unless otherwise stated, the features described as being associated with one aspect may be used with any combination of other features from that aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly toFIG. 1, a transmitter50is shown in highly simplified form. The transmitter50incorporates envelope tracking. The transmitter50is provided as part of a transmitter device66, which may be a battery-powered portable communications device. The device66may be a mobile phone, PDA, modem device or the like.

A baseband signal51is received at the sole input of a signal modifier52. The baseband signal here is a complex signal having I and Q components. The signal modifier52provides two outputs, namely an envelope signal on an envelope output53and a modulation signal output on a modulation signal output54. The natures of these signals will become apparent from the discussion below.

The signal on the modulation output54is delayed using a delay element56. The resulting delayed modulation signal is upconverted to radio frequency using a linear modulator57. For example, linear modulator57may use direct conversion, generating the radio frequency signal by adding a radio frequency sine wave that is multiplied with the real part of the delayed modulation signal, and a radio frequency cosine wave that is multiplied with the imaginary part of the delayed modulation signal. Other types of linear modulators exist, for example based on the superheterodyne principle that employs one or more intermediate frequencies.

The resulting radio frequency signal is applied to a signal input of a power amplifier58.

The envelope signal provided at the output53of the signal modifier52has a value that varies with varying amplitude of the input signal. The instantaneous value of the signal provided at the output53of the signal modifier52is dependent on the amplitude of the envelope of the input signal51.

The envelope signal provided at the envelope output53is applied to a signal input of an equalizer55. The equalizer55could be termed a correction filter or equalisation filter. The equalizer55may for instance be a digital FIR filter. The equalizer55has a frequency response that is dependent on the signal received at a control input. As such, the signal provided at an output of the equalizer55has a spectrum that is to some extent different to the signal provided at the input of the equalizer55, although it is very closely related.

An output of the equalizer55is applied to an input of a digital to analogue converter (DAC)59, which converts the digital signal provided by the equalizer55into an analogue signal. The resulting analogue signal is then provided at an output of the DAC59.

The output of the DAC59is connected to a control input of a power supply60. The power supply60generates a power out signal at an output. The power out signal has a voltage that is dependent on the analogue signal received from the DAC59. The power out signal is applied to a supply voltage input of the power amplifier58.

The power supply60may take any suitable form. The power supply60may be a switched mode power supply (SMPS). Alternatively, the power supply60may be a linear regulator, or a combination of a linear regulator and an SMPS, for instance connected in series. A linear regulator may be formed by a transistor in series with the voltage supply. In this case, the transistor is configured to cause a variable voltage drop so that the supply voltage provided to the power amplifier58has the required level. A linear regulator can achieve a higher bandwidth than an SMPS, but is less efficient than a SMPS since the voltage drop in combination with the current through the power amplifier58causes power dissipation that does not result from a corresponding pure SMPS system. In the following the power supply60is said to be an SMPS.

The power amplifier58operates to combine the signal provided by the linear modulator57with the power out signal provided by the SMPS60. The power amplifier provides the resulting radio frequency signal at an output61. The signal at the output61carries the modulation information present in the input signal51.

The SMPS60, as a result of being provided with a version of the envelope signal, provides a supply voltage at an optimum level. The level is an optimum level in that is sufficient to allow the power amplifier58to operate without distortion. If the supply voltage provided by the SMPS60is lower than the optimum level, distortion can occur, negatively impacting the performance of the transmitter50. If the supply voltage provided by the SMPS60is higher than the optimum level, battery drain and heat generation are higher than is necessary. Operating the power amplifier58with a supply voltage higher than the optimum level thus results in reduced times between battery re-charges, and can more easily result in overheating of the device66.

Because the signal provided to the input of the power amplifier58contains amplitude information in addition to phase information, the transmitter50is able to generate very small instantaneous output powers. In particular, this is achieved by applying a low amplitude modulation signal to the input of the power amplifier58.

The power out signal provided by the SMPS60is sampled by an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC)62and input to a first input of a control block63. The envelope signal at the output53of the signal modifier52is provided to a second input of the control block63. An output of the control block63is connected to a control input of the equalizer55. The control block63may take any suitable form, for instance a collection of logic gates or a microcontroller operating under software control. The function of the control block63is considerably more important than its structure.

The control block63operates to control the equalizer55to alter its frequency response. The control block63provides a control signal to the equalizer55that results in the equalizer55having a frequency response that minimizes the least-squares difference between the signal at the output53of the signal modifier52and the power out signal provided by the SMPS60. Here the word ‘minimize’ is used to denote minimize or substantially minimize. In effect, the control block63configures the equalizer55to approximate the inverse frequency response of the SMPS60. To achieve this, the control block63implements a mean squared error (MSE) equalization method, for example a method described by Proakis D. in “Digital Communications”, ISBN 007232593. Numerous other suitable methods are known in the art.

It will be appreciated that the control block63configures the equalizer55to approximate the inverse frequency response of the SMPS60only over a bandwidth of interest. Outside of the bandwidth of interest, the control block63may effect less configuration of the equalizer55to approximate the inverse frequency response of the SMPS60, or it may not configure the equalizer55to approximate the inverse frequency response of the SMPS60at all. The reasons for this will now be explained, along with some more detail of the implementation.

The SMPS60may exhibit lowpass characteristics. The equalizer55may process an envelope signal over a significantly wider bandwidth than the lowpass bandwidth of SMPS60. For example, the bandwidth of the equalizer may be limited by the Nyquist bandwidth of the DAC59. Compensating the frequency response of the SMPS60over the whole bandwidth provided by the DAC59may be impractical or impossible, because the required signal amplitude at the output of DAC59may become prohibitively high (at frequencies where the response of the SMPS60is poor, a higher amplitude control signal is needed to compensate).

Limited by implementation constraints, such as for example a finite number of coefficients in equalizer55, the resulting frequency response configured to equalizer55may approximate the SMPS frequency response with varying degrees of accuracy at different frequencies. For example, the approximation may be very accurate at frequencies where the spectral power density of the desired output signal from the SMPS is relatively high, and the approximation may be less accurate at frequencies where the spectral power density of the signal is relatively low. At some frequencies, for example above a predetermined upper corner frequency, the equalizer55may be configured to not approximate an inverse of a frequency response at all. Therefore, the frequency response of equalizer55may be considered an approximation to the inverse of the frequency response of SMPS60, but to a limited extent. The limited extent in this instance is a limited bandwidth. The bandwidth is at the lower end of the range of the bandwidth of the equalizer55.

The delay element56is a fixed delay element. The delay element56introduces a delay that matches the delay in the other branch, that results primarily from the equalizer55. The inclusion of the delay element56reduces signal distortion.

Details of the signal modifier52will now be described. In the following, like reference numerals denote like elements.

InFIG. 2A, the signal modifier52provides the received baseband signal51to an envelope processor71and to a first input of a predistortion block72, both of which form part of the signal modifier52. The envelope processor71generates an envelope signal that is real-valued (i.e. it is not complex-valued). The envelope signal is provided to a second input of the predistortion block72, and at the envelope output53of the signal modifier52. The predistortion block72provides a modulation signal that is complex-valued at the modulation signal output54of the signal modifier52.

The envelope processor71may take any suitable form. One suitable form is described below with reference toFIGS. 2B,2C and2D. The envelope signal is generated such that at any point in time the supply voltage provided to the power amplifier58equals or exceeds the minimum supply voltage required to generate the desired instantaneous output power.

The predistortion block72corrects the known variations in the complex gain (i.e. both amplitude and phase) of the power amplifier58. The predistortion block72compensates for amplitude-to-amplitude modulation (AM-AM) and amplitude-to-phase modulation (AM-PM) effects resulting from the gain of the power amplifier58varying in amplitude and in phase with both the magnitude of the input signal and the voltage supplied to the amplifier. Without the predistortion block72, AM-AM and AM-PM would result in undesirable distortion products at the output of the power amplifier58.

InFIG. 2B, the envelope processor71is shown to provide the baseband signal51to an envelope detector76. The envelope detector76generates an envelope signal at its output77that is real-valued (i.e. it is not complex-valued). This signal is filtered by a non-linear filter78, such as the filter disclosed in US 2007/0258602. The filtered envelope signal is provided at the envelope output53of the signal modifier52.

InFIG. 2C, the envelope detector76includes an envelope detection function80that determines the absolute value of the complex-valued input signal51and provides the resulting envelope signal at the output of the envelope detector77.

InFIG. 2D, the nonlinear filter78is shown in some detail. An adder82adds a predetermined offset to the instantaneous value of the input signal received at the input, which is provided by the output of the envelope detector77. A minimum function83limits the magnitude of the resulting signal to a predetermined limit. Several time-delayed versions of the resulting signal are provided by a delay chain comprising series connected delay elements84a,84b,84c. A maximum function85determines the highest value of the signals provided by the minimum function83, the delay elements84a,84b,84cand a predetermined constant minimum value and provides that value at the envelope output53. The resulting signal is an envelope signal.

Although the variable supply voltage provided by the SMPS60to the power amplifier58modulates the gain of the power amplifier58, the amplitude of the signal at the output of the power amplifier58is determined primarily by the modulation signal provided at the output54of the signal modifier52.

By virtue of the construction and operation of the signal modifier52, for instance as exemplified inFIGS. 2A,2B,2C and2D, the envelope signal provided at the envelope output53never falls below the magnitude of the transmission signal. This allows the power amplifier58to produce the desired instantaneous output power at any point in time. Furthermore, the envelope signal never falls below a predetermined minimum, thereby maintaining a minimum level of supply voltage across the power amplifier58at all times and preventing undesirable distortion when the transmitted instantaneous power is low.

One suitable form will now be described with reference toFIG. 2E. An envelope detector92receives the baseband input signal51, and provides a corresponding magnitude signal to a first input of a mapping block90. A second input of the mapping block90is connected to receive the signal provided by the output53of the envelope processor71. The mapping block90determines a complex correction factor that, when multiplied with the input signal to the power amplifier58, compensates unwanted AM-AM and AM-PM distortion introduced by the power amplifier. The output of the mapping block90is multiplied with the baseband input signal51by a multiplier91, and the complex-valued result is provided at the output54.

An effect of the predistortion block72is to compensate the known nonlinearity of die power amplifier58with regard to variations in supply voltage and magnitude of the RF input signal (i.e. the signal provided by the linear modulator57). The complex-valued output signal from the predistortion block72is then delayed by delay56, upconverted to radio frequency in the linear modulator57and provided to the radio frequency input of the power amplifier58.

The inclusion of the predistortion block72considerably improves performance, and allows strict cellular requirements more easily to be met.

The method of operation of theFIG. 1circuit will now be described briefly with reference toFIG. 3. Here, a signal is transmitted at step S1, after operation starts. The signal has a large bandwidth, so includes signal components at a number of frequencies across a range of frequencies. At step S2, the analog-to-digital converter62samples and records the output of the SMPS60. At step S3, the control block63determines a set of equalizer coefficients, based on a comparison between the signal output of the SMPS with the signal output by the signal modifier52. At step S4the equalizer55is configured using the equalizer coefficients, approximating the inverse of the SMPS frequency response. The operation then ends.

The effect of this is to compensate for variations in the response of the SMPS60at different frequencies within the bandwidth of the desired output signal from SMPS60.

In summary, the transmitter50observes the output signal of the SMPS subsystem, compares the observed output signal to the known SMPS input signal and estimates the frequency response of the SMPS60over a certain bandwidth. It then configures a correction filter (the equalizer55) to approximate the inverse frequency response over that bandwidth, therefore linearizing the frequency response of the amplitude path within that bandwidth. An additional advantage achieved by the equalisation of the frequency response of the power amplifier58is that the actual supply voltage provided to the power amplifier58can be predicted more accurately by the predistortion block72.

The embodiment described above is of particular application to radio systems having a variable power envelope, for instance OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexed) signals. As is well known, such systems allow higher spectral efficiency than do radio systems operating on fixed envelope signals.

Referring next toFIG. 4, a polar transmitter112is shown in highly simplified form. The transmitter112implements envelope elimination and restoration (EER), also known as “Kahn-technique”. The scheme applies in a similar manner to envelope tracking, where part of the amplitude information is fed into the PA via the radio frequency input, here referred to as “phase path”. The polar transmitter112can be referred to as an EER transmitter.

A baseband signal100is received at the sole input of a Cartesian-to-polar converter101. The baseband signal here is a complex signal having I and Q components. The Cartesian-to-polar converter101provides two outputs, namely an amplitude component output on a line102and a phase component output on a line103. A predistortion block104receives both the outputs of the Cartesian-to-polar converter101. The predistortion block104corrects the known amplitude-dependent characteristics of power amplifier109. Those are known as amplitude-to-amplitude modulation (AM-AM) and amplitude-to-phase modulation (AM-PM) effects resulting from the gain of the power amplifier109varying in magnitude and phase with both the magnitude of the input signal and the level of the supply voltage. Without the predistortion block104, AM-AM and AM-PM would result in undesirable distortion products at the output of the power amplifier109. The predistortion block104provides a predistorted amplitude signal on a first output105and a predistorted phase signal on a second output106.

The predistorted phase signal106is delayed using a delay element107. The resulting delayed predistorted phase signal is upconverted to radio frequency using a phase modulator108, for example a PLL (phase locked loop)-based synthesizer. The resulting constant-amplitude radio frequency signal is applied to the signal input of the power amplifier109. The signal applied to the signal input of the power amplifier109has a constant amplitude because it is derived from the phase component of the input complex signal and as such varies between maximum and minimum values within a time period set by the frequency of the signal. The difference between the maximum and minimum values is the amplitude of the signal.

The predistorted amplitude component provided at the output105of the predistortion block104has a value that varies with varying amplitude of the input signal100. The instantaneous value of the signal provided at the output105of the predistortion block104is wholly representative of the amplitude of the envelope of the input signal100. The predistorted amplitude component provided at the output105of the predistortion block104can be termed an envelope signal.

The predistorted amplitude component provided at the output105is applied to a signal input of an equalizer110. The equalizer110could be termed a correction filter or equalisation filter. The equalizer110has a frequency response that is dependent on the signal received at a control input. The equalizer110may for instance be a digital FIR filter. As such, the signal provided at an output of the equalizer110has a spectrum that is to some extent different to the signal provided at the input of the equalizer110, although it is very closely related. An output of the equalizer110is applied to an input of a digital to analogue converter (DAC)111, which converts the digital signal provided by the equalizer110into an analogue signal that is then provided at an output of the DAC111.

The output of the DAC111is applied to a control input of a power supply113. The power supply113generates a power out signal at an output. The power out signal has a voltage that is dependent on the analogue signal received from the DAC111. The power out signal is applied to a supply voltage input of the power amplifier109.

The power supply113may take any suitable form. The power supply113may be a switched mode power supply (SMPS). Alternatively, the power supply113may be a linear regulator, or a combination of a linear regulator and an SMPS, for instance connected in series. A linear regulator may be formed by a transistor in series with the voltage supply. In this case, the transistor is configured to cause a variable voltage drop so that the supply voltage provided to the power amplifier109has the required level. A linear regulator can achieve a higher bandwidth than an SMPS, but is less efficient than a SMPS since the voltage drop in combination with the current through the power amplifier109causes power dissipation that does not result from a corresponding pure SMPS system. In the following the power supply113is said to be an SMPS.

The power amplifier109operates to recombine the phase-modulated signal provided by the phase modulator108with the power out signal provided by the SMPS113. The power amplifier provides the resulting radio frequency signal at an output115. The signal at the output115carries the modulation information present in the input signal100. The SMPS113, as a result of being provided with a version of the envelope signal, provides a supply voltage at a level that gives rise to a signal at the output of the power amplifier109that has the correct amplitude, with regard to the input signal100.

The power out signal provided by the SMPS113is sampled by an analogue to digital converter (ADC)116and input to a first input of a control block117. The predistorted amplitude component at the output105of the predistortion block104is provided to a second input of the control block117. The output of the control block117is connected to the control input of the equalizer110. The control block117may take any suitable form, for instance a collection of logic gates or a microcontroller operating under software control. The function of the control block117is considerably more important that its structure.

The control block117operates to control the equalizer110to alter its frequency response. The control block117provides a control signal to the equalizer110that results in the equalizer having a frequency response that minimizes the least-squares difference between the signal at the output105of the predistortion block104and the power out signal provided by the SMPS113. Here the word ‘minimize’ is used to denote minimize or substantially minimize. In effect, the control block117configures the equalizer110to approximate the inverse frequency response of the SMPS113. To achieve this, the control block117implements a MSE equalization method, for example a method described by Proakis D. in “Digital Communications”, ISBN 0072321113. Numerous other suitable methods are known in the art. As discussed above, the frequency response is determined and corrected only in respect of a bandwidth of interest.

Delay element107introduces an amount of delay that matches the signal delays in the two branches of the transmitter. Signal delay in the other branch results primarily from the equalizer110. This reduces signal distortion.

The polar transmitter112is provided as part of a transmitter device118, which may be a battery-powered portable communications device. The device118may be a mobile phone, PDA, modem device or the like.

The method of operation of theFIG. 4, circuit will now be described briefly with reference toFIG. 5. Here, a signal is transmitted at step S1, after operation start. At step S2, the control block117samples and records the output of the SMPS113. At step S3, the control block117determines a set of equalizer coefficients, based on a comparison between the signal output by the SMPS to the signal output by the predistortion block104. At step S4the equalizer110is configured using the set of equalizer coefficients. The operation then ends.

The effect of this is to compensate for variations in the response of the SMPS113at different frequencies. This is advantageous since it provides suitably high performance levels from a polar transmitter architecture when high bandwidth input signals are desired to be transmitted. In prior art polar transmitters, the design of the SMPS was required to accommodate the requirement for high bandwidth input signals, for instance by providing the SMPS with a flat frequency response. Polar transmitters have the advantage of high efficiency, compared to other transmitter types. As such, the fact that the embodied apparatus allows an SMPS not having a flat frequency response to be used in polar transmitter arrangements is very significant.

TheFIG. 4embodiment involves a relatively high degree of signal processing (in the control block117). However, calibration can take place during normal operation of the polar transmitter.

Delay element107delays the signal by an amount that results in equal delay between the envelope signal reaching the power amplifier109through the power supply113, and the radio frequency signal entering the power amplifier109via the modulator108, preventing unwanted distortion caused by a time difference between envelope and radio frequency signals.

In summary, the polar transmitter112observes the output signal of the SMPS subsystem, compares the observed output signal to the known SMPS input signal and configures a correction filter (the equalizer110) to approximate the inverse frequency response of the SMPS, therefore linearizing the frequency response of the amplitude path. An advantage achieved by the equalization of the frequency response of the power amplifier109is that the actual supply voltage provided to the power amplifier109can be predicted more accurately by the predistortion block104. As discussed above, the frequency response is determined and corrected only in respect of a bandwidth of interest.

This embodiment can be described as an ADC based implementation. Another embodiment can be described as a power sensor based implementation.

Referring now toFIG. 6, a polar transmitter130is shown in highly simplified form. Reference numerals are retained fromFIG. 4for like elements. The transmitter130implements envelope elimination and restoration. The scheme applies in a similar manner to envelope tracking, where part of the amplitude information is fed into the PA via the radio frequency input, here referred to as “phase path”.

A switch131connects either the baseband input signal100during normal operation, or a test tone131from a test tone generator132to the sole input of the Cartesian-to-polar converter101. This is described in more detail below.

The baseband signal here is a complex signal having I and Q components. The Cartesian-to-polar converter101provides two outputs, namely an amplitude component output on a line102and a phase component output on a line103. A predistortion block104receives both the outputs of the Cartesian-to-polar converter101. The predistortion block104corrects the known amplitude-dependent characteristics of power amplifier109by providing a predistorted amplitude signal on a first output105and a predistorted phase signal on a second output106. Those are known as amplitude-to-amplitude modulation (AM-AM) and amplitude-to-phase modulation (AM-PM) effects resulting from the gain of the power amplifier109varying in amplitude and in phase with both the magnitude of the input signal and the level of the supply voltage provided to the power amplifier. Without the predistortion block104, AM-AM and AM-PM would result in undesirable distortion products at the output of the power amplifier109.

The predistorted phase signal106is delayed using a delay element107. The resulting delayed predistorted phase signal is upconverted to radio frequency using a phase modulator108, for example a PLL (phase locked loop)-based synthesizer. The resulting constant-amplitude radio frequency signal is applied to the signal input of the power-amplifier109. The signal applied to the signal input of the power amplifier109has a constant amplitude because it is derived from the phase component of the input complex signal and as such varies between 0 and a maximum value within a time period set by the frequency of the signal.

The predistorted amplitude component provided at the output105of the predistortion block104has a value that varies with varying amplitude of the input signal100. The signal provided at the output105of the predistortion block104is wholly representative of the envelope of the input signal100. The predistorted amplitude component provided at the output105of the predistortion block104can be termed an envelope signal.

The predistorted amplitude component provided at the output105is applied to a signal input of an equalizer110. The equalizer110could be termed a correction filter. The equalizer110has a frequency response that is dependent on the signal received at a control input. The equalizer110may for instance be a digital FIR filter. As such, the signal provided at an output of the equalizer110has a spectrum that is to some extent different to the signal provided at the input of the equalizer110, although it is very closely related. An output of the equalizer110is applied to an input of a digital to analogue converter (DAC)111, which converts the digital signal provided by the equalizer110into an analogue signal that is then provided at an output of the DAC111.

The output of the DAC111is applied to a control input of a power supply113. The power supply113generates a power out signal at an output. The power out signal has a voltage that is dependent on the analogue signal received from the DAC111. The power out signal is applied to a supply voltage input of the power amplifier109.

The power supply113may take any suitable form. The power supply113may be a switched mode power supply (SMPS). Alternatively, the power supply113may be a linear regulator, or a combination of a linear regulator and an SMPS, for instance connected in series. A linear regulator may be formed by a transistor in series with the voltage supply. In this case, the transistor is configured to cause a variable voltage drop so that the supply voltage provided to the power amplifier109has the required level. A linear regulator can achieve a higher bandwidth than an SMPS, but is less efficient than a SMPS since the voltage drop in combination with the current through the power amplifier109causes power dissipation that does not result from a corresponding pure SMPS system. In the following the power supply113is said to be an SMPS.

The power amplifier109operates to recombine the phase-modulated signal provided by the phase modulator108with the power out signal provided by the SMPS113. The power amplifier provides the resulting radio frequency signal at an output115. The signal at the output115carries the modulation information present in the input signal100. The SMPS113, as a result of being provided with a version of the envelope signal, provides a supply voltage at a level that gives rise to a signal at the output of the power amplifier109that has the correct amplitude, with regard to the baseband input signal.

The output signal of the power amplifier109is provided to an input of a power sensor133. An output of the power sensor133is provided to a first input of a control block134. The amplitude output of the predistortion block104is provided to a second input of the control block134. The output of the control block134is connected to the control input of the equalizer110. The control block134may take any suitable form, for instance a collection of logic gates or a microcontroller operating under software control. The function of the control block134is considerably more important that its structure.

The control block134operates to control the equalizer110to alter its frequency response. The control block134provides a control signal to the equalizer110that results in the equalizer having a frequency response that minimizes the least-squares difference between the signal at the output105of the predistortion block104and the power out signal provided by the SMPS113. Here the word ‘minimize’ is used to denote minimize or substantially minimize. In effect, the control block134configures the equalizer110to approximate the inverse frequency response of the SMPS113. This can be achieved in any suitable way. As discussed above, the frequency response is determined and corrected only in respect of a bandwidth of interest.

Delay element107delays the signal by an amount that results in equal delay between the envelope signal reaching the power amplifier109through the power supply113, and the radio frequency signal entering the power amplifier109via the modulator108, preventing unwanted distortion caused by a time difference between envelope and radio frequency signals.

The polar transmitter130is provided as part of a transmitter device140, which may be a battery-powered portable communications device. The device140may be a mobile phone, PDA, modem device or the like.

The method of operation of theFIG. 6, circuit will now be described briefly with reference toFIG. 7. Here, the test tone generator132is connected to the input of the Cartesian-to-polar converter101at step S1, after operation start. This commences a calibration process. At steps S2and S3, the test tone generator132is configured to a predetermined frequency and amplitude respectively. The test tone generator132generates a two-tone signal that is symmetric around 0 Hz at baseband, for example I=α cos (2 πft) and Q=0. The test tone is provided at the predetermined frequency at step S3.

The power of the transmitter output signal115is measured using the power sensor133and input to control block134at step S4. Based on the power measurement, the control block134estimates the supply voltage supplied by the SMPS113, based on the signal provided by the power amplifier109. The test tone generator132is then configured to a second frequency at step S3, and step S4is repeated at the second frequency. Steps S3and S4repeat several times, spread across the frequency range over which the polar transmitter130is required to operate.

At step S5, the control block117estimates the frequency response of the SMPS113. This involves comparison of the signal output by the SMPS113to the signal at the output105of the predistortion block104. The control block134configures the equalizer110to approximate the inverse of the estimated frequency response.

At step S6the equalizer110is configured/calibrated. Once the equalizer110is calibrated, the switch131is configured to pass through the communications signal100instead of the signal provided by test tone generator132, and the polar transmitter130then is ready for normal transmission. The operation then ends.

The method of operation of theFIG. 6, circuit will now be described in more detail with reference toFIG. 7.

Briefly, the frequency response of the power amplifier109is estimated by applying to the radio frequency input a continuous-wave signal having a magnitude sufficient to drive the power amplifier109into saturation at mid-range supply voltage levels and by applying a second test signal to the input controlling the variable voltage source. The second test signal may consist of a constant term ainand a time-varying term bin. For a typical Gallium Arsenide power amplifier, ainand binmay be chosen as for example ain(t)=3 V/Gn, andbin(t)=1 V sin(2 pi ftestt)/Gn, where ftestis a variable test tone frequency. Generally speaking, the magnitudes of signal terms ainand binare chosen so that the resulting output voltage covers a sufficiently large region of the power amplifier's Vout-vs-Vcc-characteristics, where a variation in Vcccauses approximately a linear variation in Vout.

FIG. 8shows the distortion characteristics of a typical GaAs power amplifier, of the kind often used in mobile wireless radio transmitters. The power amplifier109may be a power amplifier of this type. Vccdenotes the supply voltage in Volts, provided to the power amplifier by a variable voltage supply. Venvin Volts is the magnitude of a sine wave at the radio frequency input, and Vout(Volts) is the magnitude of the resulting sine wave at the amplifier output.

When operating at the maximum value of Venvshown inFIG. 8, the power amplifier109is driven into saturation. It acts essentially as a switch, and the magnitude of the output signal tends to be proportional to the magnitude of the supply voltage Vcc. For a linear power amplifier, operating in saturation is typically undesirable because the switching operation causes an intolerably high amount of distortion products and harmonics. However, the almost linear relationship between input and output signal magnitude when driving the power amplifier109into saturation (marked inFIG. 8) allows determination of the magnitude of the supply voltage from the magnitude of the output signal and the known distortion characteristics of the power amplifier. Therefore, saturated operation of the power amplifier can be utilized to measure the frequency dependent gain of the variable voltage source supplying the power amplifier109.

The gain of the variable voltage source as a function of frequency is not known prior to performing the method, so it is not possible at this time to accurately predict the resulting output voltage of the variable voltage source to a given input signal. However, at least a nominal gain Gnof the variable voltage source is known.

The output signal of the variable voltage source as a result of applying term ainto its input is aout=3V G(0)/Gn, where G(0) is the actual gain of the variable voltage source at 0 Hz. Similarly, the output signal resulting from the input signal binis bout=1 V sin(2 pi ftestt+φ) G(ftest)/Gn, where φ is a phase shift resulting from a delay between input and output signal.

Since Voutdepends approximately linearly on Vcc, the time-varying waveform at the supply voltage input modulates the continuous-wave signal provided to the radio frequency input. In particular, the sum of terms aoutand boutmodulating a continuous wave signal results in an amplitude-modulated signal. The magnitude of aoutresults in a spectral component at the frequency of the continuous-wave signal, and the magnitude of boutresults in a lower and an upper sideband at frequency offsets −ftestand ftest, respectively.

As long as the system is sufficiently linear, the superposition principle is applicable. Therefore, it may be assumed that the power of the modulation product resulting from aoutis proportional only to the power of aout, but independent of the power in bout. Similarly, the power of the modulation product resulting from boutis proportional to the power in bout, but independent of the power in aout.

The total power at the output of the power amplifier may be measured in any suitable way, for example by downconverting the signal using a receiver, or by using a power detector. Power measurement may be gated so that it averages the power over a time interval that corresponds to a full number of periods of the test signal frequency ftest.

The procedure to estimate the unknown, frequency-dependent gain of the power supply113can then be summarized as follows: Firstly, at steps S2and S3, a continuous wave signal is applied to the RF input of the power amplifier109with predetermined magnitude Venv, and a constant term ainis applied to the input of the power supply113. At step S4, the power P1at the output of the power amplifier109is measured. Here (or later at step S5), from P1and the known impedance level, the equivalent magnitude (Vout) at the output of the power amplifier109is calculated. Next, the Vccthat corresponds to the values of Voutand Venvis obtained from the known characteristics of the power amplifier109(FIG. 8). It also involves determining the gain of the variable voltage source at 0 Hz from the known magnitude of term ainand Vcc.

The procedure then is repeated for a first test tone frequency. At steps S2and S3, a constant term ainplus time-varying term binat first test tone frequency ftest,1is configured then applied. The power P2at the output of the power amplifier109is then measured. Here (or later at step S5), the equivalent magnitude (Vout) at the output of the power amplifier109that corresponds to the power P2-P1is calculated. Also at this time, the Vccthat corresponds to the relevant values of Voutand Venvis determined from the known characteristics of the power amplifier109, and the gain of the variable voltage source at frequency ftest,1is determined from the known magnitude of term binand Vcc.

This procedure is then repeated with additional test frequencies from ftest,2to ftest,n. Every repetition results in an additional point of the estimated variable voltage source frequency response. The combined results obtained at step S5provide an estimate of the overall frequency response of the power supply113. Once the estimated frequency response is obtained, coefficients for applying to the equalizer110may be determined in any suitable way, for example using standard filter design techniques. The equalizer is then configured accordingly at step S6.

The effect of this is to compensate for variations in the response of the SMPS113at different frequencies. This is advantageous since it provides suitably high performance levels from a polar transmitter architecture when high bandwidth input signals are desired to be transmitted. In prior art polar transmitters, the design of the SMPS was required to accommodate the requirement for high bandwidth input signals, for instance by providing the SMPS with a flat frequency response. Polar transmitters have the advantage of high efficiency, compared to other transmitter types. As such, the fact that the embodied apparatus allows a power supply, for instance an SMPS, not having a flat frequency response to be used in polar transmitter arrangements is very significant.

In summary, the polar transmitter130uses two-tone (amplitude modulated) test signals of predetermined magnitude and frequency, observes the output signal of the power amplifier using a power detector, estimates the output signal of the SMPS, compares the estimated output signal to the known SMPS input signal, and repeats this for several test tone frequencies, thereby estimating the frequency response of the SMPS113. It then configures a correction filter (the equalizer110) to approximate the inverse frequency response, therefore linearizing the frequency response of the amplitude path. This embodiment can be described as a power sensor based implementation. The frequency response is determined and corrected only in respect of a bandwidth of interest.

An advantage achieved by the equalization of the frequency response of the power amplifier109is that the actual supply voltage provided to the power amplifier109can be predicted more accurately by the predistortion block104.

The embodiment described above is of particular application to radio systems having a variable power envelope. As is well known, such systems allow higher spectral efficiency than do radio systems operating on fixed envelope signals.

TheFIG. 6embodiment is of lower complexity than theFIG. 4embodiment, but has the disadvantage that it requires generation of a test tone. TheFIG. 6embodiment is particularly well suited for factory calibration.

A variation of either of theFIGS. 4 and 6embodiments112,130, will now be described. Here, separate sets of equalizer coefficients are used depending on the known bandwidth of the signal, in particular the number of resource blocks.

Given a fixed length of the equalizer110(i.e. given a known number of coefficients and nominal delay), this allows tighter amplitude tracking in the narrowband case, since any unused bandwidth is a “don't care” area for the equalizer. This may achieve marginally better efficiency in some circumstances, for example in voice calls. Features of the polar transmitters described above can allow satisfactory operation with bandwidths of several MHz. Previously, polar transmitters were able to be used only with narrow bandwidth signals, for instance in GSM/EDGE systems, whilst achieving comparable performance.

These polar transmitters are provided as part of a transmitter device, which may be a battery-powered portable communications device. The device may be a mobile phone, PDA, modem device or the like.

In another embodiment (not shown) an envelope tracking transmitter (such as that shown inFIG. 1) is used with a power sensor based sensing and feedback mechanism (such as that shown inFIG. 6).

The above descriptions refer to providing a supply voltage to the power amplifier, and it will be appreciated that this is because such is the standard with current technology. However, it will also be understood that this is purely illustrative, and that the invention is applicable also to other power provision schemes known and unknown, including schemes that provide power as current, radio frequency energy, by laser or optical pumping (e.g. optical amplifier).

It should be realized that the foregoing examples should not be construed as limiting. Other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present application. Such variations and modifications extend to features already known in the field, which are suitable for replacing the features described herein, and all functionally equivalent features thereof. Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalisation thereof and during the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/or combination of such features.