Patent ID: 8018276

Claim:
A method for processing signals for transmission, comprising: decomposing an original signal into a plurality of smaller constant-amplitude signals with variable phases, wherein a vector sum of each of the smaller constant-amplitude signals equals the original signal; amplifying the smaller constant-amplitude signals by an amplification factor using a plurality of amplifiers, wherein one or more of the plurality of amplifiers are enabled based on an amplitude of the original signal, wherein a number of the plurality of amplifiers that are enabled for amplification is determined by: setting the maximum number of amplifiers available N, wherein 1/N equals the amplitude T of one smaller constant-amplitude signal being input to one of the amplifiers; determining the amplitude A e of the original signal; determining a number of amplifiers to be enabled M, where M=1+floor(A e /T) where floor(A e /T) is the integer part of (A e /T) and T is an amplitude of one smaller constant-amplitude signal being input to one of the amplifiers; and determining the phase Φ i of each operating branch i=1, . . . , M; and combining the amplified smaller signals into the original signal, the original signal being amplified by the amplification factor, wherein the amplified original signal is transmitted.