Patent ID: 8750421

Claim:
A multi-mode communications transmitter, comprising: a baseband processor configured to generate amplitude, angle, in-phase and quadrature signals A, θ, I and Q; and a combination modulator having a quadrature modulator configured to receive the in-phase and quadrature signals I and Q from said baseband processor, an angle modulator, separate and distinct from said quadrature modulator, configured to receive said angle signal θ from said baseband processor, and an amplifier configured to receive said amplitude signal A from said baseband processor or a power supply signal based on said amplitude signal A, said amplifier having an output stage that is configurable to operate in a linear mode, an envelope-tracking (ET) mode, and a switch mode, wherein said baseband processor and combination modulator are configurable to operate according to first and second modulation schemes, and wherein: when said baseband processor and combination modulator are configured to operate according to said first modulation scheme the output stage of said amplifier is configured to operate between two of said linear, ET and switch modes, depending on the output power level of the transmitter, and when said baseband processor and combination modulator are configured to operate according to said second modulation scheme the output stage of said amplifier is configured to operate between a different two of said linear, ET and switch modes, depending on the output power level of the transmitter.