US5172071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linearized output control of a nonlinear amplifier
Assignee: Harris Stratex Networks Canada ULC
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Filing: 1992-02-05
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Granted: 1992-12-15
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Expires: 2012-02-05
Abstract
Abstract An amplifier circuit for providing precise linear control over the output of a nonlinear amplifier, including a nonlinear gain controllable amplifier and an output control circuit. The output control circuit is connected to sample the signal output by the nonlinear amplifier. The amplifier output signal may be a continuous or a discontinuous signal. The output control circuit also receives a baseband signal. The sampled amplifier output signal and the baseband signal are alternatively transmitted to a detector. The detector produces a signal representative of the power level of either the sampled amplifier output signal or the baseband signal. The signals produced by the detector are stored separately in a pair of sample-and-hold circuits. A difference amplifier determines the difference between the stored signals and transmits this difference signal to the gain control input of the amplifier. The output signal from the amplifier is thereby adjusted to linearly track the baseband signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell E. Braathen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:36
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03G; H03G3/00; H03G3/20; H03G3/30; H03G3/3036; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/34; H04; H04L; H04L27/00; H04L27/32; H04L27/34; H04L27/36; H04L27/366; H04L27/367; H04L27/368
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A control circuit for providing precise linear control over the output of a nonlinear amplifier, the nonlinear amplifier connected to receive a radio frequency carrier signal and a gain control signal, and to generate a radio frequency output signal, the control circuit comprising: signal modulation and selection means, connected to receive the RF output signal and a baseband signal, for alternately transmitting a modulated sampled output signal and a modulated baseband signal; detection means, connected to receive the modulated sampled output signal and the modulated baseband signal, for generating a first power level signal indicative of the power level of the modulated sampled output signal, and for generating a second power level signal indicative of the power level of the modulated baseband signal; a first sample-and-hold circuit connected to said detection means to sample and store the first power level signal; a second sample-and-hold circuit connected to said detection means to sample and store the second power level signal; and means for comparing the first power signal to the second power signal, to generate the gain control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A control circuit for providing precise linear control over the output of a nonlinear amplifier, the nonlinear amplifier connected to receive a radio frequency carrier signal and a gain control signal, and to generate a radio frequency output signal, the control circuit comprising: signal modulation and selection means, connected to receive the RF output signal and a baseband signal, for alternately transmitting a modulated sampled output signal and a modulated baseband signal; detection means, connected to receive the modulated sampled output signal and the modulated baseband signal, for generating a first power level signal indicative of the power level of the modulated sampled output signal, and for generating a second power level signal indicative of the power level of the modulated baseband signal; a first sample-and-hold circuit connected to said detection means to sample and store the first power level signal; a second sample-and-hold circuit connected to said detection means to sample and store the second power level signal; and means for comparing the first power signal to the second power signal, to generate the gain control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A control circuit as in claim 1 wherein the signal modulation and selection means further comprises: means for sampling the output signal, and for generating a sampled output signal; means for modulating the sampled output signal and for generating a modulated-sampled-output signal; first enabling means, for selectively enabling the transmission of the modulated-sampled-output signal; means for modulating the baseband signal, and for generating a modulated-baseband signal; and second enabling means, for selectively enabling transmission of the modulated-baseband signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A control circuit as in claim 2 wherein said means for sampling the continuous output signal is a directional coupler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A control circuit as in claim 2 wherein said means for modulating the sampled output signal is connected to receive, at an input, the sampled output signal and a modulation signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A control circuit as in claim 2 wherein said first enabling means is connected to receive the modulated sampled output signal and a first enabling signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A control circuit as in claim 2 wherein said means for modulating the baseband signal is connected to receive the baseband signal and a modulation signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control circuit as in claim 6 wherein said means for modulating the baseband signal is additionally connected to receive a radio frequency signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control circuit as in claim 2 wherein said second enabling means is connected to receive the modulated baseband signal and a second enabling signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A control circuit as in claim 1 wherein said detection means further comprises: a half wave rectifier, connected to alternately receive the modulated sampled output signal and the modulated baseband signal, and to generate a rectified-modulated-sampled signal and a rectified-modulated-baseband signal; envelope detection means, connected to receive the modulated sampled output signal and the modulated baseband signal, and to generate the first power level signal and the second power level signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A control circuit as in claim 1 wherein said means for comparing is a difference amplifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
A circuit for linearly controlling the output of a non-linear amplifier, comprising: signal selection means, connected to receive an amplifier output signal from the non-linear amplifier and a modulated baseband signal, and to selectively transmit one of the amplifier output signal or the modulated baseband signal; detection means, connected to receive the amplifier output signal and the modulated baseband signal, and to generate a first power level signal indicative of the power level of the amplifier output signal, and to generate a second power level signal indicative of the power level of the modulated baseband signal; first sample-and-hold circuit, connected to the detection means, to sample and store the first power level signal; a second sample-and-hold circuit, connected to the detection means, to sample and store the second power level signal; and means for comparing the first power signal to the second power signal to generate a difference signal which controls the gain of the amplifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
A circuit for linearly controlling the output of a non-linear amplifier, comprising: signal selection means, connected to receive an amplifier output signal from the non-linear amplifier and a modulated baseband signal, and to selectively transmit one of the amplifier output signal or the modulated baseband signal; detection means, connected to receive the amplifier output signal and the modulated baseband signal, and to generate a first power level signal indicative of the power level of the amplifier output signal, and to generate a second power level signal indicative of the power level of the modulated baseband signal; first sample-and-hold circuit, connected to the detection means, to sample and store the first power level signal; a second sample-and-hold circuit, connected to the detection means, to sample and store the second power level signal; and means for comparing the first power signal to the second power signal to generate a difference signal which controls the gain of the amplifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit as in claim 11 wherein the signal selection means further comprises: means for sampling the amplifier output signal and for generating a sampled output signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit as in claim 12 wherein said means for sampling is a directional coupler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A circuit as in claim 12 wherein said selection means is connected to receive the modulated baseband signal and a zero power level signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A circuit as in claim 11 wherein said detection means comprises a half wave rectifier connected to alternately receive the sampled output signal and the modulated baseband signal, and to generate the first power level signal and the second power level signal;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit as in claim 11 wherein said means for comparing is a difference amplifier.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-15 | 1996-06-15 | 1996-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-15 | 2000-06-15 | 2000-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-15 | 2004-06-15 | 2004-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |