Patent attributes
A mirror translation loop upconverter that is capable of upconverting both constant envelope and non-constant envelope modulation formats is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide the ability to upconvert a transmit signal that includes only a phase-modulated component, only an amplitude-modulated component, or both a phase-modulated component and an amplitude-modulated component. If the transmit signal includes both a phase-modulated signal component and an amplitude-modulated signal component, the phase-modulated signal component and the amplitude-modulated signal component are supplied to a pair of phase shifters. The phase shifters alter the phase of the phase-modulated signal by an amount related to the amplitude of the amplitude-modulated signal. The phase shifters oppositely alter the phase of the phase-modulated signal, and therefore supply complementary phase versions of the phase-modulated signal. The phase-altered phase-modulated signals from the phase shifters are then supplied to a pair of translation loops. The translation loops are arranged in mirror architecture so that each translation loop receives the phase-altered phase-modulated signals. Each translation loop upconverts the signals and supplies a vector. The vectors supplied by the two translation loops are constant in magnitude, and have complementary phase. The two vectors are added together to provide a signal to a power amplifier. The signal represents both the phase and amplitude information to be transmitted.
