US5119040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for optimizing the performance of a power amplifier circuit
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1991-01-04
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Granted: 1992-06-02
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Expires: 2011-01-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for optimizing the performance of a power amplifier circuit. In accordance therewith, one of the intermodulation products generated during a power amplifier's operation is selected. This selection is based upon the intermodulation product's amplitude. Next, the intermodulation product's amplitude is compared to a predetermined threshold. Based upon this comparison, various power amplifier circuit operating parameters are altered in order to improve the circuit's intermodulation performance or to maximize its operating capacity.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Long
- 👤 Mark G. Obermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:13
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03G; H03G3/00; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/32; H03F1/3223; H03F1/3229; H03F1/3241; H03F1/3247; H03F2201/00; H03F2201/32; H03F2201/3212; H03F2201/3233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for optimizing the performance of a power amplifier circuit having a plurality of power amplifier circuit operating parameters, said method comprising the steps of: isolating a single intermodulation product having an amplitude at least equal to that of all other intermodulation products generated during a power amplifier's operation; comparing the isolated intermodulation product's amplitude to a predetermined threshold; and altering at least one of the power amplifier circuit's operating parameters in response to the comparison in order to optimize the power amplifier circuit's performance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for optimizing the performance of a power amplifier circuit having a plurality of power amplifier circuit operating parameters, said method comprising the steps of: isolating a single intermodulation product having an amplitude at least equal to that of all other intermodulation products generated during a power amplifier's operation; comparing the isolated intermodulation product's amplitude to a predetermined threshold; and altering at least one of the power amplifier circuit's operating parameters in response to the comparison in order to optimize the power amplifier circuit's performance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of isolating the single intermodulation product further comprises the steps of: detecting a total intermodulation product signal energy comprising a plurality of intermodulation products by gathering empirical data; and identifying the single intermodulation product having an amplitude at least equal to that of all other intermodulation products within the detected signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of isolating the single intermodulation product further comprises the steps of: scanning a prescribed frequency range to detect individual intermodulation products; and selecting the one intermodulation product having a greatest amplitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of: filtering the detected signal to remove frequencies outside a band width centered about and at least three times greater than the power amplifier's band width.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of identifying one intermodulation product further comprises the steps of: gathering information regarding carriers presented to the power amplifier circuit; calculating an intermodulation product power spectral density gased upon the gathered carrier information; and estimating the one intermodulation product's amplitude based upon the power spectral density calculations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein the step of gathering information regarding the carriers further comprises the steps of: determining a number of carriers presented to the power amplifier circuit; establishing each carrier's location within a passband; and establishing each carrier's amplitude.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of identifying further comprises the step of calculating the one intermodulation product's amplitude by mathematical equation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of altering operating parameters includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: adding additional carriers to the input signal; and increasing the power amplifier's input power.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of initiating an alarm when the identified intermodulation product's amplitude exceeds the predetermined threshold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising at least one of the following steps: blocking the presentation of additional carriers to the power amplifier; varying the power amplifier's supply voltage; adjusting the power amplifier's biasing; and decreasing the amplifier input power, in response to the alarm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A linearity monitor for optimizing the performance of a power amplifier circuit having a plurality of power amplifier circuit operating parameters, comprising: means for isolating a single intermodulation product having an amplitude at least equal to that of all other intermodulation products generated during a power amplifier's operation; means for comparing the isolated intermodulation product to a predetermined threshold; and means for altering at least one of the power amplifier circuit's operating parameters in response to the comparison in order to optimize the power amplifier circuit's performance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A linearity monitor for optimizing the performance of a power amplifier circuit having a plurality of power amplifier circuit operating parameters, comprising: means for isolating a single intermodulation product having an amplitude at least equal to that of all other intermodulation products generated during a power amplifier's operation; means for comparing the isolated intermodulation product to a predetermined threshold; and means for altering at least one of the power amplifier circuit's operating parameters in response to the comparison in order to optimize the power amplifier circuit's performance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The linearity monitor according to claim 11 wherein the means for isolating the single intermodulation product further comprises: means for detecting a total intermodulation product spectral power level comprising a plurality of intermodulation products; and means for identifying the single intermodulation product having the highest amplitude.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The linearity monitor according to claim 11 wherein the means for isolating a single intermodulation product further comprises: means for scanning a prescribed frequency range to detect individual intermodulation products; and means for selecting the one intermodulation product having the highest amplitude.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The linearity monitor according to claim 11 wherein the means for isolating a single intermodulation product further comprises: means for gathering information regarding carriers presented to the power amplifier circuit; means for calculating an intermodulation product power spectral density based upon the gathered carrier information; and means for estimating the intermodulation product's amplitude based upon the power spectral density calculations.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for optimizing the performance of a power amplifier circuit having a plurality of operating parameters, said circuit amplifying an input signal having at least one carrier therein and distorting said amplified signal by a prescribed distortion characteristic, said method comprising the steps of: isolating a single intermodulation product having an amplitude at least equal to that of all other intermodulation products generated during the power amplifier's operation; comparing the isolated intermodulation product to at least one carrier within the input signal; calculating a carrier to distortion ratio based upon the comparison; and adjusting at least one operating parameters in response thereto in order to optimize the power amplifiers circuit's performance.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for optimizing the performance of a power amplifier circuit having a plurality of operating parameters, said circuit amplifying an input signal having at least one carrier therein and distorting said amplified signal by a prescribed distortion characteristic, said method comprising the steps of: isolating a single intermodulation product having an amplitude at least equal to that of all other intermodulation products generated during the power amplifier's operation; comparing the isolated intermodulation product to at least one carrier within the input signal; calculating a carrier to distortion ratio based upon the comparison; and adjusting at least one operating parameters in response thereto in order to optimize the power amplifiers circuit's performance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of isolating the single intermodulation product further comprises the step of: scanning a prescribed frequency range to detect individual intermodulation products; and selecting the intermodulation product having a greatest amplitude.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of isolating the single intermodulation product further comprises the steps of: detecting a total intermodulation product signal energy comprising a plurality of intermodulation products; and identifying the single intermodulation product having an amplitude at least equal to that of all other intermodulation products within the detected signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of isolating the single intermodulation product further comprises the steps of: determining a number of carriers presented to the power amplifier circuit; establishing each carrier's location within a pass band; establishing each carrier's amplitude; calculating an intermodulation product power spectral density as a function of carrier locations and amplitudes; and estimating the single intermodulation product's amplitude as a function of the power spectral density calculations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of comparing further comprises the step of selecting a carrier having an amplitude at least equal to that of all other carriers within the input signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of adjusting at least one operating parameter includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: increasing power amplifier input power; decreasing power amplifier input power; adding carriers to the input signal; deleting carriers from the input signal; varying the power amplifier's supply voltage; and adjusting the power amplifier's biasing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-02 | 1995-12-02 | 1996-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-02 | 1999-12-02 | 2000-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-02 | 2003-12-02 | 2004-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |