CN103888155A

CN103888155A - Rf Transmitter, Integrated Circuit Device, Wireless Communication Unit And Method Therefor

Info

Publication number: CN103888155A
Application number: CN201310687199.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 路超; 王�华; 梁正柏; 商升望
Original assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte Ltd
Current assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2012-12-21
Filing date: 2013-12-16
Publication date: 2014-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-16
Also published as: CN103888155B

Abstract

The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, integrated circuit device, wireless communication unit and method therefor. The RF transmitter includes a power amplifier comprising a plurality of power amplifier cells. At least one digital signal processing module of the RF transmitter is operably coupled to the power amplifier and comprises at least one digital pre-distortion component arranged to apply at least one digital pre-distortion codeword to the plurality of power amplifier cells, wherein the at least one digital pre-distortion codeword is applied to at least one of the plurality of power amplifier cells via a digital filter. A combiner is arranged to combine outputs of the plurality of power amplifier cells thereby generating an analogue RF signal for transmission over an RF interface based at least partly on the digitally filtered at least one digital pre-distortion codeword. The present invention can slow down the influence of the digital RF transmitter DAC images, and can also apply to narrowband and wideband modulation of the input signal, compared to conventional RF transmitter structure, embodiments of the present invention can better benefit from the digital domain has the advantage of scalability and high efficiency.

Description

Radio frequency sending set, integrated circuit (IC)-components, wireless communication unit and correlation technique

[technical field]

The invention relates to a kind of radio frequency (RF) transmitter, integrated circuit (IC)-components, wireless communication unit and correlation technique, the present invention is applied to but does not limit the method for a kind of generation for the radiofrequency signal in the transmission of radio frequency interface place that be applied to.

[background technology]

Deep-submicron complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS) (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Transistor, COMS) development of process makes the size of digital circuit become more and more less and has more and more higher power-efficient, but can not have influence on especially the variation of the size of analog circuit.Therefore for some device, for example RF transmitter, need to be under the help of for example digital signal processing algorithm, reduces as much as possible analog element or circuit in device, so that deep-submicron CMOS process can better be carried out, and then therefrom benefits.

In addition, the RF transmitter traditional due to major part all can use linear power amplifier (PA), and based on the inefficient characteristic of this linear PA, the power efficiency of traditional RF transmitter of the type also conventionally can be very low.By contrast, the PA of switching mode has higher power efficiency, thereby also makes RF transmitter be more prone to use this kind of PA to substitute traditional linear PA.Therefore, need a kind of switching mode PA that can use badly to reduce the size of PA and to improve the RF transmitter of the power efficiency of PA under the help of digital processing algorithm.But the PA of switching mode has nonlinear Input output Relationship conventionally, in addition, the active demand coexisting in order to meet current each wireless standard, also needs to be applied to noise shaping technology conventionally.

Digital Polarity transmitter is a kind of known transmitter design that uses switching mode PA, utilizes CMOS technology simultaneously.Therefore, this kind of Digital Polarity transmitter can be realized high power efficiency, only needs very little silicon area simultaneously.But the defect of this Digital Polarity transmitter is: because Modulation and Amplitude Modulation (AM) signal in a polar structure and phase-modulation (PM) signal have intrinsic bandwidth extended attribute, therefore this Digital Polarity transmitter is only applicable to narrow bandwidth modulation signal.

Mixing polar transmitter utilizes two-dimensional modulation (inphase/orthogonal phase) technology to realize broadband phase-modulation.But the defect of this mixing polar transmitter is, it need to bear amplitude quantization noise and two kinds of noises of phase quantization noise simultaneously, therefore mixes polar transmitter and more needs using noise shaping technique.

Transmitter based on inphase/orthogonal phase (I/Q) RF digital to analog converter (DAC) is similarly a kind of known transmitter design.I/Q RF DAC combines the function of DAC and frequency mixer, and the output of this I/Q RF DAC is simultaneously merged in simulation (RF) territory.But this transmitter design needs the PA of a linearity, and the power efficiency of direct I/Q RF analog conversion function is lower than the power efficiency of Digital Polarity transmitter.

Another kind of known (being mainly arrowband) RF transmitter design is used suitable pre-distortion technology, and this pre-distortion technology utilizes non-linear with auto-reverse power amplifier of delta sigma modulator.This transmitter design is relatively simple and allow the use of low accuracy DAC, but this transmitter design still comprises traditional framework, and therefore the power efficiency of PA is still very low.

The intensive RF transmitter of the digital auxiliary type of pre-interim another kind/numeral will fast development become demand, but, because digital algorithm is limited to the feasibility of circuit speed, therefore, from implementing angle, seeking a kind of simple and effective digital algorithm is the key that realizes this kind of transmitter.

First refer to Fig. 1, Figure 1 shows that a kind of simple structure schematic diagram of digital to RF converter 100, this digital to RF converter 100 is for carrying out modulation operations to RF signal.This digital to RF converter 100 is for receiving a RF signal, the RF signal receiving according to 120 pairs of digital word signals (digital control word) that receive in digital-to-RF transmitter 140 is modulated, and export accordingly RF signal 130 after a modulation, the wherein for example RF signal 110 for comprising constant envelope of the RF signal of this reception.In this digital-to-RF transmitter 140, do not comprise the analog baseband signal conventionally there will be in traditional transmitter.And, digital word signal 120 and RF signal direct conversion.This output waveform is RF signal 130 after a modulation.

Figure 2 shows that existing a kind of use is applied to the simple structure schematic diagram of the RF transmitter of the digital pre-distortion code word of digital power amplifier.Module 205 produces digital pre-distortion (DPD) code word and is inputed to the first digital power amplifier circuit (DPA1) 210.This DPD code word is also input to the second digital power amplifier circuit (DPA2) 220 by Postponement module 215 simultaneously, to produce the orthogonal signalling of this DPD code word 205.The output of the output of the first digital power amplifier circuit (DPA1) 210 and the second digital power amplifier circuit (DPA2) 220 provides to an addition module 230, to produce the RF power amplification signal that adds the General Logistics Department as output 235.

For each RF transmitter, it all relates to the problem that only can change with a certain characteristic frequency for the digital word of the analog module in control figure RF transmitter.Therefore, based on digital sample operation, the RF output spectrum of every kind of RF transmitter is all rendered as the repetition of cycle frequency spectrum, they can be referred to as to digital-to-analogue conversion (DAC) image, and example is signal waveform 300,305,310,315 as shown in Figure 3.Figure 3 shows that the schematic diagram of the DAC image in digital RF transmitter.This will cause so-called DAC image 320 to be sampled frequency in RF output spectrum separating.This DAC image cannot meet the demand coexisting in power spectral density demand or equipment.In traditional RF transmitter, after simulation low-pass filter is conventionally arranged on and follows DAC closely, for slowing down the generation of this DAC image.But, in digital RF transmitter, it does not possess this Analog Baseband filter capacity, and the impact (for example, by the effect that slows down of RF filter) that therefore how to slow down this DAC image in digital RF transmitter becomes with the violation of eliminating or minimize any PSD under a rational cost price an important problem that needs solution.

Therefore the RF transmitter of, needing a kind of improvement badly with and related methods to address the above problem.

[summary of the invention]

In view of this, the embodiment of the present invention is intended to provide a kind of radio frequency sending set, integrated circuit (IC)-components, wireless communication unit and correlation technique, to produce the RF signal for transmitting by RF interface, to slow down, to eliminate above-mentioned one or more problem.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, a kind of radio frequency transmitter is provided, comprise: the power amplifier that comprises multiple Power Amplifier Unit; At least one signal processing module, be coupled to this power amplifier, this at least one signal processing module comprises at least one digital pre-distortion assembly, be used for applying at least one digital pre-distortion code word to multiple Power Amplifier Unit, wherein this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied at least one of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit via a digital filter; And combiner, at least part of at least one digital pre-distortion code word based on after digital filtering, multiple outputs of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit being combined to produce an analog rf signal, this analog rf signal is for transmitting by a RF interface.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a kind of integrated circuit (IC)-components is provided, comprise: at least one digital signal processing module, be coupled to a power amplifier, this power amplifier comprises multiple Power Amplifier Unit, wherein this at least one digital signal processing module comprises: at least one digital pre-distortion assembly, be used for applying at least one digital pre-distortion code word to the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit, wherein this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied at least one of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit via a digital filter; And combiner, at least part of at least one digital pre-distortion code word based on after digital filtering, multiple outputs of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit being combined to produce an analog rf signal, this analog rf signal is for transmitting by a RF interface.

A third embodiment in accordance with the invention, provides a kind of method of the RF signal for generation of transmitting by RF interface, and the method comprises: produce at least one digital pre-distortion code word; Apply in multiple Power Amplifier Unit of this at least one digital pre-distortion code word to power amplifier, wherein this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied at least one of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit via a digital filter; And at least part of at least one digital pre-distortion code word based on after digital filtering, multiple outputs of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit are combined to produce this RF signal.

A fourth embodiment in accordance with the invention, provides a kind of RF transmitter, comprises: the power amplifier that comprises multiple Power Amplifier Unit; At least one signal processing module, is coupled to this power amplifier, and this at least one signal processing module comprises at least one digital pre-distortion assembly, and this at least one digital pre-distortion assembly is used for: this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is implemented to interpolation operation; And the interpolation part of exporting this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is to a part at least one this Power Amplifier Unit of this power amplifier, and this interpolation part based on this at least one digital pre-distortion code word produces an analog rf signal at least partly, this analog rf signal is for transmitting by a RF interface.

According to a fifth embodiment of the invention, a kind of integrated circuit (IC)-components is provided, comprise: at least one signal processing module, be coupled to a power amplifier, this power amplifier comprises multiple Power Amplifier Unit, wherein this at least one signal processing module comprises: at least one digital pre-distortion assembly, for this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is implemented to interpolation operation; And the interpolation part of exporting this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is to a part at least one this Power Amplifier Unit of this power amplifier, and this interpolation part based on this at least one digital pre-distortion code word produces an analog rf signal at least partly, this analog rf signal is for transmitting by a RF interface.

According to a sixth embodiment of the invention, provide a kind of method of the RF signal for generation of transmitting by RF interface, the method comprises: produce at least one digital pre-distortion code word; Apply in multiple Power Amplifier Unit of this at least one digital pre-distortion code word to power amplifier, this step further comprises: this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is implemented to interpolation operation; And the interpolation part of exporting this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is to a part at least one this Power Amplifier Unit of this power amplifier, and this interpolation part based on this at least one digital pre-distortion code word produces an analog rf signal at least partly, this analog rf signal is for transmitting by a RF interface.

Radio frequency sending set, integrated circuit (IC)-components, wireless communication unit and the correlation technique of the embodiment of the present invention, can in digital RF transmitter, slow down the impact of DAC image, and can be applicable to arrowband and wide-band modulation input signal simultaneously, than traditional RF transmitter architecture, the embodiment of the present invention more can benefit from measurability and the high efficiency advantage that numeric field has.

[brief description of the drawings]

Figure 1 shows that a kind of simple structure schematic diagram of digital to RF converter;

Figure 2 shows that existing a kind of use is applied to the simple structure schematic diagram of the RF transmitter of the digital pre-distortion code word of digital power amplifier;

Figure 3 shows that the schematic diagram of the DAC image in digital RF transmitter;

Figure 4 shows that the part simple structure schematic diagram according to the wireless communication unit of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter of another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter of further embodiment of this invention;

Figure 8 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram of an embodiment of the power amplifier module of Fig. 5;

Figure 9 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter of yet another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 shows that, according to the embodiment of the present invention, DPD code word is implemented to full interpolation or part interpolation to be applied to the comparison schematic diagram of two kinds of execution modes of DPA;

Figure 11 shows that the also simple structure schematic diagram of the RF transmitter of an embodiment according to the present invention;

Figure 12 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter of further embodiment of this invention;

Figure 13 shows that according to the use mixing multiphase filtering method of the embodiment of the present invention to reduce the simplified flow chart of DAC image;

Figure 14 shows that according to the use part interpolation method of the embodiment of the present invention to reduce the simplified flow chart of DAC image;

When Figure 15 shows that according to the embodiment of the present invention, use mixing multiphase filtering method and part interpolation method to reduce the simplified flow chart of DAC image;

Figure 16 to 19 is depicted as the simple structure schematic diagram of the various digital-to-RF transmitters that can benefit from the embodiment of the present invention.

[embodiment]

In the middle of specification and follow-up claim, use some vocabulary to censure specific element.Those skilled in the art should understand, and same element may be called with different nouns by manufacturer.This specification and follow-up claim are not used as distinguishing the mode of element with the difference of title, but the difference in function is used as the criterion of distinguishing with element.In the whole text, in the middle of specification and follow-up claim, be an open term mentioned " comprising ", therefore should be construed to " comprise but be not limited to ".In addition, " coupling " word should be interpreted as in this article comprising directly any and indirectly be electrically connected means.Therefore, be coupled to the second device if describe first device in literary composition, represent that this first device can directly be electrically connected in this second device, or be indirectly electrically connected to this second device by other devices or connection means.

The embodiment of the present invention is described as example to be used in RF transmitter in an aerogram mobile phone.But, those skilled in the art need to be appreciated that, inventive concept described herein is not limited in the particular characteristics of cited embodiment, and it can also be applied and be implemented in other alternative communication units, transmitter, integrated circuit and application, and produces same effect.

First refer to Fig. 4, Figure 4 shows that the part simple structure schematic diagram according to the wireless communication unit 400 of one embodiment of the invention.In embodiments of the present invention, this wireless communication unit 400 can be an aerogram mobile phone.As shown in the figure, this wireless communication unit 400 comprises antenna 402 and is coupled to the multiple known radio frequency transceiver element/circuit of this antenna 402.In the present embodiment, this antenna 402 is coupled to one combining filter/duplexer 404, and this combining filter/duplexer 404 is in order to provide the isolation between receive chain 406 and transmitting chain 407.As understood by those skilled in the art, this receive chain 406 comprises radio-frequency transmitter circuit conventionally, so that reception, filtering and intermediate frequency or fundamental frequency frequency down-conversion function to be provided.On the contrary, this transmitting chain 407 comprises radio frequency sending set circuit conventionally, so that up-conversion modulation, amplification and filter function to be provided.Up-converter circuit and lower frequency changer circuit receive the RF local oscillated signal from frequency generating circuit 430.

Further, this wireless communication unit 400 also comprises signal processing logic 408.One output of this signal processing logic 408 provides the user interface (UI) 410 suitable to, and this user interface 230 comprises for example a screen, keyboard, microphone or loud speaker etc.This signal processing logic 408 is also coupled to memory component 416, memory component 416 is for storing various operating mechanisms, for example coding/decoding function and similar functions, and this memory component 416 can be realized by various technology, for example random-access memory (ram), read-only memory (ROM), the combination in any of flash memory or these memory technologies and other memory technologies.In addition, a timer 418 can be coupled to this signal processing logic 408 conventionally, in order to control the sequential of wireless communication unit 400 interior various operations.

As understood by those skilled in the art, transmitting chain 407 in aerogram mobile phone comprises the transmitter circuitry for receiving input signal, in the present embodiment, this input signal can be for example the signal from signal processing logic 408, and this input signal comprises the information being about to by a RF interface transmission.This transmitting chain 407, also for exporting a RF signal, for example comprises the information that is about to be sent to by duplexer 404 antenna 402 in this RF signal.For instance, this transmitting chain 407 needs to carry out to input signal digital-to-analogue conversion, mixing, noise shaping and amplifieroperation are exported to produce RF signal.In certain embodiments, the digital signal processor of this transmitting chain 407 uses a digital pre-distortion code word to be applied in a digital power amplifier, is described in more detail with reference to subsequent drawings about this part content.

Refer to now Fig. 5, Figure 5 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter 500 of one embodiment of the invention, this RF transmitter 500 for example can be implemented in the transmitting chain 407 shown in Fig. 4 and signal processing logic 408.As shown in Figure 5, this RF transmitter 500 comprises a digital signal processing module 510, for receiving one or more input complex signals by example antenna 402 as shown in Figure 4, comprises by the information transmitting by RF interface in this input complex signal.In the present embodiment, this digital signal processing module 510 is for from digital baseband (DBB) element 521(example signal processing logic 408 as shown in Figure 4) receive IQ(inphase/orthogonal phase) input signal, this IQ input signal comprises first signal (homophase) composition 522 and secondary signal (orthogonal phase) composition 524.This digital signal processing module 510 is also for by the IQ input signal 522 receiving, 524 are converted to (for example carrying out map operation) first in-phase digital code word 512 and the second orthogonal phase digital word 514, and exporting this first in-phase digital code word 512 and the second orthogonal phase digital word 514 to power amplifier module (2D-DPA) 530 by IQ-PDAC module 540, it is a power DAC (PDAC) that this power amplifier module 530 can operate.

This power amplifier module 530 can comprise the first (homophase) array and second (orthogonal phase) array with multiple switching mode power cells.This power amplifier module 530 is for receiving digital word output, and at least partly the homophase based on receiving and orthogonal phase digital word to produce an analog rf signal 532 for by the transmission of RF interface, for example, transmit by band pass filter 534 and antenna 402.

Therefore, this digital signal processing module 510 for example, is digital word 512,514 for conversion (carrying out mapping function) this input signal 522,524.This digital word 512,514 comprises the high power analog conversion function to RF signal in PA module 530() with RF signal direct conversion to produce an output waveform, i.e. RF modulation signal.

Under this mode, RF transmitter 500 comprises a structure based on complex signal, for example structure based on IQ signal, thereby to be applicable to arrowband and wide-band modulation input signal simultaneously.In contrast to for example Digital Polarity structure, this Digital Polarity structure is because the intrinsic bandwidth extended attribute of AM input signal and PM input signal only can be applicable to narrow-band modulated.In addition, the above-mentioned structure based on IQ has also been avoided the demand to complicated algorithm, for example, in Digital Polarity structure, just conventionally need to carry out cordic algorithm.In addition, this RF transmitter 500 can also extend to its numeric field power amplifier module 530, thereby than traditional RF structure, this RF transmitter 500 more can benefit from measurability and the high efficiency advantage that numeric field has.

Although described a kind of integrated circuit of discrete type in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, this circuit at least comprises the above-mentioned signal processing module 510 that is coupled to power amplifier module 530, but those skilled in the art can predict other integrated circuit form on this basis, wherein at least can comprise the function of signal processing module 510 and power amplifier module 530 simultaneously.

Refer to now Fig. 6, Figure 6 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter 600 of another embodiment of the present invention, this RF transmitter 600 can use digital pre-distortion code word 605 to be applied in mixing multiphase filter 625 and digital power amplifier, and this RF transmitter for example can operate in the digital signal processing module 408 shown in Fig. 4.In another embodiment, this mixing multiphase filter (h (n)) 625 can also be used another filter of the simple scalar gain factor or multiple filter factor to replace.In embodiments of the present invention, this digital pre-distortion code word 605 can be used multiple (IQ) signal of the input receiving from digital baseband element (not shown) by a signal processor, and multiple (IQ) signal of this input receiving is carried out conversion operations (for example carrying out map operation) and produced.This digital pre-distortion code word 605 can directly be applied (610) to the first digital power amplifier (DPA1) 615, this first digital power amplifier 615 can be for example a part for the PA module 530 shown in Fig. 5, comprises the high power analog conversion function to RF signal.This digital pre-distortion code word 605 can also be applied in the second digital power amplifier (DPA2) 635 with delay element 630 via mixing multiphase filter 625, to produce phase deviation in this signal path.In certain embodiments, this phase deviation equals T/2, wherein T=1/fs, and fs is the sample frequency of codeword sequence x (n).In some embodiments of the invention, this mixing multiphase filter 625 can also be arranged in the path that does not comprise delay element 630; Or, in other embodiments, can delay element be all set at two paths, for example all produce the delay skew of T/2.In embodiments of the present invention, this mixing multiphase filter 625 combine digital filtering operation under sample frequency fs.And in other embodiments of the invention, can also produce the phase deviation of being introduced by delay element 630 by other applicable modes, for example, by an interchangeable hardware element, or by the mode of software or firmware.Thereby under this mode, the digital dock frequency of digital word will can not be increased.

An output 640 is combined and produced to being output in combiner 620 of the first digital power amplifier 615 and the second digital power amplifier 635 to antenna (not shown).It should be noted that because this RF transmitter 600 is a digital RF transmitter, therefore wherein do not comprise Analog Baseband filtering.

Under aforesaid way, based on the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, this RF transmitter can provide the linear interpolation DPA of one 2 times, and wherein before digital signal enters to analog domain, a digital filter is applied in the out of phase that is different from (directly) DPA, thereby.Under this mode, by careful control/select this mixing multiphase filter 625 and delay element 630, the power DAC image of all fs of being present in odd-multiple can further be weakened.Therefore,, in the time that the mixing multiphase filter 625 based on following equation [1] is applied to the second phase place (the above-mentioned phase place that is different from direct DPA), this DAC image that is present in fs odd-multiple can obtain weakening even in some cases of essence and can ignore.

[1] therefore, in certain embodiments, each delay path (that is h (n)) can play the effect of multiphase filter together with delay element 630.Therefore, its transfer function producing (from input x (n) to exporting y (n)) also comprises multiphase filter function.In the embodiment of the present invention, the benefit that such structure is brought is that the effect of this multiphase filtering can not be achieved on the basis of corresponding increase in operation clock frequency.In addition,, in the time providing a specific clock frequency to be subject to the restriction of technical matters and/or power consumption is too high during in high frequency of operation, such structure can be brought significant advantage.In certain embodiments, in the time that delay element 630 is applied to different paths, these delay elements 630 are equidistantly isolated, but at other embodiment, such setting must be not essential.As a rule, multiphase filter operates on numeric field completely, but it should be noted that, in some embodiments of the invention, this multiphase filter can be achieved by the mode of mixing, for example digit data stream is divided into different paths, then in RF/ analog domain, combines again, thereby to realize the function of multiphase filtering.

Although described filter is described to mix multiphase filter conventionally in embodiments of the present invention, but what those skilled in the art will envision that is, in other embodiment, can apply equally other wave filter technology, roughly suppress DAC image with the odd-multiple in fs.

Above-mentioned mixing multiphase filter can roughly act as a multiphase filter with the pure digi-tal of the input sample frequency of fs and the output sampling frequency rate of 2fs.By the h (n) in the above-mentioned formula of careful design [1], x (n) can make in the DAC image at all odd-multiple place of fs retarded to the transfer function of y (t).In this, mixing multiphase filter is the same with the performance of the multiphase filter of the pure digi-tal of the above-mentioned output sampling frequency rate with 2fs of mentioning, its reason is, due in the multiphase filter of pure digi-tal, only have a DPA used with and enter code word operate on the sample frequency of 2fs, thereby the multiphase filter of this pure digi-tal only can be observed under the multiple of 2fs, that is will not there is not DAC image at the odd-multiple place of fs.In embodiments of the present invention, use an advantage of this mixing multiphase filter to be, the sample frequency of the enter code word of each DPA in two DPA is fs, instead of the sample frequency of the enter code word of an independent DPA is 2fs.

Refer to now Fig. 7, Figure 7 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter 700 of further embodiment of this invention, this RF transmitter 700 is applied a digital pre-distortion code word 705 to the multiple phase places that use polyhybird multiphase filter to arrange, for instance, this RF transmitter can be implemented in the digital signal processing module 408 shown in Fig. 4.In the embodiment of the present invention, this digital pre-distortion code word 705 can be answered (IQ) input signal by reception by a digital baseband element (not shown), and multiple (IQ) input signal that this receives is carried out conversion operations (for example carrying out map operation) and produced.This digital pre-distortion code word 705 can directly provide to (710) first digital power amplifiers (DPA1) 715, this first digital power amplifier 715 can be for example a part for the PA module 530 shown in Fig. 5, comprises the high power analog conversion function to RF signal.

As shown in Figure 7, this digital pre-distortion code word 705 can also be via mixing multiphase filter 725,745 and the delay element 730 corresponding with it respectively, 750 provide respectively a digital power amplifier (DPA2 at the most, DPAL) 735, in 755, to introduce each phase deviation in each signal path independent of each other.Therefore, in the present embodiment, 2 phase place implementations shown in Fig. 6 are replaced by leggy (L phase place) implementation.Under this mode, this mixing multiphase filter provides and is similar to a function with the multiphase filter of the pure digi-tal of the input sample frequency of fs and the output sampling frequency rate of Lfs.By careful design h2 (n) ..., hL (n), x (n) to the transfer function of y (t) can make except the multiple of Lfs, almost the DAC image at all multiples place of fs all can be retarded.The performance of this performance and the above-mentioned pure digi-tal multiphase filter with output sampling frequency rate Lfs of mentioning is very similar, its reason is, due in the multiphase filter of pure digi-tal, only have a DPA used taking and the enter code word sample frequency that operates on Lfs also will be as, therefore it only can be observed under the multiple of Lfs, that is at fs, 2fs, ... (L-1) fs, (L+1) fs, (L+2) fs, ..., (L+L-1) fs etc. locates all will not exist DAC image.

In the embodiment of the present invention, above-mentioned phase deviation equals T/L, wherein T=1/fs, and fs is the sample frequency of code word row x (n), L is the number of the signal path (or filtered phase signal) of application mix multiphase filter.

From the first digital power amplifier 715, the second digital power amplifiers 735 ..., combiner 720 places that are output in of L digital power amplifier 755 are combined, and produce an output 740 to antenna (for illustrating).

The application of above-mentioned multiple mixing multiphase filters is similar with the application that acts on the multiple digital multiphase filters in pure digi-tal territory.But the clock frequency that this pure digi-tal multiphase filter with L phase place need to arrange its final digit code word is Lfs.On the contrary, in the application of multiple mixing multiphase filters of the present embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the clock frequency of each digital word all can maintain fs.However, still there is L bar digit data stream to input in each DPA.The combination operation of this L bar digit data stream is executed in each DPA715,735,755 and combinational network 720 in and be not executed in numeric field.

By this mode, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 of the present invention and Fig. 7, this RF transmitter is by multiple digital filters being applied in multiple outs of phase of DPA before digital signal enters to analog domain, thereby a kind of L times of linear interpolation DPA is provided.Under this mode, by this mixing multiphase filter 725 of careful control/select ..., 745 and delay element 730 ..., 750, the power DAC image of all fs of being present in odd-multiple can further be weakened.

Refer to now Fig. 8, Figure 8 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram 800 of an embodiment of the power amplifier module 530 of Fig. 5.This power amplifier module 530 is for the orthogonal digital code word of receiving digital signals processing module output, and at least partly the orthogonal digital code word based on receiving (I-BB[12:0], Q-BB[12:0]) 512,514, export an analog rf signal 830 for by RF interface, for example, transmitted by the antenna 403 shown in Fig. 4.This power amplifier module 530 comprise have multiple ' first array (I-PA) 810 of I ' switching mode power cell 870, and there is second array (Q-PA) 820 of multiple ' Q ' switching mode power cell 870.This first array 810 is for receiving at least part of first (homophase) digital word 512, and the digital word 512 based on receiving produces first (homophase) composition 832 of analog rf signal 830 at least partly.The second array 820 is for receiving at least part of second (orthogonal phase) digital word 514, and at least part of second (orthogonal phase) composition 834 that produces analog rf signal 830 based on this digital word 514 receiving.First (homophase) composition 832 is then combined to produce analog rf signal 830 with second (orthogonal phase) composition 834.

Thus, by the array 810 with multiple switching mode power cells is provided, 820 for example, for receiving respectively the digital word 512 of each composition that is respectively used to multidimensional signal (multiple (IQ) signal), 514, and difference produces the composition 832 after amplifying accordingly, after this amplification of 834(, composition 832,834 is combined subsequently), one can for example, be achieved with the power amplifier module 530 that produces multidimensional (IQ) amplifying signal by digital control.

In certain embodiments of the invention, each of the switch module power cell 870 of above-mentioned array 810,820 can be used for receiving respectively at least part of digital word 512,514, and this digital word 512,514 comprises N control bit.In addition, each comprised N of array 810,820 switching mode power cell, each switching mode power cell 870 is optionally exported a current signal (Iout) 874 for the value of the control bit based on receiving.Every an array 810, the output of the switching mode power cell 870 in 820 is all coupled in together, thereby the multiple power cell output current signals (Iout) 874 in every an array 810,820 can be combined to provide respectively the constituent 832,834 of analog rf signal 830.In certain embodiments, the output current signal of each switching mode power cell 870 (Iout) 874 can be according to its each self-corresponding control bit by additional weight value.Thus, the array output current signal of every an array 810,820 will represent the numerical value of its digital word receiving.

Power amplifier module 530 shown in Fig. 8 can carry out good combination by analog conversion function and power amplification function, thereby has simplified the design of RF transmitter.In addition, the array 810,820 of the switch module power cell of separation can be supported respectively I composition and the Q composition of multiple IQ input signal, makes power amplifier module 530 more can be suitable for arrowband and wide-band modulation input signal simultaneously.

This in power amplifier module 530 shown in Fig. 8 has the array 810 of switching mode power cell, 820 are also respectively used to reception carrier frequency signal 840,845, and at least partly based on receiving this carrier frequency signaling 840,845 to produce respectively each composition 832,834 of analog rf signal 830.For instance, this carrier frequency signaling 840,845 can be provided to respectively in each switching mode power cell 870, for example 840 places in illustrated power cell 870.Therefore, a kind of 2 Selecting phasings are able to realize at analog domain, wherein can be based on sign bit I-BB[12] (or sign bit Q-BB[12]) produce two groups of LO.By the amplitude position I-BB[11:0 together with all] (or Q-BB[11:0]) to open or close array 810(or array 820) in each switching mode power cell, this power amplifier module 530 shown in Fig. 8 can be realized arbitrary in mixing function and power amplification function and analog conversion function or both combinations.Wiring (routing) to two groups of LO can consume larger power and increase occupied silicon area.Thus, the power amplifier module 530 shown in Fig. 8 also can be realized the combination of mixing function and power amplification function and analog conversion function.

With above-mentioned 2 Selecting phasings of realizing in analog domain, and value based on sign bit produces two groups of LO differences, in other embodiment of the present invention, can also realize a kind of leggy and select, and wherein can produce many group LO based on one or more Selecting phasings position.

Optimally, owing to numeric field being extended to power amplifier module 530, therefore without linear front wheel driving amplifier or baseband filter are set in circuit.In addition, the use of numerical control power cell also makes the power consumption of power amplifier module 530 can be roughly consistent with transient state RF power output.

Figure 9 shows that the simple structure schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter 900 of yet another embodiment of the invention, the digital pre-distortion code word 905 that wherein this RF transmitter 900 uses is applied in digital power amplifier by part interpolation (partial interpolation), and this RF transmitter 900 for example can be implemented in the digital signal processing module 408 shown in Fig. 4.

In embodiments of the present invention, this digital pre-distortion code word 905 can receive multiple (IQ) signal of input by a digital baseband element (not shown), and multiple (IQ) signal of the input receiving is changed (for example carrying out map operation) and produced.

In one embodiment of the invention, only there is the PA power cell of part to be implemented interpolation (interpolate) operation, first bit data flow is divided into the mulitpaths with different delays, then merged again.Therefore, in the part interpolation embodiment shown in Fig. 9, first DPA is divided into two parts: ' DPA a ' 915 is with ' DPA b1 ' 935 adds the ' combination (various piece of example PA module 530 as shown in Figure 5, wherein this PA module 530 comprises the high power analog conversion function to RF signal) of DPA b2 ' 955.In the embodiment of the present invention, for ' the digital pre-distortion code word 905 that DPA a ' 915 uses, do not implement interpolation operation, for example ' DPA a ' receives control bit X[M:0], and meanwhile, for ' DPA b1 ' 935 for example, with ' DPA b2 ' 955, implements the interpolation operation to used digital pre-distortion code word and receive two groups of control words, and it can be set to apply any one in all-key word interpolation or part code word interpolation.

But, be not that all bits are all implemented interpolation operation, only to control bit X[M:0] part carry out interpolation.In part code word interpolation application, only the part to base band control bit (for example X[M:0] in X[I-1:0]) carry out interpolation.Therefore, the each several part interpolation 910 of digital pre-distortion code word 905 is applied to respectively multiple (being in the present embodiment two) digital power amplifier 935, in 955, and this lead to ' the second path of DPA b2 ' 955 also by a delay element 930 to introduce respectively multiple phase deviation at the most in signal path.In embodiments of the present invention, this phase deviation can equal T/2, T=1/fs, and wherein fs is the sample frequency of codeword sequence x (n).

In all-key word interpolation application, input to ' DPA a ' 915 with ' DPA b1 ' 935, ' the base band control word of DPA b2 ' 955 is respectively X1[M:0] and X2[M:0].

In the present embodiment, first ' DPA a ' 915 and second ' DPA b1 ' 935, ' combiner 920 places that are output in of DPA b2 ' 955 are combined, and produce an output 940 to antenna (not shown).And in another embodiment, this second ' DPA b1 ' 935 with ' DPA b2 ' 955 can comprise mulitpath, example ' L ' paths as shown in Figure 7, wherein every paths all comprises different delay skew T/L.

Therefore, the above embodiments are summarized, part interpolation can comprise two-layer implication: (i) the DPA unit of part can be controlled by interpolation bit; (ii) only to part control bit operating part interpolation operation.

By this mode, reduce although may introduce very little performance, the use of part interpolation can reduce DAC image, reduces circuit complexity and power consumption simultaneously.Use a basic object of interpolation operation also to comprise the clock frequency that remains lower.Therefore, optimally, although each path all has different clock delays, every paths all operates under identical clock frequency and total digital dock frequency can't increase.

Refer to now Figure 10, Figure 10 shows that, according to the embodiment of the present invention, DPD code word is implemented to full interpolation 1000 or part interpolation 1050 to be applied to the comparison schematic diagram of two kinds of execution modes of DPA.In the present embodiment, DPA is set to comprise 32 system unit (32U) 1015, the weighted value of the each unit of 1030(is ' 64 '), 31 system unit (31U) 1020, the weight of the each unit of 1035(is ' 64 ') and 6 binary cells (6B) 1025, the weight of the each unit of 1040(is respectively ' 32 ', ' 16 ', ' 8 ', ' 4 ', ' 2 ', ' 1 ').As shown in the figure, at a DPA(DPA, a) in 1005,1055, no matter for part interpolation 1050 or full interpolation 1000, input x1 (t) all provides to 32U1015, in each of 31U1020 and 6B1025.In full interpolation application 1000, input x2 (t) can provide that (DPA is 1010 32U1030 b), in each of 31U1035 and 6B1040 to the 2nd DPA.

But in the part interpolation application 1050 of DPA, the 32U1030 that is positioned at top does not carry out interpolation, and input x1 (t) is brought up again for to each of 32U1030.Meanwhile, input x2 (t) is provided to the 2nd DPA(DPA b) in each of 1060 31U1035 and 6B1040.

In the embodiment of the present invention, can use various part interpolation methods.For example, in one embodiment, can carry out interpolation to amplitude control word, and in another embodiment, can carry out interpolation to sign bit, or in other embodiments, can also carry out interpolation to the arbitrary portion of controlling code word.

Figure 11 shows that the also simple structure schematic diagram of the RF transmitter 1100 of an embodiment according to the present invention, wherein this RF transmitter 1100 is simultaneously by mixing multiphase filter application DPD code word 1105 and applying portion interpolation to DPA, and this RF transmitter 1100 for example can be implemented in the digital signal processing module 408 shown in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the present invention, this digital pre-distortion code word 1105 can receive multiple (IQ) signal of input by a digital baseband element (not shown), and multiple (IQ) signal of the input receiving is changed (for example carrying out map operation) and produced.

In the present embodiment, only part PA power cell is implemented to interpolation operation, therefore, in the part interpolation application shown in Figure 11, first DPA is split into two parts: ' DPA a ' 1115 with ' DPA b1 ' 1135 add ' various piece of the combination 1155(example of DPA b2 ' PA module 530 as shown in Figure 5, wherein this PA module 530 comprises the high power analog conversion function to RF signal).In one embodiment of the invention, for ' the digital pre-distortion code word 1105 that DPA a ' 1115 uses, do not implement interpolation operation, and meanwhile, for ' DPA b1 ' 1135 with ' DPA b2 ' 1155, be set to apply any one in all-key word interpolation or part code word interpolation.

In part code word interpolation application, only the part to base band control bit (for example X[M:0] in X[I-1:0]) implement interpolation operation.Therefore, the each several part interpolation 1100 of digital pre-distortion code word 1105 is provided to respectively multiple (being in the present embodiment two) digital power amplifier 1135, in 1155, and this leads to, and ' multiphase filter (h (n)) 1145 and corresponding one or more delay elements 1130 are also mixed to introduce respectively phase deviation at the most in the independent signal path of bar by one in the second path of DPA b2 ' 1155.In embodiments of the present invention, this phase deviation can be set to equal T/2, wherein T=1/fs, and fs is the sample frequency of codeword sequence x (n).In the embodiment of the present invention, this mixing multiphase filter h (n) 625 carries out filter function with sample frequency fs.

In all-key word interpolation application, input to ' DPA a ' 1115 with ' DPA b1 ' 1135, ' the base band control word of DPA b2 ' 1155 is respectively X1[M:0] and X2[M:0].

First ' ' DPA b1 ' 1135, ' DPA b2 ', 1155 combiner 920 places that are output in are combined DPA a ' 1115 and second, and produce an output 1140 to antenna (not shown).And in another embodiment of the present invention, this second ' DPA b ' 1135 with ' DPA b2 ' 1155 can comprise mulitpath, example ' L ' paths as shown in Figure 7, wherein every paths all comprises different delay skew T/L.

Under this mode, by careful design mixing multiphase filter 1145 and delay element 1130, all power DAC images that are present in the odd-multiple place of fs can further be slowed down.Therefore, when mixing shown in for example aforesaid equation of multiphase filter 1145([1]) while being applied to the second phase place, this DAC image that is present in fs odd-multiple can obtain weakening even in some cases of essence and can ignore.

Thus, reduce although may introduce very little performance, the use of part interpolation can reduce DAC image, reduces circuit complexity and power consumption simultaneously.Use a basic object of interpolation operation also to comprise the clock frequency that remains lower.Therefore, optimally, although each path all has different clock delays, every paths all operates under identical clock frequency and total digital dock frequency can't increase.

Figure 12 shows that the simple module schematic diagram according to the RF transmitter 1200 of further embodiment of this invention, wherein this RF transmitter 1200 is simultaneously by mixing multiphase filter h (n) 1245 application DPD code words 1205 and applying portion interpolation to digital power amplifier, for instance, this RF transmitter 1200 can be implemented in the digital signal processing module 408 shown in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the present invention, this digital pre-distortion code word 1205 can receive multiple (IQ) signal of input by a digital baseband element (not shown), and multiple (IQ) signal of the input receiving is changed (for example carrying out map operation) and produced.This DPD code word 1205 directly (1210) provides to a DPA(DPA1) in 1215, a DPA1215 can be for example a part for the PA module 530 shown in Fig. 5, wherein comprises the high power analog conversion function to RF signal.This DPD code word 1205 can also provide to the 2nd DPA(DPA2 by a sign change function 1255) in 1215, to use the sign bit in first via footpath to replace the sign bit in the second path.Thus, sign bit will be consistent by the sign bit on interpolation so that two paths, but remainder signal is because a series of mixing multiphase filterings of process, delay and absolute value function are to provide to the 2nd DPA1235, and therefore its signal is by different from the signal on above-mentioned the first path.Under this mode, DPA code word 1205 will be via mixing multiphase filter 1245 and delay element 1230 to provide to the 2nd DPA1235, thereby introduce a phase deviation to signal path, in the embodiment of the present invention, this phase deviation can be set to equal T/2, wherein T=1/fs, and fs is the sample frequency of codeword sequence x (n).And in the embodiment of the present invention, this mixing multiphase filter h (n) 1245 carries out filter function with sample frequency fs.Filtered phase-shift signal was then input in an absolute value function 1250 to produce the absolute value of DPD code word before being provided to the 2nd DPA1235.

The output of the one DPA1215 and the 2nd DPA1235 is then combined in combiner 1220, and produces an output valve 1240 to antenna (not shown).It should be noted that because the RF transmitter 1200 of the present embodiment is a digital RF transmitter, therefore wherein do not comprise any Analog Baseband filter function.

Refer to now Figure 13, Figure 13 shows that the simplified flow chart 1300 according to the digital filtering method of one embodiment of the invention, this digital filtering method is for example for mixing multiphase filtering method, for reducing DAC image.The method starts from step 1310, receives an input complex signal and produces accordingly at least one base band character signal.Then in step 1315, amplifying stage is divided into multiple parts, wherein each part is controlled by one group of up-sampling baseband signal.Then in step 1320, apply at least one base band character signal to the first power cell of power amplifier module.Although not shown in Figure 13, this paths will comprise one or more digital filters or delay cell.Then in step 1325, base band character signal after this up-sampling is divided and be applied in mulitpath, and wherein every paths all comprises a digital filter, and this digital filter is all weighted a suitable yield value.Then in step 1330, the part that one or more path of carrying base band character signal is sampled the clock cycle postpones.And in step 1335, inhibit signal, baseband signal, character signal are applied to respectively in each amplifying unit/level.Finally again in step 1340, the exit point that is output in of each amplifying unit/level is combined.

Refer to now Figure 14, Figure 14 shows that the quick-reading flow sheets schematic diagram 1400 with impact/level method for distinguishing of reduction DAC image on code word operating part interpolation operation according to one embodiment of the invention.As shown in the figure, the method starts from step 1410, receives an input complex signal and produces accordingly at least one base band character signal.Meanwhile, this signal is enabled.Then in step 1415, the power amplifier that comprises multiple amplifying unit/levels is split into multiple parts.In the present embodiment, amplifying unit/level is split into ' A ' part and ' B ' part.In addition, ' B ' part can also Further Division be ' B1 ' subdivision and ' B2 ' subdivision, and wherein ' B1 ' subdivision and ' B2 ' subdivision are equal to each other.It should be noted that in other embodiment of the present invention, the various piece of amplifying unit/level also can be further divided into quantity more than 2 subdivision, and these subdivisions can be also unequal.Then, in step 1420, apply at least one base band character signal to the first power cell of power amplifier module, and in step 1425, this base band character signal X[M:0] be split into two groups of part interpolated signal X[M:I] and X[I-1:0].But those skilled in the art need to be appreciated that, in other embodiment of the present invention, this base band character signal X[M:0] can also be split into equally the part interpolated signal more than two groups, and in other embodiment of the present invention, this base band character signal X[M:0] can cut apart to mulitpath, wherein a paths is not carried out interpolation and at least one path or mulitpath and is carried out interpolation, example ' L ' paths as shown in Figure 7, wherein every paths all comprises different delay skew T/L.Then, in step 1430, one or more path is delayed, and in step 1435, uses signal group X[M:0] to enable the suitable element in ' A ' part and ' B1 ' subdivision.Then, in step 1440, use X[M:I] and X[I-1:0] the combination of delay to enable the suitable element in ' B2 ' subdivision.Finally, in step 1445, the exit point that is output in of each amplifying unit/level is combined.

Refer to now Figure 15, when Figure 15 shows that according to one embodiment of the invention, use digital filtering (for example mixing multiphase filtering) method and part interpolation method, to reduce the quick-reading flow sheets schematic diagram 1500 of impact/level method for distinguishing of DAC image.The method starts from step 1510, receives an input complex signal and produces accordingly at least one base band character signal.Meanwhile, this signal is enabled.Then in step 1515, the power amplifier that comprises multiple amplifying unit/levels is split into multiple parts.In the present embodiment, amplifying unit/level can be divided into ' A ' part and ' B ' part.In addition, ' B ' part can also Further Division be ' B1 ' subdivision and ' B2 ' subdivision, and wherein ' B1 ' subdivision and ' B2 ' subdivision are equal to each other in the present embodiment.But it should be noted that in other embodiment of the present invention, the various piece of amplifying unit/level also can be further divided into quantity more than multiple subdivisions of 2, and these subdivisions can be also unequal.Then,, in step 1520, at least one base band character signal is applied in the first Power Amplifier Unit of power amplifier module.And in the embodiment of two Power Amplifier Unit, this at least one base band character signal also will be applied in the second Power Amplifier Unit of power amplifier module via a sign change function.Then in step 1525, for each Power Amplifier Unit/level from baseband signal X[M:0] produce respectively Xa[M:0] and Xb[M:0], wherein Xb[M:0] be by X[M:0] the suitable digital filter gain of weighting one produces, for example, the mixing multiphase filter of transfer function ' H ' can be provided.Then, in step 1530, one or more path is postponed, and in step 1535, uses Xa[M:0] to enable the suitable element in ' A ' part and ' B1 ' subdivision.In addition,, in step 1540, use Xa[M:I] and Xb[I-1:0] the combination of delay to enable the suitable element in ' B2 ' subdivision.Finally, in step 1545, the exit point that is output in of each amplifying unit/level is combined to provide to an antenna.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5, digital-to-RF transmitter 500 comprises multiple (inphase/orthogonal phase) transmitter.But those skilled in the art are scrutable, the present invention can also realize by the digital-to-RF transmitter of another form equally.

Figure 16 to 19 is depicted as the simple structure schematic diagram of the various digital-to-RF transmitters that can benefit from the embodiment of the present invention.For instance, the embodiment of the present invention can also be implemented into Digital Polarity transmitter, or mixes in polar transmitter (example RF transmitter 1600 as shown in figure 16).In this example structure, AM[0] ..., AM[N] clock frequency can dynamically change according to aforesaid one or more technology.

In addition, those skilled in the art are scrutable, and the present invention can also be implemented in another multiple (inphase/orthogonal phase) transmitter, example multiple (inphase/orthogonal phase) RF DAC transmitter 1700 as shown in figure 17.In this example structure, provide to the clock frequency of the digital word of digital to RF converter and can dynamically change according to aforesaid one or more technology.

In addition, those skilled in the art are same scrutable, and the present invention can also be implemented into numeral anti-phase (out-phasing) transmitter, in example digital inverted structure 1800 as shown in figure 18.In the anti-phase transmitter of this numeral, after this modulation arranging by digital control word, phase place input can dynamically change according to aforesaid one or more technology.

In addition, those skilled in the art are same scrutable, and the present invention can also be implemented into the linearity of a use linear element and amplify (LINC) transmitter, in example LINC transmitter 1900 as shown in figure 19.In this LINC transmitter embodiment, after modulation, clock frequency and the changeable dynamic power supplies voltage of phase place input can dynamically change according to aforesaid one or more technology.

Although the present invention is described by the embodiment of above-mentioned various digital-to-RF transmitters, those skilled in the art are scrutable, and concept of the present invention also can be applied in other structure, to produce same effect.

Because model embodiment major part shown in the present all can realize with electronic component well-known to those skilled in the art and circuit, therefore in order to make those skilled in the art can better understand basic conception of the present invention and it not produced to wrong teaching, in this article this partial circuit is described not carrying out further detailed details to it.

Although the present invention discloses as above with preferred embodiment; so it is not in order to limit the present invention; any person skilled in the art; without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention; when doing a little change and retouching, the scope that therefore protection scope of the present invention ought define depending on claims of the present invention is as the criterion.

Those skilled in the art are scrutable is, herein to all logic modules be only do exemplary explanation and and unrestricted, in other optional embodiment, each logic module or circuit element can, in the mode that merges or decompose, be achieved by other logic module or the circuit element with identical function.Therefore, scrutable, structure described herein is only exemplary explanation, and other structures that in fact can realize said function also can be applicable in the present invention.

Although see through some embodiment, present invention is described, and this also means the restriction to specific implementation form of the present invention.Protection scope of the present invention only the application's claim is limited.In addition,, although may only describe in one embodiment a characteristic of the present invention, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the variant characteristic of embodiment can be able to combination according to the present invention described in each.In claim, " comprising " word should be construed to " comprise but be not limited to ", and it does not get rid of other elements or the step do not listed in to claim.

In addition,, although method, element and step in the present invention are all listed individually, this several different methods, multiple element or multiple method step all can be achieved by for example a unit or a processor.In addition, although protected different qualities of the present invention in different claims, these characteristics also can combine, and the separately protected not combination between representing characteristic of different claims is infeasible and/or bad.Meanwhile, claim is described the not restriction of the protection category to claim of characteristic comprising, and the characteristic that this claim limits also can be applied in other claim under suitable situation.

In addition, the putting in order of each claim also not implies that each feature of the present invention must be carried out according to this specific order, especially not implies that the step in the method that the present invention protects must be moved according to specific order in claims.On the contrary, each step also can be by other applicable step operations.In addition, herein unique do not get rid of multiple situations, and multiple situations do not got rid of in the word such as " ", " first ", " second " yet.

Claims

1. a radio frequency transmitter, is characterized in that, comprises:

The power amplifier that comprises multiple Power Amplifier Unit;

At least one signal processing module, be coupled to this power amplifier, this at least one signal processing module comprises at least one digital pre-distortion assembly, be used for applying at least one digital pre-distortion code word to multiple Power Amplifier Unit, wherein this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied at least one of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit via a digital filter; And

Combiner, at least part of at least one digital pre-distortion code word based on after digital filtering, combines to produce an analog rf signal to multiple outputs of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit, and this analog rf signal is for transmitting by a RF interface.

2. RF transmitter as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, this digital filter is for mixing multiphase filter.

3. RF transmitter as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied at least one of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit via this digital filter and a phase shift element.

4. RF transmitter as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied to respectively in multiple in the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit via multiple different digital filters.

5. RF transmitter as claimed in claim 4, is characterized in that, this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied to respectively in multiple in the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit via multiple different digital filters and multiple different phase deviation unit.

6. RF transmitter as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, this at least one digital signal processing module is also for receiving at least one multiplexed input signal, and produce this at least one digital pre-distortion code word based on this at least one multiplexed input signal, in this multiplexed input signal, comprise the signal being about to by this RF interface transmission.

7. RF transmitter as claimed in claim 6, it is characterized in that, this power amplifier comprises two arrays that are made up of multiple these Power Amplifier Unit respectively, the different constituents of each this this at least one multiplexed input signal of array received, generate the different constituents of this analog rf signal with correspondence.

8. RF transmitter as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, this at least one digital signal processing module also for:

A part for this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is implemented to interpolation operation; And

The interpolation part of exporting this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is at least one of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit.

9. RF transmitter as claimed in claim 8, it is characterized in that, this at least one digital signal processing module is for the not interpolation part of this at least one digital pre-distortion code word being applied to at least one Part I of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit, and the sign modification result of the not interpolation part of this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied at least one Part II of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit.

10. RF transmitter as claimed in claim 9, is characterized in that, this at least one digital signal processing module is coupled to a sign bit functional module, this sign bit functional module for use this not the sign bit of interpolation part replace the sign bit of this interpolation part.

11. RF transmitters as claimed in claim 9, it is characterized in that, this at least one digital signal processing module is coupled to an absolute value function module, and this absolute value function module is arranged in an interpolation path and for providing the absolute value of this predistortion code word to this Power Amplifier Unit.

12. RF transmitters as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit forms the switching mode power cell array of power amplifier module.

13. RF transmitters as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, this RF transmitter is at least one in following collection: multiple RF digital to analog converter reflector, Digital Polarity transmitter, mix polar transmitter, digital anti-phase transmitter, the linear amplifying emission machine of use non-linear element.

14. 1 kinds of integrated circuit (IC)-components, is characterized in that, comprise:

At least one digital signal processing module, is coupled to a power amplifier, and this power amplifier comprises multiple Power Amplifier Unit, and wherein this at least one digital signal processing module comprises:

At least one digital pre-distortion assembly, for applying at least one digital pre-distortion code word to the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit, wherein this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied at least one of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit via a digital filter; And

15. 1 kinds of methods for generation of the RF signal transmitting by RF interface, is characterized in that, the method comprises:

Produce at least one digital pre-distortion code word;

Apply in multiple Power Amplifier Unit of this at least one digital pre-distortion code word to power amplifier, wherein this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied at least one of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit via a digital filter; And

At least one digital pre-distortion code word based on after digital filtering, combines to produce this RF signal to multiple outputs of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit at least partly.

16. 1 kinds of RF transmitters, is characterized in that, comprise:

The power amplifier that comprises multiple Power Amplifier Unit;

At least one signal processing module, is coupled to this power amplifier, and this at least one signal processing module comprises at least one digital pre-distortion assembly, and this at least one digital pre-distortion assembly is used for:

This at least one digital pre-distortion code word is implemented to interpolation operation; And

Export the interpolation part of this at least one digital pre-distortion code word to a part at least one this Power Amplifier Unit of this power amplifier, and this interpolation part based on this at least one digital pre-distortion code word produces an analog rf signal at least partly, this analog rf signal is for transmitting by a RF interface.

17. RF transmitters as claimed in claim 16, it is characterized in that, this at least one signal processing module is for the not interpolation part of this at least one digital pre-distortion code word being applied to at least one Part I of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit, and the sign modification result of the not interpolation part of this at least one digital pre-distortion code word is applied at least one Part II of the plurality of Power Amplifier Unit.

18. 1 kinds of integrated circuit (IC)-components, is characterized in that, comprise:

At least one signal processing module, is coupled to a power amplifier, and this power amplifier comprises multiple Power Amplifier Unit, and wherein this at least one signal processing module comprises:

At least one digital pre-distortion assembly, for:

19. methods for generation of the RF signal transmitting by RF interface, is characterized in that, the method comprises:

Produce at least one digital pre-distortion code word;

Apply in multiple Power Amplifier Unit of this at least one digital pre-distortion code word to power amplifier, this step further comprises: