JP2001308724A - Power control adjustment method, transmitter, and transmitter regulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust an operating point of a VGA connected in a transmitter used for a communication apparatus to the operating point on VGA unit characteristics at the time of designing from comprehensive output characteristics of a transmitter and VGA unit control characteristics measured previously. SOLUTION: The VGA unit control output characteristics of the VGA 6 are previously fetched in a transmitter regulator 16 and a transmitted power detecting signal 12 in the transmitter is taken out to the transmitter regulator 16 to obtain comprehensive output power characteristics of the transmitter. By comparing the comprehensive output power characteristics of the transmitter with the VGA unit control output characteristics in a similar area of the type, setting deviation (operating point deviation) of a control system in the operating point is detected and a control signal 17 for transmitter adjustment is given from the transmitter regulator 16 to a target power control circuit 18 of the transmitter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a variable gain amplifier (Variable Gain Amplifier).
r: a communication device that performs transmission output power control using VGA, for example, code division multiple access (Code D).
In a mobile communication terminal (U.S. standard IS-95 or Japanese standard ARIB TR53 specification) or the like that uses the multiplex multiple access (hereinafter referred to as CDMA) technology, the control (VGA) control operating point of the transmitter is adjusted and the transmission output power is adjusted. And a transmitter to which the method is applied, and a transmitter adjustment apparatus for implementing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a transmitter used in a conventional communication apparatus. This figure shows a transmitter that transmits a signal by controlling transmission power using a VGA, which is also a known technique. In this case, regarding the specific components related to the CDMA technology in the CDMA communication terminal,
The description is omitted here because it is not directly related to the essence of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a data channel signal (symbol), 2 is a data branching unit, 3 and 4 are baseband signals, and 5 is a quadrature modulation circuit (Quadrature Mod).
ulrator: hereinafter, referred to as QMOD), 6 is VGA,
7 is a VGA control signal (Vcont), 8 is a power amplifier circuit, 9 is a directional coupler, 10 is a transmission antenna, 11 is a transmission power detector, and 12 is a transmission power detection signal (P_DE).
T), 13 is a comparison control circuit, 14 is a target power control circuit,
Reference numeral 15 denotes a set transmission power signal (Vref).

Next, the operation will be described. In the transmitter configured as described above, first, the data channel signal (symbol) 1 is split by the data splitter 2 and input to the QMOD 5 as baseband signals 3 and 4, respectively. These baseband signals 3 and 4 are converted into quadrature modulated signals in QMOD5 and output. Hereinafter, the output point of QMOD5 from which this quadrature modulated signal is output is referred to as point A.

Next, the quadrature modulated signal output from the point A is amplified by the VGA 6 with an amplification gain corresponding to the VGA control signal (Vcont) 7, and further power-amplified by the power amplifier circuit 8 and output. Hereinafter, the output point of the VGA 6 is referred to as point B, and the output point of the power amplifier circuit 8 is referred to as point C. C
After a part of the signal output from the point is extracted by the directional coupler 9, the signal is transmitted as a wireless signal from the transmitting antenna 10. Hereinafter, the output point of the directional coupler 9 is referred to as D
Point.

On the other hand, the signal from point C, part of which is taken out by the directional coupler 9, is sent to the transmission power detector 11. The transmission power detector 11 generates a transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12 proportional to the transmission power based on the signal, and inputs the signal to one input (−) of the comparison control circuit 13. Further, the target power control circuit 14 generates a set transmission power signal (Vref) 15 and compares it with the comparison control circuit 13.
Is input to the other input (+). These two signals are compared by the comparison control circuit 13, a VGA control signal (Vcont) 7 is generated based on the comparison result, and the level of the transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12 is set to the set transmission power signal (V_DET).
ref) The gain control of the VGA 6 is performed so as to match the level of 15.

The set transmission power signal (Vref) 1
The value of 5 is, for example, the output power step (1d
B, etc.)
As a variable in the control procedure in the target power control circuit 14, an assumed output power value (for example, 20 dBm) can be used instead of the value of the set transmission power signal (Vref) 15 itself. Here, dBm is a transmission unit used to represent the absolute value of power, and 1 mW is set to 0.
The level is represented by dBm.

As described above, the gain control of the VGA 6 is performed in the transmitter so that the required transmission power is obtained.
The target power control circuit 14 adjusts the control range of the set transmission power signal (Vref) 15 at the time of design and at the initial stage of the transmitter in accordance with the range of the assumed output power so as to secure a dynamic range necessary for the communication device. It will be set at the time of adjustment.

Here, in the CDMA communication apparatus, communication is performed using radio signals of the same frequency during communication due to its system. For this reason, communication with a transmission power larger than the signal power required to ensure the required communication quality on the communication partner side may interfere with other terminals (for example, a so-called near-far problem).
It has been found that not only the communication capacity but also the communication line capacity decreases in the communication system. Therefore, the control of the transmission output power level is important and is an essential function of the communication device, and the transmission power is controlled by incorporating the above-described control function.

[0010] As described above, V
In a transmitter including the GA 6 and further provided with a power amplifier circuit 8 and the like at the subsequent stage, the operating point (or the control point of the Range). Moreover, a component (VGA) through which a data (or modulation) signal flows in the transmitter
6, power amplifier circuit 8, etc.) in an actual transmitter, it is impossible to measure the output characteristics of the VGA 6 alone at the time of initial adjustment of the transmitter. Only the total output power characteristic (D point output) can be measured.

Hereinafter, this point will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a VGA unit output characteristic of the VGA 6 and a transmitter total output power characteristic of the transmitter for explaining a problem in the transmitter of the conventional communication device.
FIG. 7A shows the output characteristics of the VGA alone showing the relationship between the output power of the VGA 6 alone and the gain control voltage, and FIG.
5 shows the transmitter total output power characteristic indicating the relationship between the total output power of the transmitter output from the transmission antenna 10 and the set transmission power signal (Vref) 15. In FIG. 6A, the gain control voltage indicated on the horizontal axis corresponds to the VGA control signal (Vcont) 7 in the transmitter shown in FIG.

In both the VGA single output characteristics and the transmitter total output power characteristics shown in FIG. 6, the minimum output is determined by each noise floor level, and the maximum output is determined by each saturation output level. However, since the control range of the transmitter needs to satisfy characteristics such as distortion and error rate, a part of the characteristics is used as a usable control range.

Here, as an example, the state of the transmitter operation will be described with the transmission power corresponding to the maximum gain setting that the VGA 6 can take as an operating point. First, when designing the transmitter, it is assumed that the operating point on the VGA unit control output characteristic of the VGA 6 is at the position shown in FIG. Normally, it is desirable for a transmitter to set a variable transmission output range (so-called dynamic range) wide. To this end, the out-of-band unnecessary transmission power due to waveform distortion or the like (so-called spurious radiation) is set as the operating point of the VGA 6 alone, which is considered from the transmitter overall output power characteristics.
And EVM (Error Vector Magnitu)
For example, the operating point at which the largest possible output can be obtained within a range satisfying the required specifications, such as de), is set based on the difference from the saturation output level (the back-off amount shown in the figure).

However, as described above, the comparison control circuit 13
In addition to the error factors such as the above, since each block is connected and incorporated as a transmitter, the V
It is not possible to directly examine the output control characteristics of a single GA. Therefore, the set transmission power signal (Vre
f) Even if 15 is given, VG
VGA control signal (Vcont) 7 given to A6
The exact value of is unknown unless a dedicated measurement is made separately.

[0015] Therefore, as a transmitter whose transmitter total output power characteristics are shown in FIG. 6B, the operating point of the VGA 6 at the transmission power point corresponding to the maximum gain setting differs from that at the time of design. Will be. This is VGA6
Becomes more remarkable as the controllable range (so-called dynamic range) increases or the control sensitivity (dB / V or the like) increases. At the same time, since the back-off amount also varies, for example, if the setting is shifted to the larger output, the transmitter has an area where distortion or the like has already occurred at the stage of output of the VGA 6 (B-point output). Will work.

Therefore, the variation due to the variation of the control circuit system can be secured as a margin in advance.
It becomes necessary to design the dynamic range of the original VGA 6 alone to be large. Further, when the operating point of the VGA 6 is shifted to the area where the distortion is smaller, the dynamic range that can be set by the VGA 6 is limited to a small one.

The VGA 6 in the actual transmitter as described above
That the maximum settable operating point deviates from the operating point at the time of design means that the operating point shifts not only in a specific transmission power (operating) point but also in the entire characteristic, and the entire operation of the VGA 6 is It will be different from the assumption.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-101013 discloses an AGC circuit which keeps the output level constant even if the input level changes, as a document having a description related to power control adjustment in such a transmitter. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-513 for adjusting the output level from a transmitting antenna to a target
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-501796, which forms power substantially equal to the nominal operating point power.

[0019]

Since the conventional transmitter in which the transmission output power is controlled is constructed and adjusted as described above, the operating point (or the control range) of the VGA 6 in the transmitter overall output power characteristics is controlled. ) And VGA6 assumed at the time of design
There is a problem that the operating point (or the control range) of the single unit does not match, and the performance intended at the time of design cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and uses the total output power characteristic of the transmitter, which is information that can be taken out of the transmitter, to provide other components in the transmitter. By adjusting the operating point (or control range) of the VGA coupled to the operating point (or control range) of the VGA alone at the time of design, the operating point of the VGA in the transmitter overall output power characteristics VGA at design time
An object of the present invention is to provide a power control adjustment method capable of better matching a single operating point, a transmitter to which the power control adjustment method is applied, and a transmitter adjustment device that performs the same.

[0021]

According to the power control adjusting method of the present invention, a control operation point of a VGA is adjusted by obtaining a VGA unit control output characteristic and a transmitter total output power characteristic.
This is performed based on a comparison result between the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic and the form of the transmitter overall output power characteristic.

The power control adjustment method according to the present invention provides a VG
The comparison between the form of the A-unit control output characteristic and the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic is performed by function approximation of the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic and the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic.

In the power control adjusting method according to the present invention, the amplification gain of the VGA other than the specific VGA to be adjusted is adjusted so that the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic is similar to the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic of the VGA to be adjusted. In the state where the gain is set so that the area becomes the range necessary for the adjustment, the VGA to be adjusted is adjusted when there are a plurality of VGAs in the transmitter.

In the power control adjustment method according to the present invention, the transmitter adjustment device specifies the form of the approximate function used to compare the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic and the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic to the transmitter. The VGA adjustment is performed on the transmitter side by giving parameters to be performed.

The transmitter according to the present invention is provided with an adjusting means, and generates a target setting signal for setting a control operating point around a single control at the time of design in accordance with information for adjusting the operating point of the gain varying means. The control means controls the amplification gain of the gain variable means based on the target setting signal, and the input means to which the information for the adjustment is input, and the transmission of the transmitter, which changes according to the target setting signal. And output means for outputting the machine total output power characteristics.

In the transmitter according to the present invention, the adjusting means generates an individual target setting signal for each of the gain changing means, and the control means controls the plurality of prepared gain changing means in accordance with the target setting signal corresponding to each of them. It is designed to be controlled individually.

The transmitter adjustment apparatus according to the present invention obtains the VGA unit control output characteristic by the unit characteristic obtaining unit and the transmitter total output power characteristic by the output power characteristic obtaining unit. The shape of the transmitter total output power characteristic is compared by a characteristic shape comparing means, and based on the comparison result, the VGA control operating point is adjusted to a vicinity of the control operating point at the time of design by the VGA adjusting means. .

In the transmitter adjusting apparatus according to the present invention, when the characteristic shape comparing means compares the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic with the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic, the VGA
This is performed by using a function that approximates the form of the single control output characteristic and the transmitter total output power characteristic.

The transmitter adjustment device according to the present invention is a VGA
In the adjusting means, the amplification gain of the VGA other than the specific VGA to be adjusted is adjusted in a region where the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic is similar to the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic of the VGA to be adjusted. In a state where the gain is set so as to be obtained in the range, the VGA to be adjusted is adjusted when there are a plurality of VGAs in the transmitter.

The transmitter adjustment apparatus according to the present invention includes VGA adjustment means for adjusting VGA from the transmitter adjustment apparatus.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transmitter of a communication device using a power control adjustment method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, together with a transmitter adjustment device. In the figure, 1 is a data channel signal by symbol,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a data branching unit for branching the data channel signal 1. 3, 4 are branched by the data branching unit 2,
The baseband signals are orthogonal to each other, and 5 is a QMOD for orthogonally modulating the baseband signals 3 and 4 as an I-phase signal and a Q-phase signal. Reference numeral 6 denotes a VGA as a gain variable means which is configured so that its amplification gain can be controlled and amplifies the output of the QMOD 5 according to the variably set amplification gain. Reference numeral 7 denotes a VGA for variably setting the amplification gain of the VGA 6. VGA control signal (Vcont).

Reference numeral 8 denotes a power amplifier circuit for power-amplifying the signal amplified by the VGA 6 whose amplification gain is variably set with a fixed amplification gain. Reference numeral 9 denotes a directional coupler for extracting a part of the signal from the power-amplified circuit 8, and reference numeral 10 denotes the rest of the output of the power amplifier 8 partially extracted by the directional coupler 9. Is a transmission antenna for transmitting the part as a radio signal. 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a directional coupler 9 and a power amplification circuit 8 extracted therefrom.
Is a transmission power detector for detecting the transmission power of the transmitter from a part of the output of the transmission power detector 12. Reference numeral 12 denotes a transmission power detection signal (P_DET) based on an analog signal, which is proportional to the transmission power detected by the transmission power detector 11. It is.

Reference numeral 13 denotes the transmission power detection signal (P_DE
T) 12 is compared with a reference target setting signal,
Generates a GA control signal (Vcont) 7 and outputs it to VG
This is a comparison control circuit as control means for sending to A6. Fifteen
Is a set transmission power signal (Vref) input to the comparison control circuit 13 as the target setting signal.

These parts are the same as those in the conventional communication apparatus shown by the same reference numerals in FIG.
Also in this case, the output point of QMOD5 is point A, VGA
The output point 6 is point B, the output point of the power amplifier circuit 8 is point C, and the output point of the directional coupler 9 is point D.

Further, reference numeral 16 denotes a function for storing characteristic data (or characteristic data measured in advance) obtained by measuring the VGA unit control output characteristics of the VGA 6 in advance.
A function of comparing the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic with the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic of the transmitter, and a transmitter adjustment control signal 17 for shifting the set transmission power signal (Vref) 15 This is a transmitter adjustment device having a function of generating a signal. A transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12 detected by a transmission power detector 11 and input to a comparison control circuit 13 is branched and input to the transmitter adjustment device 16 as a transmitter total output power characteristic. . Further, the transmitter adjusting device 16 is formed by, for example, a dedicated adjusting device controlled by a computer, which is arranged outside the transmitter. Reference numeral 17 denotes a transmitter adjustment control signal output from the transmitter adjustment device 16 as adjustment information.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a target power control circuit for generating a set transmission power signal (Vref) 15 as a target setting signal and inputting the signal to the comparison control circuit 13. Transmitter adjustment control signal 17
5 in that the set transmission power signal (Vref) 15 changes in response to the transmitter adjustment control signal 17, which is different from the conventional signal indicated by reference numeral 14 in FIG. ing. As described above, the target power control circuit 18 functions as an adjusting unit that adjusts the operating point of the VGA 6 to a vicinity of the control operating point of the VGA alone at the time of design. 19
Is a transmission power detection signal (P_D) from the transmission power detector 11.
ET) 12 is an outlet as an output unit for outputting the transmitter total output power characteristic by the transmitter adjustment device 16 to the transmitter adjustment device 16, and 20 is a transmitter adjustment control signal 17 from the transmitter adjustment device 16 as adjustment information. It is a port as an input means for inputting to the target power control circuit 18.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the transmitter adjustment device 16. In the figure, 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit as unit characteristic acquisition means for acquiring the VGA unit control output characteristics of the VGA 6 used in the transmitter. 32 is a transmission power detector 11 sent from the outlet 19 of the transmitter.
A transmitter total output power characteristic acquisition unit as output power characteristic obtaining means for obtaining the transmitter total output power characteristic of the transmitter based on the transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12 from the transmitter. A VGA unit control output characteristic 33 obtained by the VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit 31 and a transmitter total output power characteristic obtained by the transmitter total output power characteristic acquisition unit 32 are fetched and their shapes are compared. An arithmetic unit as characteristic shape comparison means for generating data of a comparison result.

Numeral 34 denotes a VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit 31, a transmitter total output power characteristic acquisition unit 32, and a control command sent to a calculation unit 33 to control their operations, and are obtained by comparison between the calculation units 33. An adjustment control unit as a VGA adjustment unit that generates a transmitter adjustment control signal 17 based on the data of the obtained comparison result. Reference numeral 35 denotes a transmitter adjustment control signal 1 generated by the adjustment controller 34.
7 is an output connector as VGA adjustment means for outputting 7 to a transmitter inlet 20 and adjusting the VGA 6 from the transmitter adjustment device 16. 36 is a transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12 from the outlet 19 of the transmitter
Is an input connector to which is input.

Next, the operation will be described. In the transmitter configured as described above, first, the data channel signal 1 based on the symbol is input to the data branching unit 2 and output and branched one symbol at a time in units of two symbols. Input to QMOD5. This baseband signal 3 is in phase (I phase),
4 is quadrature-modulated in QMOD5 as a quadrature-phase (Q-phase) signal, converted into a quadrature-modulated signal, and output from point A of QMOD5.

Next, the quadrature modulated signal output from the point A of the QMOD 5 is input to the VGA 6. The amplification gain of the VGA 6 is variably set by a VGA control signal (Vcont) 7, and the VGA 6 amplifies the quadrature modulation signal to a required output power level corresponding to the amplification gain and outputs the amplified signal from a point B. The signal output from the point B of the VGA 6 is thereafter power-amplified by the power amplification circuit 8 according to a fixed amplification gain.
Is output from the point C. The signal output from the point C of the power amplifier circuit 8 is sent to the directional coupler 9, and after a part of the signal is taken out, the signal is sent from the point D of the directional coupler 9 to the transmitting antenna 10, and the It is transmitted as a signal.

On the other hand, a part of the signal extracted by the directional coupler 9 from the signal output from the point C of the power amplification circuit 8 is sent to the transmission power detector 11. The transmission power detector 11 generates a transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12 proportional to the transmission power based on the received signal, and inputs the signal to one input (−) of the comparison control circuit 13. The other (+) of the input of the comparison control circuit 13 is provided with the set transmission power signal (Vre
f) 15 has been input. The comparison control circuit 13 compares these two signals, and based on the comparison, the transmission power detection signal (P
_DET) 12 is equal to the set transmission power signal (Vre
f) Generate a VGA control signal (Vcont) 7 for controlling the gain of the VGA 6 so as to match the level of 15. The VGA control signal (Vcont) 7 is a VGA
6 to control the amplification gain.

The operation of the transmitter described so far is basically the same as the operation of the conventional transmitter. Hereinafter, an operation of the transmitter adjustment device 16 that is different from the conventional case will be described.

In the transmitter adjusting device 16, first, V
The VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit 31 acquires the VGA unit control output characteristic of the VGA 6 obtained by the measurement before the transmitter is created by the measurement by the GA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit 31 or stored in advance in the VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit 31. The adjustment control unit 34
Transmits the transmitter adjustment control signal 17 from the output connector 35 to the transmitter at the start of the measurement of the transmitter total output power characteristic, and the transmission power detector 11 of the transmitter transmits a transmission power detection signal (P_DET) based on the control signal 17. 12 is generated and output to the transmitter adjustment device 16 from the outlet 19. In the transmitter adjustment device 16, it is received by the input connector 36 as the transmitter total output power characteristic, and stored in the transmitter total output power characteristic acquisition unit 32.

Thereafter, the adjustment control unit 34 sends control commands to the VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit 31 and the transmitter total output power characteristic acquisition unit 32, and stores the VGA unit control output characteristics and the transmitter stored therein. The total output power characteristic is transferred to the calculation unit 33. The arithmetic unit 33 having received the transfer of the VGA unit control output characteristic and the transmitter total output power characteristic performs function approximation of the VGA unit control output characteristic according to the control command from the adjustment control unit 34, and performs the function approximation. Is compared with the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic, and the data of the comparison result obtained by this comparison is sent to the adjustment control unit 34.

The adjustment control section 34 outputs the data of the comparison result received from the arithmetic section 33 together with a command to the transmitter as a control signal 17 for transmitter adjustment and an output connector 35.
Output to the transmitter. The transmitter receives the transmitter adjustment control signal 17 from the transmitter adjustment device 16 through an inlet 20.
And input to the target power control circuit 18. The transmitter is thereafter adjusted and controlled by the transmitter adjustment control signal 17.

Hereinafter, this point will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 3 shows the VG according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the output characteristics of a single VGA and the total output power characteristics of a transmitter for explaining the adjustment method of A6. FIG. 7A illustrates the relationship between the output power of the single VGA 6 and the gain control voltage. The VGA unit control output characteristic shows the relationship between the total output power (point D output in FIG. 1) of the transmitter output from the transmitting antenna 10 and the set transmission power signal (Vref) 15 in FIG. Transmitter total output power characteristics are shown. In FIG. 3A,
The gain control voltage shown on the horizontal axis corresponds to the VGA control signal (Vcont) 7 in the transmitter shown in FIG.

Here, as an example, similarly to the case described with reference to FIG. 6, the operation point of the maximum gain setting that the VGA 6 can take as the conventional transmitter operation and the corresponding transmitter operation point will be described. I do. Further, in the method of adjusting the operating point of the VGA 6, a case where a back-off amount from a saturation output is used as an adjustment parameter will be described.

First, it is assumed that the operating point on the VGA unit control output characteristic at the time of design is at the position shown in FIG. The VGA unit control output characteristic is obtained by the VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit 31 of the transmitter adjustment device 16 before the transmitter is created.
In the transmitter adjustment device 16
May be stored in the VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit 31 or the VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit 31 of the transmitter adjustment device 16 in which the VGA unit control output characteristics are obtained in advance for the VGA 6 may be stored. And read it out to the arithmetic unit 33 at the time of adjustment.

By setting an appropriate approximation function to the VGA unit control output characteristic data obtained at this time and fitting the data, it is possible to eliminate an abnormal point during measurement. In addition, by this function approximation, the entire characteristic (or a part of the range if necessary) can be approximated, so that a small number of measurement points of the degree of freedom of the function (corresponding to the number of coefficients of the function formula) can be obtained. Is sufficient, and the number of measurement points can be reduced, which has the effect of shortening the measurement time.

Here, in the case of the adjustment method using the back-off amount described in the first embodiment, the output of the power amplifier circuit 8 does not add distortion to the saturation output level and the VGA
It is assumed that the single control output characteristic and the transmitter total output power characteristic are similar.

Next, in the calculation unit 33 of the transmitter adjustment device 16, the saturation output of the operating point corresponding to the control voltage on the VGA unit control output characteristic at the time of design is calculated on the function approximating the VGA unit control output characteristic. The amount of back-off is calculated.

After that, the adjustment control section 34 of the transmitter adjustment device 16 sends a control signal 17 for adjusting the transmitter to the target power control circuit 18 through the inlet 20 of the transmitter, and the signal for setting transmission power (Vref ) 15 is changed. The transmitter total output power characteristic acquisition unit 32 of the transmitter adjustment device 16 receives the transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12 from the transmission power detector 11 that changes according to the set transmission power signal (Vref) 15. It is input from the outlet 19 of the transmitter. The transmitter total output power characteristic acquisition section 32 of the transmitter adjustment device 16 outputs the set transmission power signal (Vref) 1
Transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 1
2 to obtain a transmitter total output power characteristic shown in FIG. In FIG. 3B, the points indicated by stars correspond to the measurement points for adjustment.

The arithmetic unit 33 of the transmitter adjusting device 16 calculates the total output power characteristic of the transmitter as shown in FIG.
The entire characteristic is approximated by the same approximation function used in the VGA unit control output characteristic shown in FIG. Also at this time, there is an effect that the abnormal point at the time of the measurement can be deleted by using the approximate function. In addition, by this function approximation, the entire characteristic (or a part of the range if necessary) can be approximated, so that a small number of measurement points of the degree of freedom of the function (corresponding to the number of coefficients of the function formula) can be obtained. Is sufficient, and the number of measurement points can be reduced, which has the effect of shortening the measurement time.

Furthermore, if a method is adopted in which the straight line region and the saturation region of the above both output power characteristics are each approximated by a straight line, and the intersection of the two straight lines is used as a feature point for determining the shape of the characteristic, the saturation output is obtained. The operating point (back-off point) can be specified even if the characteristics of the area cannot be obtained. Therefore, when such approximation is performed, it is not necessary to perform measurement up to a region where the saturation output is completely obtained.

Next, the arithmetic unit 33 calculates the VGA corresponding to the design time on the approximate function of the transmitter total output power characteristic.
The value Vref 'of the set transmission power signal (Vref) 15 at the point of the same back-off amount as the back-off amount of No. 6 is obtained, or the difference ΔVref from the value Vref at the time of design is obtained.
Lastly, the adjustment controller 34 of the transmitter adjustment device 16 sends any one of these values (Vref ′ or Δ
Vref) is transmitted as a transmitter adjustment control signal 17 together with a command to the transmitter, and the entire control of the VGA 6 is performed by ΔVr
Shift by ef.

The arithmetic unit 33 of the transmitter adjusting device 16 compares the thus obtained VGA unit control output characteristic and the transmitter total output power characteristic with similar characteristics by focusing on the shapes of both characteristics. Are compared. As described above, when the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic and the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic are compared with not the value itself such as the output value, the actual VGA control signal (Vcont) 7 in the transmitter is obtained.
Even if the value is unknown, the operating point of the VGA alone in the transmitter can be matched with the operating point assumed at the time of design by obtaining the transmitter total output power characteristic.

As described above, in the first embodiment, all the adjustment functions are provided in the transmitter adjustment device 16, so that the transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 1
It is only necessary to provide a take-out port 19 for taking out 2 and a take-in port 20 for taking in the control signal 17 for transmitter adjustment, and an effect is obtained that addition of functions to the transmitter is almost unnecessary.

Further, since the work related to the power control adjustment is performed by the transmitter adjustment device 16, an effect is obtained that the hardware scale of the transmitter required only for the adjustment can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, the case where the comparison and adjustment of the characteristics are performed from the transmitter adjustment device has been described. However, if the transmitter can be provided with a calculation function and a function approximation function, It is also possible to perform power control adjustment by sending parameters that define the form of characteristics such as the coefficient of an approximation function of VGA unit control output characteristics from the transmitter adjustment device 16 to the transmitter.

In the first embodiment, since the back-off amount from the saturation output is used as an adjustment parameter, the VGA is also used on the high output side (saturation output region).
Assuming that both the single control output characteristic and the transmitter total output power characteristic are similar, another parameter that determines the form of the characteristic, such as the output level difference from the inflection point of the function, as an adjustment parameter By using the function, it is possible to appropriately select the application range of the function.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, a case has been described in which one VGA is provided as a gain varying means in the transmitter, but a plurality of VGAs may be included in the transmitter. Hereinafter, such a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a transmitter of a communication device using the power control adjustment method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The description is omitted by attaching the reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 6a denotes an IF before frequency conversion output from the QMOD 5 according to the amplification gain set variably.
(Intermediate Frequency) This is a VGA as a variable gain means for amplifying a signal.
b is the RF (Radio Frequency) after frequency conversion.
cy) VGA as a variable gain means for amplifying a signal. As described above, the transmitter according to the second embodiment includes:
A plurality (two) of VGAs 6a and 6b are included. Reference numeral 21 denotes a frequency converter that converts the IF signal amplified by the VGA 6a and output from the point B into an RF signal and inputs the RF signal to the VGA 6b. 7a and 7b are Vs for variably setting the amplification gain of the VGA 6a or VGA 6b.
This is a GA control signal (Vcont).

A transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12 output from an outlet 19 of the transmitter is branched and input to a transmitter 22. Based on the transmitter total output power characteristic based on the transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12, Each VGA6
The transmitter adjustment device is connected to the outside of the transmitter and generates transmitter adjustment control signals 17a and 17b as adjustment information for individually adjusting the operating points a and 6b. Note that the transmitter adjustment device 22 generates a plurality (two in this case) of transmitter adjustment control signals 17a and 17b in the embodiment shown in FIG. It is different from one transmitter adjustment device. The internal configuration of the transmitter adjustment device 22 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, but is transmitted to the adjustment control unit 34 as VGA adjustment means based on the data of the comparison result by the calculation unit 33. Multiple (two) transmitter adjustment control signals 17
a and 17b are generated.

Reference numerals 20a and 20b denote input ports as input means for inputting the transmitter adjustment control signals 17a and 17b into the transmitter.
a, control signal 17 for transmitter adjustment input from 20b
a, 17b, the set transmission power signal (Vref) 15
a and 15b are target power control circuits. Reference numeral 24 denotes a transmission power detection signal (P
_DET) 12 as a set transmission power signal (Vre) as a target setting signal input from the target power control circuit 23.
f) Compare the VGA control signal (Vc
ont) is a comparison control circuit that generates 7a and 7b.

Next, the operation will be described. Note that the basic operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, only different portions will be described here.

The modulation signal output from the point A of the QMOD 5 is input to the VGA 6a,
IF amplification is performed according to an amplification gain variably set according to the A control signal (Vcont) 7a. VGA
The modulated signal subjected to IF amplification and output control in 6a is input to the frequency converter 21, converted into a radio frequency, and sent to the VGA 6b. The VGA 6b RF-amplifies the frequency-converted modulated signal according to an amplification gain variably set according to a VGA control signal (Vcont) 7b from the comparison control circuit 24. The modulated signal whose RF level is amplified by the VGA 6 b and whose output level is controlled is power-amplified by the power amplifier circuit 8 and then sent to the directional coupler 9.

As described above, by providing a plurality of VGAs (in this case, two VGAs 6a and 6b), the control range (dynamic range) can be made larger.

The transmitter adjustment device 22 is provided with the transmission power detector 11
Inputs the transmission power detection signal (P_DET) 12 detected from the output of the directional coupler 9 from the outlet 19 of the transmitter, and adjusts the transmitter. This adjusting method is the same as that described in the first embodiment,
They differ in the following points.

That is, each VG
The difference ΔV between A6a and 6b and the value at the time of design Vref
ref is sequentially obtained, and the adjustment control unit 34 uses the control signals 17a, 1 for the transmitter adjustments for each of the VGAs 6a, 6b based on the ref.
7b and send them to the transmitter inlets 20a, 20b.
b to the target power control circuit 23. In the target power control circuit 23, the transmitter adjustment control signals 17a, 1
7b, and outputs the set transmission power signals 15a and 15b, and the comparison control circuit 24 outputs the set transmission power signals 15a and 15b.
VGA control signals 7a and 7b are generated based on the comparison result between the transmission power detection signals (P_DET) 12 and the VGA control signals 7a and 7b, and are sent to the VGA 6a or 6b.

At this time, the amplification gains of the VGAs not to be adjusted are individually set so that the input level of the power amplification circuit 8 is in a range where distortion is not added by the power amplification circuit 8. In other words, for a VGA other than the specific adjustment target VGA among a plurality of VGAs, an area where the form of the total output power characteristic of the transmitter is similar to the control output characteristic form of the VGA to be adjusted is necessary. The amplification gain is set so that it can be obtained in the proper range. As a result, the range in which the VGA unit control output characteristics are similar to the transmitter total output power characteristics is expanded, and the adjustment accuracy can be further improved.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, VG
A: Obtain the control output characteristics of the single unit and the total output power characteristics of the transmitter, and adjust the control operating point of the VGA based on the comparison result between the form of the control output characteristics of the VGA and the total output power characteristics of the transmitter. Power control, which makes it possible to better match the VGA operating point in the transmitter's total output power characteristics with the VGA operating point at the time of design, and to easily achieve the performance intended at the time of design. There is an effect that an adjustment method can be obtained.

According to the present invention, by using a function that approximates the VGA unit control output characteristic and the transmitter total output power characteristic,
Since the configuration of the two characteristics is compared, it is possible to reduce the number of abnormal points at the measurement points, and the number of measurement points can be as high as the degree of freedom of the function. There is an effect that a possible power control adjustment method can be obtained.

According to the present invention, when adjusting a VGA to be adjusted by a transmitter including a plurality of variable gain amplifiers, the amplification gain of a VGA other than the specific VGA to be adjusted is adjusted by the total output of the transmitter. VG whose power characteristic form is to be adjusted
VGA in a state where the gain is set so that an area similar to the shape of the A unit control output characteristic is obtained in the range necessary for adjustment.
, The range in which the VGA unit control output characteristics and the transmitter total output power characteristics are similar is widened, and a power control adjustment method that can increase the accuracy of the adjustment is obtained. effective.

According to the present invention, a parameter defining the form of the approximate function used for comparing the VGA unit control output characteristic and the transmitter overall output power characteristic is provided from the transmitter adjustment device to the transmitter, thereby providing the VGA. Since the adjustment is performed, there is an effect that a power control adjustment method capable of adjusting the VGA on the transmitter side is obtained.

According to the present invention, the operating point of the gain varying means is set in accordance with the adjustment information input from the input means.
A target setting signal for setting near the operating point of the single unit at the time of design is generated by the adjusting means, and the control means controls the amplification gain of the gain variable means based on the target setting signal, and the output means controls the amplification gain. Since the system is configured to output the transmitter total output power characteristic that changes according to the target setting signal, the operating point of the VGA used in the transmitter can be determined by using the transmitter total output power characteristic that can be taken out to the outside. Operating point, a transmitter capable of achieving the VGA performance (dynamic range, distortion, etc.) assumed at the time of design can be obtained. Of the VGA alone can be adjusted, and it is not necessary to know the value of the VGA control signal (Vcont) of the transmitter. It is possible to adjust by using the transmitter requires less even hardware changes of the transmitter required for adjustment is effective, such as obtained.

According to the present invention, the adjustment means generates an individual target setting signal for each gain variable means, and the control means individually controls the plurality of gain variable means according to the corresponding target setting signals. VG
The range in which the A-unit control output characteristic is similar to the transmitter total output power characteristic is widened, and there is an effect that a transmitter capable of further improving the adjustment accuracy can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the shape of the VGA unit control output characteristic obtained by the unit characteristic obtaining unit and the transmitter total output power characteristic obtained by the output power characteristic obtaining unit are compared by the characteristic shape comparing unit. , The VGA adjustment means adjusts the control operation point of the VGA to the vicinity of the control operation point at the time of design based on the comparison result. Since the operating point of the VGA used alone can be adjusted, it is possible to obtain a transmitter adjustment device capable of achieving the VGA performance (dynamic range, distortion, etc.) assumed at the time of design. effective.

According to the present invention, the characteristic shape comparing means is provided to compare the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic with the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic by function approximation. Points can be reduced,
Since the number of measurement points may be about the degree of freedom of the function, there is an effect that a transmitter adjustment device capable of shortening the measurement time can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the VGA adjusting means is provided so that the amplification gains of the VGAs other than the specific VGA to be adjusted among the plurality of VGAs incorporated in the transmitter can be changed in the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic. Since the VGA adjustment is performed in a state where the gain is set so that an area similar to the form of the VGA unit control output characteristic to be adjusted is obtained in a range necessary for the adjustment, the VGA unit control output characteristic and There is an effect that a range in which the overall output power characteristic is similar to that of the transmitter is widened, and a transmitter adjustment device capable of further improving the adjustment accuracy is obtained.

According to the present invention, the VGA adjustment means is provided so that the VGA adjustment is performed by the transmitter adjustment device. Therefore, the operation related to the VGA adjustment of the transmitter can be performed by the transmitter adjustment device. It is possible to reduce the hardware scale of the transmitter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transmitter according to a first embodiment of the present invention together with a transmitter adjustment device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a transmitter adjustment device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a VGA unit output characteristic and a transmitter total output power characteristic for explaining a VGA adjustment method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transmitter according to a second embodiment of the present invention together with a transmitter adjustment device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a transmitter using a conventional quadrature modulation device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional VGA adjustment method;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a VGA unit output characteristic and a transmitter total output power characteristic.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 data channel signal, 2 data branch, 3, 4
Baseband signal, 5QMOD, 6, 6a, 6b VG
A (gain variable means), 7, 7a, 7b VGA control signal, 8 power amplifier circuit, 9 directional coupler, 10 transmission antenna, 11 transmission power detector, 12 transmission power detection signal, 13 comparison control circuit (control means ), 15, 15
a, 15b Set transmission power signal (target setting signal), 1
6 transmitter adjustment device, 17, 17a, 17b transmitter adjustment control signal (information for adjustment), 18 target power control circuit (adjustment means), 19 outlet (output means), 2
0, 20a, 20b intake (input means), 21
Frequency converter, 22 transmitter adjustment device, 23 target power control circuit (adjustment means), 24 comparison control circuit (control means), 31 VGA unit control output characteristic acquisition unit (unit characteristic acquisition unit), 32 transmitter total output power A characteristic acquisition unit (output power characteristic acquisition unit); 33 calculation unit (characteristic shape comparison unit); 34 adjustment control unit (VGA adjustment unit); 35 output connector (VGA adjustment unit);

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinjiro Fukuyama 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (72) Inventor Koichi Shimizu 2- 2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Yuji Kakehi 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsui Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroaki Nagano 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Within Electric Co., Ltd. HH06 KK01 LL01 LL22 LL24

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A power control adjustment method for controlling and adjusting the transmission power of a transmitter including at least one variable gain amplifier, comprising: a variable gain amplifier control output characteristic when the variable gain amplifier is used alone; And obtaining a transmitter total output power characteristic of the transmitter, comparing the form of the variable gain amplifier unit control output characteristic with the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic, and controlling the variable gain amplifier based on the comparison result. A power control adjustment method comprising adjusting an operating point. 2. A control operating point of the variable gain amplifier is adjusted based on a comparison result of a form of a control output characteristic of the variable gain amplifier alone and a form of a transmitter total output power characteristic of the transmitter when the variable gain amplifier is used alone. 2. The power control adjustment method according to claim 1, wherein the comparison between the form of the control output characteristic of the variable gain amplifier alone and the form of the total output power characteristic of the transmitter is performed using an approximated function. 3. When a control operation point of the variable gain amplifier is adjusted by a transmitter including a plurality of variable gain amplifiers, the variable gain amplifier as a specific adjustment target in the plurality of variable gain amplifiers is adjusted. The amplification gain of the variable gain amplifier other than the gain amplifier is adjusted in a region where the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic of the transmitter and the form of the variable gain amplifier unit control output characteristic of the variable gain amplifier to be adjusted are similar. 3. The power control adjustment according to claim 1, wherein the control operation point of the variable gain amplifier to be adjusted is adjusted in a state in which the adjustment is performed in a range required for the power control. Method. 4. A transmitter adjusting device which sets a parameter representing a form of an approximate function used for comparing a form of a control output characteristic of a variable gain amplifier alone of a variable gain amplifier with a form of a total output power characteristic of a transmitter of a transmitter. The power control adjustment method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the variable gain amplifier is adjusted on the transmitter side by giving the variable gain amplifier to the transmitter. 5. At least one or more gain variable means capable of variably setting an amplification gain, and adjusting an operating point of the gain variable means according to adjustment information, and controlling the gain variable means alone at the time of design. An adjusting unit for generating a target setting signal for setting the vicinity of the operating point; a control unit for controlling an amplification gain of the gain variable unit based on the target setting signal generated by the adjusting unit; Input means for inputting the adjustment information, and output means for outputting a transmitter total output power characteristic of the transmitter, the output means changing in accordance with the target setting signal generated by the adjustment means. Machine. 6. A plurality of gain varying means, wherein the adjusting means generates an individual target setting signal for each of the gain varying means, and the control means controls each of the gain setting means according to the corresponding target setting signal. 6. The transmitter according to claim 5, wherein the variable gain means is individually controlled. 7. A unit characteristic obtaining means for obtaining a variable gain amplifier unit control output characteristic of a variable gain amplifier used in a transmitter, and an output power characteristic for obtaining a transmitter total output power characteristic of the transmitter from the transmitter. Obtaining means, a characteristic shape comparing means for comparing the shape of the variable gain amplifier unit control output characteristic obtained by the unit characteristic obtaining means, and the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic obtained by the output power characteristic means, A transmitter adjustment apparatus comprising: a variable gain amplifier adjustment unit that adjusts a control operation point of the variable gain amplifier to a vicinity of a control operation point at the time of design based on a comparison result by the characteristic shape comparison unit. 8. A characteristic shape comparing means for comparing a variable gain amplifier single control output characteristic of a variable gain amplifier with a transmitter total output power characteristic of a variable gain amplifier. 8. The transmitter adjustment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein both the characteristic and the total transmitter output power characteristic are approximated by a function. 9. When the transmitter includes a plurality of variable gain amplifiers to be adjusted, the variable gain amplifier adjusting means includes: a variable gain amplifier to be a specific adjustment target among the plurality of variable gain amplifiers. The amplification gains of the variable gain amplifiers other than those required in the region where the form of the transmitter total output power characteristic of the transmitter is similar to the form of the variable gain amplifier unit control output characteristic of the variable gain amplifier to be adjusted are necessary for adjustment. 8. An operating point of the target variable gain amplifier is adjusted so as to be obtained in a range.
Transmitter adjustment device as described. 10. The variable gain amplifier according to claim 7, further comprising a variable gain amplifier adjusting means for adjusting said variable gain amplifier from said transmitter adjusting device. Transmitter adjustment device.