System and method for transmitting a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) waveform to a receiver

摘要

An encoder can convert a stream of data into three or four synchronized 4-PSK signals, for 64-QAM and 256-QAM, respectively. Three or four mixers can combine the three or four synchronized PSK signals with a common local oscillator signal to form three or four respective amplifiable signals, which can all have the same amplitude. One amplifier receives a first of the amplifiable signals and powers one radiator. Two amplifiers both receive a second of amplifiable signals and power two respective radiators. Four amplifiers receive a third of the amplifiable signals and power four respective radiators. The amplifiers can all operate in near or full saturation. Each radiator radiates in one of a plurality of discrete, specified states. The radiated states from the radiators combine through far-field electromagnetic propagation and effectively sum at the receiver to mimic transmission from a single amplifier.

主权项

1. A system for transmitting a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) waveform to a receiver, the system comprising:
first, second, and third mixers that combine synchronized first, second, and third phase-shift keying (PSK) signals with a common local oscillator signal to form respective first, second, and third amplifiable signals; a first amplifier that receives the first amplifiable signal and powers a first radiator in response to the received first amplifiable signal; second and third amplifiers that receive the second amplifiable signal and power respective second and third radiators in response to the received second amplifiable signal; and fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh amplifiers that receive the third amplifiable signal and power respective fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh radiators in response to the received third amplifiable signal; wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh radiators radiates in one of a plurality of discrete, specified states; and wherein the radiated states from the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh radiators combine through far-field electromagnetic propagation and effectively sum at the receiver to mimic transmission from a single amplifier.