| 摘要 |
An embodiment of an amplifier includes N (N>1) switch-mode power amplifier (SMPA) branches. Each SMPA branch includes two drive signal inputs and one SMPA branch output. A module coupled to the amplifier samples an input RF signal, and produces combinations of drive signals based on the samples. When an SMPA branch receives a first combination of drive signals, it produces an output signal at one voltage level. Conversely, when the SMPA branch receives a different second combination of drive signals, it produces the output signal at another voltage level. At least two of the SMPA branches produce output signals having different absolute magnitudes. A combiner combines the output signals from all of the SMPA branches to produce a combined output signal that may have, at any given time, one of 2*N+1 quantization states. |
| 主权项 |
1. An amplifier comprising:
a number, N, of switch-mode power amplifier (SM PA) branches, wherein the SMPA branches include at least: a first SMPA branch that includes
two first drive signal inputs, anda first SMPA branch output, whereinin response to receiving a first combination of drive signals at the two first drive signal inputs, the first SMPA branch is configured to produce, at the first SMPA branch output, a first SMPA branch output signal at a first voltage level, andin response to receiving a different second combination of drive signals at the two first drive signal inputs, the first SMPA branch is configured to produce, at the first SMPA branch output, the first SMPA branch output signal at a different second voltage level; and a second SMPA branch that includes
two second drive signal inputs, anda second SMPA branch output, whereinin response to receiving the first combination of drive signals at the two second drive signal inputs, the second SMPA branch is configured to produce, at the second SMPA branch output, a second SMPA branch output signal at a different third voltage level, andin response to receiving the different second combination of drive signals at the two second drive signal inputs, the second SMPA branch is configured to produce, at the second SMPA branch output, the second SMPA branch output signal at a different fourth voltage level. |
