Method and device for providing envelope-following for variable envelope radio frequency signals

摘要

A method (200) and device (100) provide an efficient linear power amplifier that generates a variable-envelope radio frequency RF signal. The method includes the steps of: A) using an efficient envelope-following unit to output a supply voltage in accordance with a variable envelope of an input baseband signal, wherein using the efficient envelope-following unit includes: 1) using a bandwidth-limiting mapping unit to determine a reference signal based on the baseband signal; and 2) using an envelope-tracking power converter to output a supply voltage, responsive to the reference signal, to the linear RF power amplifier; B) providing an RF input signal with amplitude and phase information to a linear RF power amplifier; and C) using the linear RF power amplifier to output a power-efficient amplified variable-envelope RF signal with substantially a same amplitude and phase information as the RF input signal.