Radio frequency modulator and methods thereof

Abstract

An attenuation level may be set once per a command to set an average output power of output signals of a power amplifier, and outphased modulated signals may be attenuating according to the attenuation level prior to amplification of the signals by a power amplifier. An outphasing modulator may include at least a multiplier to multiply an amplitude modulation signal by a phase modulated carrier signal to generate a modulated signal. The outphasing modulator may also include a phase splitter to phase split the modulated signal to generate phase shifted modulated signals. The outphasing modulator may also include a sum-difference combiner to produce outphased modulated signals from the phase shifted modulated signals.

1 . A method comprising:
 setting an attenuation level once per a command to set an average output power of output signals of a power amplifier; and   attenuating according to said attenuation level outphased modulated signals prior to amplification of said signals by said power amplifier.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attenuating said signals comprises attenuating a first of said signals by a particular attenuation and attenuating a second of said signals by substantially said particular attenuation. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein setting said attenuation level comprises setting said attenuation level to one of two predefined attenuation levels. 
   
   
       4 . A method comprising:
 receiving an average output power command;   setting an attenuation level based on said command; and   attenuating at least one of phase shifted signals or outphased modulated signals according to said attenuation level prior to amplification of said signals by a power amplifier.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said average output power command is received at a predetermined time interval. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said average output power command commands one of a plurality of output power levels. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said attenuation level is set once per said receiving of said command. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said attenuating results in a multiplication of amplitude signals and said phase shifted signals being zero. 
   
   
       9 . A device comprising:
 a transmitter comprising a power amplifier, the transmitter for receiving an average output power command, the command commanding one of a set of attenuation levels, the transmitter to, based on the command, attenuate at least one of phase shifted signals or outphased modulated signals according to said one of a set of attenuation levels prior to amplification of said signals.   
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said average output power command is received at a predetermined time interval. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said average output power command commands one of a plurality of output power levels. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said attenuation level is set once per said receiving of said command. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said attenuating results in a multiplication of amplitude signals and said phase shifted signals being zero. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said transmitter comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a multiplier and an attenuator, and wherein the attenuation is performed by the component.