Method and apparatus for achieving and maintaining balance in solid-state rf and microwave power amplifiers

Abstract

This application is generally related to methods for improving performance in a system. One of the methods may include a step of determining whether absorbed power in a system meets a predetermined threshold. The absorbed power may be based upon first and second Walsh codes transmitted to each of first and second gain and phase modulators in the system. The first Walsh code may be orthogonal to the second Walsh code. A first set of the first and second Walsh codes may be inverted with respect to a second set of the first and second Walsh codes. The method may also include a step of modulating the absorbed power in view of the determination. The method may further include a step of transmitting feedback based upon the modulated power to the first and second gain and phase modulators.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining, via a processor, whether an absorbed power in a system meets a predetermined threshold, where the absorbed power is based upon first and second Walsh codes transmitted to each of first and second gain and phase modulators (GPMs) in the system, where a first set of the first and second Walsh codes is inverted with respect to a second set of the first and second Walsh codes;   modulating, via the processor, the absorbed power in view of the determination; and   transmitting feedback based upon the modulated power to the first and second GPMs.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first Walsh code is orthogonal to the second Walsh code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 evaluating whether the absorbed power exhibits any one or more of a +/−0.5 dB change in gain or a +/−2.5 degree change in phase from the predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a product based on the first and second Walsh codes and the absorbed power.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 accumulating the product over a length of the first and second Walsh codes.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 adding the accumulated product to the first set of the first and second Walsh codes.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 subtracting the accumulated product from the second set of the first and second Walsh codes.   
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory, computer readable medium including program instruction that, when executed by a processor, effectuate:
 determining whether an absorbed power in a system meets a predetermined threshold, where the absorbed power is based upon a first and second Walsh code transmitted to each of first and second gain and phase modulators (GPMs) in the system, and where the first Walsh code is orthogonal to the second Walsh code;   modulating, via the processor, the absorbed power in view of the determination; and   transmitting feedback based upon the modulated power to the first and second GPMs.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions further include evaluating whether the absorbed power exhibits any one or more of a +/−0.5 dB change in gain or a +/−2.5 degree change in phase from the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein a first set of the first and second Walsh codes is inverted with respect to a second set of the first and second Walsh codes. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions further include determining a product based on the first and second Walsh codes and the absorbed power. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further include accumulating the product over a length of the first and second Walsh codes. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further include adding the accumulated product to the first set of the first and second Walsh codes. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further include subtracting the accumulated product from the second set of the first and second Walsh codes. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising a Walsh generator, the Walsh generator configured to:
 generate a first and second Walsh code, and   transmit each of the first and second Walsh codes to first and second gain and phase modulators (GPMs),   wherein the first Walsh code is orthogonal to the second Walsh code, and   wherein a first set of the first and second Walsh codes is inverted with respect to a second set of the first and second Walsh codes.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the Walsh generator is configured to generate third and fourth Walsh codes, and
 transmit the third and fourth Walsh codes to each of third and fourth GPMs.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the third Walsh code is orthogonal to the fourth Walsh code. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a first set of the third and fourth Walsh codes is inverted with respect to a second set of the third and fourth Walsh codes. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a processor is operably coupled to the Walsh Generator. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the Walsh Generator is located in a power amplification system.