Predistortion linearizer for power amplifier

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a high power amplifier, in particular to a predistortion linearizer for a high power amplifier that is capable of improving a nonlinear character of a high power amplifier.

[0004] 2. Background of the Related Art

[0005] In general, a high power amplifier is used to increase a power of an input RF signal, and an ideal high power amplifier increases size of the input RF signal without distorting it.

[0006] Because the high power amplifier comprises active elements having nonlinear characteristics, however, distortion components are inevitably included in the output of the high power amplifier.

[0007] There have been many linearization technologies and algorithms developed to improve the nonlinear characteristics issues of high power amplifiers. Among them, a predistortion method, an envelope feedback method, and a feedforward method are well-known.

[0008] Recently the predistortion method has been widely used in mobile communication base stations because its structure is simple, and its efficiency is superior as compared to the feedforward method. Additionally, unlike the envelope feedback method, the predistortion method has no limit on bandwidth.

[0009] The basic principle of the predistortion method is to improve the linearity of a high power amplifier by distorting an input signal in advance contrary to nonlinear distortion character of the high power amplifier, and providing the predistorted signal to the power amplifier as an input. Thus, the amplifiers distortion neutralizes the predistortion, leaving an undistorted amplified signal.

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a related art predistortion linearizer for a high power amplifier.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the related art predistortion linearizer comprises a first directional coupler 1, which samples some of an input signal, a phase shifter 2, which changes a phase of the input signal, and a variable attenuator 3, which changes a gain of the input signal. The related art device also includes a power amplifier 4, which amplifies an output of the variable attenuator 3, and a second directional coupler 5, which samples the output of the power amplifier. Finally, a comparison unit 6 is provided to control the phase shifter 2 and the variable attenuator 3 by comparing the output of the first and second directional couplers 1, 5.

[0012] An operation of the related art predistortion linearizer for the power amplifier will now be described.

[0013] The power amplifier 4 has nonlinear characteristics. In other words, its gain decreases and its phase is delayed in accordance with an increase of an input signal. Accordingly the nonlinear character of the power amplifier 4 can be improved by changing an input signal, so as to be an inverse of the gain decrease and phase change of the power amplifier 4. This is done using the phase shifter 2 and the variable attenuator 3.

[0014] When the phase shifter 2 and the variable attenuator 3 operate normally and the sampling rate is adjusted, signals outputted from the first and second directional coupler 1, 5 are equivalent. Herein, the sampling rate is determined so as to make both signals equivalent, and the sampling is performed in accordance with the output signal of the power amplifier 4.

[0015] The related art predistortion linearizer has various problems. For example, most of the related art phase shifters and variable attenuators are fabricated using FETs or diodes, and it is very difficult to fashion the nonlinear characteristics of the FET or diode to be accurately inverse to nonlinear characteristics of the power amplifier.

[0016] Accordingly, a difference of the signals outputted from the first and second directional coupler 1, 5, namely, the error value, is measured by the comparison unit 6, which includes an OP amp. Thus the phase shifter 2 and the variable attenuator 3 are controlled in accordance with the measured error value, and the nonlinear characteristics of the power amplifier 4 are compensated.

[0017] Using this method, however, the related art predistortion linearizer of the power amplifier cannot properly compensate when the nonlinear characteristics of the power amplifier change in accordance with time or external circumstances. Accordingly, the linearity of the power amplifier is reduced and remains uncompensated.

[0018] Specifically, as recited above, the phase shifter and the variable attenuator of the related art predistortion linearizer are diodes, and the comparison unit comprises OP-amps. As such, these analog circuits are greatly influenced by external circumstances (such as temperature and noise), and their accuracy is thus lower than a digital circuit.

[0019] In addition, an analog circuit can not accurately transmit a control voltage, and can not follow a response speed when the bandwidth of an input signal is wide. Accordingly, the linearity of the power amplifier lowers.

[0020] The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

[0021] An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter.

[0022] An object of the present invention is to provide a predistortion linearizer for a power amplifier, which substantially obviates problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide a predistortion linearizer for a power amplifier, which is capable of improving nonlinear character of the power amplifier quickly and accurately.

[0024] Another object of the present invention is to provide a predistortion linearizer for a power amplifier, which can maintain the linearity of the power amplifier when the nonlinear characteristics of the power amplifier change in accordance with external circumstances.

[0025] To achieve at least the above objects, in whole or in part, there is provided a predistortion linearizer for a power amplifier having a first and a second envelope detector which separately detect an envelope of input signals and output signals, a DSP which adjusts tally of a work function by comparing output signals of the first and the second envelope detectors, a work function generator, which generates a work function from the envelope of input signals and outputs gain and phase control voltages in accordance with the work function tally inputted from the DSP, and a vector modulator, which distorts input signals in accordance with the control voltage inputted from the work function generator and outputs the distortion compensation signal to the power amplifier.

[0026] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

[0027] The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a related art predistortion linearizer for a power amplifier.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a predistortion linearizer for a power amplifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 31s a circuit diagram of a DSP of FIG. 2.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a work function generator of FIG. 2.

[0032] The preferred embodiment of a predistortion linearizer for a power amplifier of the present invention will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, the predistortion linearizer preferably includes a first directional coupler 110, which extracts input signals, a vector modulator 111, which changes gain and phase of the extracted input signals, and a high power amplifier 112, which amplifies the output of the vector modulator 111. The predistortion linearizer also preferably includes a second directional coupler 113, which extracts output signals, and first and second envelope detector circuits 114, 115, which separately detect envelopes of the input and output signals, respectively. Next, a digital signal processor (DSP) 116 preferably compares the extracted envelope signals E1, E2, and outputs tally signals C1, C2 of a work function, and a work function generator 117 generates control voltages V1, V2 to control the gain and phase of the vector modulator 111. Thus the gain and phase are controlled according to the output of the first envelope detector 114 and the tally C1, C2.

[0034] The first envelope detector circuit 114 preferably includes a delay unit 10, which delays the input signals for a prescribed period of time, an envelope detector 11, which detects the envelope of the delayed input signals, and low-pass filter 12, which detects low frequency elements of the detected envelope signal to output a first extracted envelope signal E1.

[0035] The second envelope detector circuit 115 preferably includes a variable attenuator 13, which adjusts a size (gain) of an output signal to be the same as the size of an input signal, an envelope detector 14, which detects the envelope of the adjusted output signal, and a low-pass filter 15, which detects low frequency elements of the detected envelope.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, the DSP 116 preferably includes a subtracter 20, which subtracts the envelope signals E1, E2 detected by the first and the second envelope detector circuits 114, 115, and a conjugator 21, which changes a code of an imaginary number part of the first envelope signal E1 detected by the first envelope detector circuit 114. A multiplier 22 preferably multiplies the output of the subtracter 20 by the output of the conjugator 21, and an inverter 23 reverses an output signal of the multiplier 22. Finally, an integrator 24 integrates the output of the inverter 23 to provide tally signals C1, C2.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, the work function generator 117 preferably includes a first square unit 31, which squares the first envelope signal E1 outputted from the first envelope detector circuit 114, a second square unit 32, which squares an output of the first square unit 31, and first and second control voltage generators 33, 34. The first control voltage generates the first control voltage V1 based on the output of the first and the second square units 31, 32 and the tally signals C1, C2 of the DSP so as to control a gain distortion. The second control voltage generator 34 generates the second control voltage V2 based on the output of the first and second square units 31, 32 and the tally signals C1, C2 of the DSP 116 so as to control a phase distortion.

[0038] The first and second control voltage generators 33, 34 each preferably has a first multiplier 56, which multiplies an output of the first square unit 31 by the first tally C1, a second multiplier 57, which multiplies output of the second square unit 32 by the second tally C2, and an adder 58, which adds output of the first and the second multiplier 56, 57.

[0039] An operation of the predistortion linearizer for the power amplifier of the preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] Initially, it should be noted that a distortion signal due to nonlinearity of the power amplifier is typically generated by third and fifth elements of the power amplifier. In other words, when an input signal is y and y=x, the output of the power amplifier is p=x+bx³+cx⁵, and bx³+cx⁵generates the distortion signal.

[0041] Accordingly, if the distortion signal of the third and fifth elements having an opposite value, namely, −bx²−cx⁵is generated using a predistortion circuit and is then inputted to the power amplifier 112, a compensated output signal p, free of distortion, is generated by the power amplifier 112.

[0042] The work function generator 117 generates the negative distortion signal −bx²−cx⁴of the second and fourth elements.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, when the envelope signal E1 is X, and X=1+jQ, the output of the first square unit 31 is x², and output of the second square unit 32 is x⁴.

[0044] Accordingly, when the output of the first and second square units passes through the first and second control voltage generators 33, 34, V1 and V2 are C1x²+C2x⁴. After that, the vector modulator 111 multiplies input signal y=x by distortion signal −bx²−cx⁴generated by the work function generator 117, and the negative distortion signal having third and fifth elements −bx³−cx⁵is generated.

[0045] The DSP 116 determines the tally signals b, c of the distortion signal −bx²−cx⁴. The subtracter 20 of the DSP 116 subtracts the envelope signals E1, E2 and outputs error value. Thus, when the envelope signal E1 is x, and x=1+jQ, the conjugator 21 conjugates the envelope signal E1=x=1+jQ, its result is 1−jQ, and the multiplier 22 multiplies the error value by 1−jQ.

[0046] The output of the multiplier 22 is then reversed by the inverter 23 (−1+jQ), and the integrator 24 outputs the tally signals C1, C2 by integrating the output of the inverter 23.

[0047] Thus, non-linear characteristics of the power amplifier 112 are measured accurately, and distortion elements of third and fifth are detected. When the distortion elements are detected, tally signals b, c of second and fourth elements of the work function generator 117 are determined using the DSP 116.

[0048] Accordingly, the vector modulator 111 controls gain distortion and phase distortion in accordance with control voltage V1, V2 of the work function generator 117, and generates a pre-distortion signal.

[0049] When nonlinear characteristics of the power amplifier change in accordance with time and external circumstances (for example, temperature, noise, or others), predistortion characteristics of the input signal have to be changed to ensure linearity of the power amplifier 112.

[0050] When nonlinear character of the power amplifier 112 changes in accordance with time and external circumstances, the DSP 116 compares the envelope signals E1, E2 of the input and output signal detected on the first and the second envelope detector circuits 114, 115, and adjusts tally values b, c of the second and fourth elements, respectively, using the work function generator 117.

[0051] The predistortion linearizer as broadly described herein has many advantages. For example, although a characteristic of the power amplifier changes in accordance with temperature, noise, or input voltage, the linearity of the power amplifier is maintained.

[0052] Additionally, the adjustment operation is performed more quickly and accurately using the DSP.

[0053] Additionally, the predistortion linearizer of the power amplifier of the preferred embodiment generates a distortion signal that is the inverse of a distortion element of an output signal using the work function generator, and the DSP adjusts a tally of the work function by comparing the envelope of the input and output signals.

[0054] Accordingly, the predistortion linearizer of the power amplifier of the preferred embodiment is capable of improving nonlinearity of the power amplifier, and in particular, compensates for external circumstances and performs more accurately by implementing the DSP.

[0055] The predistortion linearizer of the power amplifier of the present invention is thus capable of maintaining linearity of the power amplifier when nonlinear characteristics of the power amplifier change in accordance with time or external circumstances, such as temperature or noise.

[0056] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.