CA2221685C - A cartesian loop transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

A cartesian loop transmitter is disclosed. The disclosed cartesian loop includes various fine and coarse power control circuits that allow power control over a wide range and that allow fine control in very small increments. The disclosed cartesian loop also includes a loop filter which minimized noise in the loop, a DC nullin circuit, an instability detection circuit, a mask detection circuit, an undervoltage protection circuit, a temperature protection circuit and an automatic phase calibration circuit.

Description

WO 96!37949 PCT/GB96/01226 A CARTESIAN LOOP TRANSMITTER
Background of the Inventian This invention generally relates to radio transmitters. More specifically, it relates to apparatus and m~thod for providing linear radio transmitters via Cartesian loop circuitry.
Today's radio communicasions systems typically operate in narrowly de'ined bands o~ frequency. Ccnsequently, the transmitters in radio communication systems require power amplifiers that are capable of operating 20 in a highly linear fashion to maintain the spectral efficiency, thereby minimizing the resulting interference.
The use of Cartesian loop circuits to achieve linear power amplification in cammunication system transmitters is known in the art. A known Cartesian loop circuit is shown in FIG. 1 and is described in an article entitled is "RF Linear Amplifier DesiQn," by P.S. Kenington and A. Batsman, published in the proceedings of RF Expo West at pages 223 tv 232 in March of 'i 994.
The Cartesian loop circuit of FIG. 1, however, has several limitations.
Orn~ general limitation is the inability to provide adequate pow~r contras, a necessary function in most comm~anlcation system transmitters. By way of Zo example only, existing circuits do no provide an adequate range of power control. Further, existing circuits also da not provide adequate fine power contra!. There are other iimitationa in the power control offered by existing .
SUBSTITUTE ~i-IEE?' (RULE 26) carcesian loop circuits.
Existing Cartesian loop circuits also do not provide any noise filtering to remove the noise introduced by the Cartesian locp. Thus, existing Cartesian .
loop circuits provide noisy operation. Existing Cartesian loop circuits also do not provide adequate calibration techniques to compensate for DC offset of components and to compensate for phase variations in the Cartesian loop. All of these limitations place a limit on the accuracy of operation.
Other limitations include the lack of instability detection, the lack of adaptive operation during overheat situations and during undervoltage to situations and the lack of any type of detection of the transmission mask to ensure the proper operation of the Cartesian loop transmitter.
In view of these and other limitations, new and improved Cartesian loop circuitry is needed, particularly for use in linear transmitters in radio communication systems.
Summarrr Of The Inyention The present invention provides method and apparatus for pulling DC
offsets in a feedback path of a Cartesian loop that consists of a forward path and the feedback path, thereby minimizing degradation of the performance of the Cartesian loop. In accordance with the method of pulling DC offsets, the ao operation of the forward path is disabled and the DC offset in the feedback path is sensed and stored. The DC offset in the feedback path is then subtracted out while the forward path is enabled. The downconverter is SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) preferably driven with its local oscillator during this process since the local oscillator can affect the DC offset, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, if system filming constraints do not permit the local oscillator to lock at its specified stability, the storing of the DC offset is done when the s local oscillators have reached a predetermined stability.
The DC offset nulling is preferably performed with a sample and hold that senses and acquires the DC offset in the feedback path when the forward path is disabled. The forward path is disabled preferably by disabling a power amplifier in the forward path.
io More particularly, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of transmitting baseband signals with a Cartesian loop circuit, the Cartesian loop circuit having a forward path, a feedback path, an upconverter and a downconverter and frequency synthesizers which supply the Cartesian loop with local oscillators for the upconverter and the downconverter, the is method comprising the steps of:
disabling the operation of the forward path;
sensing and storing the DC offset in the feedback path while the forward path is disabled, before the time slot in which communication is to take place becomes active, when the frequency synthesizers have reached a 2o predetermined stability; and subtracting the DC offset in the feedback path.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a Cartesian loop for transmitting baseband signals, comprising:
a forward path having a first input for the baseband signals and a 2s second input, the forward path including means to upconvert the input signals to an RF signal for transmission;
a feedback path for providing an error signal input indicative of the non-linearity of the forward path to the second input of the forward path, the feedback path having an input from the forward path and means to 3o downconvert the input from the forward path;
control means for disabling the input to the feedback path;
frequency synthesizers for supplying local oscillators for the means to upconvert the input signals and for the means to downconvert the input from the forward path;
means for sensing and acquiring the DC offset in the feedback path when the forward path is disabled, and before the time slot in which communication is take place becomes active, and when the frequency synthesizers have reached a predetermined stability; and means for subtracting the DC offset from the feedback path.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, apparatus and method for filtering out the noise in a Cartesian loop circuit are provided, to thereby improving full duplex operation in a communication system using the Cartesian loop transmitter. In accordance with the apparatus of this aspect of the present invention, a noise filter is provided in the forward path that blocks frequencies outside the frequency band over which signals are transmitted.
The filter is preferably a bandpass filter having a bandwidth approximately is equal to the frequency band of the signal to be transmitted. Thus, if the Cartesian loop is being used in a frequency hopping system --wherein a plurality of frequency channels are used -- the filter has a bandwidth that allows transmission over all frequency channels. Importantly, 3a the noise filter blocks frequencies generated by the components in the ' Cartesian loop that are within the band of frequencies used to receive signals, In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, apparatus , and method for detecting when a Cartesian loop is operating in an unstable fashion is provided. In accordance with the method of this aspect of the present invention, the baseband signals in the Cartesian loop are monitored to detect when they have a frequency outside the bandwidth of the baseband input signals. When a frequency outside the bandwidth is detected, the operation of the Cartesian loop is controlled to try to restore stable operation ;, ~ or to minimize the possibility of the breaking of the transmission mask.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, apparatus and method for detecting undervoltage and over-heat operation are provided, To detected over-heat operation, the temperature at which the Cartesian loop circuit operates is detected. When the temperature exceeds a first threshold, _5 the power output of the Cartesian loop circuit is lowered. When the temperature exceeds a second threshold, operation of the caresian loop circuit is stopped. Alternatively or in addition, the gain of the loop can be differentially controlled or the phase of the loop can also be controlled.
These actions can be taken in any order with any priority.
ao To detect undervoltage operation, the power supply voltage supplied to the Cartesian loop circuit is detected. When the voltage falls below a first threshold, the power output of the Cartesian loop circuit is lowered. When SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26~

'WO 96I37~949 PCT/GB96/01226 the voltage falls below a second threshold, operation of the Cartesian loop circuit is stopped. Alternatively or in addition, the gain of the loop can be differentially controlled or th~ phase of the loop can also b~ controlled.
These actions can be taken in any order with any priority, In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, apparatus and method for controlling the phase of a eartesian loop having one or more power control components is provided. In accordance with the method, the on/aff status of each power control component in the Cartesian loop is determined. Then, the phase of the Cartesian Poop is adjusted depending on 1p which components are in the loop. This adjusts for the varying phase delays cau sed by components in the loop. in accordance with another aspect of this invention, when the Cartesian loop is used in a communication system that cammunicates over a plurality of frequency channels the frequency used for a communication is determined and the phase of the Cartesian loop is adjusted in accordance with the frequency.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, when a Cartesian loop transmitter is used in a time slotted communication system, apparatus and method are provided to control the transmissions at the start of an active time slot to allow the Cartesian loop to reach full operation before ao full power transmission. In accordance ~ivith the method, the timing of an actirre time slot is determined. Then, the output from the Cartesian loop . during the start of the active tune slot is delayed. This is preferably SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26) WO 96!37949 PCT/GB96/01226 accomplished by tamping the power control signal to an output power amplifier in the forward path of the Cartesian loop circuit.
fn accordance with another aspect of the present invention, apparatus , and method for simply controlling the power output of the Cartesian loop transmitter are provided. In accordance with the method, one or more stages of a multi-stage power amplifier in the forward path of a Cartesian loop are bypassed with a bypass switch when lower power output is desired. It is preferred to control the phase of the Cartesian loop as stages are bypassed to account for the changes in loop phase.
1o In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, apparatus and method for controlling the power output of a Cartesian loop by selectable loop attenuation with a PIN diode circuit are provided. In accordance with the apparatus, the forward path of the loop includes a first input for receiving baseband signals, a second input, means to upconvert the input signals to a z5 signal to be transmitted, an attenuator having selectable attenuation and a plurality of power amplifier stages. The feedback path includes an input from the forward path, a PIN diode attenuator having selectable attenuation and means to downconvert and an output that provides a feedback signal to the second input. It is preferred to control the attenuation so that the attenuation o removed in the forward path equals the attenuation added in the reverse path and vice versa.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, apparatus SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 96137949 PCTlGB96/01226 and method that allow selectable control of the output power of the poop are provided. In accordance with the apparatus, the loop includes a forward path having a first input for the baseband signals, a second input, means to upconvert the input signals to a signal to be transmitted, an attenuator having ssrlectable attenuation, an amplifi~r having selectable amplification and a plurality of power amplifier stages. The feedback path includes an input from the forward path, an attenuator having selectable attenuation, an amplifier having selectable amplification and means to downconvert the input from the forward path. Again, it is preferred to match gain control in the forward path la and in the feedback path.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, apparatus and method for providing fine and coarse control of the output power of the cartesian loop is provided. The loop circuit includes means for controlling the gain of the baseband signals in addition to the gain control elements previously discussed. It is preferred to provide fine control of the Cartesian loop power output by the means for controlling the gain of the baseband signals and to provide coarse control of the Cartesian loop power output by controlling the gain control means in the forward and feedback paths.
pe~cri_g,2ion Of The Drawi~as FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a known Cartesian loop circuit;
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a Cartesian loop circuit which SUBSTITUTE Sf~EET (RULE 26) implements several aspects of the present invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a Cartesian loop with power control features in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates the process by which a digital signal processor controls the power output of a Cartesian loop circuit in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates a PIN diode circuit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FiG. 6 illustrates a timing diagram showing the operation of the DC
1o pulling circuit of FIG. 2 in accordance with one aspect of the present invention; and FIG. 7 illustrates a typical baseband signal generated by the loop during stable operation and a typical baseband signal generated by the loop during unstable operation.
The invention will now be described in connection with certain illustrated embodiments; however, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions and subtractions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.
Descrietion Of The Preferred Embo invent a o Referring to FIG. 1, a known Cartesian loop circuit is illustrated. The circuit receives I and Q inputs at baseband frequency in the differential amplifiers 10 and 12, respectively. The 1 and Q signals are then upconverted SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) to a RF frequency by an unconvereer 14. The upconvertsd signals are amplified by an amplifier stage, represented by a pair of amplifiers 16 and 18.
The signals are then transmitted from an antenna 20.
The transmission path 22 is referred tc as the forward path. The forward path 22 is similar to the circuitry found in any transmitter. In the circuit of FiG. 1, however, the amplifiers 16 and 18 do not need to be highly linear, instead they can be less expensive non-linear components, mainly because of the correction of non-linearities afforded by a feedback path 24 provided by cartesian loop circuits.
Zo The input to the feedback path 24 is generated by a coupler 26 which outputs a portion of the signal from the forward path 22 to the feedback path 24-. The coupled signal is downconverted to the baseband frequency by a downconverter 28. The downconverted signals are input to the differential amplifiers 10 and 12. The amplifiers 10 and 1 2 then implement a subtraction ~5 prflcess to generate error signals which provide a correction of any non-linear operation of the circuit.
Referring to FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of a Cartesian loop circuit that implements several aspects of the present invention is illustrated.
Differential I and Q inputs are supplied to differential amplifiers 100 and 102, 2o respectively. The I and Q outputs from the amplifiers 100 and 102 are 'input to attenuators '104 and 106, respectively. The outputs from the attenuators 104 and 106 are sent to summing points 108 and 1 10, respectively.

SURST1TUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The summing point 108 provides the input to a Poop filter 1 12 and the summing point 1 10 provides the input to a loop filter 1 14, The loop filters 1 12 and 1 14 are implemented as integrators with amplifiers 118 and 120, .
respectively, and with capacitors 1 22 and 124, respectively, The loop filters 112 and 1 14 provide the filtering and the gain needed for the Cartesian loop to constrain the gain-bandwidth of the coop within stable limits.
The loop filters 1 1 2 and 1 14 provide the outputs to the forward path 126. As previously described, one input to the summing points 108 and 1 10 comes from the I and Q signals, respectively. The other input to the summing =p points 108 and 110 comes from a feedback path 1 28 which provides a measure of the error of the operation of the Cartesian loop.
The outputs from the loop filters 1 12 and 1 14 are input to an upconverter 130. The upconverter 130 converts the ! and Q outputs from the loop filters 1 1 2 and 1 14, which are at a baseband frequency, to a RF
5 frequency. In this case, the preferred RF frequency is 900MHz.
The RF signal from the upconverter 130 is sent to an attenuator 132 and then to another attenuator 134. The signal is then sent to an amplifier 136 and then to a, bandpass filter 138. The signal is than sent to a power amplifier module 140 which amplifies the signal prior to transmission. The ao amplified signal is then sent from the power amplifier 140 through a coupler 142, an isolator 144 and a duplexer 146 to an antenna 148 which transmits the signals.
l0 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 'WO 96137949 PCT/GB96/01226 The coupler 142 transmits a portion of the signal from the forward path 126 to the feedback path 128. In the feedback path 1 28, the signal is sent ' to an attenuator 148, then to an attenuator 150 and then to an amplifier stage consisting of a switchable attenuator 152 and a switchabie amplifier 154. The power controlled signal is then sent to a downconverter 156. The downconverter 156 converts the signal in the feedback path 128 to a baseband signal.
The I and Q outputs from the downconverter 156 are sent through the amplifiers 158 and 160 and through the amplifiers 162 and 164, respectively.
y0 The amplifier 1 60 provides the output to the summing point 108 and the amplifier i 64 provides the output to the summing point 1 10.
,purer Control The power control features provided in the embodiment of the Cartesian loop shown in F1G. 2 in accordance with several aspects of the present i5 invention wilt now be discussed. The I and Q inputs are initially input through the attenuators 104 and 106. The attenuators 104 and 106 provide l5dB of attenuation when enabled and pass the I and Q signals through without attenuation when disabled. The attenuators 104 and 106 arc controlled by the cantrol signal CONTROLS which is provided through the register 168 and ao the driver 168 from the communication ayatem. Thus, the attenuetors 104 and 106 provide gross power control, providing 15 dB of attenuation when lower power output is desired and 0 d8 of attenuation when higher output SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 96/37949 PCTlGB96/01226 power is desired.
Then the l and Q signals are input to the Cartesian loop circuit and upconverted by the upconverter 130 to a frequency between 896MHz to 901 MHz, or some other desired frequency. After the upconversion, the signal in the forward path 126 is again power controlled by the attenuator 132, the P
PIN diode attenuator 134 arid the amplifier 136. The attenuator 132 in the case of FiG. 2 is a 2-4-8-8-16 attenuation integrated circuit that allows the following attenuations to be switched in and out of the forward path 126:
2dB, 4dB, 8dB, 8dB and l6dB. The attenuator 132, therefore, provides up to 32 dB of attenuation in 2 dB steps. As such, the attenuator 132 can be used to provide fine power control in 2dB increments in the forward path 126. The attenuator 132 can be implemented by the part number RF2410, made by RF
MicroDevices. The attenuator 132 is digitally controlled by the control signals CONTROL which are provided by the communication system.
The PIN diode attenuator 134 preferably provides 15 dB of attenuation when the attenuator 134 is enabled and OdB of attenuation when not enabled. The attenuator 134 is preferably enabled and disabled under control of the control signal CONTROL from the communication system. Thus, the attenuator 134 provides gross power control in the forward path 128.
2o The amplifier 13fi in the forward path 126 provides 30dB of gain.
Then, after filtering by the noise bandpass filter 138, the power amplifier provides another 30 to 40 dB of gain. In accordance with one embodiment of is SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 96I~37949 PCT/GB96/01226 the present invention, the power output of the Cartesian loop can also be controlled by varying the signal on the power pin of the power amplifier 140.
Sa, for example, if a Hitachi PF0121 power amplifier is used in FIG.2, the power output of the amplifier 140 can be decreased by decreasing the signal POWER CONTROL which results in decreased output from the loop, Conversely, the power output of the amplifier 140 can be increased by increasing the signal POWER CONTROL which results in increased output from the loop. As gain is increased or decreased in the amplifier 140, a corresponding change should be implemented in the feedback path i 28, so lb that overall loop gain is maintain~d. After power amplification, the signal is then output through the antenna 148.
So far, the circuit of FIG. 2 provides 15 dB of attenuation before the Poop. Then, the forward path 126 of the loop provides up to 47 dB of attenuation. All of the attenuation is under control of the system controller in the communication system. The forward path 126 also provides a first 30 dB
amplification stage and a second 30 to 40 dB amplification stage before the s3dn~al is provided to the antenna 148. It is understood that the amplifiers shown in FIG. 2 in fact represent several stages of amplifiers.
The power control in the feedback path 128 will now be discussed.
z o As stated before, the feedback path 128 starts with the coupler 142 which, in the case of FIG. Z, couples approximately 1.096 of the signal from the forward path 126. The coupled signal is then attenuated by the level set SUBSTITUTE SKEET (RULE 26) attenuator 148. The level set attenuator is provided to allow calibration of the loop to compensate far tolerance variations from circuit to circuit and to set the initial power output of the loop circuit.
Then the signal is attenuated by a 2-4-8-8-16 attenuator 150. The attenuator 150 balances the attenuator 132 in the forward path 126. The attenuator 150 is preferably a PIN diode circuit which provides a total of up to 32 dB of attenuation in 2 dB increments. The selection of the amount of attenuation is provided by control signals from the system controller of the communication system which are stored in the register 166.
to The signal is then passed to a switchable amplification stage that includes the 0 dB attenuator 152 and the 15 dB amplifier 154. When amplification of the output signal is desired by the system controller of the communication system, the amplifier 154 is disabled and the 0 dB attenuator is enabled by the control signals from the register 166. When a tower power output is desired, the system controller enables the amplifier 154 and disables the attenuator 152 so that the signal in the feedback path is amplified.
When attenuation or gain is switched in and out of either the forward path i 26 or the feedback path 128, it is preferred to switch in or out an equal amount of attenuation or gain in the other path. Doing this maintains the 2 o balance of the loop by preventing a change in overall loop gain despite variations in output power. For example, to keep the loop balanced, it is pr~ferred to balance a gain in power in the forward path 126 with an SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ati:enuation of power in the feedback path 128. Similarly, it is preferred to balance an attenuation of power in the forward path 1 26 with a gain of power in the feedback path 128. Thus, if attenuation is switched in the forward path 126, it is preferred to switch out an equal attenuation in the feedback path 128.

The circuit of FIG. 2 provides fine and coarse control of power output with components inside and outside the loop. In the case of FIG. 2, fine control refers to steps of 1 to 2 dB of power control while coarse control refers to larger steps of power control although in other systems the steps of 1o fine and coarse control may have different values. In FIG. 2, 1 5 dB of power control is provided outside the loop by the attenuators 104 and 106.
Additionally, it is preferred to utilize a digital signal processor t~SP) to provide the I and Q signals, as wil( be explained and illustrated in FIG. 3. The DSP
provides fine control of power output in 1 and 2 dB steps. Since both of these power control mechanisms are outside the loop, there is no need to balance the use of these mechanisms. Fine power control is provided in FIG.
2 within the loop by the attenuators 132 and 7 50, the use of these attenuators being balanced as previously explained. Coarse power control is provided in FIG. 2 by the attenuators 134 and 152 and by the amplifier 154, 2 o the use of each of these components being balanced as previously explained.
FIG. 2 illustrates a particular embodiment of a Cartesian loop in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 3, a block diagram of another SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Cartesian coop circuit with various power control components is illustrated.
In F1G, 3, ! and Q signals, which are to be transmitted, are provided to the Cartesian loop circuit 220 from a digital signal processor (DSP) 222. The Cartesian loop circuit 220 includes the standard loop components, including the differential ampfifiers/loop filters 224 and 226, the upconverter 228, the RF power amplifier chain 229, the coupler 230, the antenna 232 and the downconverter 234.
The loop circuit 220 also has a plurality of power control components.
The power control components are pre-loop attenuators 236 and 238, o forward path attenuators 240 and 242, forward path amplifier 243, power amplifier by-pass switch 244, feedback path attenuators 246 and 248, feedback path amplifier 250 and I and Q feedback amplifiers 252 and 254.
The power control components of FIG. 3 provide coarse and fine power control of the output of the signal from the antenna 232. The DSP 222, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, determines the desired output power and provides the control signals to the loop circuit to control the various power control components in accordance with the desired output power. The DSP 222 also provides fine power control by controlling the amplitude of the I and Q signals supplied to the loop circuit.
ao Referring to FIG. 4, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the OSP 222, or other controlling device, in step 260 determines the needed power output level at the antenna 232. Then, in step 262, the SUBSTITUTE SHEET 4RULE 26' R'O 96137949 PCT/GB96/01226 D ~P' 222 or other controlling device sends out control signals that set the coarse power settings of various components in the Cartesian loop circuit 220. For example, if attenuators 236, 238, 240 and 242 provide a selectable coarse attenuation level, as the attenuators 104, 7 06, 132 and 134 in FIG. 2 did, then the DSP 222 selects the desired attenuation level of each of these w components, preferably in accordance with preselected values in a look-up table, and then issues control signals to implement the desired attenuation levels. Simultaneously, the DSP 222, in step 262 calculates the necessary fine power control to implement the desired power output level at the antenna l0 232. The DSP 222 then selects the appropriate amplitude of the 1 and Q
signals to finely control the output power level and sends the amplitude controlled I and t~ signals to the loop circuit 220.
Referring back to FIG. 3, the power amplifier by-pass switch 244 implements another power control feature in accordance with another aspect ~5 of the present invention, The power amplifier 229 is illustrated as having two stages 256 and 258, although more stages can be implemented if desired or needed. in accordance with the present invention, the by-pass switch 244 is used to by-pass one or more amplification stages as needed to control the out,~put power at the antenna 232. When greater power is needed, the switch 20 244 is opened and when lower power is needed, the switch 244 is closed.
Wh~en~ the switch 244 is closed to bypass an amplifier stage, it is preferred to disable the power amplifier stage 258. The control of the switch 244 is SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) preferably accomplished by the I7SP 222 although any controlling device in the communication system that knows the desired output power level can control the switch 244. While FIG. 3 illustrates the switch 244 by-passing a single amplification stage, the switch 244 can be used to by-pass as many stages as desired. Of course the gain control in the forward path shoudl be balanced with a gain control in the feedback path, so as to maintain loop gain.
When the bypass switch 244 is utilized, it is preferred to control the phase of the loop to account for the change in the phase of the loop caused by a component being switched in and out. The preferred method of controlling 1o the phase of the loop will be described later.
In FIG. 3, the attenuators 236 and 238 correspond to the attenuators 104 and 106 of FIG. 2 and can be on/off attenuators as in FIG. 2 which provide a very coarse level of power control. Alternatively, the attenuators 236 and 238 can be continuously controlled attenuators that provide a continuous range of attenuation. In this case, the attenuators 236 and 238 can be used to provide some measure of fine power control.
The attenuators 240 and 242 and the amplifier 243 of FIG. 3 correspond with the components 132, 134 and 136 in FIG. 2. Again, the attenuators 240 and 242 can be 2-4-8-8-16 attenuators or on/off attenuators 2o as in FIG. 2 or they can be continuously variabie attenuators. Similarly, the amplifier 243 can provide either on/off gain or continuously variable gain. it should be noted that if the DSP 222 is used to provide power control as SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26, previously described, it may be possible to eliminate many of the power control components in the loop 220, particularly those components that provide fine power control.
The attenuators 24fi and 248 and the amplifier 250 of FIG. 3 correspond with the components 148, 150 and 1 52 in FIG. 2. Again, the attenuators 246 and 248 can be 2-4-8-8-1 6 attenuators or on/off attenuators or, alternatively they can be continuously variable attenuators. Similarly, the amplifier 250 can provide either on/off gain or continuously variable gain, It is also possible to provide power control of the output signal with the ~.o arnpiifiers 252 and 254 placed after. the downconverter 234 in the feedback path. Another possible method of power control is to place an attenuator 259 in the output path. Further, any of the power control components in FIG.

3, whether in loop or outside the loop, can be on/off components or can be continuously variable components.
_5 Referring to FIG, 5, the circuit diagram of the PIN diode attenuator 1 50 of FIG. 2 is illustrated. The circuit is a five stage 300 to 304 attenuation circuit, the stages providing 2 di3, 4 dB, 8 dB, 8 dB and 18 d8 of attenuation, respectively, when enabled. Each stage consists of five capacitors C1 to C5, three inductors L1 to L3, four PIN diodes D1 to D4 arid three resistors R1 to 2o R3. The PIN diodes D1 to D4 are preferably HP/Avantek pin diodes, part number HSMP3895. The values of these cempvnents in each stage, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are as SUBSTITUTE 56-iEET (RULE 26) given in the table below:
Table 1 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage Stage 5 (300) 1301 ) (302) 4 (304) (303) C1 33pF 33pF 33pF 33pF 33pF

C2 33pF 33pF 33pF 33pF 33pF

C3 3.3pF 3.3pF 3.3pF 3,3pF 3.3pF

C4 33pF 33pF 33pF 33pF 33pF

C5 33pF 33pF 33pF 33pF 33pF

L1 39nH 39nH 39nH 39nH 39nH

to L2 39nH 39nH 39nH 39nH 39nH

L3 39nH 39nH 39nH 39nH 39.nH

R 1 430i~ 220f2 120n 120f~ 68i~

R2 12f~ 27L1 56lZ 56f2 150!0 R3 430i~ 220f~ 120f1 120 681 Each stage 300 to 304 has two control signals, CONTROL A and CONTROL B, To activate a stage, ie. to utilize the stage to attenuate, CONTROL A goes low and CONTROL B goes high. To deactivate a stage, CONTROL A goes high and CONTROL B goes low.
2o The circuit of FIG. 5 is preferred in the feedback path 128 because it provides linear high power operation which integrated circuit attenuators can not. Further, the attenuator circuit of Fla. 5 is preferred over relays as it eliminates large mechanical devices and operates mare quickly.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 96137949 PCT/G~96/01226 ~loise Fil ~rina Referring to FIG. 2, the cartesian loop circuit of the present invention includes a noise filter 138 in the loop, specifically in the forward path 126 of the Ieop: The filter 138 is preferably a bandpass filter having a bandwidth equal to or greater than the complete bandwidth over which the system transmits, So, for example, in a frequency hopping system where a plurality of frequencies are used, the bandwidth of the filter must permit transmission of all frequencies and protect the received frequencies from extraneous noise created by tha loop. Thus, the noise ~fiiter 138 blocks frequencies generated IO by loop comonents that are within the receive band of a communication system. Any filter that accomplishes these functions can be used.
The purpose of the noise filter 138 is to filter out the noise created by the components in the loop. The baseband components in the loop have wideband characteristics which tend to create noise over a wide range of frequencies. Further, there is typically a great deal of gain in the loop sa that the loop noise, including the wideband noise, is amplified. The noise filter 7 3E3 filters out this noise.
Note that, in FIG. 2, the noise filter 138 is located in tha forward path l2El after the upconverter 130 and after the power control components 132, 134- and 9 36 but before the power amplifier i 40. This is the preferred ioca~tion of the bandpass filter 138 as it allows noise created by the upconverter 130 and the power control components 132, 134 and 135 to be SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) filtered. The location of the filter 138 before the power amplifier 140 allows the filter 138 to operate on lower power signals, thereby making the filter 138 less expensive. Nevertheless, the filter 138 can be located in other , positions as well. For example, the filter 138 can be located in the forward path 126 after the upconverter 130. This location of the filter 138, however, P
will not filter out the noise created by the power control components 132, 134 and 136. The filter 138 can also be located after the power amplifier 140, however, this location requires the filter 138 to be designed to handle a much higher power signal.
to The filter 138 is particularly useful in permitting full duplex operation of the communication device employing the Cartesian loop transmitter of FIG. 2.
In duplex operation, the transmissions are at a high power level and at the same time the signals are received at much lower power levels. Accordingly, the duplexer 146 provides separation of the high power transmit signal and the tow power receive signal. However, when the loop circuit creates wideband noise, the duplexer 146 does not fully suppress the noise in the receive band. Thus, the noise filter 138 provides improved receive band noise suppression, thereby improving full duplex operation in a radio communication system.
2p It is preferred, but not necessary to, implement the bandpass filter 138 with a surface acoustic wave SAW) device. The SAW filter 138 provides improved phase response and improved linearity than other types of bandpass SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 96/379~b9 PCT/GB96/01226 filters. A preferred SAW filter 138 is part number FAR-FSCC-902M50-L2E2 made by Fujitsu. Note that the center frequency of this SAW filter 138 is 902MHz while the upconvert~r 130 converts the baseband ! and Q signals to . . 896 to 901 MHz. Since the bandwidth of the noise filter 138 is wide enough, the SAW filter 138 operates acceptably.
~r DC~Caffe _t~Nul[in-Q
Referring to F1G. 2, the Cartesian loop transmitter of the present invention includes DC offset pulling circuitry 300 and 302. The first DC
offset pulling circuit 300 includes a differential amplifier 302 and a sample so arsd hold 306. The second DC offset pulling circuit 302 else includes a _ differential amplifier 308 and a sample and hold 310.
Both circuits 300 and 302 operate the same way and perform the same functions, except the circuit 300 nails DC offsets in the l path and the circuit 302 nulls DC offsets in the G path. Therefore, while the following describes the operation of the first circuit 3001 It is equally applicable to both circuits 300 and 302.
The differential amplifier 304 from the first DC offset pulling circuit :300 has a first input from the output of the loop filter 118 and a second input from the reference output of the upconverter 130. This reference outputs the avid-rail reference of the power supply. In the circuit of FIG. 2, a single rail supply of about 12 volts is used so that the reference output is about 6 volts.
If a dual power supply were used, for example + 8 volts and - 6 volts, then SUBSTITUT~ ShIE~T (RUL~ 2fi) the mid-raft output would be about 0 volts. Thus, the differential amplifier 304 determines the DC offset between the loop fitter 1 18 and the mid-rail reference output of the upconverter 130. Alternative measures of DC offset can also be utilized.
The measured value of the DC offset from the differential amplifier 304 is sent to the input of the sample and hold 306. Referring to FIG. 6, a timing diagram of the operation of the sample and hold 306 is illustrated. Line A in FIG. 6 represents the timing associated with a particular time slot in a TDMA
type communication system wherein communications are provided in a 1o plurality of time slots. When line A is high, the particular time slot is potentially active tthat is, if a subscriber assigned to the time slot is trying to communicate with someone) and when the line A is low, the particular time slot is inactive. Line B represents the control signal which is provided to the power amplifier module 140 to enable and disable the forward path 126.
When TxON is high, the power amplifier 140 is enabled and the forward path 126 provides an amplified signal. When TxON is low, the power amplifier 140 is disabled and the forward path 126 is disabled so that no signal is provided to the antenna 148 or to the feedback path 128. The synthesizers needed to generate the frequencies for the communication system and for~the ao upconverter i 30 and the downconverter 158 for the Cartesian loop transmitter are enabled as indicated in line C of FIG. 6. The synthesizers become available with acceptable accuracy as indicated in line D.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 96137949 ~CT/GB96/01226 Line E represents the preferred control signal for the sample and held 306. When line E goes high, 'the sample and hold 306 begins to sample the output of the differential amplifier 304. The sample and hold 306 completes a feedback loop around the amplifier 1 18. The action of the feedback loop causes the voltage on the charging capacitor of the sample and hold 306 to acquire a value sufficient to minimize any DC error between the output of the amplifier 1 18 and the mid rail reference. When a stable charge value is rEaached, the sample and hold 306 is switched into hold made as line E goes IGw~. Note that TxOn (Line i3) is preferably disabled during the sampling 1o process so that the forward path 126 is disabled and the DC offset being measured results from the DC offsets of the components in the reverse path 128.
Once the control signal on Line E goes low, the negative value of the DC offset appears on the output of the sample and hold 306. The output of the sample and hold 306 is connected to the summing point 108. Thus, the complementary value of the DC offset measured during the disablement of the forward path is added to the input to the loop filter '0 18, canceling the DC
offset created by the components in the feedback path 128. At same later time, the control signal TxON go~s high, thereby enabling operation of the 2 o forward path 126 before the time slot becomes active. The negative of the measured DC offset is added to the signal during the active time slot to null the DC offset.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Since the local oscillator affects the DC offsets, it is preferred to drive the downconverter 156 with a local oscillator during acquisition of the DC
offset value. It is preferred to allow the synthesizers that supply the local oscillators to the upconverter 130 and the downconverter 156 to get as close as possible to their specified stability since the local oscillator will affect the DC offset of the upconverter and the downconverter. There can be, however, system timing constraints that require a tradeoff so that the DC offset measurement is taken before the synthesizers reach their specified stability.
In this case, the DC offset measurement is taken with the synthesizers as 1o close to their specified stability as possible.
Instability Detection The loop circuit of FIG. 2 includes an instability detection circuit 400.
The loop is designed with an appropriate amount of gain and phase delay so as to maintain the stability of the loop. Nevertheless, the loop can become 15 unstable for number of reasons. For example, loop instability can be caused by~ too much loop gain or poor antenna VSWR. When the loop goes unstable, it results in the generation of out ef band frequencies that generally cause the transmitted signal to break the transmission mask of the communication device. The instability detection circuit 400 detects when the loop becomes 2 o unstable and then causes appropriate action to be taken to avoid breaking the transmission mask.
The instability detection circuit 400 preferably includes a fitter 402, an SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE Zfi) WO 9113'T949 PCT/GB96/01226 envelope detector 404 and a comparator 406. The circuit 400 is preferably connected to the Loop circuit within the feedback path 126, after the downconverter. This location allows detection of signals at the baseband freiauency regardless of the frequency at which the signal is transmitted.
The circuit 400, however, can be connected to other points in the loop, but it is preferred to connect the instability detection circuit 400 to the loop to detect a baseband frequency as it simplifies the design of the filter 40Z, When the loop is stable, the signal at the output of the fieedback path 128 should mainly include frequencies within the bandwidth of the I and N
to signals. Such a signal 408 -- having bandwidth, bw -- is illustrated in FIG. 7.
During stable loop operation, the signal 408 is input to the instability detection circuit 400. The filter 402 is preferably a high pass filter with a cutoff frequency, fHP. Thus, the filter 402 blacks the feedback signal. The envelope detector 404, therefore, detects no signal. The comparator 406 which is comparing the output of the envelope detector 404 to a threshold th determines that there is no unwanted signals present in the loop, which indicates that the~loop is operating in a stable condition.
Whsn the loop begins unstable operation, the signal at the output of the feedback path 128 will includ~ frequencies outside the bandwidth of the 2o feedback signal 408. A typical signal 410 that results from unstable loop conditions is illustrated in FIG. 8. The signal 410 includes the feedback signal but also includes the noise signal 414.
a7 SUBSTiTUTIE SHEET (RULE 26) When the signal 410 that results from unstable loop conditions results, the filter 402 in the instability detection circuit 400 blocks the feedback signal, but passes the noise signal 414, The envelope detector 404 detects the presence of the 'noise signal 414 and passes the envelope of the signal 414 to the comparator 406. If the noise signal 414 has an amplitude that exceeds the threshold, th, the comparator outputs an active signal to indicate that the loop is operating in an unstable condition.
The output of the instability circuit 400 is output to a DSP such as the DSP 222 shown in FlG. 3. When the instability circuit outputs an active to signal, the DSP preferably performs one of several functions. First, the DSP
attempts to adjust the phase of the loop. The method by which the phase is adjusted will be discussed Later. if that action does not bring the loop back into stable operation, the DSP attempts to control the power in either the forward path 126 or the feedback path 128. White it is normally preferred to adjust the power control in a balanced fashion, as prsviously discussed, in this case the power adjustment is made differentially so that the power is adjusted in only one part of the loop. If this does not return the loop to stable operation, then the DSP attempts to reduce the power output of the circuit in discrete steps. If this still doss not return the loop to stable operation, the 2 o DSP shuts down the transmitter.
The loop circuit of FiG. 2 includes a temperature sensor 416 which SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) detects the operating temperature of the Cartesian loop transmitter. The output of the temperature sensor 416 is connected to two comparators 41 8 and 420. The first comparator 418 compares the output of the temperature sensor 416 to a first threshold, thl, and the second comparator compares the output of the temperature sensor to a second threshold, th2.
When the operating temperature of the Cartesian loop circuit exceeds a ternperature, which is known through testing, the output of the Cartesian loop can break the transmission mask. Thus, when the output of the temperature sensor 418 exceeds the threshold, th 1, which is set lower than the threshold, 1o th:?, the comparator 418 outputs an active signal on OVERHEAT 1. The signal OVERHEAT1 is sent to the system controller, such as the DSP 222 in FIG. 3 or any other system controller. When OVERHEAT 1 is active, the syatem controller preferably causes a lower power to be transmitted by controlling the attenuation or gain of the power control components in the Cartesian loop to cause a lower power output signal to be provided at the antenna 148. For example, the system controller can adjust the attenuators 1 O4, 1 Ot3, 132. 134, or 150 or the amplifiers 154, or any other device to lower the power output. The lower power output causes the signal to be transmitted within the defiined transmission mask.
2 o If the operating temperature of the loop circuit exceeds the second threshold, th2, so that the output of the second comparator 420, OVERHEAT
2, is enabled, then merely lowering the power output of the Cartesian loop SUBSTITUTE SHEET i;EtULE 26) transmitter will not restore transmissions to the defined transmission mask.
Therefore, when the second threshold th2 is exceeded and an active OVERHEAT 2 signal is sent to the system controller, the system controller -preferably shuts down the Cartesian loop transmitter. This ensures that the transmission mask will not be broken.
As an alternative, or in addition to the above, the loop gain can be altered differentially -- that is, in either the forward path or the feedback path without balancing -- to try to restore proper operation within a transmission path. Also, the phase of the loop can be changed. Any of these actions can to be taken in any order with any priority.
tJndervoltaqe Protection The loop circuit of FIG. 2 also includes two comparators 422 and 424, which are connected to the power supply of the Cartesian loop transmitter.
The first comparator 4Z2 compares the output of the power supply, V, to a first threshold, thi , and the second comparator 424 compares the output of the power supply to a second threshold, th2.
When the voltage supply falls below the first threshold, thl, the output of the Cartesian loop can break the transmission mask if the loop is left to operate without any change. Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the 2o present invention, when the power supply falls below tha threshold, thl, the comparator 422 outputs an active signal on UNDERVOLTS1. The aignel UNDERVOLTSi is sent to the system controller, such as the DSP 222 in FfG.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 3 or any other system controller. When UNDERVOLTS1 is active, the system controller preferably causes a lower power to be transmitted by controlling the attenuation or gain of the power control components in the Cartesian loop to cause a lower power output signal to be provided at the antenna 148. For .. example, the system controller can adjust the attenuators 104, 106, 132, 134, or 150 or the amplifiers 154, or any other device to lower the power output, The lower power output causes the signal to be transmitted within the defined transmission mask.
If the voltage supply falls below the second threshold, th2, which is to lower than the first threshold, thl, the output of the second comparator 424, UNDERVOLTS2, is enabled. When the voltage supply falls this far, then merely lowering the power output of the Cartesian loap transmitter will not be enough to restore transmissions to the defined transmission mask. Therefore, when UNDERVOLTS2 is active, the system controller preferably shuts down 15 the Cartesian loop transmitter. This ensures that the transmission mask will noi; be broken.
As an alternative, or in addition to the above, the loop gain can be slterad differentially -- that is, in either the forward path or the feedback path without balancing -- to try to restore proper operation within a transmission 2 o path. Also, the phase of the loop can be changed. Any of these actions can be taken in any order with any priority.
p~,(~~ Sharing Fol Time Hoooinq"S~tstems SUBSTITUTE SWEET (RULE 26) When a cartesian loop is used to provide linear amplification in a communication system transmitter that employs TDMA -- wherein the transmissions on the communication system occupy a plurality of time slots -it is preferred to control the operation of the power amplifier 140 during the initial part of a time slot when it first becomes active.
This is preferably accomplished by sending the TxON signal, which is sent to the power pin of the amplifier 140 to control the output of the amplifier 140, through a shaping circuit 450, The shaping circuit 450, for the case of FIG. 2, is a simple RC filter, using a resistance of 2.2 k~ and a zo capacitance of 22 nF, The shaping circuit 450 therefore causes the input to the power pin of the power amplifier 140 to increase slowly when it is first turned on during an active slot.
This delay allows the loop gain around the loop 126 and 128 to be established before a high power signal is transmitted, thereby allowing the loop to implement its corrections and to prevent spurious signals that may be caused by the components in the loop before stable operation begins. For example, DC offsets in the forward path ate not corrected until the signal has traveled around the loop. Also there are local oscillator leakage problems to contend with. By delaying the transmission of the signal for a length of time 2o sufficient for the signal to travel around the loop, improved operation is achieved.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Referring to FIG. 2, the phase of the loop can be set by a manual phase adjuster 460 and by a computer controlled phase adjuster 462. The manual phase adjuster 460 can be used to set up the phase of the loop. The computer controlled phase adjuster 462, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, is controlled in accordance with the power output levels of the loop and with the frequency of the signal being transmitted, to cause a shift in the local oscillator that drives the downeonverter~ 156.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the signal is being transmitted over one of a plurality of frequency p channels in a frequency hopping fashion, the control computer, such as a DSP
_222, <ietermines the transmit frequency of the signal. The control computer then accesses a lookup table to determine the appropriate phase control setting for the downconverter's 7 56 local oscillator and then sets the computer controlled phase adjuster 462 accordingly. In the case of FIG. 2, where the signal is transmitted over a 5 NtHZ band of frequencies, the lookup table divides the band into three bands and controls the phase adjuster 462 in approximately 20° steps. Of course, the exact implementation will vary with each application.
The phase of the loop is aisv preferably controlled as a function of the 2o power control of the loop. As the power control components in the loop are switched in and out, the phase of the loop changes. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention the control computer, such as a DSP 2Z2, SUBSTITUTE Sfl--IEET RULE 26) maintains a table of the possible loop phases that can result when the various loop power control components are switched in and out of the loop. As part of the power' control function, the DSP 222 accesses the table to determine the appropriate loop phase for the particular loop configuration and controls the phase adjuster 462 to adjust the loop phase accordingly. Thus, as each power control component is switched in and out, the loop phase~is adjusted.
Referring to F(G. 2, the control computer changes the phase of the Poop as any of the attenuators 132, 134, 150 and 152 or the amplifiers 136 and 154 are switched in or out. In FIG. 3, the control computer, the DSP
~o Z22, changes the phase of the loop as any of the power control components 224, 226, 240, 242, 243, 256, 258, 246, 248, 250, 252 or 254 are switched in or out of the loop. This includes when the bypass switch 244 switches the amplifier stage 258 in or out of the loop.
It is understood that changes may be made in the above description 15 without departing from the scope of the invention. It is accordingly intended that all matter contained in the above description and in the drawings be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims (8)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of transmitting baseband signals with a cartesian loop circuit, the cartesian loop circuit having a forward path, a feedback path, an upconverter and a downconverter and frequency synthesizers which supply the cartesian loop with local oscillators for the upconverter and the downconverter, the method comprising the steps of:
disabling the operation of the forward path;
sensing and storing the DC offset in the feedback path while the forward path is disabled, before the time slot in which communication is to take place becomes active, when the frequency synthesizers have reached a predetermined stability;
and subtracting the DC offset in the feedback path.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of enabling the operation of the forward path.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the forward path includes an upconverter and the feedback path includes a down-converter, further comprising the step of:
injecting a local oscillator into the downconverter while disabling the operation-of the forward path and sensing and storing the DC offset.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the forward path includes a power amplifier at its output that is disabled to disable operation of the forward path.

5. A cartesian loop for transmitting baseband signals, comprising:
a forward path having a first input for the baseband signals and a second input, the forward path including means to upconvert the input signals to an RF signal for transmission;

a feedback path for providing an error signal input indicative of the non-linearity of the forward path to the second input of the forward path, the feedback path having an input from the forward path and means to downconvert the input from the forward path;
control means for disabling the input to the feedback path;
frequency synthesizers for supplying local oscillators for the means to upconvert the input signals and for the means to downconvert the input from the forward path;
means for sensing and acquiring the DC offset in the feedback path when the forward path is disabled, and before the time slot in which communication is take place becomes active, and when the frequency synthesizers have reached a predetermined stability; and means for subtracting the DC offset from the feedback path.

6. The cartesian loop of claim 5, wherein a local oscillator is supplied to the downconverter when the input to the feedback path is disabled.

7. The cartesian loop of claim 5, wherein the control means turns off a power amplifier in the forward path.

8. The cartesian loop of claim 5, wherein a coupler provides the input to the feedback path from the forward path and wherein the control means disables the coupler.