Transmitter and method of transmitting a signal
View Patent ↗A transmitter includes an output. A coupler receives at least a derivative of the output and provides a feedback signal. A demodulator receives the feedback signal and performs an additive mixing to demodulate the feedback signal.
1. A transmitter having an output, comprising:
a coupler to receive at least a derivative of the output and provide a feedback signal; and
a demodulator to receive the feedback signal, and to perform an additive mixing to demodulate the feedback signal, the demodulator having a first switching element and a second switching element, the first switching element coupled to a first end or a second end of a return line associated with the coupler depending on a switching state of the first switching element, and the second switching element coupled to a local oscillator or a phase modulator depending on a switching state of the second switching element.
2. A transmitter according to claim 1 , the demodulator comprising:
a first adder calculating a first signal based on the feedback signal and a frequency signal; and
a non-linear element providing a second signal based on a non-linear relation of the first signal.
3. A transmitter according to claim 2 , the demodulator further comprising:
a phase shifter that shifts a phase of the frequency signal.
4. A transmitter according to claim 3 , the demodulator further comprising:
a second adder that calculates a third signal based on the feedback signal and the phase-shifted frequency signal.
5. A transmitter according to claim 4 , the demodulator further comprising:
a second non-linear element that provides a fourth signal based on a non-linear relation of the third signal.
6. A transmitter according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler is configured to receive a reflection signal or a derivative thereof as feedback signal.
7. A transmitter according to claim 6 , wherein the reflection signal is provided by a transmission medium.
8. A transmitter according to claim 7 , wherein the transmission medium is an antenna.
9. A transmitter according to claim 7 , wherein the transmission medium is a transmission line.
10. A transmitter according to claim 1 further comprising an evaluation apparatus connected to the demodulator.
11. A transmitter according to claim 10 , wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured to calculate power level information based on a transmission signal provided at the output.
12. A transmitter according to claim 10 , wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured to calculate power level information based on reflection signal.
13. A transmitter according to claim 1 , further comprising an amplifier connected to the output to provide a transmission signal at the output.
14. A transmitter according to claim 1 , further comprising a modulator that modulates a data signal into a transmission signal, wherein the modulator is connected to the output to provide the transmission signal at the output.
15. A transmitter according to claim 10 , wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured to demodulate the feedback signal into a reference data signal.
16. A transmitter according to claim 15 , wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured to compare the reference data signal to a data signal.
17. A transmitter according to claim 14 , wherein the modulator comprises an oscillator connected to the demodulator, wherein the oscillator provides a frequency signal.
18. An apparatus for controlling an output signal of a transmitter, comprising:
a demodulator that performs an additive mixing, the demodulator having a first switching element and a second switching element, the first switching element coupled to a first end or a second end of a return line depending on a switching state of the first switching element, and the second switching element coupled to a local oscillator or a phase modulator depending on a switching state of the second switching element.
19. An apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the demodulator is a six-port-junction receiver.
20. An apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the demodulator is a five-port-junction receiver.
21. An apparatus according to claim 18 , further comprising a regulation apparatus connected to the demodulator.
22. An apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the regulation apparatus is configured to regulate a power level of the output signal.
23. An apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the regulation apparatus is configured to monitor a power level of a reflection signal provided at an output of the transmitter by a transmission medium connected to the output.
24. An apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the regulation apparatus is configured to control a linearity of a transmit path of the transmitter.
25. Method for controlling a transmitter comprising:
sampling a feedback signal at an output of the transmitter; and
demodulating the feedback signal using an additive mixing, the demodulating including:
in a first switching state, demodulating the feedback signal aided by a local frequency signal, and
in a second switching state. demodulating the feedback signal aided by a phase-modulated frequency signal.
26. Method according to claim 25 , further comprising:
calculating power level information based on the feedback signal.
27. Method according to claim 25 , wherein the feedback signal is derived from a transmission signal provided at an output of the transmitter.
28. Method according to claim 25 , wherein the feedback signal is derived from a reflection signal provided at an output of the transmitter by a transmission medium connected to the output.
29. Method according to claim 25 , comprising:
regulating an output power of the transmitter in dependency of the power level information.
30. Method according to claim 25 , further comprising regulating a linearity of a transmit path of the transmitter based on the feedback signal.