Method for calibrating a quadrature modulator and a modulation system

1. A method for determining a calibration parameter of a quadrature modulator, the method comprising the stages of:

determining a set of sideband calibration frequencies;

for each sideband calibration frequency out of the set of sideband calibration frequencies:

inputting multiple input signals having the sideband calibration frequency to the quadrature modulator;

for at least some of the multiple input signals:

measuring a sideband signal power level; and

determining a sideband compensation signal that is responsive to at least one calibration parameter, the determining is being responsive to phase and gain imbalances expected at the measured sideband signal power level; and

wherein a first calibration parameter is a gain calibration parameter that is responsive to a fraction of a maximal gain imbalance value expected at the measured sideband signal value;

wherein a second calibration parameter is a phase calibration parameter that is responsive to a fraction of a maximal phase imbalance value expected at the measured sideband signal value;

wherein the multiple input signals comprise: a first input signal that is responsive to a sum of a previously inputted input signal and the first calibration parameter; a second input signal that is responsive to a difference between the previously inputted input signal and the first calibration parameter; a third input signal that is responsive to a sum of a previously inputted input signal and the second calibration parameter; and a fourth input signal that is responsive to a difference between the previously inputted input signal and the second calibration parameter;

wherein the method further comprises determining a compensation filter configuration in response to sideband compensation signals for the set of sideband calibration frequencies wherein a real part of the compensation filter is responsive to an in-band component representative of a phase and amplitude of the sideband compensation signals and wherein an imaginary part of the compensation filter is responsive to a quadrature component representative of the phase of the sideband compensation signals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximal gain imbalance value is determined from measured sideband signal value as MaxSideBandGain=20 log{−2*(10 SBP/10 +1)−√[(2* 10 SBP/10 +2)2−4*(10 SBP/10 −1)2]}−log{2*(10 SBP/10 −1)}, wherein SBP stands for measured sideband signal value and MaxSideBandGain stands for the maximal gain imbalance value.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximal phase imbalance value is determined from measured sideband signal value as MaxSideBandPhase=arctg{(1−10 SBP/10 )/(10 SBP/10 +1)}, wherein SBP stands for measured sideband signal value and MaxSideBandPhase stands for the maximal phase imbalance value.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input signal is selected between first input signal and second input signal in response to measured sideband signal value of the first input signal and measured sideband signal value of the second input signal.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the input signal is selected between third input signal and forth input signal in response to measured sideband signal value of the third input signal and measured sideband signal value of the forth input signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the third calibration parameter is selected such that for most phase imbalance values, at a certain sideband signal power, inputting at least one of the third and forth input signals results in a decreased sideband signal power.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first calibration parameter is selected such that for most gain imbalance values, at a certain sideband signal power, inputting at least one of the first and second input signals results in a decreased sideband signal power.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the altering comprising determining a compensation filter configuration in response to the sideband compensation signals.

9. A system for quadrature modulation, comprising:

a quadrature modulator;

a calibration entity, comprising a measurement device and a calibration controller, coupled to the quadrature modulator, for each sideband calibration frequency out of a selected set of sideband calibration frequencies, the stages of: (i) inputting multiple input signals having the sideband calibration frequency to the quadrature modulator; and for at least some of the multiple input signals: (ii) measuring a sideband signal power level; (iii) determining a sideband compensation signal that is responsive to at least one calibration parameter, the determining is being responsive to phase and gain imbalances expected at the measured sideband signal power level; wherein a first calibration parameter is a gain calibration parameter that is responsive to a fraction of a maximal gain imbalance value expected at the measured sideband signal value; wherein a second calibration parameter is a phase calibration parameter that is responsive to a fraction of a maximal phase imbalance value expected at the measured sideband signal value; wherein the multiple input signals comprise: a first input signal that is responsive to a sum of a previously inputted input signal and the first calibration parameter; a second input signal that is responsive to a difference between the previously inputted input signal and the first calibration parameter; a third input signal that is responsive to a sum of a previously inputted input signal and the second calibration parameter; and a fourth input signal that is responsive to a difference between the previously inputted input signal and the second calibration parameter; and (iv) determining a compensation filter configuration in response to the sideband compensation signals for the set of sideband calibration frequencies; wherein a real part of the compensation filter is responsive to an in-band component representative of a phase and amplitude of sideband the compensation signals and wherein an imaginary part of the compensation filter is responsive to a quadrature component representative of the phase of the sideband compensation signals.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the maximal gain imbalance value is determined from measured sideband signal value as MaxSideBandGain=20 log{−2*(10 SBP/10 +1)−√[(2*10 SBP/10 +2)2 −4*(10 SBP/10 −1)2]}−log{2*(10 SBP/10 −1)}, wherein SBP stands for measured sideband signal value and MaxSideBandGain stands for the maximal gain imbalance value.

11. The system of claim 9 the maximal phase imbalance value is determined from measured sideband signal value as MaxSideBandPhase=arctg{(1−10 SBP/10 )/(10 SBP/10 +1)}, wherein SBP stands for measured sideband signal value and MaxSideBandPhase stands for the maximal phase imbalance value.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the input signal is selected between first input signal and second input signal in response to measured sideband signal value of the first input signal and measured sideband signal value of the second input signal.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the input signal is selected between third input signal and forth input signal in response to measured sideband signal value of the third input signal and measured sideband signal value of the forth input signal.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the third calibration parameter is selected such that for most phase imbalance values, at a certain sideband signal power, inputting at least one of the third and forth input signals results in a decreased sideband signal power.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the first calibration entity selects the calibration parameter is selected such that for most gain imbalance values, at a certain sideband signal power, inputting at least one of the first and second input signals results in a decreased sideband signal power.

16. The system according to claim 9 further adapted to determine a compensation filter configuration in response to the sideband compensation signals.