Amplifier architecture for polar modulation

1. Electronic device for power efficient linear amplification, comprising an amplifier for amplifying a phase modulated signal, the amplifier being controlled by a first modulating signal for modulating the amplitude of the phase modulated signal above a predetermined amplitude value, the electronic device being adapted to attenuate an output signal of the amplifier for providing amplitudes below the predetermined amplitude value.

2. Electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a modulated attenuator for attenuating the output signal of the amplifier in response to a second modulating signal, the modulated attenuator comprising a PIN-diode being coupled to the output of the amplifier, wherein the PIN-diode is further driven by the second modulating signal.

3. Electronic device according to claim 2 further adapted to provide a continuously modulated amplitude range over the whole range of the first amplitude modulating signal and the second amplitude modulating signal.

4. Electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a limiter for extracting the phase modulated signal the input signal, wherein the phase modulated signal comprises the phase information of the input signal and an envelope detector for extracting the envelope signal of an input signal, wherein the envelope signal includes the amplitude information of the input signal.

5. Electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising an amplifying stage for providing the first modulating signal, the electronic device being coupled such that the first amplitude modulating signal remains at a predetermined amplitude value, if the envelope signal drops below a specific level.

6. Electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the attenuation is carried out by an antenna switch, the switch being biased and controlled for acting as a variable resistor for being used as an attenuator for attenuating the output signal of the amplifier.

7. Method for power efficient linear amplification comprising the steps of:

controlling an amplifier by a first modulating signal for modulating the amplitude of a phase modulated signal, for providing output amplitudes greater than a predetermined amplitude value,

holding the output of the amplifier at the predetermined amplitude value on a constant level, and attenuating the constant output signal of the amplifier for providing amplitudes below the predetermined amplitude value.