A method for signal amplification based on pulse width modulation

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This invention provides a method for amplifying signals using pulse width modulation (PWM) and switching power amplifiers in a way that increases efficiency and simplifies implementation. By generating at least two two-level PWM signals from the input, amplifying them, and then combining them to produce a multi-level signal (with at least three levels), then converting this back into an analog signal, the invention achieves high coding efficiency and better signal quality. The approach significantly reduces unwanted frequency components (quantization noise) and relaxes the demands on reconstruction filters. The method is also applicable to transmitters, including those for wireless communication base stations.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Power amplifiers in wireless communication base stations (e.g., for cellular networks or radio transmitters).
• Class D audio amplifiers for efficient and high-fidelity sound amplification.
• Power regulation and control systems, such as motor drives or LED light dimming, where efficient conversion and amplification of signal is needed.
• Remote radio head units in telecommunications that require optical transmission of modulated signals.
• Optical/electrical hybrid transmitters where modulated electrical signals are transmitted optically and then amplified.
• Applications in software-defined radios and wireless infrastructure demanding high signal quality and low power loss.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly improved coding efficiency—greater than 60% compared to about 12% for traditional PWM systems, meaning more input power gets amplified at the desired frequency.
• Reduced quantization noise and out-of-band signal components, leading to easier filtering and better output signal quality.
• Lower demands on reconstruction filters, resulting in simpler, cheaper, or more reliable hardware.
• Energy-efficient signal amplification owing to the use of switching power amplifiers and optimized PWM techniques.
• Flexible architecture suitable for electrical and optical signal transmission, as well as various amplifier designs (e.g., differential, H-bridge).
• Simplified signal processing and hardware implementation, supporting cost-effective and compact designs.

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Patent Abstract

The invention concerns a method for signal amplification of an input signal (S) using at least one pulse width modulator (PWM1, PWM2) and at least one switching power amplifier (SPA1, SPA2), wherein the input signal (S) is modulated in said at least one pulse width modulator (PWM1, PWM2) resulting in at least two pulse width modulated signals with two levels (SPWM1, SPWM2), said at least two pulse width modulated signals with two levels (SPWM1, SPWM2) are amplified in said at least one switching power amplifier (SPA1, SPA2) resulting in a multi-level signal with at least three levels (SSPA), and said multi-level signal with at least three levels (SSPA) is converted to an analogue signal resulting in an amplified copy of the input signal, and a transmitter therefor.