Amplification apparatus and method including modulator component

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method in which an arbitrary information-modulated signal is efficiently amplified to high power levels. The arbitrary information-modulated signal is received at a low power level and is separated into elemental signals. In a preferred embodiment, a frequency/phase information signal and an amplitude information signal are the elemental signals which collectively represent the essential information in the original information-modulated signal. The circuit uses the elemental signals to provide an amplified replica of the original information-modulated signal. The amplification preferably, though not necessarily, involves using the digital amplitude modulators disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,931, U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,674, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,272. Accordingly, the strategic use of specially-arranged non-linear amplifiers collectively forming an amplitude modulator operating as a linear amplifier, allows generation of a high power level signal which accurately replicates the amplitude, frequency and phase information of the original signal. In this manner, the present invention exploits the advantages of modulators operating on the principles of U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,931, while performing a function traditionally performed by linear amplifiers.