Quadrature modulator with set-and-forget carrier leakage compensation

Abstract

A quadrature modulator with set-and-forget carrier leakage compensation. The quadrature modulator comprises an in-phase and a quadrature branch. In the in-phase and quadrature branches, real-time digital signals are converted to analog signals, the analog signals are filtered, and the filtered analog signals are modulated with a carrier signal and a ninety degrees phase shifted version of the carrier, respectively. The modulated in-phase and quadrature signals are added so as to form a quadrature amplitude modulated signal. Preferably upon powering up of the quadrature modulator, in the in-phase and quadrature branches, carrier leakage is measured. The measured carrier leakage is supplied to comparators, which toggle, when carrier leakage is minimal in the respective in-phase and quadrature branches. Upon powering up of the quadrature modulator, the state machine starts signal generators which inject compensation signals into the in-phase and quadrature branches, respectively, so that dc-offsets in the in-phase and quadrature branches are reduced, thereby reducing the carrier leakage in the in-phase and quadrature branches. When the comparators toggle, the state machine is commanded to stop controlling the corresponding signal generators of which output signals are then frozen.