RESONANT POWER CONVERTER FOR RADIO-FREQUENCY TRANSMISSION AND METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved method and apparatus for signal and power conversion. SOLUTION: A resonant power converter (220) for ultra-efficient radio frequency transmission and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the converter is digitally actuated and uses a combination of a noise-shaped encoder (222), a charging switch (224), and a high-Q resonator (204) coupled to an output load (206), typically an antenna or transmission line. Energy is stored in the electric and magnetic fields of the resonator, which in turn, delivers power to the load (206), with very little wasted energy in the process. Active power amplifier is not required. The apparatus (220) can be used in an arbitrary RF signal application (wireless or others), including, for example cellular handsets, local- or wide-area network transmitters, or even radio base-stations. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT