Rf Power Amplifiers
First Claim
1. An amplifier system for powering an element of an antenna, the amplifier system comprising:
- an RF amplifier means, having a signal amplifying path that includes at least a power output stage;
a power supply means for providing a variable value of DC voltage for powering at least said power output stage of said RF amplifier means;
a control means for receiving as a control input an input power signal of said RF amplifier means, for providing, in response to the control input, a voltage control signal to said power supply means to determine the value of said DC voltage;
and said control means being arranged such that the value of said DC voltage to said power output stage is varied so as to control the gain compression of said RF amplifier means for varying values of said input power in order to regulate at least one of amplifier linearity, amplifier efficiency, and thermal dissipation of said RF amplifier means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) for powering a single element of a multi-element antenna, the SSPA comprising:
an RF amplifier, having a signal amplifying path that includes preamplifier, driver amplifier and a power output stage;
an Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC) for providing a variable value of DC voltage for powering the power output stage of the RF amplifier;
a control ASIC for receiving an input power signal of the RF amplifier for providing a voltage control signal to the EPC to determine the value of the DC voltage, the control ASIC addressing an EEPROM holding a collection of control words that define output values of a control output signal for varying values of said input power, such that the value of the DC voltage to the power output stage is varied so as to control the gain compression of the RF amplifier for varying values of input power in order to maintain constant amplifier linearity.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An amplifier system for powering an element of an antenna, the amplifier system comprising:
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an RF amplifier means, having a signal amplifying path that includes at least a power output stage; a power supply means for providing a variable value of DC voltage for powering at least said power output stage of said RF amplifier means; a control means for receiving as a control input an input power signal of said RF amplifier means, for providing, in response to the control input, a voltage control signal to said power supply means to determine the value of said DC voltage; and said control means being arranged such that the value of said DC voltage to said power output stage is varied so as to control the gain compression of said RF amplifier means for varying values of said input power in order to regulate at least one of amplifier linearity, amplifier efficiency, and thermal dissipation of said RF amplifier means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19)
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10. An amplifier system for powering an element of an antenna, the amplifier system comprising:
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an RF amplifier means, having a signal amplifying path that includes at least a power output stage; a power supply means for providing a variable value of DC voltage for powering at least said power output stage of said RF amplifier means; a control means for receiving as a control input an input power signal from said RF amplifier means, for providing, in response to the control input, a voltage control signal to said power supply means to determine the value of said DC voltage; and the control means including storage means that holds a collection of control words that define output values of said voltage control signal for varying values of said input power, whereby to vary the value of said DC voltage and thereby control a predetermined parameter of said RF amplifier means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20)
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17. In an amplifier system for powering an element of an antenna, the amplifier system comprising:
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an RF amplifier means, having a signal amplifying path that includes at least a power output stage; a power supply means for providing a DC voltage for powering at least said power output stage of said RF amplifier means; a method of controlling said RF amplifier means comprising monitoring the input power to said RF amplifier means, and varying in response to said input power the value of said DC voltage, whereby to control the gain compression of said RF amplifier means for varying values of said input power in order to regulate at least one of amplifier linearity, amplifier efficiency, and thermal dissipation of the RF amplifier means.
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Specification