Differential High Power Amplifier for a Low Profile, Wide Band Transmit Array

• US 20130314288A1
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: LEE, Jar J., TAYRANI, Reza, SCHULTE, Walter B. Jr., CARR, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,316,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/786
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/034 Duplexers switching devices for waveguides H01P1/10; transmit-receive switching in transceivers H04B1/44
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H

Abstract

An integrated differential high power amplifier-radiator array that overcomes the prior art impedance match issues is described. An impedance matching balun is used to feed a high output impedance, differential HPA, which in turn drives a wide band radiator or array of radiators having a matching input impedance to provide a highly efficient, compact transmit system. In one exemplary embodiment, the HPA may be a high impedance Class-B HPA configured as a push-pull cascode amplifier. A high impedance isolator or circulator may be used between the HPA and the radiator. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that a receive implementation, using a properly matched low noise amplifier in place of the HPA, is also possible. Similarly, with the addition of a slotline circulator, transceiver operation is also attainable with the addition of an impedance matched receive chain.

Claims

1. An integrated antenna system, comprising:

an input device configured to convert a supplied unbalanced signal into a balanced differential output signal;

a high power amplifier (HPA) operably coupled to said differential output signal, said HPA configured as a cascode push-pull Class B amplifier and having a balanced high impedance output; and

an impedance-matched differentially-driven radiator (IMDDR) operatively coupled to said balanced high impedance output, said IMDDR radiating into free space.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a balun.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a slotline balun.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a differential amplifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a 180 degree hybrid.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said HPA comprises a GaN HEMT.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said HPA comprises a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said IMDDR comprises an array of radiating elements.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said IMDDR comprises an array of differentially-driven radiating elements.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said IMDDR comprises one of the group consisting of a dipole element, a horn element, a spiral element, a patch element, and a reflector element.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said IMDDR comprises an array of radiating elements each selected from the group consisting of a dipole element, a horn element, a spiral element, a patch element, and a reflector element.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said IMDDR comprises an active electronically scanned array (AESA).

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said IMDDR further comprises one of a differential slotline isolator and a differential circulator interposed between said HPA and said IMDDR and having a differential input port and a differential output port, said differential input port operably connected to said differential output of said HPA and said differential output connected to said IMDDR.

14. An integrated antenna system configured as a transceiver, comprising:

an input device configured to convert a supplied unbalanced signal into a balanced differential output signal;

a high power amplifier (HPA) operably coupled to said differential output signal, said HPA configured as a cascode push-pull Class B amplifier and having a balanced high impedance output;

a differential low-noise amplifier (LNA); and

an impedance-matched differentially-driven radiator (IMDDR) operatively coupled to said balanced high impedance output, said IMDDR radiating into free space,

wherein said IMDDR further comprises a differential slotline circulator having a plurality of ports, one of said plurality of ports of said slotline circulator operably connected to said input port of said radiator and receiving signals from free space thereby, another of said plurality of ports of said slotline circulator operably connected to said LNA; and

another of said plurality of ports of said slotline circulator operably connected to said differential output of said HPA, wherein said LNA is configured to amplify said received signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said input device comprises a balun.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said input device comprises a differential amplifier.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said HPA comprises a GaN HEMT.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said IMDDR comprises an array of differentially-driven radiating elements.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said IMDDR comprises an active electronically scanned array (AESA).

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said IMDDR further comprises one of a differential slotline isolator and a differential circulator interposed between said HPA and said IMDDR and having a differential input port and a differential output port, said differential input port operably connected to said differential output of said HPA and said differential output connected to said IMDDR.