Parallel distributed signal amplifiers
First Claim
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1. An amplifier for alternating electrical signals, comprising:
- first distributed signal amplifying means including an input port, an output port, and an electrical delay between said input and output ports which is greater than the duration of one signal alternation cycle at a frequency within the operating frequency range;
second distributed signal amplifying means including an input port, an output port, and an electrical delay between said input and output ports which is greater than the duration of one signal alternation cycle at a frequency within the operating frequency range, but which delay may differ from said delay of said first distributed amplifying means by a delay difference corresponding to a phase shift greater than 360°
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input signal splitting means adapted to be coupled to a source of signals to be amplified for dividing said signals to be amplified into first and second signal portions;
input coupling means coupled to said input signal splitting means, and to said input ports of said first and second distributed signal amplifying means for coupling said first signal portion of said signals to be amplified to said input port of said first distributed signal amplifying means and for coupling said second signal portion of said signals to be amplified to said input port of said second distributed signal amplifying means, whereby first and second amplified signals appear at said output ports of said first and second distributed signal amplifying means, respectively;
output coupling means coupled to said output ports of said first and second distributed signal amplifying means for combining said first and second amplified signals at a summed signal output port, whereby phase coincidence of said first and second amplified signals is necessary to obtain maximum summed signal output at said frequency, but the instantaneous bandwidth may be less than desired due to the excess of said delay difference; and
path delay correction means coupled to one of said input port and said output port of that one of said first and second signal amplifying means which has electrical delay which is shorter by said delay difference than said electrical delay of the other one of said first and second amplifying means for adding an electrical delay for compensating for said delay difference, whereby said instantaneous bandwidth is increased.
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Abstract
Two or more distributed amplifiers are paralleled to increase the available output power. Phase shifters are coupled to the amplifiers as necessary to maximize output power at a frequency. With this phase adjustment, the amplifiers may have effective electrical lengths which differ one from another by N (360°), where N is zero or an integer. Values of N other than zero undesirably reduce the instantaneous bandwidth of the paralleled amplifiers. The bandwidth is maximized by the addition of sufficient delays to reduce N to zero.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An amplifier for alternating electrical signals, comprising:
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first distributed signal amplifying means including an input port, an output port, and an electrical delay between said input and output ports which is greater than the duration of one signal alternation cycle at a frequency within the operating frequency range; second distributed signal amplifying means including an input port, an output port, and an electrical delay between said input and output ports which is greater than the duration of one signal alternation cycle at a frequency within the operating frequency range, but which delay may differ from said delay of said first distributed amplifying means by a delay difference corresponding to a phase shift greater than 360°
;input signal splitting means adapted to be coupled to a source of signals to be amplified for dividing said signals to be amplified into first and second signal portions; input coupling means coupled to said input signal splitting means, and to said input ports of said first and second distributed signal amplifying means for coupling said first signal portion of said signals to be amplified to said input port of said first distributed signal amplifying means and for coupling said second signal portion of said signals to be amplified to said input port of said second distributed signal amplifying means, whereby first and second amplified signals appear at said output ports of said first and second distributed signal amplifying means, respectively; output coupling means coupled to said output ports of said first and second distributed signal amplifying means for combining said first and second amplified signals at a summed signal output port, whereby phase coincidence of said first and second amplified signals is necessary to obtain maximum summed signal output at said frequency, but the instantaneous bandwidth may be less than desired due to the excess of said delay difference; and path delay correction means coupled to one of said input port and said output port of that one of said first and second signal amplifying means which has electrical delay which is shorter by said delay difference than said electrical delay of the other one of said first and second amplifying means for adding an electrical delay for compensating for said delay difference, whereby said instantaneous bandwidth is increased. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A power amplifier, comprising:
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signal splitting means adapted to be coupled to a source of signal to be amplified and including a first plurality of output ports at each of which divided signals appear; a first plurality of signal amplifiers, each including an input port coupled to an output port of said signal splitting means for receiving divided signals and an output port at which amplified signal is generated in response to said divided signals, each of said first plurality of signal amplifiers having a signal delay between its said input port and output port, the phase difference corresponding to the difference in said signal delays between two of said signal amplifiers being in excess of 360°
;signal combining means coupled to said output ports of said first plurality of signal amplifiers for combining said amplified signals from said first plurality of signal amplifiers to produce a sum signal, whereby phase coincidence within 360°
of said amplified signals is necessary for producing the maximum value of said sum signal, but may not provide maximum instantaneous bandwith; anddelay means coupled to said first plurality of signal amplifiers for delaying the signal through those signal amplifiers among said first plurality of signal amplifiers having said signal delay which is less than the delay of that one signal amplifier among said first plurality of said amplifiers having the greatest signal delay, said delay means being selected not only for providing phase coincidence within 360°
but also for equalizing said signal delay through said first plurality of signal amplifiers whereby said sum signal and said instantaneous bandwidth are maximized. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
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Original AssigneeRCA Corporation (General Electric Company)
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InventorsPoole, Joseph J.
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Primary Examiner(s)Mullins, James B.
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Application NumberUS06/860,490Time in Patent Office531 DaysField of Search330/43, 330/124 R, 330/295US Class Current330/43CPC Class CodesH03F 2200/198 A hybrid coupler being used...H03F 3/602 Combinations of several amp...H03F 3/605 Distributed amplifiers
