Method and system for the linear amplification of signals

• US 5,012,200 A
• Filed: 10/20/1989
• Issued: 04/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Meinzer, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): MOTTOLA, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US07/424,665
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 330/109, 330/124 D, 330/124 R, 330/295, 330/84, 333/124, 333/213, 333/214, 333/216
• US Class Current: 330/124.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0288 using a main and one or several auxiliary peaking amplifiers whereby the load is connected to the main amplifier using an impedance inverter, e.g. Doherty amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals

Abstract

The amplification efficiency is increased in a system for linear amplification of signals, especially in satellite transponders, by connecting at least three amplifier impedance inverter units in parallel to each other between an input signal control network and a common load. The reactive loading of the individual amplifiers is compensated by shunt susceptances at the output ports of the individual amplifiers.

Claims

1. A method for the linear amplification of signals, comprising the following steps:

(a) forming an uneven number of at least three amplifier impedance inverter units by separately feeding an output signal of each of an uneven number of at least three individual amplifiers to an input of a respective impedance inverter;

(b) connecting outputs of said uneven number of at least three amplifier impedance inverter units to a common load;

(c) controlling said uneven number of at least three individual amplifiers through an input control network; and

(d) connecting shunt susceptances to output terminals of an even number of said at least three individual amplifiers, in order to compensate a reactive loading of said even number of said amplifiers, for improving the amplification efficiency.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising connecting said uneven number of amplifier impedance inverter units in parallel with one another.

3. A linear signal amplifier system, comprising an uneven number of at least three individual amplifiers, an uneven number of at least three impedance inverters, means electrically connecting an output of each individual amplifier to an input of its respective impedance inverter to form an uneven number of at least three amplifier impedance inverter units, means electrically connecting all amplifier impedance inverter units to the same load, input control means for controlling an input signal to said uneven number of at least three amplifiers, means for connecting said input control means to an input of each of said individual amplifiers, said uneven number of at least three amplifier impedance inverter units being connected in parallel to one another, and shunt susceptance means electrically connected to output terminals of an even number of said individual amplifiers for compensating a reactive loading of said even number of individual amplifiers, thereby improving the amplification efficiency.