Method and apparatus for providing transmitter protection

• US 5,404,114 A
• Filed: 06/23/1994
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Sager, Henry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullins, james B.
• Application Number:
  US08/264,555
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 330/207 P, 330/298, 361/78, 361/87, 455/115, 455/117
• US Class Current: 330/207.00P
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/52 Circuit arrangements for protecting such amplifiers monitoring arrangements G01R31/28; increasing reliability in communication systems, e.g. using redundancy H04B1/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0466 Fault detection or indication H04B1/0483 takes precedence

Abstract

An RF transmitter protection circuit for providing protection to a power amplifier includes circuitry for sensing the presence of an input excitation signal applied to the input of the power amplifier. Circuitry is provided for monitoring an output signal generated by the power amplifier at the output of the power amplifier and for generating a signal proportional to the output signal. Circuitry is further provided for applying the signal generated by the monitoring circuit to the input of the power amplifier in response to a loss of input signal detected by the sensor.

Claims

1. An RF transmitter protection circuit for providing protection to a power amplifier having an input and an output, the circuit comprising:

means for sensing the presence of an input signal applied to the input of the power amplifier;

means for monitoring an output signal generated by the power amplifier at the output of the power amplifier and for generating a signal proportional to said output signal; and

means for applying said signal generated by said monitoring means to the input of the power amplifier in response to a loss of input signal detected by said sensing means.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said monitoring means includes:

means for monitoring output current generated by the power amplifier and for generating a voltage in phase with said output current.

3. A method for providing protection to a power amplifier having an input and an output of an RF transmitter comprising the steps of:

sensing the presence of an input signal applied to the input of the power amplifier;

monitoring an output signal generated by the power amplifier at the output of the power amplifier and generating a signal proportional to the output signal; and

applying said signal proportional to the power amplifier output signal to the input of the power amplifier in response to a loss of input signal to the power amplifier.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of monitoring includes:

monitoring output current generated by the power amplifier and generating a voltage in phase with the output current.