Computer program product configured to control modular transmission system components

• US 6,055,418 A
• Filed: 07/03/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thales Broadcast & Multimedia Incorporated (Groupe Sipromad SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomcast Communications Incorporated (Groupe Sipromad SA)
• Inventors: Harris, Clifford, Correa, Paulo, Ungvarsky, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US08/888,099
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/8, 455/9, 455/10, 455/68, 455/91, 455/126, 455/127, 455/129, 455/226.2, 455/226.4, 455/562, 455/571, 455/115, 455/67.1, 330/96, 330/98, 330/127, 330/136, 330/199, 330/279, 330/284, 330/295, 330/124 R, 330/297, 330/305, 330/306, 330/310, 330/383, 330/384
• US Class Current: 455/91
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2138 using hollow waveguide filters H01P1/2131 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/526 protecting by using redundant amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/294 the amplifier being a low noise amplifier [LNA]
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/372 Noise reduction and elimination in amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/602 Combinations of several amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/0088 using discontinuously variable devices, e.g. switch-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/22 using redundant apparatus to increase reliability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

A computer program product is configured to control a modular transmission system having a control processor and at least N power amplifier modules, each having a controller submodule, wherein the system receives an input signal which may be a single carrier or multiple carriers. The signal is passed to a one-by-N divider which divides the signal N ways. Each of the N divided signals are independently amplified by the power amplifier (PA) modules "slices" (i.e., PA modules) that includes an RF amplifier module, a microcontroller module, and a power supply module, all of which are tightly coupled via a plurality of signal, power, control, and status connections. Each the PA slices amplifies its respective input signal and outputs a respective radio frequency output signal at a predetermined power level as controlled by the microcontrol module, the driver, and the system controller, or a network manager via a system input/output interface. The output coupler provides power coupling and status monitoring via feedback lines to support control at a module-level, a system-level, and a network-level.

Claims

1. A computer program product having a computer readable medium with computer program logic recorded thereon for implementing control of a modular power amplifier system having a driver assembly that provides an input signal to a plurality of amplifier modules, comprising:

means for polling said plurality of amplifier modules so to determine respective operational states of said plurality of amplifier modules, said plurality of amplifier modules providing an amplified output signal to a radial combiner that outputs a composite output signal by combining respective output signals from said plurality of amplifier modules;

means for obtaining a sample of said composite output signal;

means for processing said sample so as to determine an output forward power of said output signal and whether said output forward power is within a predetermined range;

means for determining a signal level adjustment indicator on a basis of whether said output forward power is within said predetermined range and on a number of said amplifier modules operating in a transmit state of operation; and

means for adjusting a level of said input signal at said driver by an amount corresponding to the signal level adjustment indicator.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

means for obtaining respective samples of said output signals that are output from said plurality of amplifier modules;

means for processing said respective samples and determining respective amplifier adjustment values for respective of said amplifier modules, said amplifier adjustment values being indicative of at least one of an amplifier voltage bias setting, and an input level adjustment value;

means for communicating said respective amplifier adjustment values to said plurality of amplifier modules.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising means for determining whether a first driver circuit in said driver assembly operates in a SLAVE mode of operation or in a MASTER mode of operation.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising means for setting respective of said plurality of amplifier modules in one of a cold-standby state, a transition state, a hot-standby state, the transmit state, and a failed state of operation.

5. The computer program product of claim 1 further comprising:

means for controlling remotely said modular power amplifier system with at least one of a GET message, a SET message and a TRAP message, comprising retrieving status data from a management information base;

means for determining whether a reduction in a number of said plurality of power amplifier modules will lower a level of said composite output signal to below a minimum threshold;

means for determining whether an increase in a number of power amplifier modules in another modular power amplifier system will compensate for said composite output signal being below said minimum threshold; and

means for increasing the number of power amplifier modules if said means for determining an increase determines that said another modular power amplifier system will compensate for said composite output signal being below said minimum threshold.

6. A computer program product having a computer readable medium readable by a machine for implementing a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for controlling a signal level output by a driver assembly to a plurality of amplifier modules, said method comprising the steps of:

polling said plurality of amplifier modules so to determine respective operational states of said plurality of amplifier modules;

obtaining a sample of a composite output signal formed by a radial combiner that combines respective output signals from said plurality of amplifier modules;

processing said sample so as to determine an output forward power of said composite output signal and whether said output forward power is within a predetermined range;

determining a signal level adjustment indicator on a basis of whether said forward power is within said predetermined range; and

adjusting a level of said signal output that is output from said driver, an amount of corresponding to the signal level adjustment indicator.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

obtaining respective samples of said output signals from said plurality of amplifier modules;

processing said respective samples and determining respective amplifier adjustment values for respective of said amplifier modules, said amplifier adjustment values being indicative of at least one of an amplifier voltage bias setting, and an input level adjustment value; and

communicating said respective amplifier adjustment values to said plurality of amplifier modules.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining whether a first driver circuit in said driver assembly operates in a SLAVE mode of operation or in a MASTER mode of operation.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said method further comprises the step of setting respective of said plurality of amplifier modules in one of a cold-standby state, a transition state, a hot-standby state, a transmit state, and a failed state of operation.

10. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

controlling remotely said modular power amplifier system with at least one of a GET message, a SET message and a TRAP message, comprising retrieving status data from a management information base;

determining whether a reduction in a number of said plurality of power amplifier modules will lower a level of said composite output signal to below a minimum threshold;

determining whether an increase in a number of power amplifier modules in another modular power amplifier system will compensate for said composite output signal being below said minimum threshold; and

increasing the number of power amplifier modules if in said step of determining an increase it is determined that said another modular power amplifier system will compensate for said composite output signal being below said minimum threshold.

11. A computer-readable memory device encoded with a data structure accessed by a signal level adjustment program in a modular power amplifier system, said data structure comprising:

a parameter field containing a parameter value, said parameter value corresponding to a number of power amplifier modules of said modular power amplifier system presently amplifying an input signal and providing respective output signals that are combined in a radial combiner so as to provide a composite output signal, said signal level adjustment program comparing a level of said composite output level to a predetermined range of levels based on said parameter value.

12. The computer-readable memory device of claim 11, wherein the data structure further comprises a message field containing a message field indicator value signifying that said parameter value in said parameter field relates to said signal level adjustment program.

13. The computer-readable memory device of claim 11, wherein the data structure further comprises a parameter form field containing a parameter form indicator value signifying that said parameter value in said parameter field contains a parameter value corresponding to the number of power amplifier modules that are presently amplifying the input signal.

14. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for adjusting a level of an input signal that is input to a modular amplifier having a plurality of amplifier modules, comprising the steps of:

identifying a measured output power of a composite amplified output signal that is output from said modular amplifier, said modular amplifier forming said composite amplified output signal by,

dividing said input signal into divided signals,

applying said divided signals in respective of said plurality of amplifier modules, and

forming said composite amplified output signal by combining respective output signals from said plurality of amplifier modules with a radial combiner;

identifying a number of said amplifier modules presently operating in a transmit mode of operation;

comparing said measured output power with a predetermined range of output power values of said composite amplified output signal for said number of amplifier modules presently operating in said transmit mode of operation and obtaining an adjustment value; and

adjusting said level of said input signal by said adjustment value so as to bring said measured output power to within said predetermined range.

15. The program storage device of claim 14, wherein said adjusting step comprises adjusting said input signal by changing an amount of attenuation applied to said input signal level, wherein said adjustment value corresponds to said amount of attenuation.

16. A computer-readable memory device hosted on a power amplifier module having a plurality of discrete amplifiers thereon, said power amplifier module being one of a plurality of power amplifier modules that respectively provide amplified output signals to a radial combiner which provides a combined amplified output signal, said computer-readable memory device being encoded with a data structure, said data structure comprising:

an output power sample field configured to hold,

a first parameter value corresponding to a detected forward output power level of the amplified output signal for said power amplifier module, and

a second parameter value corresponding to a detected reflected output power level of the amplified output signal for said output power level, wherein said data structure is accessed by a processor on said power amplifier module while executing a discrete amplifier adjustment program that adjusts respective operational settings of said discrete amplifiers in accordance with at least one of said first parameter value and said second parameter value.

17. A computer-readable memory device of claim 16, wherein said data structure further comprises:

a parameter value field corresponding to one of said discrete amplifiers, and configured to hold a parameter value indicative of at least one of,

a detected gate-to-source voltage,

a detected drain voltage,

a gate-to-source adjustment value, and

a drain adjustment value, wherein said discrete amplifier adjustment program adjusts the operational setting of said one of said discrete amplifiers by applying at least one of said gate-to-source adjustment value and said drain adjustment value to said one of said discrete amplifiers based on a comparison of said detected gate-to-source detected voltage and said detected drain voltage to predetermined values, respectively.

18. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for replacing a power amplifier module in a modular power amplifier system having a plurality of power amplifier modules while others of the plurality of power amplifier modules remain in a transmit state of operation, comprising the steps of:

adjusting respective gate-to-source voltages of a plurality of discrete amplifiers in said power amplifier module so as to pinch-off respective channels in said discrete amplifiers;

adjusting respective drain voltages of said plurality of discrete amplifiers to respective normal operational voltages after said channels of said plurality of discrete amplifiers have been pinched-off;

readjusting said respective gate-to-source voltages of said plurality of discrete amplifiers so as to place said plurality of discrete amplifiers in a transmit state of operation; and

outputting an amplified output signal from said power amplifier module and applying said amplified output signal to said radial combiner.

19. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

detecting whether an interlock mechanism on said power amplifier module has been triggered;

keeping said plurality of discrete amplifiers in said transmit state of operation if said interlock mechanism is not detected as being triggered; and

executing said step of adjusting respective gate-to-source voltages and reducing said drain voltage of said discrete amplifiers so as to turn off said discrete amplifiers when said detecting step determines that said interlock mechanism is triggered.

20. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining that an interlock mechanism is in a closed position before executing said step of adjusting respective drain voltages of said plurality of discrete amplifiers to respective normal operational voltages.

21. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for adjusting control voltages on respective discrete amplifiers in a power amplifier module of a plurality of amplifier modules in a modular power amplifier system, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring respective drain voltages being applied to respective drain terminals of said discrete amplifiers;

comparing said drain voltages with a predetermined voltage range;

determining if respective of said drain voltages are outside of said predetermined voltage range; and

adjusting respective of said drain voltages by respective amounts that bring respective of said drain voltages to within said predetermined voltage range.

22. A computer-readable memory device encoded with a data structure accessed by a radio-frequency transmitter network control program, the data structure comprising:

a transmitter address field configured to hold a transmitter address which identifies a particular transmitter in a network of transmitters;

an amplifier address field configured to hold a module address of a power amplifier module in the transmitter identified by the transmitter address held in said transmitter address field; and

an attribute field configured to hold a parameter corresponding to at least one of an indication of an operational status of the power amplifier module identified by said module address and an action command configured to change an operational attribute of the power amplifier identified in said module address field.

23. The computer-readable memory device of claim 22, wherein said attribute field is configured to hold a change in state command which causes said transmitter identified in said transmitter address field to change an operational state of the power amplifier identified in said module address field from a transmit state to an off-state so that an amount of power transmitted by said transmitter is reduced by a proportionate amount.

24. The computer-readable memory device of claim 22, wherein said network of transmitters are configured to communicate with one another using a Simple Network Management Protocol messaging convention message that includes said data structure.