Controller-based radio frequency amplifier module and method
First Claim
1. A power amplifier module for amplifying an input signal applied thereto and providing an amplified output signal to a N-way radial combiner that combines said amplified output signal with other amplified output signals from other power amplifier modules, said power amplifier module comprising:
- an amplifier submodule comprising a plurality of discrete amplifiers arranged in an amplifier chain which amplifies said input signal and provides an amplified output signal, each discrete amplifier having a gate terminal, a drain terminal and a source terminal, each amplifier having a gate-to-source voltage applied between said gate terminal and said source terminal and a drain voltage applied to said drain terminal;
a processor submodule configured to control a level of said amplified output signal, comprising,a monitoring mechanism configured to monitor respective gate-to-source voltages and said drain voltages,a comparison mechanism configured to compare said gate-to-source voltages and said drain voltages as monitored by said monitoring mechanism with predetermined gate-to-source voltages and drain voltages, andan adjustment mechanism configured to adjust at least one of said respective gate-to-source voltages and said drain voltages;
a power supply submodule configured to supply said drain voltages to said discrete amplifiers in said amplifier submodule, said processor submodule configured to apply said gate-to-source voltages to said discrete amplifiers in said amplifier submodule;
a bus connected to said power supply submodule, said processor submodule and said amplifier submodule for transferring data, voltages, and control commands therebetween; and
an enclosure having an internal portion that houses at least said amplifier submodule, said processor submodule, and said bus therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller-based radio frequency amplifier method and module are employed in a modular transmission system in which respective of the controller-based radio frequency amplifier modules amplify a portion of a signal that is input into the system. Each amplifier module includes an amplifier submodule have a plurality of discrete amplifiers arranged in an amplifier chain, a processor submodule is configured to control a level of the amplified output signal that is output from each amplifier module, a power supply module, and an enclosure. The processor submodule is configured to control the discrete amplifiers in the amplifier submodule such that the module may be removed or added to the system without damaging the power amplifier module or other system components.
26 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A power amplifier module for amplifying an input signal applied thereto and providing an amplified output signal to a N-way radial combiner that combines said amplified output signal with other amplified output signals from other power amplifier modules, said power amplifier module comprising:
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an amplifier submodule comprising a plurality of discrete amplifiers arranged in an amplifier chain which amplifies said input signal and provides an amplified output signal, each discrete amplifier having a gate terminal, a drain terminal and a source terminal, each amplifier having a gate-to-source voltage applied between said gate terminal and said source terminal and a drain voltage applied to said drain terminal; a processor submodule configured to control a level of said amplified output signal, comprising, a monitoring mechanism configured to monitor respective gate-to-source voltages and said drain voltages, a comparison mechanism configured to compare said gate-to-source voltages and said drain voltages as monitored by said monitoring mechanism with predetermined gate-to-source voltages and drain voltages, and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust at least one of said respective gate-to-source voltages and said drain voltages; a power supply submodule configured to supply said drain voltages to said discrete amplifiers in said amplifier submodule, said processor submodule configured to apply said gate-to-source voltages to said discrete amplifiers in said amplifier submodule; a bus connected to said power supply submodule, said processor submodule and said amplifier submodule for transferring data, voltages, and control commands therebetween; and an enclosure having an internal portion that houses at least said amplifier submodule, said processor submodule, and said bus therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A power amplifier module for amplifying an input signal applied thereto and providing an amplified output signal to a radial combiner that combines said amplified output signal with other amplified output signals from other power amplifier modules, said power amplifier module comprising:
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means for amplifying said input signal and providing an amplified output signal, comprising, a plurality of discrete amplifiers, and means for applying a gate-to-source voltage and a drain voltage to respective of said discrete amplifiers; means for controlling a level of said amplified output signal, comprising, means for monitoring said gate-to-source voltage and said drain voltage of respective of said discrete amplifiers, means for comparing said gate-to-source voltage and said drain voltage of respective of said discrete amplifiers with predetermined gate-to-source voltages and drain voltages, and for producing a comparison result, and means for adjusting at least one of said gate-to-source voltage and said drain voltage of respective of said discrete amplifiers based on said comparison result; means for transferring data, voltages, and control commands between said means for amplifying and means for controlling; and means for enclosing said means for amplifying, means for controlling, and means for transferring in a single enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for amplifying an input signal applied a power amplifier and providing an amplified output signal to a radial combiner that combines said amplified output signal with other amplified output signals from other power amplifier modules, said method comprising the steps of:
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amplifying said input signal by applying said input signal to a plurality of discrete amplifiers; applying a gate-to-source voltage and a drain voltage to respective of said discrete amplifiers; controlling with a processor a level of said amplified output signal, comprising the steps of, monitoring said gate-to-source voltage and said drain voltage of respective of said discrete amplifiers, comparing said gate-to-source voltage and said drain voltage of respective of said discrete amplifiers with predetermined gate-to-source voltages and drain voltages, and producing a comparison result, and adjusting at least one of said gate-to-source voltage and said drain voltage of respective of said discrete amplifiers based on said comparison result; and enclosing said discrete amplifiers and said processor in a single enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification