RF power amplifier having synchronous RF drive
First Claim
1. A RF power amplifier system, comprising:
- a RF source for providing a train of RF pulses exhibiting RF cycles of a fixed frequency and wherein each pulse is of a fixed amplitude and duration;
a DC voltage source;
a bridge circuit including a first transistor switch for, when on, connecting said DC voltage source across a load for DC current flow therethrough in a first direction and a second transistor switch for, when on, connecting said DC voltage source across said load for DC current flow therethrough in a second direction;
a switch driver for, when enabled, passing said RF pulses for driving said first and second transistor switches on and off at a frequency dependent upon that of said RF pulses and in such a manner that current from said DC voltage source alternately flows in said first and second directions through said load; and
a driver controller for providing turn-on signals and selectively applying them to said switch driver for enabling said switch driver for passing said RF pulses to said transistor switches;
wherein said driver controller includes logic circuitry responsive to an amplifier turn-on control signal and said RF pulses for enabling said switch driver in such a manner that the first and second transistor switches are turned on and off in synchronism with the start of a said RF cycle and the end of a said RF cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A RF power amplifier system is presented herein including a RF source for providing a train of RF pulses exhibiting RF cycles of a fixed frequency and wherein each pulse is of a fixed amplitude and duration. A bridge circuit includes a first transistor switch for, when on, connecting the DC voltage source across a load for DC current flow therethrough in a first direction and a second transistor switch for, when on, connecting the DC voltage source across the load for DC current flow therethrough in a second direction. A switch driver serves, when enabled, to pass the RF pulses for driving the first and second transistor switches on and off at a frequency dependent upon that of the RF pulses and in such a manner that current from the DC voltage source alternately flows in the first and second directions through the load. A driver controller provides turn-on signals and selectively applies them to the switch driver for enabling the switch driver for passing the RF pulses to the transistor switches. The driver controller includes logic circuitry responsive to an amplifier turn-on control signal and the RF pulses for enabling the switch driver in such a manner that the first and second transistor switches are turned on and off in synchronism with the start of a RF cycle and the end of a RF cycle.
56 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A RF power amplifier system, comprising:
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a RF source for providing a train of RF pulses exhibiting RF cycles of a fixed frequency and wherein each pulse is of a fixed amplitude and duration;
a DC voltage source;
a bridge circuit including a first transistor switch for, when on, connecting said DC voltage source across a load for DC current flow therethrough in a first direction and a second transistor switch for, when on, connecting said DC voltage source across said load for DC current flow therethrough in a second direction;
a switch driver for, when enabled, passing said RF pulses for driving said first and second transistor switches on and off at a frequency dependent upon that of said RF pulses and in such a manner that current from said DC voltage source alternately flows in said first and second directions through said load; and
a driver controller for providing turn-on signals and selectively applying them to said switch driver for enabling said switch driver for passing said RF pulses to said transistor switches;
wherein said driver controller includes logic circuitry responsive to an amplifier turn-on control signal and said RF pulses for enabling said switch driver in such a manner that the first and second transistor switches are turned on and off in synchronism with the start of a said RF cycle and the end of a said RF cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A RF power amplifier system, comprising:
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a RF source for providing a train of RF pulses exhibiting RF cycles of a fixed frequency and wherein each pulse is of a fixed amplitude and duration;
a first transistor switch for, when on, connecting a DC voltage source across a load for DC current flow therethrough in a first direction and a second transistor switch for, when on, connecting said DC voltage source across said load for DC current flow therethrough in a second direction;
a switch driver for, when enabled, passing said RF pulses for driving said first and second transistor switches on and off at a frequency dependent upon that of said RF pulses; and
a driver controller for providing turn-on signals and applying them to said switch driver for enabling said switch driver for passing said RF pulses to said transistor switches;
wherein said driver controller includes logic circuitry responsive to an amplifier turn-on control signal and said RF pulses for enabling said switch driver in such a manner that the first and second transistor switches are turned on and off in synchronism with the start of a said RF cycle and the end of a said RF cycle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification