Hot stand-by switching apparatus

• US 6,369,467 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Noro, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US09/435,447
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 307/125, 307/126, 307/129, 307/131
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/74 for increasing reliability, e.g. using redundant or spare channels or apparatus replacing by standby devices for amplifiers H03F1/52, H03F1/542

Abstract

To provide a hot stand-by switching apparatus which is cheaper and more reliable than a conventional RF power switching device. Further, Output level and frequencies during rise and fall times are stabilized. The hot stand-by apparatus of the present invention comprises coupler for outputting either the active signal or the preparative signal, active and preparative transmitters, and switches which are connected with the input terminals of transmitters, respectively.

Claims

1. A hot stand-by switching apparatus which comprises:

a first transmitting means including a first modulator connected to a first switch for turning on and off the output from said first modulator, and a first transmitter connected to said first switch for amplifying the output from said first switch;

a second transmitting means including a second modulator connected to a second switch for turning on and off the output from said second modulator, and a second transmitter connected to said second switch for amplifying the output from said second switch;

a distributor connected to said first modulator and second modulator for distributing an input signal to said first and second modulators; and

a controller connected to said first and second modulators, said first and second transmitters and said first and second switches, which selects either said first transmitter or said second transmitter,

wherein said controller selects said second transmitter by switching off said first switch, when said first transmitting means malfunctions, while said controller selects said first transmitter by switching off said second switch, when said second transmitting means malfunctions.

2. The hot stand-by switching apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a coupler, connected to said first and second transmitter, for coupling the outputs from said first and second transmitters.

3. The hot stand-by switching apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said coupler is a directional coupler.

4. The hot stand-by switching apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a first antenna for propagating the output from said first transmitter, and a second antenna for propagating the output from said second transmitter.

5. The hot stand-by switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises a first mask for relaying a signal indicating a fall-down in the output level of said first transmitter, a second mask for relaying a signal indicating a fall-down in the output level of said second transmitter, and a determination means for generating control signals for controlling said first and second switches on the basis of the outputs from said first and second masks in order to select either said first transmitter, or said second transmitter.