Ultra wideband transmitter with gated push-pull RF amplifier

• US 6,586,999 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Multispectral Solutions Incorporated (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Richley, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Lam T.
• Application Number:
  US09/901,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 330/124.R, 330/84, 330/276, 330/266
• US Class Current: 330/276
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/198 A hybrid coupler being used as coupling circuit between stages of an amplifier circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/72 Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal

Abstract

A method and an apparatus that reduce power consumption in an ultra wideband (UWB) transmitter that includes a push-pull RF amplifier and a switch that powers up or powers down the amplifier between UWB pulses. The gated push-pull amplifier amplifies the UWB pulses, including spurious signal energy appearing at the detector input, by splitting the signal with a 180-degree phase splitter, amplifying the split signals with substantially identical amplifiers, and combining the amplifier outputs with a 180-degree combiner. The 180-degree combiner essentially cancels common-mode spurious signals typically generated by the UWB amplifier during power-down and power-up.

Claims

1. A UWB transmitter that includes a gated push-pull amplifier to generate a UWB transmission having reduced spurious outputs, said transmitter comprising:

a signal splitter that divides a low-level UWB input signal into first and second signals of substantially opposite phase relationship,

respective first and second amplifier segments of said push-pull amplifier that amplify the first and second signals to produce amplified output signals having a substantially opposite phase relative to each other;

a switch responsive to a gate signal to activate the amplifiers prior to receiving the first and second signals; and

a combiner that combines the amplified output signals of substantially opposite phase relationship whereby to provide a UWB signal transmission having reduced in-phase spurious output signals associated with activating said amplifiers.

2. The UWB transmitter of claim 1, further including a source of power responsive to said gate signal to activate said amplifiers.

3. The UWB transmitter of claim 1, wherein a bias input of said amplifier is coupled to said gate signal.

4. The UWB transmitter of claim 1, wherein the signal splitter comprises one of a wire-wound transformer, a transmission line transformer, a balun, and a hybrid coupler.

5. The UWB transmitter of claim 4, wherein the combiner further comprises one of a wire-wound transformer, a transmission line transformer, a balun, and a hybrid coupler.

6. The UWB transmitter of claim 1, wherein said switch responds to the gate signal to deactivate the amplifiers after receiving the first and second signals.

7. In a UWB system, a push-pull amplifier comprising:

a signal splitter that receives signal energy at an input thereof and partitions the signal energy into first and second signals of substantially opposite phase relationship;

respective amplifier segments that amplify the first and second signals to produce first and second amplified signals;

a switch responsive to a gate signal to activate the amplifiers before the amplifier receives the first and second signals; and

a signal combiner that combines the first and second amplified signals whereby to provide a composite output signal having reduced spurious signal output.

8. The push-pull amplifier of claim 7, further including a source of power responsive to said gate signal to activate said amplifiers.

9. The push-pull amplifier of claim 7, wherein a bias input of said amplifier is coupled to said gate signal.

10. The push-pull amplifier of claim 7, wherein the signal splitter comprises one of a wire-wound transformer, a transmission line transformer, a balun, and a hybrid coupler.

11. The push-pull amplifier as recited in claim 10, wherein the signal combiner further comprises one of a wire-wound transformer, a transmission line transformer, a balun, and a hybrid coupler.

12. The push-pull amplifier as recited in claim 7, wherein said switch is responsive to said gate signal to deactivate the amplifier after receipt of the first and second signals.

13. An ultra wideband radio frequency transmitter comprising:

an amplifier;

a UWB source that provides a short-pulse radio frequency signal in response to a trigger signal;

a timing circuit that controls activation of the amplifier during a UWB pulse generation interval to reduce inter-pulse power consumption outside of the interval;

a first transformer for delivering signal energy at said output along first and second paths to create signals substantially opposite in phase;

respective amplifiers disposed in said first and second paths; and

a second transformer that combines signals in the first and second path signals to provide a composite output signal, whereby to provide cancellation of spurious signal energy.

14. The ultra wideband transmitter as recited in claim 13, wherein said first and second transformers comprise one of a wire-wound transformer, a transmission line transformer, a balun, and a hybrid coupler.

15. The ultra wideband transmitter as recited in claim 14, wherein the timing circuit periodically activates the amplifier during UWB pulse detection intervals in cadence with pulses produced by the UWB source and said gate signal is produced at time instances to reduce the effects of spurious signals associated with the pulse detection intervals.

16. A method of reducing spurious signal outputs in a UWB system that generates a UWB pulse during a time interval defined by switching events, the method comprising:

splitting UWB signal energy into signals of opposite phase,

push-pull amplifying the signals during switching events thereby to produce amplified signals, and

combining the amplified signals, whereby to reduce said spurious signal outputs.

17. A method of reducing spurious signal outputs in a UWB system that detects a UWB pulse during a time interval defined by switching events, the method comprising:

splitting signal energy into signals of opposite phase,

push-pull amplifying the signals during switching events thereby to produce amplified signals, and

combining the amplified signals, whereby to reduce said spurious energy.