Totem pole rf amplifiers with phase and amplitude correction

• US 6,650,180 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emhiser Research Inc
• Original Assignee: Emhiser Research Inc
• Inventors: Lautzenhiser, Barry Arthur, Lautzenhiser, Lloyd Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Choe, Henry
• Application Number:
  US10/175,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20020186080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 330/124.R, 330/295, 330/84, 327/295, 327/426
• US Class Current: 330/124.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/301 in MOSFET amplifiers H03F1/303, H03F1/305, H03F1/308 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/601 using FET's, e.g. GaAs FET's H03F3/607, H03F3/608 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatus (40, 70, and 80) and method are provided for minimizing power losses when combining rf signals in conductors (50A, 50B, 62A, and 62B) that are at quadrature phase angles. The method includes: mixing rf signals that are at quadrature phase angles; producing a dc voltage from the mixing step that is a function of a phase-angle deviation from quadrature; and correcting the phase-angle deviation. The correcting step includes tuning a length of a selected one of two rf conductors. Preferably, the method also includes equalizing amplitudes of the rf signals. When the method includes series connecting upper (Q1) and lower (Q2) solid-state current devices, the step of equalizing amplitudes of the rf signals includes adjusting a bias voltage of one (Q1) of the solid-state current devices.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing power losses when combining quadrature if signals from two rf conductors, which method comprises:

a) producing a dc voltage that is an exclusive function of a phase-angle deviation from quadrature;

b) said producing step comprises mixing said quadrature rf signals;

c) correcting said phase-angle deviation; and

d) said correcting step comprises nulling said dc voltage.

24. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which:

a) said step of producing a dc voltage comprises producing a polarity that indicates a direction of said phase-angle deviation from quadrature; and

b) said correcting and nulling steps further comprise shifting one of said quadrature rf signals in a direction as indicated by said polarity.

25. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said producing step further comprises producing said dc voltage prior to said combining of said quadrature rf signals.

2. A method for minimizing power losses when combining quadrature rf signals from two rf conductors, which method comprises:

a) producing a dc voltage that is a function of a phase-angle deviation from quadrature;

b) said producing step comprises mixing said quadrature rf signals;

c) correcting said phase-angle deviation; and

d) said correcting step comprises nulling said dc voltage.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which said nulling step comprises tuning a length of one of said two rf conductors.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which:

a) said nulling step comprises tuning a length of one of said two rf conductors; and

b) said method further comprises equalizing amplitudes of said quadrature rf signals prior to said correcting step.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which said nulling step comprises:

a) interposing a larger tuning loop into a selected one of said two rf conductors;

b) interposing a smaller tuning loop into an other of said rf conductors; and

c) adjusting an effective length of said larger tuning loop.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which said method further comprises equalizing amplitudes of said quadrature rf signals.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which said method further comprises equalizing amplitudes of said quadrature rf signals subsequent to said correcting step.

8. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which said method further comprises:

a) quadrature combining said quadrature rf signals;

b) measuring a power loss that is generated by said combining step and that is a function of an inequality in amplitudes of said quadrature rf signals; and

c) equalizing said amplitudes of said quadrature rf signals as indicated by reductions in said measured power loss.

9. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which said nulling step comprises tuning a length of one of said two rf conductors, and said method further comprises:

a) quadrature combining said quadrature rf signals;

b) measuring a power loss that is generated by said combining step and that is a function of an inequality in amplitudes of said quadrature rf signals; and

c) equalizing said amplitudes of said quadrature rf signals as indicated by reductions in said measured power loss.

10. A method for rf power amplifying with optimal efficiencies which comprises:

a) series connecting upper and lower solid-state current devices between a dc supply voltage and a lower dc voltage;

b) splitting an rf input signal into two quadrature rf signals;

c) separately amplifying said quadrature rf signals in said upper and lower solid-state current devices;

d) producing a dc voltage that is an exclusive function of a phase-angle deviation from quadrature that exists between said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals;

e) quadrature combining said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals;

f) correcting said phase-angle deviation; and

g) said correcting step comprises nulling said dc voltage.

26. A method as claimed in claim 10 in which:

a) said step of producing a dc voltage comprises producing a polarity that indicates a direction of said phase-angle deviation from quadrature; and

b) said correcting and nulling steps further comprise shifting one of said quadrature rf signals in a direction as indicated by said polarity.

27. A method as claimed in claim 10 in which said producing step further comprises producing said dc voltage prior to said combining of said quadrature rf signals.

11. A method for rf power amplifying with optimal efficiencies which comprises:

a) series connecting upper and lower solid-state current devices between a dc supply voltage and a lower dc voltage;

b) splitting an rf input signal into two quadrature rf signals;

c) separately amplifying said quadrature rf signals in said upper and lower solid-state current devices;

d) producing a dc voltage that is a function of a phase-angle deviation from quadrature that exists between said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals;

e) said producing step comprises mixing said quadrature rf signals;

f) quadrature combining said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals;

g) correcting said phase-angle deviation; and

h) said correcting step comprises nulling said dc voltage.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said nulling step comprises tuning a length of an rf conductor.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said nulling step comprises tuning a length of an rf conductor, and said method further comprises:

a) measuring a power loss produced by said combining step that results from amplitude inequalities of said quadrature rf signals; and

b) equalizing said amplitudes as indicated by reductions in said measured power loss.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said nulling step comprises tuning a length of an rf conductor subsequent to said splitting step and prior to said amplifying step.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said nulling step comprises tuning a length of an rf conductor subsequent to said amplifying step and prior to said quadrature combining step.

16. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said method further comprises:

a) measuring a power loss that is generated by said quadrature combining step and that is a function of an inequality in amplitudes of said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals;

b) reducing said measured power loss; and

c) said reducing step comprises equalizing said amplitudes of said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said method further comprises:

a) measuring a power loss that is generated by said quadrature combining step and that is a function of an inequality in amplitudes of said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals; and

b) reducing said measured power loss.

18. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said method further comprises:

a) measuring a power loss that is generated by said quadrature combining step and that is a function of an inequality in amplitudes of said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals;

b) reducing said measured power loss;

c) said reducing step comprises equalizing said amplitudes of said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals; and

d) said equalizing step comprises adjusting a bias voltage of one of said solid-state current devices.

28. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said method further comprises:

a) separately amplifying said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals prior to said quadrature combining step;

b) measuring a power loss that is generated by said quadrature combining step and that is a function of an inequality in amplitudes of both of said separate amplifying steps;

c) reducing said measured power loss;

d) said reducing step comprises adjusting said amplitudes of the first said separate amplifying step; and

e) said adjusting step comprises adjusting a bias voltage of one of said solid-state current devices.

29. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said method further comprises:

a) separately amplifying said separately-amplified quadrature rf signals prior to said quadrature combining step;

b) measuring a power loss that is generated by said quadrature combining step and that is a function of an inequality in amplitudes of both of said separate amplifying steps;

c) reducing said measured power loss;

d) said reducing step comprises compensating for said inequalities in the second said separate amplifying step; and

e) said reducing and compensating steps comprise making said amplitudes of the first said separate amplifying step unequal.

19. A method for minimizing power losses when combining quadrature rf signals from two rf conductors, which method comprises:

a) producing a dc voltage from said two rf conductors that is a function of a phase-angle deviation from quadrature;

b) said producing step comprises mixing the quadrature rf signals;

c) measuring a power loss that is generated by combining said quadrature rf signals and that is a function of both said phase-angle deviation and unequal amplitudes of said quadrature rf signals;

d) reducing said phase-angle deviation as indicated by reductions in said dc voltage; and

e) equalizing said amplitudes of said quadrature rf signals as indicated by reductions in said measured power loss.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 in which said reducing step is performed before said equalizing step.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 in which said producing step comprises producing a polarity of said dc voltage that indicates a direction of said deviation from quadrature.

22. A method as claimed in claim 19 in which said reducing step comprises tuning a length of one of said two rf conductors.

23. A method as claimed in claim 19 in which:

a) said producing step comprises producing a polarity of said dc voltage that indicates a direction of said deviation from quadrature; and

b) said reducing step comprises tuning a length of one of said two rf conductors.

30. A method for minimizing power losses when combining quadrature rf signals from two rf conductors, which method comprises:

a) producing a dc voltage whose magnitude is a function of a phase-angle deviation in said rf signals from quadrature, and whose polarity indicates a direction of said deviation from quadrature;

b) said producing step comprises quadrature mixing said quadrature rf signals;

c) correcting said phase-angle deviation in accordance with both said magnitude and said polarity; and

d) said correcting step comprises nulling said dc voltage.