Extended range power detector
First Claim
1. A radio frequency power detector, which detector comprises a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling;
- wherein the operational amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers operable to amplify the dc signals, and wherein the plurality of amplifiers are sequentially independently operable over particular power ranges, whereby the full range of operation of the detector is determined by the discrete ranges of operation of the plurality of amplifiers.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to power detectors as employed in electrical circuits in general. The invention also relates to power detectors associated with high power amplifiers and, in particular, but not exclusively, relates to power detectors associated with telecommunications high power and high frequency power amplifiers. The present invention further provides apparatus and methods of switching amplifier blocks. The present invention seeks to provide an improved power detector having an increased range. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a radio frequency power detector, which detector comprises a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling; wherein the operational amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers operable to amplify the dc signals. The amplifiers can be switched into operation under microprocessor control or by diode switching. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating this radio frequency power detector.
84 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A radio frequency power detector, which detector comprises a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling;
wherein the operational amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers operable to amplify the dc signals, and wherein the plurality of amplifiers are sequentially independently operable over particular power ranges, whereby the full range of operation of the detector is determined by the discrete ranges of operation of the plurality of amplifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
7. A method of operating a radio frequency power detector, which detector comprises a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling;
wherein the operational amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers operable to amplify the dc signals, and wherein the plurality of amplifiers are sequentially independently operable over particular power ranges, whereby the full range of operation of the detector is determined by the discrete ranges of operation of the plurality of amplifiers, the method comprising the steps of coupling rf energy, converting the rf energy to direct current voltage and outputting a signal of voltage Vrf to an amplification circuit, and operating the amplifier appropriate for the particular level of voltage. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
13. A telecommunications cellular base station including a power detector arrangement comprising a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling;
wherein the operational amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers operable to amplify the dc signals, and wherein the plurality of amplifiers are sequentially independently operable over particular power ranges, whereby the full range of operation of the detector is determined by the discrete ranges of operation of the plurality of amplifiers.
-
14. A method of operating a telecommunications cellular base station including a power detector arrangement;
- which detector comprises a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling;
wherein the operational amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers operable to amplify the dc signals, and wherein the plurality of amplifiers are sequentially independently operable over particular power ranges, whereby the full range of operation of the detector is determined by the discrete ranges of operation of the plurality of amplifiers, the method comprising the steps of coupling rf energy, converting the rf energy to direct current voltage and outputting a signal of voltage Vrf to an amplification circuit, and operating the amplifier appropriate for the particular level of voltage.
- which detector comprises a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling;
-
15. A telecommunications system including a power detector arrangement comprising a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling;
wherein the operational amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers operable to amplify the dc signals, and wherein the plurality of amplifiers are sequentially independently operable over particular power ranges, whereby the full range of operation of the detector is determined by the discrete ranges of operation of the plurality of amplifiers.
-
16. A method of operating a telecommunications system including a power detector arrangement;
- which detector comprises a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling;
wherein the operational amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers operable to amplify the dc signals, and wherein the plurality of amplifiers are sequentially independently operable over particular power ranges, whereby the full range of operation of the detector is determined by the discrete ranges of operation of the plurality of amplifiers, the method comprising the steps of coupling rf energy, converting the rf energy to direct current voltage and outputting a signal of voltage Vrf to an amplification circuit, and operating the amplifier appropriate for the particular level of voltage.
- which detector comprises a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling;
Specification