Metamaterial power amplifier systems

• US 8,576,004 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hollinworth Fund L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Dupuy, Alexandre, Gummalla, Ajay, Achour, Maha
• Primary Examiner(s): Choe, Henry
• Application Number:
  US13/410,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20120169414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 330/126, 330/302, 330/285, 330/296
• US Class Current: 330/126
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2039 Galvanic coupling between Input/Output
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2138 using hollow waveguide filters H01P1/2131 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/12 Coupling devices having more than two ports H01P5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/20 Magic-T junctions
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0211 with control of the supply voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0261 with control of the polarisation voltage or current, e.g. gliding Class A
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/111 the amplifier being a dual or triple band amplifier, e.g. 900 and 1800 MHz, e.g. switched or not switched, simultaneously or not
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7209 the gated amplifier being switched from a first band to a second band
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7236 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by putting into parallel or not, by choosing between amplifiers by (a ) switch(es)
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/60 Amplifiers in which coupling networks have distributed constants, e.g. with waveguide resonators H03F3/54 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
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0123 comprising distributed impedance elements together with lumped impedance elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/46 Networks for connecting several sources or loads, working on different frequencies or frequency bands, to a common load or source for use in multiplex transmission systems H04J1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Power amplifying systems and modules and components therein are designed based on CRLH structures, providing high efficiency and linearity.

Claims

1. A frequency selecting network comprising:

a first port;

a plurality of second ports associated with a plurality of frequency bands, respectively; and

a plurality of signal paths coupling the first port and the plurality of second ports, respectively, forming multifurcated branches, the plurality of signal paths being coupled to a plurality of frequency selectors, respectively, wherein

each of the frequency selectors is configured to transmit a signal in a frequency band associated with the frequency selector between the first port and the second port associated with the frequency band; and

wherein at least one frequency selector comprises a CRLH structure;

wherein each of the frequency selectors permits passage of a different frequencies than the other frequency selectors.

2. The frequency selecting network as in claim 1, wherein

the at least one frequency selector includes a shunt element having the CRLH structure, wherein the shunt element is configured based on the CRLH structure to have a phase response to produce predetermined impedances at a predetermined location in the frequency selector for transmitting the signal in the frequency band associated with the frequency selector.

3. The frequency selecting network as in claim 2, wherein

the at least one frequency selector further includes a second shunt element having a second CRLH structure.

4. The frequency selecting network as in claim 1, wherein

the at least one frequency selector includes a series element having the CRLH structure.

5. The frequency selecting network as in claim 2, wherein

the at least one frequency selector further includes a series element having an RH structure.

6. A frequency selector, comprising:

an input port for receiving signals in a plurality of frequency bands;

an output port for outputting a signal in a predetermined frequency band selected from the plurality of frequency bands;

a signal path coupling the input port and the output port; and

a TL having a first end and a second end, the first end being an distal end of the TL and the second end being an proximal end coupled in shunt to the signal path;

wherein

the TL is configured to have a phase response that provides an open circuit at the second end for the predetermined frequency band and a shorted circuit at the second end for frequency bands different from the predetermined frequency band;

the TL comprises a CRLH structure and is configured based on the CRLH structure to have the phase response that provides one of 0°

±

(k×

180°

), where k=0, 1, 2, . . . , for the predetermined frequency band and one of 90°

±

(k×

180°

), where k=0, 1, 2, . . . , for the frequency bands different from the predetermined frequency band when the first end is configured to have an open circuit.

7. The frequency selector as in claim 6, wherein

the TL comprises a CRLH structure and is configured based on the CRLH structure to have the phase response that provides one of 90°

±

(k×

180°

), where k=0, 1, 2, . . . , for the predetermined frequency band and one of 0°

±

(k×

180°

), where k=0, 1, 2, . . . , for the frequency bands other than the predetermined frequency band when the first end is configured to have a shorted circuit.

8. The frequency selector as in claim 6, further comprising

a second TL coupled in series with the signal path, wherein the second TL is configured to have a phase response to adjust signal properties including transmission and reflection.

9. The frequency selector as in claim 8, wherein

the second TL is configured to have the phase response that provides an open at the input port for the signals in the frequency bands different from the predetermined frequency band.

10. The frequency selector as in claim 8, wherein

the second TL comprises an RH structure.

11. The frequency selector as in claim 8, wherein

the second TL comprises a CRLH structure.

12. The frequency selector as in claim 6, wherein

the TL comprises an extended-CRLH structure and is configured based on the extended-CRLH structure to have the phase response that provides a short circuit at the second end for more than three frequency bands different from the predetermined frequency band.

13. The frequency selector as in claim 6, wherein

the TL is configured to have the phase response that provides an open circuit at the second end for the predetermined frequency band and a shorted circuit at the second end for harmonics of the predetermined frequency band.

14. The frequency selector as in claim 8, further comprising

a third TL having a third end and a fourth end, the third end being a distal end of the third TL and the fourth end being a proximal end coupled in shunt to the signal path, wherein

the third TL is configured to have a phase response that provides an open circuit at the fourth end for the predetermined frequency band and a shorted circuit at the fourth end for frequency bands different from the predetermined frequency band.

15. An active frequency selector, comprising:

an input port for receiving signals in a plurality of frequency bands;

an output port for outputting a first signal in a first predetermined frequency band and a second signal in a second predetermined frequency band, the first and second frequency bands being selected from the plurality of frequency bands;

a signal path coupling the input port and the output port;

a first TL having a first end and a second end, the first end being a distal end of the first TL;

a first active component coupling the second end and the signal path in shunt;

a second TL having a third end and a fourth end, the third end being a distal end of the second TL; and

a second active component coupling the fourth end and the signal path in shunt, wherein

the first TL is configured to have a phase response that provides an open circuit at the second end for the first predetermined frequency band and a shorted circuit at the second end for the second frequency band; and

the second TL is configured to have a phase response that provides an open circuit at the fourth end for the second predetermined frequency band and a shorted circuit at the second end for the first frequency band; and

wherein

the first active component is controlled to be in an on-state to couple the first TL to the signal path and the second active component is controlled to be in an off-state to decouple the second TL to direct the first signal in the first predetermined frequency band to the output port; and

the second active component is controlled to be in an on-state to couple the second TL to the signal path and the first active component is controlled to be in an off-state to decouple the first TL to direct the second signal in the second predetermined frequency band to the output port.

16. The active frequency selector as in claim 15, wherein

the first and second TLs comprise a CRLH structure.

17. The active frequency selector as in claim 15, wherein

the signals in the plurality of frequency bands are received at the input port simultaneously.

18. The active frequency selector as in claim 15, wherein

the signals in the plurality of frequency bands are received sequentially in time intervals.

19. The active frequency selector as in claim 15, further comprising

a third TL coupled in series with the signal path, wherein the third TL is configured to have a phase response to adjust signal properties including transmission and reflection.

20. The active frequency selector as in claim 15, wherein

the first TL is configured to have the phase response that provides an open circuit at the second end for the first predetermined frequency band and a shorted circuit at the second end for the second predetermined frequency band and harmonics of the first predetermined frequency band;

and

the second TL is configured to have a phase response that provides an open circuit at the fourth end for the second predetermined frequency band and a shorted circuit at the second end for the first frequency band and harmonics of the second predetermined frequency band.

21. A method of making a frequency selector, comprising:

forming an input port to receive signals in a plurality of frequency bands;

forming an output port to output a signal in a predetermined frequency band selected from the plurality of frequency bands;

forming a signal path between the input port and the output port;

forming a TL having a first end and a second end;

coupling the second end of the TL in shunt to the signal path; and

configuring the TL to have a phase response that provides an open circuit at the second end for the predetermined frequency band and a shorted circuit at the second end for frequency bands other than the predetermined frequency band;

the configuring the TL comprises;

forming the TL based on a CRLH structure to have the phase response that provides one of 0°

±

(k×

180°

), where k=0, 1, 2, . . . , for the predetermined frequency band and one of 90°

±

(k×

180°

), where k=0, 1, 2, . . . , for the frequency bands other than the predetermined frequency band when the first end is configured to have an open circuit.

22. The method as in claim 21, wherein

the configuring the TL comprises:

forming the TL based on a CRLH structure to have the phase response that provides one of 90°

±

(k×

180°

), where k=0, 1, 2, . . . , for the predetermined frequency band and one of 0°

±

(k×

180°

), where k=0, 1, 2, . . . , for the frequency bands other than the predetermined frequency band when the first end is configured to have a shorted circuit.

23. The method as in claim 21, further comprising:

configuring a second TL to have a phase response to adjust signal properties including transmission and reflection; and

coupling the second TL in series with the signal path.