Outphased spatial combiner

• US 9,954,706 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Johnny M., Holzer, Kyle D., Jeraj, Janez
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Siu
• Application Number:
  US15/337,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20180123852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 375259, 375260, 375267, 375295, 375296, 375297, 375299
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/102 A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/19 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2614 Peak power aspects

Abstract

Spatially combining signals may include receiving a number of RF input signals at a number of RF input connectors. At least one of the RF input signals is a variable envelope signal. A variable envelope signal is converted into two or more outphased constant envelope signals. The two or more outphased constant envelope signals are amplified. The amplified outphased constant envelope signals are radiated. At a spatial combiner aperture, the radiated amplified outphased constant envelope signals are combined to create a combined signal. The combined signal is output onto an output RF connector.

Claims

1. A spatial combiner device, the spatial combiner device comprising:

a plurality of RF input connectors configured to receive input signals;

constant envelope circuitry coupled to one or more of the RF input connectors, wherein the constant envelope circuitry is configured to convert a variable envelope signal into two or more constant envelope signals, but wherein at least one of the RF input connectors is not coupled to the constant envelope circuitry;

a plurality of power amplifier circuits, wherein each of the power amplifier circuits in the plurality of power amplifier circuits is coupled to one of the input connectors in the plurality of RF input connectors;

a plurality of spatial radiators, wherein each of the spatial radiators is coupled to one of the power amplifier circuits in the plurality of power amplifier circuits;

a spatial combiner aperture, wherein each of the spatial radiators is spatially coupled to the spatial combiner aperture such that each of the spatial radiators is configured to emit signals that can be received by the spatial combiner aperture, such that the spatial combiner aperture is configured to combine constant envelope signals derived from constant envelope signals input into one or more of the RF input connectors and constant envelope signals derived from variable envelope signals input into the constant envelope circuitry; and

an output RF connector coupled to the spatial combiner aperture, the output RF connector configured to provide an output signal, wherein the output signal comprises a combined signal comprising a combination of amplified signals.

2. The spatial combiner device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input RF connectors may consist of n+1 connectors, wherein n is a whole number.

3. The spatial combiner device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input RF connectors consists of 2ⁿ connectors, wherein n is a whole number.

4. The spatial combiner device of claim 1, further comprising digital signal processing hardware coupled to the Input RF connectors, wherein the digital signal processing hardware is configured to align, equalize, calibrate or otherwise modify the input signals to ensure that signals received at the spatial combiner aperture are at a desired phase and/or amplitude and desired properties.

5. The spatial combiner device of claim 4, wherein the digital signal processing hardware comprises feedback circuitry from the spatial combiner aperture such that the digital signal processing hardware is capable of at least one of closed loop alignment, equalization or other calibration.

6. The spatial combiner device of claim 4, wherein the digital signal processing hardware comprises a plurality of discrete sets of components, wherein each discrete set of components is coupled to a different Input RF connector.

7. The spatial combiner device of claim 1, wherein the spatial radiators are essentially at least one of physically, electrically or magnetically equidistant from the spatial combiner aperture.

8. The spatial combiner device of claim 1, further comprising a spatial cavity, and wherein the spatial cavity is symmetrical and wherein the spatial radiators are disposed symmetrically about the spatial cavity.

9. A method of spatially combining signals, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of RF input signals at a plurality of RF input connectors, wherein at least one of the RF input signals is a variable envelope signal;

converting the at least one variable envelope signal into two or more constant envelope outphased signals;

amplifying the two or more outphased constant envelope signals;

radiating the amplified outphased constant envelope signals;

receiving a one or more constant envelope RF input signals at one or more RF input connectors;

amplifying the one or more constant envelope RF input signals;

radiating the amplified one or more constant envelope RF input signals;

at a spatial combiner aperture, spatially combining the radiated amplified outphased constant envelope signals and one or more constant envelope RF input signals to create a combined signal; and

outputting the combined signal onto an output RF connector.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising at least one of aligning, equalizing, or otherwise modifying the constant envelope outphased signals to ensure that signals received at the spatial combiner aperture are at a desired phase and/or amplitude.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing feedback based on the combined signal to digital signal processing hardware to facilitate at least one of closed loop alignment, equalization, or other calibration of the constant envelope outphased signals.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, at digital signal processing hardware, at least one of aligning, equalizing or otherwise processing at least one of the constant envelope input signals, the amplified constant envelope input signals, the constant envelope outphased signals, or the amplified constant envelope outphased signals to ensure that signals received at the spatial combiner aperture are at a desired phase and/or amplitude.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital signal processing hardware comprises a plurality of different digital processing circuits, wherein aligning, equalizing or otherwise processing at least one of the constant envelope input signals, the amplified constant envelope input signals, the constant envelope outphased signals, or the amplified constant envelope outphased signals comprises providing each different input signal to a different digital processing circuit.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing feedback based on the combined signal to digital signal processing hardware to facilitate at least one of closed loop alignment, equalization, or other calibration of at least one of the constant envelope input signals, the amplified constant envelope input signals, the constant envelope outphased signals, or the amplified constant envelope outphased signals.

15. A method of manufacturing a spatial combiner device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of RF input connectors configured to receive input signals;

coupling constant envelope circuitry to one or more of the RF input connectors, wherein the constant envelope circuitry is configured to convert a variable envelope signal into two or more constant envelope signals, but wherein at least one of the RF input connectors is not coupled to the constant envelope circuitry;

coupling a plurality of power amplifier circuits to the plurality of RF input connectors, wherein each of the power amplifier circuits in the plurality of power amplifier circuits is coupled to one of the input connectors in the plurality of RF input connectors;

coupling a plurality of spatial radiators to the plurality of power amplifier circuits, wherein each of the spatial radiators in the plurality of spatial radiators is coupled to one of the power amplifier circuits in the plurality of power amplifier circuits;

providing a spatial combiner aperture, wherein each of the spatial radiators can be spatially coupled to the spatial combiner aperture such that each of the spatial radiators is configured to emit signals that can be received by the spatial combiner aperture, such that the spatial combiner aperture is configured to combine constant envelope signals derived from constant envelope signals input into one or more of the RF input connectors and constant envelope signals derived from variable envelope signals input into the constant envelope circuitry; and

coupling an output RF connector to the spatial combiner aperture, the output RF connector configured to provide an output signal, wherein the output signal comprises a combined signal comprising a combination of amplified signals.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of input RF connectors consists of 2ⁿ connectors, wherein n is a whole number.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising coupling digital signal processing hardware to the input RF connectors, wherein the digital signal processing hardware is configured to align, equalize or otherwise modify the input signals to ensure that signals received at the spatial combiner aperture are at a desired phase and/or amplitude.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the digital signal processing hardware comprises feedback circuitry from the spatial combiner aperture such that the digital signal processing hardware is capable of at least one of closed loop alignment, equalization or other calibration.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the digital signal processing hardware comprises a plurality of discrete sets of components, wherein each discrete set of components is coupled to a different Input RF connector.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the spatial radiators are essentially equidistant from the spatial combiner aperture.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a spatial cavity, and wherein the spatial cavity is symmetrical and wherein the spatial radiators are disposed symmetrically about the spatial cavity.