Dynamically tuned amplifier for frequency shift keyed signals

• US 6,882,236 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ultra Electronics Canada Defence Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magneto Inductive Systems Ltd. (Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC)
• Inventors: Locke, Gordon Evan, Dinn, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Mis, David
• Application Number:
  US10/637,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 331/1.R, 331/1.A, 331/36.C, 331/110, 331/138, 331/139, 331/177.R, 331/179
• US Class Current: 331/138
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2171 with field-effect devices H03F3/2173 - H03F3/2178 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2173 of the bridge type
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 1/0007 of radio frequency interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 19/008 with variable switch closing time

Abstract

An amplifier circuit for efficiently driving a tuned resonant load where the amplifier circuit controls the continuously variable resonant frequency of the tuned resonant load so as to match step changes or slower changes in the frequency of the signal with which it is being driven. The circuit includes a tuned resonant load, a driver, a controller and a feedback loop. The driver is coupled to the load and drives it with a driving signal at a frequency under the control of the controller. The controller dynamically controls the resonant frequency of the tuned resonant load in response to an error signal received through the feedback loop. The error signal represents the mismatch in phase between the resonant phase of the load current and the phase of the driving signal, or between the resonant phase of the tuning capacitor voltage offset by 90 degrees and the phase of the driving signal. The controller also controls the pulse width of the driving signal, which controls the energy transferred to the load, and ensures the pulses are centered within the half-cycle of the load current to avoid advancing or retarding the phase of the load current in each half cycle.

Claims

1. A circuit, comprising:

a tunable resonant load containing a variable load energy having a load phase;

a driver coupled across said tunable resonant load to apply a variable drive signal having a drive frequency and phase to said tunable resonant load to supply said variable load energy;

a controller coupled to said tunable resonant load and coupled to said driver, said controller including a first component for controlling said drive phase of said drive signal, a second component for tuning said tunable resonant load, and a third component for setting said variable load energy; and

a feedback loop coupled between said tunable resonant load and said controller, said feedback loop generating an error signal in response to a phase deviation between said drive phase and said load phase;

wherein, in response to said error signal, said second component generates a tuning signal for tuning said tunable resonant load.

2. The circuit claimed in claim 1, wherein said tunable resonant load includes an inductor, a base capacitor and a tuning capacitor.

3. The circuit claimed in claim 2, wherein said load energy oscillates at a load frequency and said tuning capacitor is coupled to said inductor and said base capacitor through a switch, said switch being responsive to said tuning signal.

4. The circuit claimed in claim 3, wherein said tuning signal includes a disengagement portion for opening said switch during the first half of each half-cycle of said load frequency, and an engagement portion for closing said switch during the second half of each half-cycle of said load frequency.

5. The circuit claimed in claim 4, wherein disengagement portion and said engagement portion are separated by a duration, and wherein said second component varies said duration to tune said tunable resonant load.

6. The circuit claimed in claim 1, wherein said feedback loop receives a load energy signal from said tunable resonant load and receives a master signal from said controller, said master signal having a predetermined phase relationship with said driving signal, and wherein said feedback loop generates said error signal in response to a difference in a phase relationship between said load energy signal and said master signal.

7. The circuit claimed in claim 6, wherein said feedback loop includes a phase comparator and said error signal comprises a phase error signal.

8. The circuit claimed in claim 7, wherein said feedback loop further includes an integrator and a gain block for producing said phase error signal.

9. The circuit claimed in claim 6, wherein said load energy signal comprises a capacitor voltage signal.

10. The circuit claimed in claim 9, wherein said error signal is a signed error signal reflecting a desired phase difference between said capacitor voltage signal and said master signal, and where said desired phase difference comprises about ninety degrees.

11. The circuit claimed in claim 6, wherein said load energy signal comprises a load current signal.

12. The circuit claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive signal comprises a bipolar pulsed voltage signal.

13. The circuit claimed in claim 12, wherein said first component includes a pulse width modulation component for controlling the effective pulse width of pulses of said bipolar pulsed voltage signal, thereby controlling the energy transferred to said tunable resonant load.

14. The circuit claimed in claim 13, wherein said driver includes a half-bridge configured driver having two driver switches coupled in series between a positive voltage and a negative voltage and having a drivepoint coupled to said tunable resonant load for providing said bipolar pulsed voltage signal.

15. The circuit claimed in claim 13, wherein said driver includes a full H-bridge configured driver having four driver switches coupled between a positive voltage and a negative voltage and having drivepoints coupled across said tunable resonant load for providing said bipolar pulsed voltage signal.

16. The circuit claimed in claim 15, wherein said four driver switches operate in response to four respective FSK switch signals generated by said controller, and wherein the timing of said FSK switch signals determines said driving frequency and the effective pulse width of said bipolar pulsed voltage signal.

17. The circuit claimed in claim 12, wherein said tuned resonant load includes a substantially sinusoidal load current and wherein each pulse of said bipolar pulsed voltage signal is centered within a respective half-cycle of said load current.

18. The circuit claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller includes a memory, and wherein said memory includes at least one predetermined tuning signal setting corresponding to at least one predetermined drive signal setting.

19. The circuit claimed in claim 1, wherein said tunable resonant load includes a tuning capacitor in series with a switch, and wherein said switch operates in response to said tuning signal.

20. A method of driving a tunable resonant load with an amplifier using a drive signal having a driving phase, the tunable resonant load containing a load energy having a load phase, the method including the steps of:

(a) applying the drive signal to said tunable resonant load;

(b) measuring a phase difference between said drive phase of said drive signal and said load phase of said load energy;

(c) generating an error signal based upon said phase difference; and

(d) tuning said tunable resonant load in response to said error signal.

21. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein said load energy oscillates at a load frequency and said steps are repeated every cycle of said load frequency.

22. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein said load energy oscillates at a load frequency, wherein said tunable resonant load includes an inductive component, a capacitive component, and a reactance, said reactance being coupled in series with a switch, and wherein said step of tuning includes adjusting a time at which said switch opens during a first half of each half-cycle of said load frequency and a time at which said switch closes during a second half of each half-cycle of said load frequency.

23. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein said step of generating includes comparing said phase difference with a desired phase deviation and generating a signed phase error signal based upon said step of comparing.

24. The method claimed in claim 23, wherein said step of measuring includes receiving a load energy signal from said tunable resonant load and receiving a master signal from a controller, said master signal having a predetermined phase relationship with said drives signal, and comparing the load phase of said load energy signal to the phase of said master signal to determine said phase difference.

25. The method claimed in claim 24, wherein said load energy signal is a capacitor voltage signal.

26. The method claimed in claim 24, wherein said load energy signal is a load current signal.

27. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein said drive signal includes a bipolar pulsed voltage signal.

28. The method claimed in claim 27, wherein said step of applying includes a step of setting the effective pulse width of said bipolar pulsed voltage signal, thereby controlling the energy transferred to said tunable resonant load.

29. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein said drive signal includes an FSK modulated signal having bit transitions, and wherein the amplifier includes a memory for storing predetermined tuning signal settings corresponding to predetermined drive signals, and wherein, at bit transitions, said step of dynamically tuning includes tuning said tunable resonant load based upon one of said predetermined tuning signal settings, and further including a step of fine tuning during a bit duration.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

a resonant load having a resonant frequency and including tuning means for continuous tuning of said resonant frequency, said resonant load containing a load energy having a load phase;

drive means for driving said tunable resonant load with a drive signal having a drive phase;

control means coupled to said tunable resonant load and coupled to said drive means, for controlling said drive phase of said drive signal and for controlling said tuning means; and

feedback means coupled between said tunable resonant load and said control means, said feedback means generating an error signal in response to a phase deviation between said drive phase and said load phase;

wherein said control means controls said tuning means in response to said error signal.

31. The apparatus claimed in claim 30, wherein said control means generates a tuning signal for controlling said tuning means, and wherein said tuning means includes a switch means for switching a reactive component into said resonant load.

32. The apparatus claimed in claim 31, wherein said load energy oscillates at a load frequency and wherein switch means switches said reactive component into said resonant load for a portion of each half cycle of said load frequency.

33. The apparatus claimed in claim 32, wherein said control means determines the duration of said portion of each half cycle, thereby controlling said resonant frequency.

34. The apparatus claimed in claim 30, said control means controls said tuning means to match said resonant frequency to a drive frequency of said drive signal.