JPH06216788A - Communication equipment of transmission power control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress power consumption and to miniaturize a cooler, etc., on the other hand by preventing the unrequired state of a maximum output level in a transmission station from continuing. CONSTITUTION:The transmission station equipped with a transmitter and a receiver is provided with a control signal generating part 15 which outputs a control signal to control the output level of the transmitter based on reception level information, and an output level control part 16 which controls the output level of the transmitter based on a generated control signal. The output level control part 16 detects the temperature of a power amplifier 102 by a temperature sensor 103, and compares it with preset temperature by a comparator 104, and inputs a comparison result to a control circuit 105 with the control signal from the control signal generating part. The control circuit 105 controls a variable attenuator 101 and a power source 106 for amplification so that the output of the transmitter can attain the minimum level and the minimum power consumption compulsorily when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 103 exceeds the preset temperature.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device used in a transmission power control system, and more particularly to a communication device capable of controlling a transmission level of a transmitter and reducing power consumption of a power amplifier in the transmitter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication device has been proposed in which the output level of a transmitting station is controlled according to the receiving level information detected by the receiving station. That is, when communicating with each other between opposite wireless stations, the receiving station receives the signal transmitted from the transmitting station, feeds back the received level information to the transmitting station, and the transmitting station based on this receiving level information. Control the output level of the local transmitter. Normally, in this output level control, by lowering the power supply voltage of the power amplifier of the transmitter when the output level is low,
We are trying to reduce power consumption.

[0003]

By the way, in the communication of the transmission power control system of this kind, generally, the ratio of the time when the reception level is the minimum and the transmission level is the maximum is the total communication time. It is extremely small when compared. Therefore, theoretically, the power amplifier is rarely overheated, and the cooler such as a radiator for preventing the power amplifier from overheating can be downsized accordingly. However, the state of the maximum output level may unnecessarily continue for a long time due to a failure of the control unit that performs power control, or during manual operation, etc. to prevent damage due to overheating of the power amplifier in such a case. Therefore, it is necessary to design the thermal design of the cooler on the assumption of such a state, and it is difficult to realize the miniaturization of the cooler. Further, if such a maximum output level continues, the power consumption of the power amplifier will increase. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless device capable of preventing such a state of an unnecessary maximum output level from continuing and suppressing power consumption, while at the same time being capable of downsizing a cooler or the like. Especially.

[0004]

A communication device of the present invention is based on a control signal generator for outputting a control signal for controlling an output level of a transmitter based on reception level information, and a control signal generator based on the generated control signal. And an output level control unit for controlling the output level of the transmitter.The output level control unit sets the output level of the transmitter to the minimum level when the temperature of the power amplifier of the transmitter exceeds the set temperature, In addition, means for controlling the power consumption of the power amplifier to the minimum is provided. For example, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the power amplifier, a comparator that compares the temperature detected by this temperature sensor with a set temperature, a control signal from the control signal generator, and a comparison result signal from the comparator are input. Control circuit, a variable attenuator that changes the level of the transmission signal input to the power amplifier, and an amplifier power supply that supplies power to the power amplifier. The control circuit is based on the control signal and the comparison result signal. To control the variable attenuator and the power supply for the amplifier. Further, the control circuit receives the comparison result signal in which the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than the set temperature, controls the variable attenuator and the power supply for the amplifier to the attenuation amount and power corresponding to the control signal, and detects the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. Receives the comparison result signal higher than the set temperature and forcibly controls the variable attenuator and the power supply for the amplifier so that the output of the transmitter is forced to the minimum level and the minimum power consumption.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a part of the configuration of a wireless device of the present invention. Now, assume that one of the opposing wireless stations is a transmitting station and the other is a receiving station. In the transmitting station, a transmitter 11 and a receiver 12 are connected to an antenna 14 via a transmission / reception separator 13, and the signal power-amplified by the transmitter 11 is fed to the antenna 14
Send from The receiver 12 also receives a signal from the receiving station via the antenna 14. Control signal generator 15
Generates a control signal Sc for controlling the output level of the transmitter 11 based on the reception level information received by the receiver 12. Further, the output level control unit 16 controls the output level of the transmitter 11 based on the control signal Sc output from the control signal generation unit 15. Further, the receiving station has a receiver 22 that receives a signal transmitted from the transmitting station via an antenna 24 and a transmission / reception separator 23, and a reception level detecting unit 25 that detects the level of the signal received by the receiver 22.
And a transmitter 21 for feeding back the reception level information based on the detected reception level to the transmission station.

A detailed configuration showing the relationship between the output level control unit 16 provided in the transmitting station and the transmitter 11 is shown in the block diagram of FIG. The transmitter 11 is provided with a variable attenuator 101 for changing the output level and a power amplifier 102 whose output power is changed by changing the power supply voltage, and further detects the temperature of the power amplifier 102. A temperature sensor 103 is provided. Further, the output level control unit 16 has a temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 103.
Comparator 104 for comparing o with a set temperature Tr, a comparison output signal Sr of the comparator 104, and the control signal generator 15
The control circuit 105 that outputs the attenuator control signal Sa and the power amplifier control signal Sp based on the control signal Sc from the power supply circuit 102, and the power supply voltage supplied to the power amplifier 102 are changed based on the control circuit 105. An amplifier power supply 106 is provided. The set temperature Tr is set to a temperature at which the power amplifier 102 is determined to be in an overheated state.
Further, the comparator 104 sends a signal to the control circuit 105 when the detected temperature To is lower than the set temperature Tr based on the result of comparing the temperature To of the power amplifier 102 detected by the temperature sensor 103 with the set temperature Tr. Sr is output as logic "0", and when the detected temperature To is higher than the set temperature Tr, the signal Sr is output as logic "1" to the control circuit 105.

According to this structure, the control signal generator 15 outputs the control signal Sc for controlling the output level of the transmitter 11 based on the reception level information received by the receiver 12 in the required format. Generate and output level control unit 1
6 is input to the control circuit 105. This control circuit 105
At the same time, the comparison result signal Sr from the comparator 104 is input. Then, in the control circuit 105, the comparator 104
When the signal Sr from is a logic "0", that is, the detected temperature To
Is lower than the set temperature Tr and it is determined that the power amplifier 102 is not in the overheated state, the control signal generator 15
The variable attenuator control signal Sa and the power amplifier control signal Sp corresponding to the control signal Sc input from the are output, and the attenuation amount of the variable attenuator 101 and the power supply voltage of the power amplifier 102 are controlled to corresponding predetermined values. Thereby, the signal level output from the transmitter 11 is controlled to a suitable transmission output corresponding to the received signal.

On the other hand, when the signal Sr from the comparator 104 is input to the control circuit 105 as logic "1", that is, the detected temperature To is higher than the set temperature Tr, the power amplifier 10
When it is determined that 2 is overheated, the control signal generator 1
Regardless of the value of the control signal Sc from 5, the variable attenuator control signal Sa controls the variable attenuator 101 to minimize the input signal level to the power amplifier 102, and at the same time, the power amplifier control signal Sp controls the amplifier power supply 106. Is controlled to minimize the power supply voltage of the power amplifier 102. As a result, the output level and power consumption of the transmitter 11 are controlled to the minimum state. Therefore, when the power output level of the transmitter 11 continues to be high due to a failure of the control signal generation unit 15 or manual operation and the power amplifier 102 becomes overheated, the output level of the transmitter 11 is immediately minimized. Is controlled so that the power consumption of the power amplifier 102 is minimized at the same time, and the overheated state is promptly eliminated. As a result, the thermal design of the cooler (not shown) provided in the power amplifier does not need to consider the state in which the power amplifier continues to be overheated, and allows the cooler to be downsized. At the same time, it is possible to prevent the maximum output of the power amplifier from being continued unnecessarily, thereby eliminating waste of power consumption.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, the control signal generating section outputs the control signal for controlling the output level of the transmitter, and the output level control section outputs the control signal based on the control signal. When the temperature of the power amplifier exceeds the set temperature, the output level of the transmitter is set to the minimum level and the power consumption of the power amplifier is controlled to be the minimum. In this case, the output level can be forcibly minimized and the power consumption can be minimized to eliminate the overheat condition, allowing a margin in the thermal design of the cooler of the power amplifier of the transmitter and preventing damage due to overheating of the power amplifier. While preventing it, the cooler can be downsized. At the same time, it is possible to avoid unnecessary power consumption and realize low power consumption.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a transmitter and an output level control unit according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 21 Transmitter 12, 22 Receiver 15 Control signal generator 16 Output level control unit 25 Reception level detector 101 Variable attenuator 102 Power amplifier 103 Temperature sensor 104 Comparator 105 Control circuit 106 Power supply for amplifier

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication device of a method of controlling transmission power of a transmission station based on reception level information detected by an opposite reception station, wherein the transmission station outputs to the transmission station based on the reception level information. A control signal generator that outputs a control signal for controlling the level and an output level controller that controls the output level of the transmitter based on the generated control signal are included in the output level controller. Of the transmission power control method, characterized in that when the temperature of the power amplifier exceeds the set temperature, a means for controlling the output level of the transmitter to the minimum level and minimizing the power consumption of the power amplifier is provided. Communication device. 2. A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a power amplifier, a comparator for comparing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with a set temperature, a control signal from a control signal generator and a comparison result signal from the comparator. , A variable attenuator for varying the level of the transmission signal input to the power amplifier, and an amplifier power supply for supplying power to the power amplifier, the control circuit including the control signal and the comparison result signal. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the variable attenuator and the power supply for the amplifier are controlled based on the above. 3. The control circuit receives the comparison result signal whose detected temperature of the temperature sensor is lower than the set temperature, controls the power supply for the variable attenuator and the amplifier to the attenuation amount and power corresponding to the control signal, and controls the temperature sensor. 3. The transmission according to claim 1, wherein the variable attenuator and the power supply for the amplifier are controlled so that the output of the transmitter is forcibly set to the minimum level and the minimum power consumption by receiving the comparison result signal whose detected temperature is higher than the set temperature. Power control communication device.