FR2625053A1 - ENERGY COUPLING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Power coupling device which can be used with metre and decimetre waves. In order to share out to n users (E1-En) in an equipotential and equiphase manner the energy coming from m equipotential and equiphase sources (J1-Jm), at the output of each source is connected up a 3dB, 90 DEG hybrid circuit (H1-Hm) which distributes the power equally and with an aperiodic phase shift of 90 DEG to two equipotential and equiphase distribution boxes (G1-G2) with m inputs and n outputs, exhibiting the same input/output phase shift. The two boxes are connected respectively to the two pathways of a pair of conjugate pathways of n 3dB, 90 DEG hybrid circuits (F1-Fn); the recombined powers in these n circuits are delivered respectively to the n users (E1-En). Application in particular to power transmitters.

Description

ENERGY COUPLING DEVICE

  The present invention relates to an energy coupling device, usable in VHF and UHF. Such devices are necessary in different cases: for, from a source, to make several amplifiers or preamplifiers work so

  equipotential and equiphase, or to summon the

  delivered by several preamplifiers

  equipotentials and equiphases so, with the power obtained

  naked, 'to operate equipotential and equiphase amplifiers, or even summing the powers delivered by several amplifiers

  equipotentials and equiphases to feed the same user.

  generally constituted by a transmitting antenna.

  In the case, for example, amplifiers to equipotentially and equiphase, there are one-input distribution boxes and n outputs, associated with quarter-wave transformer impedance matching circuits, which provide correctly, since all the amplifiers deliver the same power but if one or more amplifiers fail, the

  resulting mismatches significantly disrupt the functioning of the

  of the entire assembly and it is necessary to

  protect amplifiers by isolation devices.

  For this purpose different solutions have been used - distribution boxes have been associated with

  circulator-type insulators using the

  gyromagnetic properties of ferrites. Theroretically this solution is ideal but, in practice, it presents. various disadvantages such as power limitation, selectivity and relatively large losses in the circulators; hybrid junctions of the ring-type, 3dB couplers, etc., have been cascaded, the amplifiers being

  connected in pairs on such a junction; an excellent discovery

  The range is thus achieved between the amplifiers but, especially for a large number of amplifiers, this solution is expensive because of the number of hybrid junctions required and, in addition, the losses are significant. protection devices of the Wilkinson type; it is a pretty good solution but the realization in decimetre band for

  a lot of amplifiers, proves very difficult.

  The object of the present invention is to obtain the same advantages as those related to hybrid junction embodiments

  cascaded, while minimizing the disadvantages.

  This is achieved by matching adequately

  Hybrid junctions and distribution boxes.

  According to the invention a device for coupling energies

  between m energy sources, with m positive integer, and n utillsa-

  s, n positive integer and m + n greater than 2, is characterized

  by a combination of first m and n second hybrid circuits

  to 3. dB, at 90, associated respectively with m and n loads

  balance, and a first and second box of dis-

  tribution with m inputs and n outputs, the combination being such that the first m circuits are respectively coupled to the m sources by a first access and respectively m second access respectively connected to m charges, m third access respectively connected m m entries of the first box, m

  fourth access respectively connected to the m entries of the se-

  box, that the n second circuits respectively have

  first accesses respectively connected to the n outputs of the first

  first box, n second accesses respectively connected to the n outputs of the second box, n third accesses respectively connected to the n charges and n fourth access respectively connected to n

  users and that first and second access and third

  * The fourth and fourth access of hybrid circuits constitute

conjugate access pairs.

  The present invention will be better understood and others

  characteristics will appear from the description below.

  after and related figures which represent: - Figure 1, a coupling device between amplifiers and a user; FIG. 2, a device for coupling between preamplifiers and the amplifiers of FIG. 1; FIG. 3, a coupling device between a

  source and preamplifiers in Figure 2.

  In the different figures, the corresponding elements

  are designated by the same references.

  In the following description as well as in the

  claims it is a question of hybrid junctions at 3dB, at

  900, having two pairs of conjugate accesses. By pair of combined accesses of the junction, two of the four accesses of the junction are to be understood such that, if adapted loads are connected to them, there is practically no coupling between the two other accesses of the circuit, the two other accesses also constituting a pair of conjugate accesses; and, always when suitable charges are connected to one of the conjugate access pairs, the power applied to one of the two conjugate accesses of the other pair is indicated by the accesses of the

  pair on which are connected suitable charges, equally

  power but with quadrature phase waves.

  In the schemas, the conjugate access pairs of the hybrid junctions

  from 3dB, to 90, will be marked respectively 1-2 and 3-4 these junctions are directional couplers in the montages

  which have served as examples in this description and these

  directional tears at 3dB, at 90, will be, in the following, called "3dB couplers", or even "couplers"; but it should be noted that these junctions can, without departing from

  the invention, be constituted by any other equivalent junctions

  nits such as, for example, magic tees or rings

  hybrids associated with phase shift elements of

nable.

  Figure 1 shows the diagram of a coupling device

  range for supplying an antenna A with the sum, with losses, of the energies supplied by n amplifiers, E1 to

  In, (in the example described n was equal to 8 and the amplifcations

  each had an output power of 1 kilowatt). The outputs of the amplifiers E1 to En are respectively connected to the ports 1 of n couplers at 3dB, DI to Dn. Between access

  2 of the couplers D1 to Dn and the mass, are mounted resistances

  balancing ratios Rd1 to Rdn, which constitute charges

  adapted. The accesses 3 of the couplers D1 to Dn are respectively

  connected to the inputs 1 to n of a C1 distribution box with n inputs and an output; likewise the accesses 4 of the couplers D1 to DN are respectively connected to the inputs 1 to n of a box of

  C2 distribution with n inputs and one output. The outputs of the boxes

  C1, C2 are respectively connected to ports 1 and 2 of a coupler 3dB, B, whose access 3 is connected to ground by a balancing resistor Rb and whose access 4 is connected to the antenna A, the latter comprising a circuit

  impedance matching, not shown.

  In order for the operation of the arrangement according to FIG. 1 to be correct, the amplifiers E1 to En must provide equipotential and equiphase signals; known mounts exist to achieve this result but it is also

  possible, as will be seen from Figures 2 and 3, to achieve

  this result with assemblies according to the invention since

  each time, to distribute the power of one or more

  sources to one or more users, these users

  become sources in the next amplifier stage

  thus the amplifiers of Figure 1, which are the

  the preamplifier power sources of FIG. 2, are also the energy sources for the user that is the antenna

A of Figure 1.

  In normal operation, ie with the amplifiers

  By supplying equipotential equiphase signals, the power of the amplifier E i (i: integer can take any value from 1 to n) is divided into two equal parts but with an aperiodic phase shift of, by the coupler Di: a part U / / 2, which appears on the access 3 of the coupler Di (U being the voltage corresponding to the power supplied by the amplifier Di which is, moreover, the same whatever the value taken by i of the to n) - a part U / -2.exp (-jr / 2), o

exp (-J 1/2) represents the expo-

  nential of -j7r / 2, with J = to; all the power of the signals appearing on the access 3 of the couplers D1 to Dn is applied to the distribution box C1 and all that appearing on the access 4 of the couplers D1 to Dn is applied to the distribution box C2. If (p c is the phase change resulting from the crossing of the Cl

  and C2, the signals on ports 1 and 2 of coupler B are

  respectively of the form U / V. exp (jcPc) U / /. exp-j (1r / 2 - cpe) which gives, respectively on the accesses 3 and 4 of the coupler BU / 2.exp (j cc) + U / 2.exp-j (1 - <pc) null signal U / 2.exp-j (1 / 2- rp c) + U / 2.exp-j (/ / 2cpc) signal

  representing the total recombinant power.

  Thus the assembly formed by the couplers and the distribution boxes of FIG. 1 constitutes a switching of the accesses 1 of the couplers D1 to Dn towards the access 4 of the coupler B.

  when the accesses 2 of the couplers D1 to Dn and the access 3 of the.

  coupler B, are perfectly decoupled. The circuit according to FIG. 1 operates as a power summator, the power on the access 4 of the coupler B being the sum, with the losses, of the powers delivered by the amplifiers El to En. It is

  Moreover, it should be noted that the assembly according to FIG.

  slble, to amplifiers E1 to near.

  But what is the isolation of amplifiers E1 to En compared to others? - The signal coming from an amplifier El (i: integer can take any value from 1 to n) and reached the inputs i of the boxes C1 and C2, is divided into three parts - a part transmitted to the accesses 1 and 2 of the coupler B - a portion reflected to the amplifier E1; a part retransmitted to the other amplifiers when all the signals delivered by the amplifiers E1 to En are equipotential and equiphase only the part transmitted to the accesses 1 and 2 of the coupler B exists, the other parts

  are null; when this is not the case because of an imbalance

  free of amplitude or phase between the amplifiers or because of a failure of one or more amplifiers, any signal coming from a defective amplifier Ei and reflected at the

  boxes C1 and C2 or retransmitted to the other amplifi-

  cators, recombines to appear on accesses 2 of,

  couplers D1 to Dn where it is absorbed by the protection loads

  tion constituted by the balancing resistors Rd1 to Rdn. The assembly according to FIG. 1 thus ensures perfect protection of the amplifiers with respect to any imbalance and

  even with respect to any complete stoppage of one or more amplifiers

  tors. And the ratio of the total power normally available

  the total power actually available is

  losses near the system, as for a pool association.

cascading crying n2 / (n-n ') P2

  o is the number of failed amplifiers.

  Figure 2 shows how n amplifiers E1 and En are powered from - preamplifiers

  equipotential and equiphase, J1 to Jm. The assembly comn-

  carries m preamplifiers followed by m couplers at 3dB, at, H1 to Hm, followed by 2 distribution boxes G1, G2 with m inputs and n outputs, followed by n couplers at 3dB, at 90, F1 at Fn, followed by n amplifiers E1 to En. Between the accesses 2 of the couplers H1 to Hm and the mass as well as between the accesses 4

  couplers F1 to Fn and ground are connected resistors

  Rhl to Rhm and Rfl A Rfn.

  The part of the assembly of Figure 2 going from

  JI to Jn plifters at the inputs of the distribution boxes

  G1, G2 corresponds to the part of the assembly according to FIG.

  taken between the amplifiers E1 to En and the inputs of the distribution boxes C1 and C2; the protection of preamplifiers J1 to Jm against abnormal operation of one of them

is thus assured.

  The part of the assembly of FIG. 2 going from the outputs of the distribution boxes G1, G2 to the inputs of the amplifiers E1 to En corresponds to the part of the circuit arrangement according to FIG. 1 between the inputs of the distribution boxes C1 and C2 and the outputs of the amplifiers E1 to En, that is to say a part used in the opposite direction of its use according to Figure 1 by making use of its reversibility. This part of the assembly of FIG. 2 allows an equipotential power supply and

  equipement of amplifiers E1 to En.

  FIG. 3 shows how the preamplifiers J1 to Jm can be supplied equipotentially and equiphase from a source represented by a single amplifier, N, on the input of which a signal S is applied. followed by a coupler at 3dB, at 90, M, followed by 2 distribution boxes L1, L2 at one input and m outputs, followed by m couplers at 3dB, at 90, K1 to Km, followed by the m preamplifiers J1 to Jm . Between access 2

  coupler M and the mass and between the accesses 4 of the couplers

  crying K1 to Km and mass, are connected resistors

balancing, R and Rkl at Rkm.

  The part of the assembly according to FIG. 3 comprised between the output of the source N and the inputs of the preamplifiers J1

  to Jm corresponds to the part of the assembly according to FIG.

  taken between the antenna A and the outputs of amplifiers El A En, and used therefore, thanks to reversibility, in the opposite direction of its use according to Figure 1. This assembly. allows

  an equipotential diet and equipping equipments with preampli

J1 to Jm.

  The invention is not limited. to the examples described, it applies generally to the equipotential and equiphase power supply of n users per m sources

  of energy, with m and n positive integers and m4n greater than 2.

Claims (2)

REVENDI CATIONS   1. A device for coupling energies between m energy sources (Jl-Jm), with m positive integer, and n users (El-En), n positive integer and m + n greater than 2, characterized by a combination of m first (H1-Hm) and n seconds (F1-Fn) hybrid circuits at 3dB, a 90, associated respectively with m (Rhl-Rhm) and n (Rfl-Rfn) balancing loads and a first (GI1) and a second (G2) distribution box with m inputs and n outputs, the combination being such that the first m circuits (H1-Hm) are respectively coupled to the m sources (J1-Jm) by a first access and respectively have m second accesses connected respectively to the m charges (RhlRhm), m third accesses respectively connected to the m entries of the first box (Gl), m fourth respectively connected accesses   the m entries of the second box (G2), that the n second cir-   cooked (F1-Fn) respectively have n first connected accesses   respectively with n outputs of the first box (Gl) ,. n second accesses respectively connected to the n outputs of the second box (G2), n third accesses respectively connected to the n loads (Rfl-Rfn) and n fourth access respectively connected to the n users (El-En) and the first and second accesses and third and fourth access hybrid circuits   (H1-Hm, F1-Fn) are conjugate access pairs.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in   ee that the hybrid circuits (H1-Hm, Fl-Fn) are crying at 3dB, at 90.