JP2006222828A - Amplifying equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an amplifying capable of reducing power consumption with the application of sleep mode, when input signal is in a low-traffic state, and that will not reduce its output level. <P>SOLUTION: Amplifying equipment 100 can reduce power consumption if RF input signal turns into a low traffic state, since a controller 50 will set a number of amplifiers 31-3n to a sleep mode according to the extent of a low traffic state; whereas, since the output level of RF output signal falls, the controller controls gain adjusting portion 31G-3nG of an amplifier, raises the gain of the working amplifier, and prevents the fall of RF output signal level. Moreover, in this case, since the output end of each amplifier and the portion where composition of a synthesizer is performed are combined with λ/4 of odd times as many lines as this, there is no influence on an amplifier carrying out the output stop, and synthetic loss is not caused. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an amplifying device used in a radio base station of a cellular phone, and more particularly, an input detector for detecting a traffic state of an RF input signal, a plurality of amplifiers arranged so as to be driven in parallel, and an RF input The number of amplifiers that set the sleep mode as the RF input signal becomes a lower traffic state, the distributor that distributes the signal to each amplifier, the combiner that synthesizes the output of each amplifier and outputs it as an RF output signal, The present invention relates to an amplifying device to be increased.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional example of this type of amplifying apparatus. 3 is used as a common amplifier for mobile phone radio base stations, etc., and includes an input detector 110, a distributor 120, amplifiers 131, 132,..., 13n, and a combiner. 140 and a controller 150. An output from a modem (not shown) is delivered to the input detector 110 as an RF input signal, and further delivered from the input detector 110 to the distributor 120. The distributor 120 distributes the delivered signal to the amplifiers 131 to 13n. The signal distributed by the distributor 120 is amplified by the amplifiers 131 to 13n connected so as to be driven in parallel, and the output is combined and output by the combiner 140.

  In the amplification device 200 configured as described above, each of the amplifiers 131 to 13n is set to operate optimally when the RF input signal supplied to the input detector 110 is in a high traffic state. Therefore, if the RF input signal to the input detector 110 is in a low traffic state, the operation of each of the amplifiers 131 to 13n deviates from the optimum operating point. Then, the operation of each of the amplifiers 131 to 13n becomes inefficient, and wasteful power is consumed. Such an amplifying apparatus often operates in a low traffic state, and low power consumption in such a state is an important issue. Therefore, when the RF input signal is in a low traffic state, it is considered that the controller 150 puts some of the amplifiers 131 to 13n into the sleep mode state according to the state. As an operation in this case, as shown in FIG. 4, when the amplifier is activated (S21), the amplifier once enters the sleep mode (S22), and when the operating condition is satisfied (S23), the amplifier enters the operating state. When the transition is made (S24) and the sleep condition is again established (S25), the process returns to step S22 to enter the sleep mode.

  As a method for solving the above-described problems and realizing the operation, it has been proposed to use RF relays 261 and 262 as shown in FIG. 5 (a related invention is described in Patent Document 1 below). . In the example of the amplification device 201 in FIG. 5, it is assumed that only two amplification systems are arranged for the sake of brevity. Therefore, the amplifying apparatus 201 of FIG. 5 includes an input detector 210, a distributor 220, amplifiers 231, 232, a combiner 240, a controller 250, and RF relays 261, 262. In such a configuration, the input detector 210 constantly monitors the input level (traffic state) of the RF input signal, and both the amplifiers 231 and 232 perform an amplification operation in a normal high traffic state.

  When the input level of the RF input signal is in a high traffic state as in the case described above, both the RF relays 261 and 262 are turned on by the controller 250, so that the outputs of the amplifiers 231 and 232 are both It is delivered to the synthesizer 240, synthesized and output as an RF output signal. However, when the input level of the RF input signal is low (low traffic state), the controller 250 switches the amplification system to only one system. This switching reduces the power consumption of the amplifying apparatus 201 and increases the efficiency, but the output level of the amplifying apparatus 201 is halved due to the combining loss in the combiner 240.

  As a method for suppressing the decrease in output level as described above, it has been proposed to control the RF relays 261 and 262 by incorporating them in the distributor 220 and the combiner 240. In the proposed method, when the controller 250 detects that the input level of the RF input signal is lowered, the switches inside the distributor 220 and the combiner 240 are switched to one amplifier side, and the other amplifier side is set to the sleep mode. By setting to, power consumption can be reduced except for the loss of the distributor 220 and the combiner 240. Further, when an alarm (ALM) is generated due to an abnormal operation of one of the amplifiers, the control unit sets the amplification system on the side generating the ALM by setting the RF relays 261 and 262 on / off. Can be stopped, and the output can be prevented from being stopped when ALM occurs by continuing amplification with the other amplification system.

Further, as described above, even when the RF input signal is in a low traffic state and the sleep mode is activated in the amplifier, at least one amplifier performs an amplification operation as shown in FIG. Therefore, even in the traffic state where the RF input signal is the lowest, the amplifier that is activated first will continue to operate regardless of the traffic state. In such a case, there is a high probability that other amplifiers are not operating or the time during which they are not operating increases. As a result, even in the traffic state where the RF input signal is the lowest, the amplifier that is in operation first has a higher failure rate than other amplifiers, and maintenance for the amplifier is not performed for a long time after starting operation. Will have to start.
JP 2004-128542 A (page 3-5, FIG. 1)

  However, in the method using the RF relay to apply the sleep mode as described above, when the number of amplification systems whose outputs are to be combined increases, the size of the distributor and the combiner increases, and the structure is complicated. And there is a problem that the RF output signal is lowered correspondingly when the amplifier is set to the sleep mode. Furthermore, there is also a problem that maintenance of the amplifying apparatus has to be started after a long period of time after the start of operation due to the fact that the cumulative operation time becomes longer due to the specific amplifier.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a plurality of amplifiers are connected in parallel to constitute an amplifying device. However, when the RF input signal is in a low traffic state or ALM occurs. In some cases, the sleep mode is applied to prevent unnecessary power consumption, and the output level of the RF output signal is not reduced as much as possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide an amplifying apparatus that can be operated in the same manner and that the application of the sleep mode is not shifted to a specific amplifier.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an amplifying apparatus according to the present invention includes an input detector that detects a traffic state of an RF input signal, a plurality of amplifiers arranged to be driven in parallel, and an RF input signal to each amplifier. The number of distributors to be distributed, the combiner that combines the outputs of each amplifier and outputs as an RF output signal, and the number of amplifiers that are set to sleep mode and stop operating as the RF input signal enters a lower traffic state. In the amplifying apparatus to be increased, a plurality of connection lines respectively coupling between the gain adjusting unit arranged so that the gain of the amplifier can be adjusted respectively and the output end of the amplifier and the place where the combiner is combined When the wavelength of the center frequency of the amplification band is λ and the positive integer is m, each length L is expressed as L = (λ / 4) · (2m−1). A plurality of connection lines and a controller that increases the gain of the gain adjusting unit so as to compensate for the output level of the RF output signal that decreases as the number of amplifiers that stop operation increases.

  According to such a configuration, when the RF input signal is in a low traffic state, the amplifying apparatus sets the number of amplifiers according to the low level of the traffic state to the sleep mode, so that power consumption can be reduced. However, since the RF output signal also decreases, the controller controls the gain adjustment unit to increase the gain of the operating amplifier, thereby preventing the RF output signal from decreasing. Further, the control by this controller is similarly performed for an amplifier whose operation is stopped due to another cause such as a failure, so that it is easy to deal with the failure. Furthermore, since the output end of each amplifier and the place where the combiner is combined are coupled by an odd multiple of λ / 4, the influence of the stopped amplifier is eliminated and a combined loss occurs. do not do.

  In addition, the amplification device of the present invention has a plurality of amplifiers arranged so as to be able to be driven in parallel for amplification of the RF input signal, and sets the sleep mode as the RF input signal becomes in a lower traffic state. In an amplifying apparatus that increases the number of amplifiers, it is determined whether or not the continuous operation time of the amplifier being operated has exceeded the continuous time limit. The sleep mode amplifiers that are not in operation are searched for, and the sleep mode amplifiers that have been searched for have the shortest accumulated operation time in order, and are replaced with the amplifiers that have exceeded the continuous time limit. It has a controller that controls the operating time to be comparable.

  According to such a configuration, the controller searches for an amplifier that is not in failure and is in the sleep mode when the continuous operation time of the operating amplifier exceeds the continuous time limit, and the cumulative operation time is short. In turn, the operation is replaced with an amplifier that has been operating for more than the continuous time limit. Therefore, as the time elapses, the cumulative operation time of all the amplifiers becomes approximately the same, and a long-term margin can be provided before maintenance is required.

  As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when the RF input signal is in a low traffic state, the number of amplifiers according to the low level of the traffic state is set to the sleep mode, so that power consumption can be reduced. The gain adjustment unit is controlled to increase the gain of the operating amplifier to prevent the RF output signal from being lowered, and the distance between the output terminal of each amplifier and the place where the combiner is combined is λ / Since the connection lines are connected by an odd number multiple of 4, the influence of the amplifier whose output is stopped is eliminated, and the composite loss can be prevented. Further, according to the present invention, when the continuous operation time of the amplifier being operated is equal to or longer than the continuous time limit, the amplifier that is not in failure and is in the sleep mode is searched for, and the operation is continued in the order of the shortest cumulative operation time. Since the operation is replaced with the amplifier that has been operating for more than the time limit, the cumulative operation time of all amplifiers will be approximately the same over time, so it will take a long time to require maintenance after the amplifier starts operating. You can have time margin.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the amplifying apparatus of the present invention. 1 is used as a common amplifier or the like of a radio base station of a mobile phone, and includes an input detector 10, a distributor 20, amplifiers 31, 32,..., 3n, and a combiner 40. And a controller 50.

  The output from the modem (not shown) is delivered to the input detector 10 as an RF input signal, and is further delivered from the input detector 10 to the distributor 20. The distributor 20 distributes the delivered signal to the amplifiers 31 to 3n. The signal distributed by the distributor 20 is amplified by the amplifiers 31 to 3n connected so as to be able to operate in parallel, and the outputs of the amplifiers 31 to 3n are combined and output by the combiner 40. The amplifiers 31, 32,..., 3n incorporate RF relays 31R, 32R,..., 3nR controlled by the controller 50 and variable attenuators 31G, 32G,. In this case, the RF relays 31R, 32R, to 3nR may be arranged outside the amplifier.

  In the configuration as described above, when the RF input signal of the input detector 10 monitored by the control unit 50 is in a high traffic state and no ALM is generated, as in the amplification device 200 of FIG. Each of the amplifiers 131 to 13n amplifies the signal distributed by the distributor 20, and the output is combined by the combiner 40. However, when the RF input signal is in a low traffic state, the input signal level is equal to or lower than the set threshold value, and the state continues for a certain time, the controller 50 determines whether the amplifier has an amplifier according to the traffic amount of the RF input signal that has decreased. Some of the operations 31 to 3n are stopped to shift to the sleep mode.

When the operation is stopped by setting some amplifiers to the sleep mode in this way, the output level of the RF output signal is lowered by the amount of the amplifiers that have been stopped, so the following is performed. First, the RF relay arranged at the output section of the amplifier whose operation is stopped is turned off. In this case, if the distance between the RF relay and the combining unit of the combiner 40 is “L”, the wavelength λ of the center frequency f of the band to be amplified is set in advance so as to satisfy the following expression (1). It is assumed that
L = (λ / 4) · (2m−1) (1)
However, m = 1, 2,... With such a setting, “L” becomes an odd multiple of λ / 4, so that the influence of the amplifier whose output is stopped is eliminated, and no composite loss occurs.

  The controller 50 adjusts the variable attenuator of the active amplifier in addition to turning off the RF relay as described above. That is, the gain of the active amplifier is increased by reducing the attenuation of the variable attenuator in accordance with the decrease in the level of the RF output signal by the amplifier whose operation is stopped. As a result, the output level of the RF output signal of the amplifying apparatus can be kept unchanged even though some amplifiers are set to the sleep mode and the amplification operation is stopped. Of course, if it detects that the RF input signal has returned from a low traffic condition to a high traffic condition, the controller 50 returns the amplifier to normal parallel operation.

  Further, the controller 50 adjusts the attenuation amount of the other amplifiers other than the amplifier to adjust the attenuation amount of the amplifier when the amplifier is put into the sleep state and the operation is stopped because the amplifier generates ALM. The gain is adjusted so that the output level of the RF output signal does not decrease. By making it possible to cope with ALM in this way, a fault has occurred in one of the amplifiers of the base station amplifier installed in a place where it is not easy to crawl, such as in a mountainous area, and ALM has been issued. Even in this case, the reduction in the output level of the RF output signal can be minimized. After being released from the failure state, the controller 50 automatically detects that it has returned to the normal state, and returns to the state before setting the sleep state.

  With the configuration shown in FIG. 1, power consumption can be reduced in a low traffic state, and even when there is an amplifier in a sleep state in a low traffic state or when an ALM occurs, RF The output signal can be set so as not to decrease as much as possible. Also, these settings can be flexibly handled by changing the settings for the controller 50.

  Next, even if the amplification device is configured as shown in FIG. 1, an amplifier having a long operation time and an amplifier having a short operation time are generated by the operation of the sleep mode, so that there is no difference in the accumulated operation time as much as possible. As controlled by the controller. A control method of the controller 50 will be described with reference to FIG. In the case of this example, it is configured so that the continuous operation time and the cumulative operation time of each of the amplifiers 31 to 3n can be calculated. In that case, the individual amplifiers 31 to 3n count the continuous operation time and the cumulative operation time, or, as in this example, the controller 50 controls the individual amplifiers 31 based on the control over the amplifiers 31 to 3n. ˜3n continuous operation time and accumulated operation time may be calculated and stored.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the operation of the amplifying apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is started (S1), the accumulated operation time is accumulated for each active amplifier among the amplifiers 31 to 3n. That is, the continuous operation time is calculated (S2). Based on the calculation of the continuous operation time, it is determined whether or not the continuous operation time of each operating amplifier has reached or exceeded the limit time (continuation limit time) (S3). If it is determined in step S3 that there is an amplifier whose continuous operation time is equal to or longer than the limit time, it is determined whether or not there is an amplifier that can be switched, that is, an amplifier that is in a sleep state instead of an ALM occurrence. (S4). If there is no amplifier that can be replaced, the determination is repeated as it is. If there is an amplifier that can be replaced, the accumulated operating time of all the amplifiers that can be replaced is checked (S5).

  Based on the result of the accumulated operation time check, the amplifier with the shortest accumulated operation time is selected, and the selected amplifier is requested to operate (S6). Based on the operation request, it is determined whether or not the requested amplifier is operating normally (S7). If it is confirmed that the requested amplifier is operating normally, it is determined in step S3 that the continuous operation time has exceeded the limit time, and the amplifier that has been the target of shift is shifted to the sleep mode (S8). . The accumulated operating time up to that point relating to the amplifier that has been switched to the sleep mode is updated (S9), the process returns to step S2, and the same operation is repeated.

  In step S7, if the amplifier requested to be replaced is not operating normally, it is determined whether or not the amplifier has generated an alarm (ALM) (S10). If ALM is generated, this amplifier is not replaceable, and it is necessary to select a replaceable amplifier again, and the process returns to step S4. If no ALM has been generated, the process returns to step S7 again, and the operation is repeated until it is determined that it is operating normally.

  As described above, the controller 50 of the amplifier device controls the operating state and the sleep mode state of the amplifiers 31 to 3n, so that the cumulative operating time of each of the amplifiers 31 to 3n becomes substantially equal. Thus, only amplifiers with a particularly long operating time will not fail quickly and require maintenance. In other words, for example, the time from when the amplification device is newly installed until the first maintenance is required is greatly increased. Conversely, when maintenance becomes necessary, the maintenance can be performed efficiently, for example, by executing it for all amplifiers. The control method as shown in FIG. 2 has been described as an example applied to the amplifying apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, but the RF relays 31R, 32R,..., 3nR and the gain adjusting variable attenuator 31G are used as amplifiers. , 32G,..., 3nG, for example, can be applied to the case of the amplifying apparatus 200 of FIG.

It is a block diagram which shows Embodiment 1 of the amplification apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows Embodiment 2 of the amplification apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the prior art example of the amplification apparatus comprised so that a some amplifier could be driven in parallel. FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a conventional method for appropriately putting any one of a plurality of amplifiers into a sleep mode when an RF input signal is in a low traffic state in the conventional amplifying apparatus as shown in FIG. 3. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the conventional amplifier.

Explanation of symbols

10 input detectors, 20 distributors, 31 to 3n amplifiers, 31G to 31nG variable attenuators, 31R to 3nR RF relays, 40 synthesizers, 50 controllers, 100 amplifiers.

Claims (2)

An input detector for detecting the traffic state of the RF input signal, a plurality of amplifiers arranged so as to be driven in parallel, a distributor for distributing the RF input signal to the amplifiers, and synthesizing the outputs of the amplifiers to obtain an RF output In a synthesizer that outputs as a signal and an amplifier that increases the number of amplifiers that are set to sleep mode and deactivated as the RF input signal goes into a lower traffic state,
A gain adjuster arranged to adjust the gain of each of the amplifiers;
A plurality of connection lines respectively connecting between the output end of the amplifier and the place where the combiner is combined, where the wavelength of the center frequency of the amplification band is λ and the positive integer is m, A plurality of connection lines represented by a length L of L = (λ / 4) · (2m−1),
An amplifying apparatus comprising: a controller that increases the gain of the gain adjustment unit so as to compensate for the output level of the RF output signal that decreases every time the number of amplifiers that stop operation increases. In an amplifying apparatus having a plurality of amplifiers arranged to be able to be driven in parallel for amplification of an RF input signal, and increasing the number of amplifiers set to sleep mode as the RF input signal becomes a lower traffic state ,
It is judged whether or not the continuous operation time of the amplifier being operated has exceeded the continuous time limit, and if there is an amplifier that has exceeded the continuous time limit, the amplifier in sleep mode that is not in failure and is not operating In the order of the shortest operating time among the amplifiers in the sleep mode that were searched for, the operation is switched to the amplifier whose duration has been exceeded, and the control is performed so that the cumulative operating time of all the amplifiers is comparable. An amplifying device having a controller to perform.

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