JP2017005618A - Power synthesis amplifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power synthesis amplifier having a high amplifying characteristic and high reliability, capable of increasing maximum output power.SOLUTION: A power synthesis amplifier 40 includes a distributer HYB-D, N power amplifiers A1-A3 (N is a natural number of 3 or greater), a synthesizer HYB-S, and changeover switches SWO1-SWO3 for switching connection states between the power amplifiers A1-A3 and the synthesizer HYB-S. The power synthesis amplifier 40 amplifies input power distributed from the distributer HYB-D using the power amplifiers A1-A3, and thereafter synthesizes by the synthesizer HYB-S to perform power amplification. The power synthesis amplifier 40, by switching the changeover switches SWO1-SWO3, can operate in either of two modes, which are a total route mode, in which the outputs of all N power amplifiers are synthesized by the power synthesizer, and a high reliability mode in which the outputs of only M power amplifiers (M is a natural number of 2 or greater and smaller than N) among the N power amplifiers are synthesized by the power synthesizer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a power combiner / amplifier that combines outputs of a plurality of amplifiers, and more particularly to a power combiner / amplifier that is suitably used for amplification of signals such as microwaves and quasi-millimeter waves.

  Currently, MMIC power amplifiers using GaAs FETs are generally used as power amplifiers for microwave and quasi-millimeter wave circuits. For example, MMIC power using GaAs FETs for WOTM systems for WINDS and power amplifiers for WAS systems. A device that obtains 25 W output by synthesizing eight amplifiers in parallel has been put into practical use. However, depending on the purpose of use, higher efficiency and higher output power are required. Furthermore, the design and realization of a power amplifying device having a longer MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure), that is, a higher reliability is required for the purpose of use.

  As a technique for improving the reliability of the power amplifying apparatus, a standby system (redundant system) is known. FIG. 1 shows a power amplifying apparatus 10 adopting a standby method. The power amplifying apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 has a structure in which changeover switches SW1 and SW2 are provided at the input and output of two power amplifiers 1 and 2 installed in parallel. Normally, the power amplifier 1 side is operated. That is, the switch SW1 is set to connect the input power (RF (IN)) to the power amplifier 1, and the switch SW2 is configured to connect the output of the power amplifier 1 to the output circuit (RF (OUT)) side. Is set. When a failure occurs in the power amplifier 1, the switch SW1 connects RF (IN) to the power amplifier 2, and the switch SW2 connects so as to guide the output of the power amplifier 2 to RF (OUT). The switching operation is as follows. As described above, power amplification is normally performed in one route (route passing through the power amplifier 1), and when a problem occurs in the power amplifier 1, power amplification is performed in the other route (route passing through the power amplifier 2). . Thereby, the reliability with respect to a failure improves. However, if a problem further occurs in the power amplifier 2, the power amplifier 1 is already defective, and the entire system becomes inoperable.

  In the case of a power amplifier using a GaAs FET as a solid-state amplifying element, the output power of one solid-state amplifier is limited. Therefore, in order to obtain a high output, a power combining method is generally employed. Yes. FIG. 2 shows a power combining amplification device 20 that employs a power combining method. In the power combiner / amplifier 20, the power output is increased by 3 dB by combining the outputs of the two power amplifiers A1 and A2 arranged in parallel. Further, by combining the outputs of the power amplifiers A1 and A2 and the outputs of the power amplifiers A3 and A4, the output can be further doubled and the power output can be increased by 6 dB. For example, if the output of each of the power amplifiers A1 to A4 is 4 W, the power combining amplification device 20 can obtain a power output of 16 W output. However, if any one of the power amplifiers A1 to A4 fails and no output is generated, an imbalance of the synthesis function occurs, an abnormality occurs in the overall synthesis output of the power synthesis amplification device 20, and normal operation cannot be performed. End up.

  FIG. 3A shows a power combining amplifying apparatus 30 that uses both the standby method (50% standby method) and the power combining method. The power combiner / amplifier 30 includes three power amplifiers A1 to A3, a distribution circuit HYB-D, and a combiner circuit HYB-S arranged in parallel. The inputs and outputs of the power amplifiers A1 to A3 are connected to the distribution circuit HYB-D and the synthesis circuit HYB-S via the switches SWI1 to SWI3 and the switches SWO1 to SWO3. The switches SWI1 to SWI3 and SWO1 to SWO3 are all configured by circulator type switches. If there is no need to distinguish between the individual switches SWI1 to SWI3 and SWO1 to SWO3, they may be simply expressed as “switch SW”.

  In the power combining amplification device 30, any two of the three power amplifiers A1 to A3 can be connected to the distribution circuit HYB-D and the combining circuit HYB-S by switching the switch SW. As a result, during normal times (for example, when all the power amplifiers A1 to A3 are normal), power amplification is performed using two specific power amplifiers (for example, power amplifiers A1 and A3). When (for example, the power amplifier A1) fails, the switch SW is switched so that one of the standby systems (for example, the power amplifier A2) is operated. Thus, since the combined output of the two power amplifiers is always output, the output power increases by 3 dB. Further, even when any one of the power amplifiers fails, the operation can be continued without causing a decrease in output, and the reliability is improved.

  FIG. 3B shows a power combining amplifier 31 of another aspect. In the power combiner / amplifier 31, the output power can be further increased by 3 dB by combining the outputs of the two power combiner / amplifiers 30. In FIG. 3B, the switches SWI1 to SWI3 and SWO1 to SWO3 are simply indicated as “SW”. A further increase in output can be obtained by combining the outputs of three or more power combining / amplifying devices 30.

  However, in the power combining amplifier 30, one of the three power amplifiers A1 to A3 is always unused. Similarly, in the power combiner / amplifier 31, two of the six power amplifiers A1 to A6 are always unused. Therefore, the maximum output power is reduced by the number of units that are not used as compared with the case where all the power amplifiers are operated.

JP 2011-234036 A

  In addition to having the same high amplification characteristics and high reliability as the power combining amplifiers 30 and 31, the present invention can increase the maximum output power more than the power combining amplifiers 30 and 31. The purpose is to provide.

The present invention has achieved the above object,
A distributor;
N power amplifiers (N is a natural number of 3 or more);
A synthesizer;
A switch for switching a connection state of the N power amplifiers and the combiner;
A power combiner / amplifier for amplifying power by amplifying input power distributed by the distributor by the N power amplifiers and then combining the amplified power by the combiner;
By switching the switch,
All root modes in which the outputs of all the N power amplifiers are combined by the power combiner;
Of the N power amplifiers, the operation is performed in two modes, namely, a high reliability mode in which outputs of only M power amplifiers (M is a natural number of 2 or more smaller than N) are combined by the power combiner. This is a power combiner / amplifier.

  In the power combiner / amplifier of the present invention, operation in a high-reliability mode in which the outputs of some of the N power amplifiers (M power amplifiers) are combined by the power combiner is possible. High amplification characteristics and high reliability similar to those of the devices 30 and 31 can be achieved. In addition, since it is possible to operate in all root modes in which the outputs of all (N) power amplifiers are combined by the power combiner, the maximum output power can be increased.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to shift from the all-root mode to the high-reliability mode when a failure occurs in any of the N power amplifiers.

In the present invention,
The synthesizer has N inputs,
In the high reliability mode, outputs of the M power amplifiers selected from the N power amplifiers are combined by the combiner,
Regardless of how the M power amplifiers are selected, it is preferable that the outputs of the selected M power amplifiers are always output to the predetermined M input terminals.

  In the present invention, it is one method that the combiner includes a phase adjuster.

Explanatory drawing which shows the power amplifier 10 which employ | adopted the backup system based on a prior art. Explanatory drawing which shows the power synthetic | combination amplifier 20 which employ | adopted the power synthetic | combination system based on a prior art. Explanatory drawing which shows the power synthetic | combination amplifiers 30 and 31 which employ | adopted the preliminary | backup system and power synthetic | combination system based on a prior art. Explanatory drawing which shows the electric power synthetic | combination amplifier 40 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the preferable aspect of the output side switch in the electric power synthetic | combination amplifier 40. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the electric power synthetic | combination amplifier 41 which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of a power combining amplification device 41. Explanatory drawing which shows the circuit structure of the electric power synthetic | combination amplifier 42 which concerns on further another embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 4 shows a power combining amplification device 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  The power combiner / amplifier 40 is arranged in parallel between the distribution circuit HYB-D connected to the input Input, the combiner circuit HYB-S connected to the output Output, and the distribution circuit HYB-D and the combiner circuit HYB-S. The three power amplifiers A1 to A3 are provided. The power amplifiers A1 to A3 are preferably semiconductor amplifiers using GaAsFETs. The power amplifiers A1 to A3 can be configured by a single or a plurality of GaAsFETs. The power combining amplifier 40 is preferably an MMIC power amplifier.

  The distribution circuit HYB-D has three output terminals PO1 to PO3. The synthesis circuit HYB-S has three input terminals PI1 to PI3. The input sides of the power amplifiers A1 to A3 are connected as shown to the output terminals PO1 to PO3 of the distribution circuit HYB-D. The output sides of the power amplifiers A1 to A3 are connected to the input terminals PI1 to PI3 of the synthesis circuit HYB-S as shown in the figure via output side switches SWO1 to SWO3.

  The power combiner / amplifier 40 can operate in two types of modes, an all root mode and a high reliability mode.

  In the all route mode, all the power amplifiers A1 to A3 are operated, and the outputs of all the power amplifiers A1 to A3 are combined.

  In the all-route mode, the output of the power amplifier A1 is input from the input terminal PI1 to the combining circuit HYB-S via the switch SWO1, and the output of the power amplifier A2 is input from the input terminal PI2 to the combining circuit HYB- via the switch SWO2. S and the output of the power amplifier A3 is input from the input terminal PI3 to the synthesis circuit HYB-S via the switch SWO3.

  In the all-route mode, although the number of power amplifiers is the same (three) as that of the power combiner / amplifier 30 in FIG. 3A, a maximum output power 1.5 times that of the power combiner / amplifier 30 is obtained. be able to. As a result, the EIRP, which is a practical circuit design factor, can be increased by about 2 dB. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an advantage that the line design margin can be increased and the operation can be performed with higher line quality.

  The high reliability mode is a mode that operates in a manner similar to that of the power combining amplification device 30 in FIG. That is, during normal times (for example, when all the power amplifiers A1 to A3 are normal), power amplification is performed using two specific power amplifiers (for example, power amplifiers A1 and A3). When one of the power amplifiers (for example, the power amplifier A1) fails, the switch SW can be switched to operate one of the standby systems (for example, the power amplifier A2). In this way, the output power of the two power amplifiers is always combined and output, so that the output power can be increased by 3 dB. Further, even if any one of the power amplifiers fails, the output can be continuously reduced without causing a decrease in output, and high reliability can be achieved.

  When operating the power combiner / amplifier 40 in the high-reliability mode, the output side switches SWO1 to SWO3 are devised and / or a phase adjustment function is provided to the combiner circuit HYB-S in order to improve the efficiency of power combiner. One way is to have it. Hereinafter, these points will be described in detail.

  A preferred embodiment of the output side switches SWO1 to SWO3 is shown in FIG. The switches SWO1 and SWO3 in FIG. 5 correspond to the switches SWO1 and SWO3 in FIG. Portions surrounded by a broken-line square in FIG. 5 (switches SWO2-1 and SWO2-2) correspond to the switch SWO2 in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows a case where all the output side switches SWO1 to SWO3 are circulator type switches. The circulator type switch symbol of each of the switches SWO1 to SWO3 means that when there is an arrow on the left side of the SW symbol, it is connected to the next contact counterclockwise from a certain contact. Further, when there is an arrow on the right side of the SW symbol, it means that a connection is made clockwise from a certain contact to the next contact.

  The operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5 will be described.

<All route modes>
In the all-route mode, as shown in FIG. 5A, the output of the power amplifier A1 is output to the input terminal PI1 of the synthesis circuit HYB-S via the switch SWO1. The output of the power amplifier A2 is output to the input terminal PI2 of the synthesis circuit HYB-S via the switch SWO2-1 and the switch SWO2-2. The output of the power amplifier A3 is output to the input terminal PI3 of the synthesis circuit HYB-S via the switch SWO3.

<High reliability mode>
If any one of the power amplifiers malfunctions during the operation in the all-route mode, it is possible to shift to the high reliability mode in which power amplification is performed using the remaining two units. In the high reliability mode, regardless of which power amplifier A1 to A3 becomes defective, the outputs from the remaining two units are always two specific ones of the three input terminals PI1 to PI3 (PI1 and PI2). It is preferable to be configured to output to

  For example, when a failure occurs in the power amplifier A3 (not shown), the output of the power amplifier A1 is led to the input terminal PI1 via the switch SWO1, and the output of the power amplifier A2 is SWO2-1 and SWO2-. 2 to the input terminal PI2.

  When a problem occurs in the power amplifier A2 (not shown), the output of the power amplifier A1 is guided to the input terminal PI1 via the switch SWO1, and the output of the power amplifier A3 is connected to SWO3 and SW02-2. Through the input terminal PI2. (SWO3 and SW02-2 are switched from the state shown in FIG. 5A.)

  Further, when a problem occurs in the power amplifier A1, as shown in FIG. 5B, the output of the power amplifier A2 is led to the input terminal PI1 via SWO2-1 and SWO1, and the power amplifier A3 The output is guided to the input terminal PI2 via SWO3 and SW02-2. (SWO1, SWO2-1, SW02-2, and SW03 are switched from the state shown in FIG. 5A.)

  As described above, the output power is transmitted to two specific input terminals (in the above example, the input terminals PI1 and PI2) regardless of which of the power amplifiers A1 to A3 has a problem. It is possible to operate. Thereby, the efficiency improvement of electric power composition can be aimed at.

  In the above description, two power amplifiers of the three power amplifiers are always operated. However, a configuration in which M of the N power amplifiers is always operated is also conceivable. (However, N is a natural number of 4 or more, and M is a natural number of 2 or more smaller than N. The number of input terminals is N.) In this case, M power amplifiers in an operating state The output is preferably always guided to the predetermined M input terminals.

  FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the power combiner / amplifier 41. The power combiner / amplifier 41 can obtain output power twice that of the power combiner / amplifier 40 by combining the outputs of the two power combiner / amplifiers 40. In FIG. 6, the switches SWI1 to SWI3 and SWO1 to SWO3 are simply indicated as “SW”. A further increase in output can be obtained by combining the outputs of three or more power combining / amplifying devices 40.

  FIG. 7 shows details of a more specific circuit configuration of the power combining amplifier 41.

  FIG. 8 shows a circuit configuration of a power combining amplifier 42 according to another embodiment. As illustrated, the power combining amplifying device 42 is different from the power combining amplifying device 41 in that a phase shifter PS is introduced into the combining circuit. In the illustrated example, the phase shifter PS is arranged on the route of the input end of the synthesis circuit HYB-S3. By having the phase shifter PS, even if the level of the amount of power output from the HYB-S1 and S2 is different, the phase adjustment for the amount of power combination is performed to improve the efficiency of power combination. Is possible.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on preferable embodiment, this invention can be arbitrarily changed within the prescription | regulation of a claim. For example, the power amplifier used in the power combining amplification device is not limited to a semiconductor amplifier such as GaAs FET or GaN FET, and any amplifier having a power amplification function can be used. The power combining amplifier of the present invention is preferably applied to microwave and quasi-millimeter wave amplification, but can also be applied to signal amplification in other wavelength bands.

40-42 ... power combining amplifiers A1-A6 ... power amplifier HYB-S ... combining circuit HYB-D ... distributing circuits PI1-PI3 ... input terminals PO1-PO3 ... output terminals PS ... Phase shifter SWO1-SWO3 ... Switch

Claims (4)

A distributor;
N power amplifiers (N is a natural number of 3 or more);
A synthesizer;
A switch for switching a connection state of the N power amplifiers and the combiner;
A power combining and amplifying device for amplifying power by amplifying input power distributed by the distributor by the N power amplifiers and then combining by the combiner,
By switching the switch,
All root modes in which the outputs of all the N power amplifiers are combined by the power combiner;
Of the N power amplifiers, the operation is performed in two modes, namely, a high reliability mode in which outputs of only M power amplifiers (M is a natural number of 2 or more smaller than N) are combined by the power combiner. A power combiner / amplifier that is possible.   2. The power combining amplifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when any of the N power amplifiers malfunctions, the entire route mode is shifted to the high reliability mode. The synthesizer has N inputs,
In the high reliability mode, outputs of the M power amplifiers selected from the N power amplifiers are combined by the combiner,
The output of the selected M power amplifiers is always output to the predetermined M input terminals regardless of how to select the M power amplifiers. The power combining amplification device described.   The power combiner / amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the combiner includes a phase adjuster.

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