JP7537358B2 - Gate voltage adjustment device and method - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a gate voltage adjustment device and a gate voltage adjustment method for adjusting the gate voltages of multiple amplifier elements applied to a transceiver module.

Microwave or millimeter wave transmission and reception modules used for applications such as radar are usually configured with two or more amplifier elements connected in series or parallel. In this case, the gain and saturation output of the amplifier element depend on the magnitude of the drain current of the amplifier element. The magnitude of the drain current of the amplifier element can be adjusted by controlling the gate voltage of the amplifier element. In this case, it is known that the gate voltage value of the amplifier element for adjusting the drain current of the amplifier element to a certain value varies from amplifier element to amplifier element. Therefore, in the past, there have been devices that adjust the gate voltage while measuring the drain current of each amplifier element. For example, in order to efficiently produce modules loaded with a large number of amplifier elements, there is a device that measures the individual drain current of each amplifier element and automates the adjustment of the gate voltage (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In Patent Document 1, when adjusting the gate voltages of multiple amplifier elements, a drain voltage is applied only to the amplifier element to be adjusted, and the other amplifier elements are placed in a state in which no drain current flows, thereby adjusting the drain voltage of the amplifier element. In this case, a single circuit is shared to supply the drain voltage to each amplifier element. Then, a current detection circuit consisting of a current detection element, an operational amplifier, and an analog-to-digital converter is placed between the circuit that supplies the shared drain voltage and a control unit that controls the gate voltage.

JP 2018-157486 A

Transmitting and receiving modules used for applications such as radar are often composed of multiple amplifying elements that operate at different drain voltages. However, in Patent Document 1, the circuit that supplies the drain voltage to each amplifying element is shared. Therefore, this is applicable when the same drain voltage is applied to each amplifying element. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, when adjusting the gate voltage of multiple amplifying elements that operate at different drain voltages, it is necessary to provide a current detection circuit for each amplifying element. Therefore, the more amplifying elements are loaded, the greater the number of components and the mounting space, making it difficult to achieve miniaturization or cost reduction.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a gate voltage adjustment device and a gate voltage adjustment method that can achieve miniaturization and low cost even when adjusting the gate voltages of multiple amplifying elements.

A gate voltage adjustment device according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of amplifying elements that amplify a signal, a control unit that controls a gate voltage applied to each of the plurality of amplifying elements, a plurality of current detection elements that are provided between a power supply that applies a drain voltage to each of the plurality of amplifying elements and the drain electrodes of the plurality of amplifying elements, respectively corresponding to each other, and outputting a voltage signal based on the drain current of the corresponding amplifying element, an operational amplifier that amplifies a voltage signal output from a current detection element connected among the plurality of current detection elements and inputs it to the control unit, and a switch that is provided between the plurality of current detection elements and the operational amplifier and switches between the current detection elements connected to the operational amplifier among the plurality of current detection elements. and a switching unit that determines gate voltages to be applied to the multiple amplifying elements , the switching unit having a first switch having a single-pole port connected to the operational amplifier and a multiple number of ports on the multi-throw side connected to the upstream sides of the multiple current detection elements, and a second switch having a single-pole port connected to the operational amplifier and a multiple number of ports on the multi-throw side connected to the downstream sides of the multiple current detection elements, the first switch and the second switch further having a port grounded to the multi-throw side port, and when adjustment of the gate voltages of all the amplifying elements has been completed, the first switch and the second switch are connected between the single-pole port and the grounded port of the multi-throw side .

The gate voltage adjustment method according to the present disclosure includes a first step in which a control unit applies a gate voltage controlled so that a drain current does not flow to an amplifying element to be adjusted among a plurality of amplifying elements that amplify a signal; a second step in which a drain voltage is applied from a power source to each of the plurality of amplifying elements; a third step in which a switching unit connects a current detection element corresponding to the amplifying element to be adjusted among a plurality of current detection elements provided corresponding to each of the amplifying elements between a power source and the drain electrodes of the plurality of amplifying elements to an operational amplifier; a fourth step in which , after the first step, the second step, and the third step, the control unit changes the gate voltage applied to the amplifying element to be adjusted, so that a voltage signal is output from the current detection element corresponding to the amplifying element to be adjusted based on the drain current flowing through the amplifying element to be adjusted; and a fourth step in which the operational amplifier outputs the voltage signal output in the fourth step. a fifth step in which the voltage signal is amplified by the operational amplifier and output; a sixth step in which the control unit determines a gate voltage to be applied to the amplifying element to be adjusted based on the voltage signal output in the fifth step; and the third step is characterized by comprising: a switching unit that switches between a first switch having a single-pole side port connected to the operational amplifier and a plurality of multi-throw side ports connected to each of the upstream sides of a plurality of current detection elements, and a second switch having a single-pole side port connected to the operational amplifier and a plurality of multi-throw side ports connected to each of the downstream sides of a plurality of current detection elements, thereby connecting the current detection element corresponding to the amplifying element to be adjusted to the operational amplifier; and a seventh step in which, when adjustment of the gate voltages of all amplifying elements is completed in the sixth step, the switching unit connects the single-pole side ports of the first switch and the second switch to the grounded port of the multi-throw side .

According to the present disclosure, a switching unit is provided between a plurality of current detection elements corresponding to the plurality of amplifying elements, respectively, and an operational amplifier. By using the switching unit to switch the current detection elements connected to the operational amplifier, it is possible to adjust the gate voltages of the plurality of amplifying elements in a configuration that includes a single operational amplifier, thereby realizing a smaller gate voltage adjustment device and lower costs.

1 is a configuration diagram of a gate voltage adjustment device according to a first embodiment; 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the gate voltage adjusting device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a gate voltage adjusting device according to a second embodiment. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the gate voltage adjusting device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a gate voltage adjusting device according to a third embodiment. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the gate voltage adjusting device according to the third embodiment. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the gate voltage adjusting device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a gate voltage adjusting device according to a fourth embodiment. 1 is a graph showing a waveform of a gate voltage applied to an amplifying element to be adjusted. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the gate voltage adjusting device according to the fourth embodiment.

Embodiment 1.
A gate voltage adjustment device 100 according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG 1 is a configuration diagram of the gate voltage adjustment device 100 according to the first embodiment. The gate voltage adjustment device 100 is applied to a transmission/reception module. For example, it is applied to a transmission/reception module used in a system such as a radar.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gate voltage adjustment device 100 mainly includes a plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn, a control unit 10, a plurality of current detection elements AMP1 to AMPn, an operational amplifier 22, and a switching unit 40.

The number of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn is n. n is any integer equal to or greater than 2. Of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn, the first amplification element is the amplification element AMP1, and the i-th amplification element is the amplification element AMPi. i is any integer equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than n. When the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn are not to be distinguished from one another, they are simply referred to as amplification elements AMP.

The multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn amplify signals, and here include amplifier elements that operate at different drain voltages. In this case, among the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn, amplifier elements AMPs that operate at different drain voltages may be included, and the other amplifier elements AMPs that operate at the same drain voltage may be included. In addition, the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn may all operate at the same drain voltage. In addition, the signal to be amplified here is a transmission/reception signal transmitted/received from an antenna. Each of the amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn is, for example, composed of an internally matched amplifier or a discrete amplifier. The internally matched amplifier is a package in which a high-frequency integrated circuit (MMIC: Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit) using compound semiconductors such as GaAs or GaN and a matching circuit are arranged. The discrete amplifier is a package in which a matching circuit is arranged outside the package having the above-mentioned high-frequency integrated circuit. Furthermore, each of the amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn is used, for example, in a transceiver module as a high-output amplifier that amplifies a high-frequency signal to be transmitted, or as a low-noise amplifier that amplifies a received high-frequency signal.

The control unit 10 controls the gate voltages applied to each of the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn. More specifically, the control unit 10 determines the gate voltages to be applied to the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn based on the input voltage signal. The control unit 10 also controls the operation of the switching unit 40. More specifically, the control unit 10 has a gate bias voltage control unit 11, a switch control unit 13, a measurement value determination unit 12, and multiple digital-to-analog converters DAC1 to DACn.

The switch control unit 13 controls the switching of the connection destination of the port of the switching unit 40 described later. The measurement value determination unit 12 determines whether or not the voltage signal input from the analog-to-digital converter 23 described later has reached a predetermined value.

The gate bias voltage control unit 11 can apply a pinch-off voltage to the gate electrode of each of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn. The pinch-off voltage is a gate voltage at which no drain current flows through the drain electrode of the amplifier element AMP. The voltage signal output from the operational amplifier 22 is input to the measurement value determination unit 12 via the analog-digital converter 23. When the measurement value determination unit 12 determines that the voltage signal input from the analog-digital converter 23 has reached a predetermined value, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 determines that the gate voltage applied to the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted at that time is the gate voltage to be applied to the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted. In addition, when the measurement value determination unit 12 determines that the voltage signal input from the analog-digital converter 23 has reached a predetermined value, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 records the gate bias signal corresponding to the gate voltage at that time in a memory described later.

The gate bias voltage control unit 11, the switch control unit 13, and the measurement value determination unit 12 are configured with a microcomputer having a processing circuit and memory. The functions of the gate bias voltage control unit 11, the switch control unit 13, and the measurement value determination unit 12 are realized by this processing circuit. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware or a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a program stored in memory.

The multiple digital-analog converters DAC1 to DACn are provided corresponding to the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn, respectively. At this time, the multiple digital-analog converters DAC1 to DACn are provided between the gate bias voltage control unit 11 and the gate electrodes of the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn, respectively. The digital-analog converters DAC1 to DACn convert the gate voltage signal input from the gate bias voltage control unit 11 from a digital signal to an analog signal. The gate voltage signal converted into an analog signal is applied to the gate electrodes of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn.

The power supply 30 is connected to the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn via power supply wiring 31-1 to 31-n. The power supply 30 applies a drain voltage to each of the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn. In detail, the power supply 30 applies a voltage value corresponding to the drain voltage at which each of the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn operates to the drain electrode of each of the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn.

The current detection circuit 20 has multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n, an operational amplifier 22, an analog-to-digital converter 23, and a switching unit 40.

The multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n are provided according to the number of the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn. When the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n are not distinguished from one another, they are simply referred to as current detection elements 21. The multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n are provided correspondingly between the power supply 30 and the drain electrodes of the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn. In more detail, the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n are connected to the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn via the power supply wiring 31-1 to 31-n, respectively. In other words, the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n are loaded correspondingly on the respective power supply wirings 31-1 to 31-n.

The multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n output a voltage signal based on the drain current of the corresponding amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn. Here, the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n are resistive elements that have a resistance value of several milliohms and detect resistance. The resistive elements used as the current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n are selected based on the resistance value and power resistance according to the maximum drain current flowing through the corresponding amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn. The multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n may be Hall elements that detect magnetic fields, or MI (Magneto Impedance) elements.

The operational amplifier 22 amplifies the minute voltage signal input from the current detection element 21 connected via the switching unit 40, among the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n, to the desired voltage value and outputs it. The voltage signal amplified by the operational amplifier 22 is input to the control unit 10 via the analog-to-digital converter 23. The analog-to-digital converter 23 converts the voltage signal input from the operational amplifier 22 from an analog signal to a digital signal and outputs it to the control unit 10.

The switching unit 40 is provided between the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n and the operational amplifier 22. The switching unit 40 switches the current detection element 21 connected to the operational amplifier 22 among the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n. The switching unit 40 has a first switch 41 and a second switch 42. The first switch 41 and the second switch 42 are electronic switches, and in this case, are single-pole, n-throw (SPnT: Single-Pole, n-Throw) switches having a single-pole port and a multi-throw port. The first switch 41 has a single-pole port connected to the operational amplifier 22, and multiple ports on the multi-throw side connected to the upstream sides of the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n. The second switch 42 has a single-pole port connected to the operational amplifier 22, and multiple ports on the multi-throw side connected to the downstream side of the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n. In more detail, the first switch 41 has a single-pole port connected to the positive input terminal of the operational amplifier 22, and the second switch 42 has a single-pole port connected to the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier 22. The first switch 41 and the second switch 42 each further have a port grounded to the multi-throw port. The first switch 41 and the second switch 42 have a function of switching the connection destination of the single-pole port to one or more of the multi-throw ports by a control signal output by the switch control unit 13 of the control unit 10.

Next, the details of the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the gate voltage adjustment operation of the gate voltage adjustment device 100 and the gate voltage adjustment method. First, a pinch-off voltage, which is a gate voltage at which no drain current flows, is applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted (step S101). In detail, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 of the control unit 10 applies the pinch-off voltage, which is a gate voltage at which no drain current flows, to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. At this time, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 of the control unit 10 may apply the pinch-off voltage, which is a gate voltage at which no drain current flows, to all of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn. This brings about a state in which no drain current flows in each of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn.

After step S101, a drain voltage is applied from the power supply 30 to each of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn (step S102). At this time, a drain voltage corresponding to the operating drain voltage of each of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn is supplied.

After step S102, among the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n, the current detection element 21-i corresponding to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is connected to the operational amplifier 22 (step S103). In detail, the switching unit 40 is controlled by a control signal output by the switch control unit 13. In the switching unit 40, the first switch 41 connects the single-pole side port to the multi-throw side port connected to the upstream side of the current detection element 21-i corresponding to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. In the switching unit 40, the second switch 42 connects the single-pole side port to the multi-throw side port connected to the downstream side of the current detection element 21-i corresponding to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted.

After step S103, the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is changed, and a voltage signal is output from the current detection element 21-i corresponding to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted based on the drain current flowing through the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted (step S104). In detail, the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is gradually changed from the pinch-off voltage by the gate bias voltage control unit 11 of the control unit 10. As a result, a drain voltage begins to flow to the drain electrode of the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. This drain current causes a small voltage drop in the current detection element 21-i corresponding to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted, and the current detection element 21-i outputs a voltage signal.

The voltage signal output from the current detection element 21-i (the current detection element 21-i that outputs a voltage signal in step S104) connected to the operational amplifier 22 in step S103 is input to the operational amplifier 22 and amplified (step S105). The voltage signal amplified in step S105 is input to the analog-to-digital converter 23, where it is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal (step S106).

The voltage signal converted to a digital signal in step S106 is input to the control unit 10, and based on the input voltage signal, the control unit 10 adjusts and determines the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted (step S107). In detail, the measurement value determination unit 12 of the control unit 10 determines whether the magnitude of the voltage signal input from the analog-digital converter 23 has reached a predetermined value. When the measurement value determination unit 12 determines that the magnitude of the voltage signal input from the analog-digital converter 23 has reached a predetermined value, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 of the control unit 10 determines the gate voltage of the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted at that time as the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. In addition, when the measurement value determination unit 12 determines that the voltage signal input from the analog-digital converter 23 has reached a predetermined value, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 records the gate bias signal corresponding to the gate voltage at that time in memory.

After adjusting and determining the gate voltage of the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted in step S107, the control unit 10 determines whether adjustment of the gate voltages of all of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn has been completed (step S108). If the control unit 10 determines that adjustment of the gate voltages of all of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn has not been completed after adjusting and determining the gate voltage of the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted in step S107, steps S101 to S107 are performed on the next amplification element AMPi+1 to be adjusted. Thereafter, steps S101 to S107 are performed for all of the multiple amplification elements AMPi to AMPn. In other words, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 of the control unit 10 changes the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted and repeats steps S101 to S108 until the control unit 10 determines that the adjustment of the gate voltages of all amplification elements AMPi to AMPn has been completed and the gate voltages to be applied to all amplification elements AMPi to AMPn have been determined.

When the adjustment of the gate voltages of all the amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn is completed in step S108, the first switch 41 and the second switch 42 are connected between the single-pole side port and the grounded port on the multi-throw side (step S109).

In addition, among the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn, two or more specific amplifier elements AMPi to AMPm may be adjusted. For example, two or more amplifier elements AMPi to AMPm having the same set gate voltage and drain voltage may be adjusted. The two or more amplifier elements having the same set gate voltage and drain voltage are, for example, amplifier elements having the same model name. When two or more amplifier elements AMPi to AMPm are adjusted, in step S102, the same drain voltage is applied to each of the two or more amplifier elements AMPi to AMPm. In step S103, the first switch 41 is connected between the single-pole side port and the multi-throw side port connected to the current detection elements 21-i to 21-m corresponding to the two or more amplifier elements AMPi to AMPm to be adjusted, respectively, by a control signal output by the switch control unit 13. Similarly, the second switch 42 is connected to a port on the single pole side and a port on the multi-throw side connected to the current detection elements 21-i to 21-m corresponding to the two or more amplification elements AMPi to AMPm to be adjusted. As a result, the operational amplifier 22 receives the voltage signals output by the current detection elements 21-i to 21-m corresponding to the two or more amplification elements AMPi to AMPm to be adjusted. When two or more amplification elements AMPi to AMPm having the same set gate voltage and drain voltage are to be adjusted, the operational amplifier 22 receives a voltage signal obtained by averaging the voltage signals output by the current detection elements 21-i to 21-m corresponding to the two or more amplification elements AMPi to AMPm to be adjusted. The control unit 10 then determines the gate voltages to be applied to the two or more amplification elements AMPi to AMPm to be adjusted based on the voltage signals output by the current detection elements 21-i to 21-m corresponding to the two or more amplification elements AMPi to AMPm to be adjusted. By adjusting the gate voltage in this way, the accuracy may be lower than when adjusting the gate voltage of each amplifier element AMP individually, but the adjustment can be performed in a short time. This is particularly effective when a large number of amplifier elements AMP are loaded.

In other words, the operation of the gate voltage adjustment device 100 includes the following first to eighth steps. In the first step, a gate voltage that does not allow a drain current to flow to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted among the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn that amplify the transmission and reception signals transmitted and received from the antenna is applied. In the second step, a drain voltage is applied from the power source 30 to each of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn. In the third step, among the multiple current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n provided correspondingly between the power source 30 and the drain electrodes of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn, the current detection element corresponding to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is connected to the operational amplifier. In the fourth step, after the first step, the second step, and the third step, the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is changed, and a voltage signal is output from the current detection element 21-i corresponding to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted based on the drain current flowing through the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. In the fifth step, the voltage signal output in the fourth step is amplified by the operational amplifier 22 and output. In the sixth step, the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is determined based on the voltage signal output in the fifth step. In the seventh step, when the adjustment of the gate voltages of all the amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn is completed in the sixth step, the first switch 41 and the second switch 42 are connected to the single-pole side port and the grounded multi-throw side port. In the eighth step, the voltage signal amplified by the operational amplifier 22 is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by the analog-to-digital converter 23 and output.

According to the gate voltage adjustment device 100 and the gate voltage adjustment method of the first embodiment, the current detection circuit 20 of the gate voltage adjustment device 100 includes a plurality of current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n corresponding to the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn, an operational amplifier 22, an analog-digital converter 23, and a switching unit 40. At this time, a switching unit is provided between the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn and the operational amplifier 22. This switching unit can switch the current detection element 21 connected to the control unit 10 via the operational amplifier 22. As a result, the gate voltages of the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn can be adjusted with a configuration including one operational amplifier 22, and the gate voltage adjustment device can be made smaller and less expensive. At this time, even if the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn operate with different drain voltages, the gate voltage can be adjusted with a configuration including one operational amplifier 22. Furthermore, when an analog-digital converter 23 is provided after the operational amplifier 22, the gate voltages of the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn can be adjusted with a configuration that includes one analog-digital converter 23. In this case, even if the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn operate with different drain voltages, the gate voltage can be adjusted with a configuration that includes one analog-digital converter 23. Therefore, the more amplifier elements AMP that adjust the gate voltage, the more the number of parts and mounting space can be reduced. This is particularly effective when applied to a transmission/reception module used for applications such as radar, which has a large number of amplifier elements AMP loaded.

The voltage adjustment device 100 may also adjust two or more specific amplifier elements AMPi to AMPm out of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn. By adjusting the gate voltage in this way, the gate voltage can be adjusted more easily than adjusting the gate voltage of each amplifier element AMP individually. This is particularly effective when a large number of amplifier elements AMP are loaded.

Furthermore, in the voltage adjustment device 100, when the adjustment of the gate voltages of all the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn is completed, the first switch 41 and the second switch 42 can connect the single-pole side port and the grounded multi-throw side port. This allows the power supply 30 to be electrically disconnected from the operational amplifier 22 and the analog-digital converter 23. When the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMP is adjusted with a high-frequency signal input, the drain current of the amplifier element AMP increases significantly compared to when the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMP is adjusted with no high-frequency signal input. Therefore, a large voltage signal may be input to the analog-digital converter 23 via the operational amplifier 22. To prevent this, a protection circuit such as a configuration that clamps the voltage signal using a diode is generally required. However, in the gate voltage adjustment device 100, the first switch 41 and the second switch 42 can electrically disconnect the power supply 30 from the operational amplifier 22 and the analog-digital converter 23. Therefore, the current detection circuit 20 itself can also function as a protection circuit.

Furthermore, the gate voltage adjustment device 100 can use the switching unit to connect any amplifier element AMPi to the control unit 10 via the operational amplifier 22 even when the module loaded with the amplifier element AMP is in operation. With this configuration, it is possible to adjust the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi, whose gate voltage has already been adjusted once, in even finer units while the module loaded with the amplifier element AMP is in operation. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted to a more suitable value.

Embodiment 2.
A gate voltage regulating device 200 according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of the gate voltage regulating device 200 according to the second embodiment. The gate voltage regulating device 200 according to the second embodiment further includes a protection circuit 24 in addition to the gate voltage regulating device 100. Other configurations are substantially similar to those of the first embodiment. Below, configurations that are the same as or correspond to those described in the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions of those configurations will not be repeated.

The protection circuit 24 constitutes the current detection circuit 20 and is provided between the operational amplifier 22 and the analog-to-digital converter 23. The protection circuit 24 limits the magnitude of the voltage signal input from the operational amplifier 22 to the analog-to-digital converter 23.

Next, the details of the operation will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the gate voltage adjustment operation of the gate voltage adjustment device 200 and the gate voltage adjustment method. In the gate voltage adjustment device 200, after step S105 of the gate voltage adjustment device 100, the protection circuit 24 limits the magnitude of the voltage signal input from the operational amplifier 22 to the analog 23 (step S110). After step S110, in step S106, the voltage signal amplified in step S105 is input to the analog-to-digital converter 23, which converts the analog signal to a digital signal. Other operations are substantially similar to those of the gate voltage adjustment device 100.

In other words, the operation of the gate voltage adjustment device 200 includes a ninth step in addition to the first to eighth steps of the gate voltage adjustment device 100. In the ninth step, the magnitude of the voltage signal input from the operational amplifier 22 to the analog-digital converter 23 is limited. At this time, in the sixth step, the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is determined based on the voltage signal output from the analog-digital converter 23 in the eighth step.

In the gate voltage adjustment device 200 and the gate voltage adjustment method according to the second embodiment, the current detection circuit 20 of the gate voltage adjustment device 200 also includes a plurality of current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n corresponding to the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn, an operational amplifier 22, an analog-digital converter 23, and a switching unit 40. At this time, a switching unit is provided between the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn and the operational amplifier 22. This switching unit can switch the current detection element 21 connected to the control unit 10 via the operational amplifier 22. As a result, the gate voltages of the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn can be adjusted with a configuration including one operational amplifier 22, and the gate voltage adjustment device can be made smaller and less expensive. At this time, even if the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn operate with different drain voltages, the gate voltage can be adjusted with a configuration including one operational amplifier 22. Therefore, the more the number of amplifier elements AMP that adjust the gate voltage increases, the more the number of parts and the mounting space can be reduced. This is particularly effective when applied to transmission and reception modules used for radar and other applications that have a large number of loaded amplifier elements AMP.

The voltage adjustment device 200 may also adjust two or more specific amplifier elements AMPi to AMPm out of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn. By adjusting the gate voltage in this way, the gate voltage can be adjusted more easily than adjusting the gate voltage of each amplifier element AMP individually. This is particularly effective when a large number of amplifier elements AMP are loaded.

Furthermore, the gate voltage adjustment device 200 is configured such that when the adjustment of the gate voltages of all the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn is completed, the first switch 41 and the second switch 42 can connect the single-pole side port and the grounded multi-throw side port. This allows the power supply 30 to be electrically disconnected from the operational amplifier 22 and the analog-digital converter 23. When the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMP is adjusted with a high-frequency signal input, the drain current of the amplifier element AMP increases significantly compared to when the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMP is adjusted with no high-frequency signal input. Therefore, a large voltage signal may be input to the analog-digital converter 23 via the operational amplifier 22. To prevent this, a protection circuit such as a configuration that clamps the voltage signal using a diode is generally required. However, the gate voltage adjustment device 100 allows the power supply 30 to be electrically disconnected from the operational amplifier 22 and the analog-digital converter 23 with the first switch 41 and the second switch 42, so that the current detection circuit 20 itself can also function as a protection circuit.

Furthermore, the gate voltage adjustment device 200 can use the switching unit to connect any amplifier element AMPi to the control unit 10 via the operational amplifier 22 even when the module loaded with the amplifier element AMP is in operation. With this configuration, it is possible to adjust the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi, whose gate voltage has already been adjusted once, in even finer units while the module loaded with the amplifier element AMP is in operation. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted to a more suitable value.

The gate voltage adjustment device 200 further includes a protection circuit 24. If oscillation occurs in the amplifier element AMPi while adjusting the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted, the drain current of the amplifier element AMPi increases significantly. However, by limiting the magnitude of the voltage signal input to the analog-digital converter 23 by the protection circuit 24, it is possible to prevent a voltage exceeding the input withstand voltage of the analog-digital converter 23 from being input. The gate voltage adjustment device 200 further includes a switching unit 40. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a protection circuit 24 for each of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn, and it is possible to have a configuration with one protection circuit 24.

Embodiment 3.
A gate voltage regulating device 300 according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 5 is a configuration diagram of the gate voltage regulating device 300 according to the third embodiment. The gate voltage regulating device 300 according to the third embodiment further includes an environmental sensor 50 in addition to the gate voltage regulating device 100 or the gate voltage regulating device 200. Other configurations are substantially similar to those of the first and second embodiments. Below, configurations that are the same as or correspond to those described in the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions of those configurations will not be repeated.

The environmental sensor 50 acquires environmental data including information on the temperature or humidity of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn. The temperature or humidity of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn is the temperature or humidity directly below the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn. Alternatively, the temperature or humidity of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn is the temperature or humidity around the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn. Here, the environmental sensor 50 is a thermometer. The control unit 10 determines the gate voltage to be applied to the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn based on the input voltage signal and the environmental data.

In more detail, the control unit 10 determines a predetermined value that the measurement value determination unit 12 uses for the determination from the environmental characteristics (here, temperature characteristics) of each of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn stored in memory and the environmental data measured by the environmental sensor 50. The measurement value determination unit 12 then determines whether the magnitude of the voltage signal input from the analog-to-digital converter 23 has reached the above-mentioned predetermined value. In this way, by determining the predetermined value that the measurement value determination unit 12 uses for the determination based on the environmental data, it is possible to fine-tune the gain or power consumption of the amplification element AMPi in real time while adjusting the gate voltage of the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted.

In addition, in this configuration, the environmental characteristics of each of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn are measured in advance and stored in memory. However, it is also possible to measure the environmental characteristics of only one basic amplifier element AMP among the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn and store them in memory. In this case, the control unit 10 calculates and obtains environmental characteristics other than the basic amplifier element AMP based on the environmental characteristics of the basic amplifier element AMP. In detail, the environmental characteristics other than the basic amplifier element AMP are calculated based on the total drain width and environmental characteristics of the basic amplifier element AMP and the total drain width of the amplifier elements other than the basic amplifier element AMP. This makes it unnecessary to measure the environmental characteristics of all of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn.

Next, the details of the operation will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the gate voltage adjustment operation of the gate voltage adjustment device 300 and the gate voltage adjustment method when the gate voltage adjustment device 100 further includes an environmental sensor 50. As shown in FIG. 6, in the gate voltage adjustment device 300, when the gate voltage adjustment device 100 further includes an environmental sensor 50, in step S107, the environmental sensor 50 acquires environmental data including the temperature or humidity of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn. Then, the voltage signal and the environmental data converted in step S106 are input to the control unit 10. Based on the input voltage signal and environmental data, the control unit 10 adjusts and determines the gate voltage to be applied to the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted. Other operations are substantially similar to those of the gate voltage adjustment device 100.

Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the gate voltage adjustment operation of the gate voltage adjustment device 300 and the gate voltage adjustment method when the gate voltage adjustment device 200 further includes an environmental sensor 50. As shown in Figure 7, in the gate voltage adjustment device 300, when the gate voltage adjustment device 200 further includes an environmental sensor 50, in step S107, the environmental sensor 50 acquires environmental data including the temperature or humidity of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn. Then, the voltage signal converted in step S106 and the environmental data are input to the control unit 10. Based on the input voltage signal and environmental data, the control unit 10 adjusts and determines the gate voltage to be applied to the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted. Other operations are substantially similar to those of the gate voltage adjustment device 200.

In other words, the operation of the gate voltage adjustment device 300 is to obtain environmental data including temperature or humidity information of the multiple amplification elements AMPi to AMPn in the sixth step of the gate voltage adjustment device 100 or the gate voltage adjustment device 200. Also, in the sixth step of the gate voltage adjustment device 100, the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is determined based on the voltage signal output in the fifth step and the environmental data. Or, in the sixth step of the gate voltage adjustment device 200, the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is determined based on the voltage signal output in the eighth step and the environmental data.

In the gate voltage adjustment device 300 and the gate voltage adjustment method according to the third embodiment, the current detection circuit 20 of the gate voltage adjustment device 300 includes a plurality of current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n corresponding to the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn, an operational amplifier 22, an analog-digital converter 23, and a switching unit 40. At this time, a switching unit is provided between the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn and the operational amplifier 22. This switching unit can switch the current detection element 21 connected to the control unit 10 via the operational amplifier 22. As a result, the gate voltages of the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn can be adjusted with a configuration including one operational amplifier 22, and the gate voltage adjustment device can be made smaller and less expensive. At this time, even if the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn operate with different drain voltages, the gate voltage can be adjusted with a configuration including one operational amplifier 22. Therefore, the more the number of amplifier elements AMP that adjust the gate voltage increases, the more the number of parts and the mounting space can be reduced. This is particularly effective when applied to transmission and reception modules used for radar and other applications that have a large number of loaded amplifier elements AMP.

The voltage adjustment device 300 may also adjust two or more specific amplifier elements AMPi to AMPm out of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn. By adjusting the gate voltage in this way, the gate voltage can be adjusted more easily than adjusting the gate voltage of each amplifier element AMP individually. This is particularly effective when a large number of amplifier elements AMP are loaded.

Furthermore, the gate voltage adjustment device 300 is configured such that when the adjustment of the gate voltages of all the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn is completed, the first switch 41 and the second switch 42 can connect the single-pole side port and the grounded multi-throw side port. This allows the power supply 30 to be electrically disconnected from the operational amplifier 22 and the analog-digital converter 23. When the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMP is adjusted with a high-frequency signal input, the drain current of the amplifier element AMP increases significantly compared to when the gate voltage of the amplifier element is adjusted with no high-frequency signal input. Therefore, a large voltage signal may be input to the analog-digital converter 23 via the operational amplifier 22. To prevent this, a protection circuit such as a configuration that clamps the voltage signal using a diode is generally required. However, the gate voltage adjustment device 100 allows the power supply 30 to be electrically disconnected from the operational amplifier 22 and the analog-digital converter 23 with the first switch 41 and the second switch 42, so that the current detection circuit 20 itself can also function as a protection circuit.

Furthermore, the gate voltage adjustment device 300 can use the switching unit to connect any amplifier element AMPi to the control unit 10 via the operational amplifier 22 even when the module loaded with the amplifier element AMP is in operation. With this configuration, it is possible to adjust the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi, whose gate voltage has already been adjusted once, in even finer units while the module loaded with the amplifier element AMP is in operation. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted to a more suitable value.

Furthermore, the gate voltage adjustment device 300 is configured to include an environmental sensor 50. This allows fine adjustment of the gain or power consumption of the amplification element AMPi in real time while adjusting the gate voltage of the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. Therefore, the performance of the module to which the gate voltage adjustment device 300 is applied can be stabilized. Also, failure and deterioration of the amplification element AMP can be suppressed.

Embodiment 4.
A gate voltage adjustment device 400 according to the fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of the gate voltage adjustment device 400 according to the fourth embodiment. In the gate voltage adjustment device 400 according to the fourth embodiment, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 further includes a waveform shaping unit 111 in any one of the gate voltage adjustment device 100, the gate voltage adjustment device 200, and the gate voltage adjustment device 300. The other configurations are substantially similar to those of the first, second, and third embodiments. Hereinafter, configurations that are the same as or correspond to those described in the above-mentioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of those configurations will not be repeated.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing a gate voltage adjustment device 400 in which the gate bias voltage control unit of the gate voltage adjustment device 100 further includes a waveform shaping unit 111. As shown in Figure 8, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 has a waveform shaping unit 111. The waveform shaping unit 111 shapes the waveform of the voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted when the gate bias voltage control unit 11 applies a gate voltage to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. In detail, the waveform shaping unit 111 controls the magnitude and time of the gate voltage applied when the gate bias voltage control unit 11 increases or decreases the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted to a target voltage. This makes it possible to shape the waveform of the voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted into a desired voltage waveform. For example, the rising waveform and falling waveform of the voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted can be shaped into a desired voltage waveform. Figure 9 is a graph showing the waveform of the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. The horizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis is the voltage value of the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. (a) of FIG. 9 is the waveform of the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted when the waveform is not shaped by the waveform shaping unit 111. (b) of FIG. 9 is the waveform of the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted when the waveform is shaped by the waveform shaping unit 111. When the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is increased or decreased to a target voltage, the voltage b applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted per unit time a is made smaller in (b) of FIG. 9 than in (a). This causes the rise and fall times of the applied pulse wave to be delayed by the waveform shaping unit 111. In general, a waveform having a sudden rise and fall of the voltage such as a square wave has many high-order frequency components, and therefore, unnecessary spurious noise often occurs. As shown in FIG. 9(b), it is possible to suppress higher harmonics by delaying the rise and fall times of the pulse wave applied by the waveform shaping unit 111.

In addition, the gate voltage regulator 400 can switch the current detection element 21 connected to the control unit 10 via the operational amplifier 22 by using the switching unit. This allows the voltage waveform applied to the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn to be shaped with a configuration including one waveform shaping unit 111, thereby realizing a smaller and less costly gate voltage regulator. Furthermore, the switching unit can switch between the amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn for which the waveform of the gate voltage to be applied is to be shaped. This makes it possible to easily determine the suitable location for shaping the waveform of the gate voltage applied by the waveform shaping unit 111. In addition, in the gate voltage regulator 400 in which the gate voltage regulator 300 further includes the waveform shaping unit 111, the waveform shaping unit 111 can shape the waveform based on environmental data such as temperature or humidity acquired by the environmental sensor 50. This makes it possible to shape the waveform according to the surrounding environment of the gate voltage regulator 400.

Next, the details of the operation will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the gate voltage adjustment operation of the gate voltage adjustment device 400 and the gate voltage adjustment method when the gate voltage adjustment device 100 further includes a waveform shaping unit 111. As shown in FIG. 10, in the gate voltage adjustment device 400, after step S103, the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted is changed, and a voltage signal is output from the current detection element 21-i corresponding to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted based on the drain current flowing through the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted (step S104). In detail, the gate bias voltage control unit 11 of the control unit 10 gradually changes the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted from the pinch-off voltage. The waveform shaping unit 111 shapes the waveform of the voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted when the gate bias voltage control unit 11 changes the gate voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. Other operations are substantially similar to those of the gate voltage adjustment device 100.

In addition, in the gate voltage adjustment device 400 where the gate voltage adjustment device 300 further includes a waveform shaping unit 111, in step S104, when shaping the waveform of the voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted, the waveform shaping unit 111 may shape the waveform based on environmental data such as the temperature or humidity of the multiple amplification elements AMP1 to AMPn acquired by the environmental sensor 50.

In other words, in the fourth step, when changing the gate voltage applied to the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted, the gate voltage waveform to be applied to the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted is shaped. In other words, in the fourth step, a gate voltage with a shaped waveform is applied to the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted, changing the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted, and a voltage signal is output from the current detection element 21-i.

In the gate voltage adjustment device 400 and the gate voltage adjustment method according to the fourth embodiment, the current detection circuit 20 of the gate voltage adjustment device 400 includes a plurality of current detection elements 21-1 to 21-n corresponding to the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn, an operational amplifier 22, an analog-digital converter 23, and a switching unit 40. In this case, a switching unit is provided between the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn and the operational amplifier 22. This switching unit can switch the current detection element 21 connected to the control unit 10 via the operational amplifier 22. This allows the gate voltages of the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn to be adjusted with a configuration including one operational amplifier 22, thereby realizing a smaller and less costly gate voltage adjustment device. In this case, even if the plurality of amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn operate with different drain voltages, the gate voltage can be adjusted with a configuration including one operational amplifier 22. Therefore, the more the number of amplifier elements AMP that adjust the gate voltage increases, the more the number of parts and the mounting space can be reduced. This is particularly effective when applied to transmission and reception modules used for radar and other applications that have a large number of loaded amplifier elements AMP.

The gate voltage adjustment device 400 may also adjust two or more specific amplifier elements AMPi to AMPm out of the multiple amplifier elements AMP1 to AMPn. By adjusting the gate voltage in this way, the gate voltage can be adjusted more easily than adjusting the gate voltage of each amplifier element AMP individually. This is particularly effective when a large number of amplifier elements AMP are loaded.

Furthermore, the gate voltage adjustment device 400 is configured such that when the adjustment of the gate voltages of all the multiple amplifier elements AMPi to AMPn is completed, the first switch 41 and the second switch 42 can connect the single-pole side port and the grounded multi-throw side port. This allows the power supply 30 to be electrically disconnected from the operational amplifier 22 and the analog-digital converter 23. When the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMP is adjusted with a high-frequency signal input, the drain current of the amplifier element AMP increases significantly compared to when the gate voltage of the amplifier element is adjusted with no high-frequency signal input. Therefore, a large voltage signal may be input to the analog-digital converter 23 via the operational amplifier 22. To prevent this, a protection circuit such as a configuration that clamps the voltage signal using a diode is generally required. However, the gate voltage adjustment device 400 allows the power supply 30 to be electrically disconnected from the operational amplifier 22 and the analog-digital converter 23 with the first switch 41 and the second switch 42, so that the current detection circuit 20 itself can also function as a protection circuit.

Furthermore, the gate voltage adjustment device 400 can use the switching unit to connect any amplifier element AMPi to the control unit 10 via the operational amplifier 22 even when the module loaded with the amplifier element AMP is in operation. With this configuration, it is possible to adjust the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi, whose gate voltage has already been adjusted once, in even finer units while the module loaded with the amplifier element AMP is in operation. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the gate voltage of the amplifier element AMPi to be adjusted to a more suitable value.

Furthermore, the gate voltage adjustment device 400 is configured to include a waveform shaping unit 111. This allows the waveform of the voltage applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted to be shaped into a desired voltage waveform. For example, it is possible to suppress higher harmonics by slowing down the rise and fall times of the pulse wave applied to the amplification element AMPi to be adjusted. Furthermore, in a configuration including an environmental sensor 50, the waveform shaping unit 111 can shape the waveform based on environmental data such as temperature or humidity acquired by the environmental sensor 50 during operation of a module loaded with the amplification element AMP. This allows the waveform to be shaped according to the surrounding environment of the gate voltage adjustment device 400.

10 Control section, 11 Gate bias voltage control section, 111 Waveform shaping section, 12 Measurement value determination section, 13 Switch control section, 20 Current detection circuit, 21-1 to 21-n Current detection elements, 22 Operational amplifier 23 Analog-to-digital converter, 24 Protection circuit, 30 Power supply, 31-1 to 31-n Power supply wiring, 40 Switching section, 41 First switch, 42 Second switch, 50 Environmental sensor, AMPi to AMPn Amplification elements, DAC1 to DACn Digital-to-analog converter, 100, 200, 300 Gate voltage adjustment device.

Claims (14)

A plurality of amplification elements for amplifying signals;
A control unit that controls a gate voltage applied to each of the plurality of amplifying elements;
a plurality of current detection elements provided between a power source that applies a drain voltage to each of the plurality of amplifying elements and the drain electrodes of the plurality of amplifying elements, the current detection elements outputting a voltage signal based on the drain current of the corresponding amplifying element;
an operational amplifier that amplifies the voltage signal output from the connected current detection element among the plurality of current detection elements and inputs the amplified voltage signal to the control unit;
a switching unit that is provided between the plurality of current detection elements and the operational amplifier and that switches the current detection element that is connected to the operational amplifier among the plurality of current detection elements;
the control unit determines gate voltages to be applied to the plurality of amplifying elements based on the input voltage signal ;
The switching unit is
a first switch having a single-pole port connected to the operational amplifier and a plurality of multi-throw ports connected to upstream sides of the plurality of current detection elements;
a second switch having a single-pole port connected to the operational amplifier and a plurality of multi-throw ports connected to downstream sides of the plurality of current detection elements,
The first switch and the second switch further have a port grounded to a port on a multiple-throw side,
When the adjustment of the gate voltages of all the amplifying elements is completed,
The first switch and the second switch are a gate voltage regulator in which a port on a single-pole side and the grounded port on a multi-throw side are connected . The first switch and the second switch connect a single-pole port and a multi-throw port connected to the current detection element corresponding to the amplification element to be adjusted,
2. The gate voltage adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit applies a gate voltage that does not cause a drain current to flow to the amplification element to be adjusted, and then changes the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element to be adjusted, and determines the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element to be adjusted based on the input voltage signal . When two or more amplifying elements are to be adjusted,
The first switch and the second switch are connected to a single-pole port and a multi-throw port connected to the current detection elements corresponding to two or more of the amplification elements to be adjusted ,
The gate voltage adjusting device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit determines gate voltages to be applied to the two or more amplifying elements to be adjusted based on voltage signals output by the current detection elements corresponding to the two or more amplifying elements to be adjusted. an analog-to-digital converter that converts the voltage signal amplified by the operational amplifier from an analog signal to a digital signal and inputs the digital signal to the control unit;
4. The gate voltage adjusting device according to claim 1, further comprising a protection circuit that limits the magnitude of the voltage signal input from the operational amplifier to the analog-to-digital converter . an environmental sensor for acquiring environmental data including temperature or humidity information of the plurality of amplifying elements;
5. The gate voltage adjusting device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines gate voltages to be applied to the plurality of amplifying elements based on the input voltage signal and the environmental data . The control unit includes a waveform shaping unit,
6. The gate voltage adjusting device according to claim 1 , wherein the waveform shaping section shapes waveforms of the gate voltages applied by the control section to the plurality of amplifying elements . 7. The gate voltage adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of amplifying elements include amplifying elements that operate at different drain voltages . A first step in which a control unit applies a gate voltage controlled so that no drain current flows through an amplification element to be adjusted among a plurality of amplification elements that amplify a signal;
a second step of applying a drain voltage to each of the plurality of amplifying elements from a power supply;
a third step in which a switching unit connects, to an operational amplifier, a current detection element corresponding to the amplification element to be adjusted, among a plurality of current detection elements provided corresponding to each of the amplification elements between the power supply and the drain electrodes of the plurality of amplification elements;
a fourth step in which, after the first step, the second step, and the third step, the control unit changes a gate voltage applied to the amplification element to be adjusted, so that a voltage signal is output from the current detection element corresponding to the amplification element to be adjusted based on a drain current flowing through the amplification element to be adjusted;
a fifth step in which the operational amplifier amplifies and outputs the voltage signal output in the fourth step;
a sixth step of determining a gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element to be adjusted by the control unit based on the voltage signal output in the fifth step;
The third step is a step in which the switching unit switches between a first switch having a single-pole port connected to the operational amplifier and a plurality of multi-throw ports connected to the upstream sides of the plurality of current detection elements, and a second switch having a single-pole port connected to the operational amplifier and a plurality of multi-throw ports connected to the downstream sides of the plurality of current detection elements, thereby connecting the current detection element corresponding to the amplification element to be adjusted to the operational amplifier,
In the sixth step, when the adjustment of the gate voltages of all the amplifying elements is completed,
A gate voltage adjustment method comprising: a seventh step in which the switching unit connects the single-pole side ports of the first switch and the second switch to the grounded ports of the multi-throw side. When two or more amplifying elements are to be adjusted,
The first switch and the second switch are connected to a single-pole port and a multi-throw port connected to the current detection elements corresponding to two or more of the amplification elements to be adjusted,
9. The gate voltage adjustment method according to claim 8, wherein the sixth step comprises the control unit determining gate voltages to be applied to the two or more amplifying elements to be adjusted based on voltage signals output by the current detection elements corresponding to each of the two or more amplifying elements to be adjusted . an eighth step in which an analog-to-digital converter converts the voltage signal amplified by the operational amplifier from an analog signal to a digital signal and outputs the digital signal;
a ninth step in which a protection circuit limits the magnitude of the voltage signal input from the operational amplifier to the analog-to-digital converter;
10. The gate voltage adjustment method according to claim 8, wherein in the sixth step, the control unit determines a gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element to be adjusted based on the voltage signal output in the eighth step . 10. The gate voltage adjustment method according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the sixth step acquires environmental data including information on temperature or humidity of the plurality of amplifying elements, and the control unit determines a gate voltage to be applied to the amplifying element to be adjusted based on the voltage signal output in the fifth step and the environmental data . 11. The gate voltage adjustment method according to claim 10, wherein the sixth step acquires environmental data including information on temperature or humidity of the plurality of amplifying elements, and the control unit determines the gate voltage to be applied to the amplifying element to be adjusted based on the voltage signal output in the eighth step and the environmental data . 13. The gate voltage adjustment method according to claim 8, wherein in the fourth step , the control unit shapes a waveform of the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element to be adjusted when changing the gate voltage to be applied to the amplification element to be adjusted . 14. The gate voltage adjusting method according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of amplifying elements include amplifying elements that operate at different drain voltages .

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