Extensible large-scale power combiner
By using multiple sub-power synthesis units in the power synthesizer in parallel with the low-loss impedance converter, the problem of limited scalability of existing power synthesizers is solved, and higher output power and more flexible impedance configuration capabilities are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510106343.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-27
AI Technical Summary
The scalability of existing power synthesizers is limited, making it difficult to achieve large-scale power synthesis.
A scalable large-scale power synthesizer formed in parallel with a low loss impedance converter is used. Each sub-power synthesis unit consists of a plurality of sub-PAs, which consist of a PA core and a transformer. The voltage and current synthesis are achieved through the transformer in series and parallel connection.
By adjusting the m and n values in the sub-power synthesis unit, the impedance configuration capability and output power are improved, more flexible input impedance selection and higher output power are achieved, and higher design freedom and scalability are achieved.
Smart Images
Figure CN120049849A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a power synthesizer, in particular to an expandable large-scale power synthesizer. Background Art
[0002] With the development of communication technology, the demand for RF wireless transmission is increasing, which leads to the increasing demand for high-power PA chips. However, due to the voltage limitation of chip circuits, it is a big challenge for PA (Power Amplifier) working at RF frequency to provide high output power. In order to achieve high output power, power synthesis technology is crucial.
[0003] like Figure 1 The figure shows a power synthesizer based on transformer and series voltage synthesis in the prior art. The prior art uses a power synthesizer based on transformer and series voltage synthesis. The PA core matches the impedance to a real number through a transformer, and then realizes sub-PA voltage synthesis by connecting transformers in series, thereby increasing the PA output power. The disadvantage of this solution is that as the number of sub-PAs increases, the input impedance of the sub-PAs will be too small, making it difficult to design the transformer. Due to the large layout parasitics of the transformer in the millimeter wave, the number of sub-PAs is difficult to exceed 8, and the scalability of the synthesizer is limited.
[0004] like Figure 2 The prior art shown is a power synthesizer based on transformers and parallel current synthesis. This solution uses a power synthesizer based on transformers and parallel current synthesis. The PA core matches the impedance to a real number through a transformer, and then realizes sub-PA current synthesis by paralleling transformers, thereby increasing the PA output power. The disadvantage of this solution is that as the number of sub-PAs increases, the input impedance of the sub-PAs will be too large, making the transformer difficult to design. Due to the large layout parasitics of the transformer in the millimeter wave, the number of sub-PAs is difficult to exceed 8, and the scalability of the synthesizer is limited. Summary of the invention
[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a scalable large-scale power combiner, mainly to solve the problem of limited scalability of existing power combiners.
[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:
[0007] A scalable large-scale power combiner is formed by connecting several sub-power combining units in parallel with a low-loss impedance converter and then connecting to a load;
[0008] The sub-power synthesis unit is formed by several sub-PAs; each sub-PA is composed of a PA core and a transformer; the PA core is connected to both ends of the primary coil of the transformer as the power input and output of each sub-PA; the PA core is connected to both ends of the secondary coil of the transformer as the power input and output of each sub-PA; several sub-PAs form a sub-power synthesis unit by connecting the positive ends and negative ends of all the secondary coils of the transformer in parallel.
[0009] Furthermore, in the present invention, the sub-PAs in the sub-power synthesis unit transmit output signals of different sub-PAs connected in series using transformers to the same location through a two-wire transmission line and then connect them in parallel to a load.
[0010] Furthermore, in the present invention, the low-loss impedance converter is formed by replacing the load in the sub-power synthesis unit with a transmission line and then connecting it to a two-wire transmission line.
[0011] Furthermore, in the present invention, the PA core is composed of differential cascode field effect transistors.
[0012] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0013] (1) The sub-power synthesis unit in the present invention is different from the traditional voltage or current mode power synthesis scheme (i.e., m×P 子PA or n×P 子PA The output power and R L / m or n×R L By adjusting the values of m and n, the impedance configuration capability of the sub-power synthesis unit is improved (i.e., n×R L / m), while increasing the output power (i.e. m×n×P 子PA The total power synthesis unit presents a more flexible input impedance configuration (i.e. (n / m)×(a / b)×R L ), and the output power is further improved (i.e. m×n×a×P 子PA ).
[0014] (2) The impedance configuration capability and power of the sub-power synthesis unit of the present invention are improved. The impedance configuration capability and power of the total power synthesis unit are further improved compared with the sub-power synthesis unit, which can easily realize large-scale power synthesis and relatively arbitrary PA core selection, has a high degree of design freedom, is convenient for selecting the PA core with the best performance, and is convenient for migration between different processes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Figure 1 The invention is a power combiner based on transformer and series voltage combination in the prior art.
[0016] Figure 2The invention relates to a power combiner based on a transformer and parallel current combination in the prior art.
[0017] Figure 3 It is the structural diagram of the neutron PA of the present invention.
[0018] Figure 4 It is a structural diagram of the neutron power synthesis unit of the present invention.
[0019] Figure 5 It is a structural diagram of the total power synthesis unit in the present invention.
[0020] Figure 6 4 is a structural diagram of the circuit structure of the PA core in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention include but are not limited to the following embodiments.
[0022] Example
[0023] The present invention discloses an expandable large-scale power synthesizer, which is formed by connecting a plurality of sub-power synthesis units and a low-loss impedance converter in parallel to a load; wherein the sub-power synthesis unit is formed by a plurality of sub-PAs; each sub-PA is composed of a PA core and a transformer; the PA core is connected to both ends of the transformer primary coil as the power input and output of each sub-PA; the PA core is connected to both ends of the transformer secondary coil as the power input and output of each sub-PA; a plurality of sub-PAs are formed into a sub-power synthesis unit by connecting the positive ends and the negative ends of all the transformer secondary coils in parallel.
[0024] Figures 3 to 5 The scalable power combiner with a wide range of input impedance selection and its compact layout structure are demonstrated. The sub-power combiner unit with m-way voltage and n-way current combination is used to alleviate the very low or very high input impedance (Z 子PA), while increasing the number of power synthesizers. Then, in order to further meet the requirement that the synthesizer can be applied to more different PA cores, the total power synthesis unit adopts a power synthesis scheme of connecting a low-loss impedance transformer in parallel after the sub-power synthesis unit to further improve the output power and input impedance selection range. The planar layout diagram of the sub-power synthesis unit and the total power synthesis unit shows the feasibility and scalability in the actual layout. The sub-PAs in the sub-power synthesis unit are allocated in a ring shape to minimize the size of the output network passive circuit. Then, in order to form the total power synthesis unit, a low-loss impedance transformer is inserted in the sub-power synthesis unit. Each sub-power synthesis unit with an impedance transformer is allocated around a larger circle to achieve scalability. The circular distribution of the sub-power synthesis unit and the total power synthesis unit facilitates the increase of m, n and a without affecting the circuit balance.
[0025] like Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, the PA core is composed of differential common-source common-gate field effect transistors. The transformer as a matching circuit and a DC isolation circuit and the PA core together constitute a sub-PA. The power synthesis of the sub-PA can be achieved by connecting transformers in series. The specific implementation method is as follows: Figure 3 As shown. The power supply of the sub-PA is in the primary coil of the transformer, and the power output of the sub-PA connected in series with the transformer is at both ends of the secondary coil of the series transformer (positive end and negative end, where the positive end is where the current flows out and the negative end is where the current flows in). The number of sub-PAs connected in series with this transformer can be expanded (1, 2, 3, ..., with m representing the number). Multiple sub-PAs connected in series with transformers can form a sub-power synthesis unit by connecting the positive end and the negative end of the secondary coil of the transformer in parallel ( Figure 4 ), the number of parallel connections can also be expanded (1, 2, 3, ..., n is used to represent the number). In actual circuits, a two-wire transmission line is required to transmit the output signals of different sub-PAs connected in series using transformers to the same position and then connect them in parallel. Next, the load of the sub-power synthesis unit is replaced by an additional transmission line, which together with the previous transmission line forms a low-loss impedance converter. The output of the combination of the sub-power synthesis unit and the low-loss impedance converter (gray solid line box) is connected in parallel and then connected to the load to form a total power synthesis unit (black solid line box). The number of parallel connections can also be expanded (1, 2, 3, ..., a is used to represent the number). In the total power synthesis unit, the position of the sub-PA connected in series with the nth transformer of the sub-power synthesis unit changes compared to the sub-power synthesis unit. The positive end connection of the sub-PA connected in series with the nth transformer remains unchanged, and the negative end will be connected to the low-loss impedance converter of the adjacent sub-power synthesis unit. After one cycle, the unconnected negative ends of the low-loss impedance converters in all sub-power synthesis units are reconnected, such as Figure 5 shown.
[0026] The sub-power synthesis unit in the present invention is different from the traditional voltage or current mode power synthesis scheme (i.e. m×P 子PA or n×P 子PA The output power and R L / m or n×R L By adjusting the values of m and n, the impedance configuration capability of the sub-power synthesis unit is improved (i.e., n×R L / m), while increasing the output power (i.e. m×n×P 子PA The total power synthesis unit presents a more flexible input impedance configuration (i.e. (n / m)×(a / b)×R L ), and the output power is further improved (i.e. m×n×a×P 子PA ). Compared with the voltage and current synthesis methods, the impedance configuration capability and power of the sub-power synthesis unit have been improved. The impedance configuration capability and power of the total power synthesis unit have been further improved compared with the sub-power synthesis unit, which can easily realize large-scale power synthesis and more arbitrary PA core selection, with high design freedom, easy to select the PA core with the best performance, and easy to migrate between different processes.
[0027] The above embodiment is only one of the preferred implementation modes of the present invention and should not be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any changes or modifications that are made to the main design concept and spirit of the present invention and have no substantive significance, and the technical problems they solve are still consistent with the present invention, should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A scalable large-scale power combiner, characterized in that: It is formed by connecting several sub-power synthesis units and low-loss impedance converters in parallel and then connecting to a load; The sub-power synthesis unit is formed by several sub-PAs; each sub-PA is composed of a PA core and a transformer; the PA core is connected to both ends of the primary coil of the transformer as the power input and output of each sub-PA; the PA core is connected to both ends of the secondary coil of the transformer as the power input and output of each sub-PA; several sub-PAs form a sub-power synthesis unit by connecting the positive ends and negative ends of all the secondary coils of the transformer in parallel.
2. The scalable large-scale power combiner according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sub-PAs in the sub-power synthesis unit transmit output signals of different sub-PAs connected in series using transformers to the same position through a two-wire transmission line, and then connect them in parallel and then connect to the load.
3. The scalable large-scale power combiner according to claim 2, characterized in that: The low-loss impedance converter is formed by replacing the load in the sub-power synthesis unit with a transmission line and then connecting it with a two-wire transmission line.
4. The scalable large-scale power combiner according to claim 3, characterized in that: The PA core is composed of differential cascode field effect transistors.