Two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multipath synthesis power amplifier circuit

Abstract

The invention relates to a two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-path synthesis power amplifier circuit, which comprises an input power division network for distributing signals to each path of two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module for signal amplification; the two-dimensional space multiplexing module is used for placing the adjacent multi-path amplifying units or transmitting units in the same area, so that m * N paths of amplifying units or transmitting units are realized in N paths of areas, power synthesis miniaturization is realized, and signals are sent to an output synthesis network; and the output synthesis network is connected with the outputs of the two-dimensional spatial multiplexing modules, and outputs the output signals after power synthesis. Compared with a conventional power synthesis technical scheme, the area is more compact, the output power can be doubled under the same area, or the area is saved by 50% under the same output power, the on-chip power synthesis implementation cost can be greatly reduced, the design is simpler and more convenient through mutual decoupling of parameters of the embedded transformer and the peripheral transformer, and the power synthesis efficiency is improved. The design efficiency is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of electronic devices, in particular to a two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-path combining power amplifier circuit. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a phased array system, the radar detection distance is proportional to the square root of the transmitted power, and high power transmission can overcome the influence of the receiving end noise. The traditional phased array system realizes power combination through distributed transmission units (such as TR modules) to improve the transmission power of the system, but as the system requires higher integration and cost, more transmission units need to be integrated in a limited space, so the demand for power combination technology is increasing.

[0003] The traditional passive on-chip power combination technology depends on the performance of the passive network combination, and common technologies include transformer combination and transmission line network combination. The traditional method usually places multiple transmission units in parallel, connects each transmission unit through a passive combination network to realize power combination superposition. In theory, if the power is doubled, the number of combination units is doubled, and the area of the transmission unit is also doubled. Therefore, for a large output power transmission unit, a large chip area is consumed, which is limited in some application scenarios or circuits. In addition, as the number of transmission units increases, the complexity of the input power division network and the output combination network also increases, and the length of the connection line increases, resulting in additional power loss. In addition, there is a certain electromagnetic coupling between different transmission units, and a certain distance needs to be placed between the transmission units to ensure isolation, so the design complexity of the input power division network and the output combination network is further increased. Therefore, solving the problem of on-chip power combination miniaturization is crucial to reducing the cost of the transmission unit. SUMMARY

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-path combining power amplifier circuit to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] The purpose of the present application is achieved by the following technical scheme: a two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-path combining power amplifier circuit, comprising an input power division network, an N-path two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module, and an output combination network; the multi-path two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module is connected in parallel between the input power division network and the output combination network; The input power division network is configured to distribute signals to each two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module for signal amplification. The two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module is configured to place adjacent m-path amplification units or transmission units in the same area, and then realize m×N-path amplification units or transmission units in N-path area, so as to realize power combination miniaturization, and send signals to the output combination network, m is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. The output synthesis network is configured to connect the outputs of the two-dimensional spatial multiplexing modules, power synthesize the output signals and output.

[0006] Each two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module is composed of multiple stages of amplification circuits, including an input matching transformer, an amplification core assembly, an inter-stage matching transformer assembly and an output matching transformer. The amplification core assembly includes multiple amplification cores, the inter-stage matching transformer assembly includes multiple inter-stage matching transformers, and one inter-stage matching transformer is connected between each two amplification cores. The input power division network divides the input signal into m×N signals, and each m signals are input to the input end of the input matching transformer.

[0007] The input matching transformer, the inter-stage matching transformer and the output matching transformer are all composed of multi-coil transformers.

[0008] When it is a four-coil transformer, each two coils form a transformer, and one transformer is placed in the hollow area between the other transformer in the form of embedding to form a two-dimensional spatial multiplexing four-coil transformer structure.

[0009] The two-dimensional spatial multiplexing four-coil transformer structure includes a sampling ∞-shaped winding mode of the embedded transformer, so that the magnetic flux generated by the embedded transformer is self-canceled, realizing near-zero coupling to other coils, and further realizing decoupling adjustment of the two transformers.

[0010] Each amplification core includes m amplifiers, and the input power division network divides the input signal into m×N signals.

[0011] The input power division network divides the input signal into m×N signals, and when the spatial multiplexing amplification unit is a double-port input, one of the input ends of the primary coils of the m transformers for input matching is respectively connected to one signal, and the other input end is grounded.

[0012] This invention has the following advantages: a two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-channel power amplifier circuit, which is more compact in area than conventional power combining technology, can achieve a doubling of output power in the same area, or save 50% of area in the same output power, which can greatly reduce the cost of on-chip power combining. By decoupling the parameters of the embedded transformer and the external transformer, the design is simpler and the design efficiency is improved. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a conventional on-chip power combining amplifier; Figure 2 This is a circuit diagram of a conventional power combining amplifier; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the present invention; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the specific structure circuit for 2N signal channels; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a conventional four-coil transformer. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the two-dimensional spatial multiplexing four-coil transformer structure of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a 2N-channel, 3-stage power amplifier circuit based on a two-dimensional spatially multiplexed four-coil transformer. Detailed Implementation

[0014] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the claimed application, but merely represents selected embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application. The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] like Figure 1 As shown, it mainly consists of an input power divider network, an amplification unit or a transmission unit, and an output combining network. The input power divider network distributes the signal to each transmission unit for signal amplification. The transmission unit can be a single-stage amplification or a multi-stage amplification. The output combining network connects the outputs of each transmission unit, combines their output signals, and outputs them to the antenna unit. Figure 2The embodiment of the conventional power synthesis technology is shown, the power amplifier circuit has 2N transmitting units, each transmitting unit has M amplifiers, and a transformer matching structure is used between each amplifier. In the traditional scheme and other similar schemes, the chip area occupied and the chip cost increase exponentially with the increase of the transmitting units, so there are certain limitations in some application scenarios or circuits, for example, it is difficult to further increase the output power under limited chip area.

[0016] In addition, as the number of transmitting units increases, the complexity of the input power division network and the output synthesis network also increases, and the length of the connection line increases, which causes additional power loss. There is a certain electromagnetic coupling between different transmitting units, and a certain distance needs to be placed between the transmitting units to ensure isolation, so the design complexity of the input power division network and the output synthesis network is further increased.

[0017] Therefore, the present application introduces a two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-path synthesis power amplifier circuit, which can double the output power under the same area, or reduce the area by half under the same output power, and can greatly reduce the on-chip power synthesis implementation cost.

[0018] As shown in Figure 3 , it includes an input power division network, an m×N two-dimensional spatial multiplexing amplification unit or transmitting unit, and an output synthesis network. Each two-dimensional spatial multiplexing amplification unit or transmitting unit in (a) includes 2 amplification units or transmitting units (i.e. m=2), and each two-dimensional spatial multiplexing amplification unit or transmitting unit in (b) includes m amplification units or transmitting units; the multi-path two-dimensional spatial multiplexing amplification unit or transmitting unit is connected in parallel between the input power division network and the output synthesis network; wherein the input power division network distributes signals to each transmitting unit for signal amplification; the two-dimensional spatial multiplexing amplification unit places adjacent m amplification units (transmitting units) in the same area, and the transmitting unit can be single-stage amplification or multi-stage amplification, and then the m×N transmitting units can be realized in N paths, thereby realizing the miniaturization of power synthesis; the output synthesis network connects the outputs of each transmitting unit and outputs the power synthesized output signal. It can be widely used in radio frequency transmitter systems, such as phased array radar, 5G mmWave communication, etc. Radio frequency communication products can be used, which can realize the purpose of improving the transmit power density and reducing the chip cost. Of course, 3N, 4N, 5N transmitting units can be realized in N paths, which corresponds to a single winding coil in N paths. When it is 2N, the transformer includes 4 coils, when it is 3N, the transformer includes 6 coils, and so on.

[0019] As shown in Figure 4As shown, each two-dimensional space multiplexing amplification unit or transmitting unit places adjacent two amplification units (transmitting units) within the same area. Thus, 2N amplifiers can be realized within N areas. Each amplifier consists of an amplification circuit with one or more stages, including an input matching transformer, an amplification core, an inter-stage matching transformer, and an output matching transformer. The output combiner connects the outputs of each transmitting unit, and after power combining the output signals, outputs them.

[0020] Furthermore, each two-dimensional space multiplexing amplification unit or transmitting unit includes an input matching transformer, an amplification core component, an inter-stage matching transformer component, and an output matching transformer; Among them, the amplification core component includes multiple amplification cores, the inter-stage matching transformer component includes multiple inter-stage matching transformers, and one inter-stage matching transformer is connected between every two amplification cores; the input power splitting network splits the input signal into 2N signals, every two signals are input to the input end of the input matching transformer, the output end of the input matching transformer is connected to the first-stage amplification core, the input end of the output matching transformer is connected to the last-stage amplification core, and the output end of the output matching transformer outputs two or four signals to the output combining network.

[0021] In order to implement the circuit architecture as Figure 6 shown, one transformer can be placed in the hollowed-out area in the middle of another transformer, thus realizing a two-dimensional space multiplexing four-coil transformer structure. As Figure 5 shown, because two conventional transformers are nested with each other, there is coupling between every two coils, that is, kij≠0, i<j, i = 1, 2, 3, j = 1, 2, 3, 4. A large amount of time is required to iterate the transformer during the design of this structure, increasing the design complexity. As Figure 6 shown, a two-dimensional space multiplexing transformer structure proposed by the present invention winds the embedded transformer in a ∞-shaped manner, so that the magnetic flux generated by the embedded transformer structure self-cancels, thereby realizing nearly zero coupling to other coils, that is, k 12 ≈0, k 13 ≈0, k 24 ≈0, k 34 ≈0, k 14 ≠0, k 23 ≠0, and then realizes decoupling adjustment of the two transformers, which can greatly improve the design efficiency and reduce unnecessary coupling.

[0022] Furthermore, the input matching transformer, the inter-stage matching transformer, and the output matching transformer all include two transformers, and one transformer is placed in the hollowed-out area in the middle of another transformer in an embedded form, forming a two-dimensional space multiplexing four-coil transformer structure.

[0023] When there are four transformers, each pair of transformers forms a group, and the two groups of transformers are stacked vertically. One transformer in each group is embedded in the hollowed-out area between the other transformers, forming a two-dimensional space reuse four-coil transformer structure.

[0024] Furthermore, each amplification core includes two or m amplifiers. When the input power divider network divides the input signal into 2N signals, each amplification core includes two amplifiers. When the input power divider network divides the input signal into m×N signals, each amplification core includes m amplifiers.

[0025] When the input power divider divides the input signal into 2N signals, and the spatial multiplexing amplifier unit is a dual-port input, one input terminal of the primary coil of the two input-matched transformers is connected to one signal, and the other input terminal is grounded; both ends of the secondary coils of the two transformers are connected to one amplifier in the first-stage amplifier core.

[0026] When the input power divider divides the input signal into m×N signals, and the spatial multiplexing amplifier unit is a dual-port input, one input terminal of the primary coil of the m transformers matched with the input is connected to one signal, and the other input terminal is grounded; the two ends of the secondary coils of the four transformers are respectively connected to one amplifier in the first-stage amplifier core.

[0027] like Figure 7 As shown, RFIN is the input radio frequency signal, which is divided into four signals by the input power divider. The four signals are divided into two groups (i.e., m=2, N=2) and enter the upper and lower input matching networks based on two-dimensional spatial multiplexing four transformers respectively. The single-ended signal is converted into a differential signal and enters the first-stage amplification core. Subsequently, the signal passes through the first-stage interstage matching transformer based on two-dimensional spatial multiplexing four transformers, the second-stage amplification core, the second-stage interstage matching transformer based on two-dimensional spatial multiplexing four transformers, the third-stage amplification core, and the output matching transformer based on two-dimensional spatial multiplexing four transformers. Finally, the amplified signal is combined and output through the output combiner.

[0028] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and improvements, and can be altered within the scope of the concept described herein through the above teachings or related technologies or knowledge. Modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-channel combining power amplifier circuit, characterized in that: It includes an input power splitting network, an N-channel two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module, and an output synthesis network; A multi-channel two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module is connected in parallel between the input power splitting network and the output combining network; The input power divider network is configured to distribute the signal to each two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module for signal amplification. The two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module is configured to place traditionally adjacent multi-channel amplification units or transmission units in the same area, thereby realizing m×N amplification units or transmission units in N areas, thus achieving miniaturization of power combining, and sending the signal to the output combining network, where m is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. The output synthesis network is configured to connect the outputs of each two-dimensional spatial multiplexing module, and output the power-synthesized signals of the modules.

2. The two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-channel power amplifier circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the two-dimensional spatial multiplexing modules consists of a multi-stage amplifier circuit, including an input matching transformer, an amplification core component, an inter-stage matching transformer component, and an output matching transformer; The amplification core component includes multiple amplification cores, and the interstage matching transformer component includes multiple interstage matching transformers, with one interstage matching transformer connected between every two amplification cores; the input power divider network divides the input signal into m×N signals, with each m signals input to the input terminal of the input matching transformer, the output terminal of the input matching transformer connected to the first-stage amplification core, the input terminal of the output matching transformer connected to the last-stage amplification core, and the output terminal of the output matching transformer outputting the m signals to the output combining network.

3. The two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-channel power amplifier circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The input matching transformer, interstage matching transformer, and output matching transformer are all composed of multi-coil transformers. One of the transformers can be embedded in the hollowed-out area between the other transformers to form a two-dimensional spatial multiplexed multi-coil transformer structure.

4. The two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-channel combining power amplifier circuit according to claim 3, characterized in that: When a four-coil transformer is used, each pair of coils forms a transformer group. One group of transformers is embedded in the hollowed-out area in the middle of another transformer, forming a two-dimensional space reused four-coil transformer structure.

5. A two-dimensional spatial multiplexing combined power amplifier circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that: The two-dimensional spatial multiplexing four-coil transformer structure includes using an ∞-shaped winding method for the embedded transformer, which makes the magnetic flux generated by the embedded transformer self-cancel, achieving near-zero coupling to other coils, and thus achieving decoupling adjustment of the two transformers.

6. The two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-channel power amplifier circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that: Each amplification core includes m amplifiers, and the input power divider network divides the input signal into m×N signals. Each amplification core includes m amplifiers.

7. A two-dimensional spatial multiplexing multi-channel power amplifier circuit according to claim 6, characterized in that: The input power divider network divides the input signal into m×N signals. When the spatial multiplexing amplifier unit has a dual-port input, one input terminal of the primary coil of the m transformers matched with the input is connected to one signal, and the other input terminal is grounded. The two ends of the secondary coils of the two transformers are respectively connected to an amplifier in the first-stage amplifier core.

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