Thermal drift compensation apparatus and method for a solid state power amplifier array

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of thermal drift compensation device and method of solid-state power amplifier array, it is related to radio frequency microwave technical field, and its technical solution main point is: temperature detection module, the temperature detection module includes multiple temperature sensors, each temperature sensor is set at the power amplifier unit of solid-state power amplifier array, for real-time acquisition corresponding power amplifier unit operating temperature;Compensation control module is coupled with the temperature detection module, is configured to receive the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit, according to each operating temperature respectively calculates the compensation parameter corresponding to each power amplifier unit, and exports each compensation parameter;Compensation execution module is coupled with the compensation control module and each power amplifier unit of the solid-state power amplifier array, is configured to according to each compensation parameter respectively to each power amplifier unit gain compensation and / or phase compensation is carried out.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of radio frequency and microwave technology, and more specifically, to a thermal drift compensation device and method for a solid-state power amplifier array. Background Technology

[0002] Solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs) are core components of the transmission channels of active phased array antennas, and their performance directly determines the overall effectiveness of radar systems, satellite communication systems, and electronic warfare equipment. As active phased arrays develop towards higher frequencies, higher integration, and higher power, the densely packed power amplifier units in the array generate extremely high heat flux densities, with local heat flux densities reaching several watts per square centimeter. The increase in junction temperature of the power amplifier transistors not only shortens device lifespan but also alters the gain and phase characteristics of the power amplifier in real time; this phenomenon is known as thermal drift.

[0003] To address the thermal drift problem of power amplifiers, several temperature compensation schemes have been proposed in existing technologies. For example, one scheme utilizes analog predistortion linearization technology to design a linearizer, which is then used in the linearization drive module of a GaN solid-state power amplifier to add temperature compensation functionality, achieving gain amplitude compensation of 0.9–7.6 dB and phase compensation of 9°–40°. Another scheme employs an active on-chip adaptive bias circuit, using a temperature feedback loop to reduce the change in amplifier collector DC current caused by temperature, thereby compensating for performance deviations caused by temperature variations. At the system level, there are also schemes that connect a temperature compensation circuit in series in the common path of the phased array antenna, performing temperature compensation for the entire phased array device based on the temperature of the antenna array elements or the temperature of the common path.

[0004] In existing technologies, amplitude and phase consistency errors between element channels in a phased array architecture directly lead to beam pointing deviation and sidelobe level rise. Furthermore, the random differences in the thermal characteristics of each amplifier during manufacturing cannot be effectively compensated for using uniform compensation parameters. When some channels exhibit more severe gain compression and phase lag due to insufficient heat dissipation, additional sidelobe interference is generated in the synthesized beam, severely affecting the beam pointing accuracy and spatial radiation performance of the phased array antenna. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a thermal drift compensation device and method for solid-state power amplifier arrays. This invention solves the problem that traditional compensation methods only perform uniform compensation for a single power amplifier and ignore the inconsistent thermal drift caused by differences in heat dissipation conditions and installation positions of each unit in the array. As a result, it can perform differentiated compensation for the actual temperature state of each power amplifier unit, effectively improving the pertinence and effectiveness of the compensation.

[0006] The above-mentioned technical objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention provides a thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array, comprising:

[0008] A temperature detection module, comprising multiple temperature sensors, each of which is correspondingly located at a power amplifier unit of the solid-state power amplifier array, for real-time acquisition of the operating temperature of the corresponding power amplifier unit.

[0009] The compensation control module, coupled to the temperature detection module, is configured to receive the operating temperature of each of the power amplifier units, calculate the compensation parameters corresponding to each of the power amplifier units based on each operating temperature, and output each of the compensation parameters.

[0010] The compensation execution module, coupled to the compensation control module and each of the power amplifier units of the solid-state power amplifier array, is configured to perform gain compensation and / or phase compensation on each of the power amplifier units according to each of the compensation parameters.

[0011] A second aspect of the present invention provides a thermal drift compensation method for a solid-state power amplifier array, applied to a thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array as provided in the first aspect of the present invention, the method comprising:

[0012] The operating temperature of each power amplifier unit is collected in real time by multiple temperature sensors respectively set at each power amplifier unit of the solid-state power amplifier array.

[0013] Receive the operating temperature of each of the power amplifier units, calculate the compensation parameters corresponding to each of the power amplifier units based on the operating temperature, and output the compensation parameters.

[0014] Gain compensation and / or phase compensation are performed on each of the power amplifier units according to the compensation parameters.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1. This invention achieves precise sensing of the thermal drift state of each power amplifier unit by independently acquiring its operating temperature. This overcomes the problem of traditional compensation methods that only uniformly compensate for a single power amplifier, neglecting the inconsistent thermal drift caused by differences in heat dissipation conditions and installation positions among the units within the array. Therefore, it can implement differentiated compensation based on the actual temperature state of each power amplifier unit, effectively improving the targeting and effectiveness of the compensation. Simultaneously, by dynamically switching between linear and nonlinear compensation modes based on the comparison results of each power amplifier unit's operating temperature with a preset threshold, it can adapt to the nonlinear drift characteristics of the power amplifier units in different temperature ranges, further improving the compensation accuracy across the entire temperature range.

[0017] 2. This invention pre-stores independent temperature-gain drift and temperature-phase drift models for each power amplifier unit and generates array-level compensation correction coefficients based on real-time evaluation of the array's temperature distribution uniformity index. This not only compensates for the thermal drift of each power amplifier unit itself but also optimizes the gain and phase consistency between units at the overall array level. When the temperature distribution uniformity index exceeds the limit, an array recalibration command is automatically triggered, and the compensation parameters of all power amplifier units are recalculated based on the current temperature state. This effectively suppresses beam pointing deviation and sidelobe level rise caused by inconsistent thermal drift among units, significantly improving the beam pointing accuracy and radiation performance of the phased array system. Furthermore, the phase control accuracy of the digital phase shifter corresponding to each power amplifier unit is configured independently, allowing each channel in the array to flexibly adjust the compensation resolution according to its actual phase drift characteristics, optimizing system resource allocation while ensuring compensation effectiveness. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention and form part of this application, do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of the thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a unit diagram of the compensation control module 120 provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a unit diagram of the compensation execution module 130 provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0022] Figure labels and figure descriptions:

[0023] 110. Temperature detection module; 120. Compensation control module; 130. Compensation execution module; 140. Temperature prediction module; 150. Compensation effect monitoring module; 1201. Temperature data processing unit; 1202. Compensation calculation unit; 1203. Compensation parameter output unit; 1204. Array consistency evaluation unit; 1301. Gain compensation unit; 1302. Phase compensation unit; 13011. Digital-to-analog conversion subunit; 13012. Offset adjustment subunit; 13021. Phase shifting subunit. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the present invention are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0025] It should be noted that the terms "comprising" or "may include" used in the various embodiments of this application indicate the presence of the claimed function, operation, or element, and do not limit the addition of one or more functions, operations, or elements. Furthermore, as used in the various embodiments of this application, the terms "comprising," "having," and their cognates are intended only to indicate a specific feature, number, step, operation, element, component, or combination of the foregoing, and should not be construed as primarily excluding the presence of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations of the foregoing, or adding one or more combinations of the foregoing.

[0026] To address the thermal drift problem of power amplifiers, several temperature compensation schemes have been proposed in existing technologies. For example, one scheme utilizes analog predistortion linearization technology to design a linearizer, which is then used in the linearization drive module of a GaN solid-state power amplifier to add temperature compensation functionality, achieving gain amplitude compensation of 0.9–7.6 dB and phase compensation of 9°–40°. Another scheme employs an active on-chip adaptive bias circuit, using a temperature feedback loop to reduce the change in amplifier collector DC current caused by temperature, thereby compensating for performance deviations caused by temperature variations. At the system level, there are also schemes that connect a temperature compensation circuit in series in the common path of the phased array antenna, performing temperature compensation for the entire phased array device based on the temperature of the antenna array elements or the temperature of the common path.

[0027] In existing technologies, amplitude and phase consistency errors between element channels in a phased array architecture directly lead to beam pointing deviation and sidelobe level rise. Furthermore, the random differences in the thermal characteristics of each amplifier during manufacturing cannot be effectively compensated for using uniform compensation parameters. When some channels exhibit more severe gain compression and phase lag due to insufficient heat dissipation, additional sidelobe interference is generated in the synthesized beam, severely affecting the beam pointing accuracy and spatial radiation performance of the phased array antenna.

[0028] Therefore, this invention provides a thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array. This device achieves precise sensing of the thermal drift state of each unit by independently acquiring the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit in the array. This overcomes the problem of traditional compensation methods that only uniformly compensate for a single power amplifier, ignoring the inconsistent thermal drift caused by differences in heat dissipation conditions and installation positions among the units within the array. Thus, it can implement differentiated compensation based on the actual temperature state of each power amplifier unit, effectively improving the targeting and effectiveness of the compensation. Simultaneously, by dynamically switching between linear and nonlinear compensation modes based on the comparison results of the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit with a preset threshold, it can adapt to the nonlinear drift characteristics of the power amplifier units in different temperature ranges, further improving the compensation accuracy across the entire temperature range.

[0029] This device also generates array-level compensation correction coefficients by pre-storing independent temperature-gain drift and temperature-phase drift models for each power amplifier unit and combining them with real-time evaluation of the array's temperature distribution uniformity index. This not only compensates for the thermal drift of each power amplifier unit itself but also optimizes the gain and phase consistency between units at the overall array level. When the temperature distribution uniformity index exceeds the limit, an array recalibration command is automatically triggered, and the compensation parameters of all power amplifier units are recalculated based on the current temperature state. This effectively suppresses beam pointing deviation and sidelobe level rise caused by inconsistent thermal drift among units, significantly improving the beam pointing accuracy and radiation performance of the phased array system. Furthermore, the phase control accuracy of the digital phase shifters corresponding to each power amplifier unit is configured independently, allowing each channel in the array to flexibly adjust the compensation resolution according to its actual phase drift characteristics, optimizing system resource allocation while ensuring compensation effectiveness.

[0030] The thermal drift compensation device for the solid-state power amplifier array provided in this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 As shown, the device includes:

[0031] Temperature detection module 110 includes multiple temperature sensors, each of which is located at a power amplifier unit in the solid-state power amplifier array and is configured to collect the operating temperature of the corresponding power amplifier unit in real time.

[0032] The compensation control module 120, coupled with the temperature detection module 110, is configured to receive the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit, calculate the corresponding compensation parameters for each power amplifier unit based on the operating temperature, and output the compensation parameters.

[0033] In the above embodiments, the compensation control module 120 (e.g.) Figure 2 (as shown), including:

[0034] Temperature data processing unit 1201 is coupled to temperature detection module 110 and is used to perform analog-to-digital conversion and filtering on the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit.

[0035] The compensation calculation unit 1202 is coupled to the temperature data processing unit 1201, which pre-stores the temperature-gain drift model and temperature-phase drift model of each power amplifier unit, and is used to calculate the required gain compensation amount and / or phase compensation amount of each power amplifier unit according to each operating temperature and the corresponding drift model.

[0036] The compensation parameter output unit 1203 is coupled to the compensation calculation unit 1202 and is used to convert each gain compensation amount and / or phase compensation amount into the corresponding compensation control signal of each power amplifier unit and output it to the compensation execution module 130.

[0037] Furthermore, the temperature-gain drift model and the temperature-phase drift model are pre-calibrated differentiated models based on the heat dissipation conditions, installation location and / or historical operating data of each power amplifier unit, and the drift models corresponding to each power amplifier unit are independent of each other;

[0038] The compensation calculation unit 1202 is also used to dynamically switch the compensation strategy of each power amplifier unit according to the comparison result between the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit and the preset temperature threshold. When the operating temperature is lower than the first preset threshold, a linear compensation mode is executed, and when the operating temperature is higher than the second preset threshold, a nonlinear compensation mode is executed. The second preset threshold is greater than the first preset threshold.

[0039] Specifically, the temperature sensor in the temperature detection module 110 typically outputs an analog voltage signal or a resistance signal, the amplitude of which changes monotonically with the junction temperature or case temperature of the power amplifier tube. The temperature data processing unit 1201 first converts these analog signals into digital quantities using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and then removes spike pulses introduced by sensor noise and electromagnetic interference using digital filtering algorithms (such as mean filtering or low-pass filtering) to obtain stable and reliable digital temperature values. Since the junction temperature of the power amplifier tube can change drastically in a very short time when the solid-state power amplifier array operates under high-power continuous wave or large duty cycle pulse conditions, the time constant of the filtering process needs to be optimized according to the thermal time constant of the power amplifier to achieve a balance between noise suppression and response speed, ensuring that the temperature data accurately reflects the instantaneous thermal state of the power amplifier tube without delaying the compensation response due to excessive smoothing.

[0040] The compensation calculation unit 1202, coupled to the temperature data processing unit 1201, is a sub-unit in the compensation control module 120 that undertakes the core calculation function. This unit pre-stores temperature-gain drift models and temperature-phase drift models for each power amplifier unit, and is used to calculate the required gain compensation and / or phase compensation for each power amplifier unit based on its operating temperature and the corresponding drift model. The aforementioned drift models are pre-calibrated differentiated models based on the heat dissipation conditions, installation location, and / or historical operating data of each power amplifier unit, and the drift models for each power amplifier unit are independent of each other. The necessity of this differentiated design lies in the fact that power amplifier units at different locations in the phased array have drastically different thermal environments. Units located at the array edge have shorter heat dissipation paths and better heat dissipation conditions, while units located at the array center are surrounded by surrounding heat-generating devices and experience severe heat accumulation. Furthermore, the flow direction of the coolant in the array leads to a temperature gradient along the path, resulting in significant differences in heat dissipation efficiency between upstream and downstream units. These factors cause the gain curves (temperature-gain drift curves) and phase curves (temperature-phase drift curves) of each power amplifier unit to be different with temperature, making it impossible to describe them with a unified model.

[0041] The calibration of the drift model is typically completed during the testing phase before the power amplifier unit leaves the factory. Specifically, each power amplifier unit is placed in a temperature-controlled chamber, and its small-signal gain and phase response are measured at preset temperature points (such as -40°C, -20°C, 0°C, 25°C, 50°C, 70°C, 85°C, etc.). A unique temperature-gain drift model and temperature-phase drift model for each unit are then established using curve fitting or interpolation methods. For power amplifier arrays already in use, historical operating data can be used to correct the model online. When the system detects a deviation between the actual gain and the model's predicted value at a certain temperature, the model parameters can be updated using an adaptive algorithm to ensure the model continuously approximates the true thermal characteristics of the power amplifier unit. In real-time operation, the compensation calculation unit 1202 substitutes the current temperature values ​​of each power amplifier unit output by the temperature data processing unit 1201 into their respective drift models to calculate the gain compensation and phase compensation required to offset gain attenuation and phase lag at the current temperature.

[0042] Furthermore, the compensation calculation unit 1202 is also used to dynamically switch the compensation strategy of each power amplifier unit based on the comparison result between the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit and the preset temperature threshold. When the operating temperature is lower than the first preset threshold, a linear compensation mode is executed; when the operating temperature is higher than the second preset threshold, a nonlinear compensation mode is executed, where the second preset threshold is greater than the first preset threshold. The mechanism of this dynamic strategy switching is that solid-state power amplifier devices exhibit different thermal drift characteristics in different temperature ranges. In the lower temperature range (e.g., junction temperature below 60°C), the thermal drift of the power amplifier tube is mainly manifested as an approximately linear change in gain and phase with temperature. At this time, the linear compensation mode can effectively correct the thermal drift, with low computational load and fast response speed. However, when the junction temperature of the power amplifier tube rises to a higher level (e.g., above 100°C), the physical parameters of GaN or GaAs devices, such as carrier mobility and transconductance, undergo nonlinear degradation, and gain compression and phase hysteresis exhibit obvious nonlinear characteristics. If linear compensation is continued at this time, it will not be able to accurately offset the thermal drift, and may even introduce new amplitude and phase errors. Therefore, when the compensation calculation unit 1202 detects that the operating temperature of a certain power amplifier unit exceeds the second preset threshold, it automatically switches to nonlinear compensation mode. In this mode, the compensation calculation unit 1202 calls a higher-order drift model (such as a polynomial model or a neural network-based nonlinear model) to calculate the compensation amount, so as to accurately match the nonlinear thermal drift characteristics of the high-temperature region. The temperature range between the first preset threshold and the second preset threshold is a transition region. Within this range, the compensation calculation unit 1202 can use linear interpolation or weighted fusion to smoothly switch the compensation strategy between the two modes, avoiding jumps in compensation amount caused by abrupt changes in mode.

[0043] The compensation parameter output unit 1203 is coupled to the compensation calculation unit 1202 and is used to convert each gain compensation amount and / or phase compensation amount into compensation control signals corresponding to each power amplifier unit, and output them to the compensation execution module 130. The compensation amount output by the compensation calculation unit 1202 is a digital value, while the gain compensation unit 1301 and phase compensation unit 1302 in the compensation execution module 130 require analog voltage or digital control words as drive signals. The function of the compensation parameter output unit 1203 is to complete this conversion. For gain compensation, it converts the digital compensation amount into the corresponding gate bias voltage adjustment value or drain bias voltage adjustment value; for phase compensation, it converts the digital compensation amount into the corresponding phase shifter control word. After the conversion is completed, the compensation parameter output unit 1203 distributes each control signal to the corresponding compensation execution module 130 through a parallel or serial communication interface.

[0044] The compensation execution module 130, coupled to the compensation control module 120 and each power amplifier unit of the solid-state power amplifier array, is configured to perform gain compensation and / or phase compensation on each power amplifier unit according to each compensation parameter.

[0045] Furthermore, the compensation execution module 130 includes (such as) Figure 3 (as shown)

[0046] Multiple gain compensation units 1301 are provided, each gain compensation unit 1301 is coupled to a power amplifier unit, and each gain compensation unit 1301 adjusts the gate bias voltage or drain bias voltage of the corresponding power amplifier unit according to the corresponding compensation parameters to compensate for the gain drift of the power amplifier unit.

[0047] Multiple phase compensation units 1302 are provided, each phase compensation unit 1302 is coupled to a power amplifier unit, and each phase compensation unit 1302 adjusts the input signal phase or output signal phase of the corresponding power amplifier unit according to the corresponding compensation parameters to compensate for the phase drift of the power amplifier unit.

[0048] Each of the aforementioned gain compensation units 1301 includes (such as...) Figure 3 (as shown)

[0049] The digital-to-analog converter subunit 13011 is used to convert the corresponding compensation parameters into analog voltage signals;

[0050] The bias adjustment subunit 13012 is coupled to the gate or drain terminal of the corresponding power amplifier unit and the digital-to-analog conversion subunit 13011, and is used to adjust the gate bias voltage or drain bias voltage of the power amplifier unit according to the analog voltage signal.

[0051] The bias adjustment subunit 13012 also includes a temperature feedback correction branch, which is connected in parallel between the gate terminal of the power amplifier unit and ground, and is used to perform secondary fine-tuning of the gate bias voltage according to the real-time operating temperature of the power amplifier unit.

[0052] Specifically, when the junction temperature rises, causing threshold voltage drift and a decrease in carrier mobility, gain compression can be compensated by actively adjusting the bias point. Each gain compensation unit 1301 contains a high-precision digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a bias adjustment circuit. The gain compensation output by the compensation control module 120 is a digitally encoded value, which is converted into an analog voltage signal by the DAC and then sent to the bias adjustment circuit. This circuit is typically composed of a linear regulator or a programmable voltage reference source in conjunction with an operational amplifier, and its output is directly coupled to the gate or drain feed of the corresponding power amplifier unit. The bias adjustment circuit continuously adjusts the gate or drain voltage within a preset safe bias range according to the input analog voltage signal, thereby changing the operating state of the power amplifier tube and restoring its gain to the nominal value at room temperature. To avoid introducing additional amplitude modulation noise during the adjustment process, the bias adjustment circuit typically adopts a low-dropout linear adjustment method and is configured with appropriate decoupling capacitors and filter networks.

[0053] In the implementation path of phase compensation, the compensation execution module 130 employs radio frequency (RF) phase shifting technology. Because the input and output capacitances of the power amplifier transistor drift with changes in junction temperature, resulting in additional phase delay when the signal passes through the power amplifier transistor, phase correction of the RF channel is necessary. Each phase compensation unit 1302 also includes a DAC, whose output analog control signal is used to drive a phase shifting subunit 13021 connected in series on the RF input or output path of the power amplifier unit. This phase shifting subunit 13021 can employ a reflective phase shifter, a load-line phase shifter, or a digital switching delay line structure, and its phase shift amount is determined by the control voltage or control current. When the compensation control module 120 calculates that a certain power amplifier unit needs to lead or lag by a specific phase amount, the DAC of the phase compensation unit 1302 converts the phase compensation parameters into the corresponding control voltage and applies it to the control port of the phase shift subunit 13021. The phase shift subunit 13021 then adjusts its insertion phase so that the RF signal exactly cancels the thermal phase lag of the power amplifier tube itself after passing through the phase shift subunit 13021, thereby achieving the stability of the RF output phase.

[0054] The compensation control module 120 in this embodiment also includes (e.g.) Figure 2 (as shown)

[0055] The array consistency evaluation unit 1204 and the coupled compensation calculation unit 1202 are used to calculate the temperature distribution uniformity index of the solid-state power amplifier array based on the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit, and generate array-level compensation correction coefficients based on the temperature distribution uniformity index.

[0056] The compensation calculation unit 1202 is also coupled to the array consistency evaluation unit 1204, which is used to correct the required gain compensation and / or phase compensation of each power amplifier unit according to the array-level compensation correction coefficient; the array consistency evaluation unit 1204 is also used to generate an array recalibration command when the temperature distribution uniformity index exceeds a preset threshold, and the compensation calculation unit 1202 responds to the array recalibration command by recalculating the compensation parameters of all power amplifier units based on the current operating temperature of each power amplifier unit.

[0057] Specifically, the array consistency evaluation unit 1204 receives operating temperature data collected in real time from the temperature sensors of each power amplifier unit. Assume the array contains N power amplifier units, and the current operating temperatures of each unit are T1, T2, ..., T... N Based on this, the evaluation unit first calculates the average temperature μ of the array. T = (1 / N)·ΣT i and temperature standard deviation σ T = sqrt[(1 / N)·Σ(T i - μ T )²]. Temperature standard deviation σ T σ directly reflects the degree of dispersion of the temperature of each unit relative to the mean. T The larger the value, the greater the temperature difference between the units in the array, and the more severe the thermal drift inconsistency.

[0058] However, the standard deviation alone cannot reflect the spatial characteristics of the temperature distribution. The temperature gradient between adjacent units in the array is equally crucial. Therefore, the evaluation unit further calculates the array's temperature distribution uniformity index U, which integrates two dimensions: temperature statistical dispersion and spatial temperature gradient. Specifically, the evaluation unit first constructs the array's spatial temperature distribution matrix, calculates the absolute value of the temperature difference between each power amplifier unit and its adjacent units (in the four directions: up, down, left, and right), and then calculates the average value ΔT of the temperature difference between all adjacent units. avg Then the temperature standard deviation σ T With average temperature gradient ΔT avg By performing weighted synthesis, the uniformity index U=α·σ is obtained. T +β·ΔT avg Where α and β are preset weighting coefficients, reflecting the influence of statistical dispersion and spatial gradient on array performance, respectively. A smaller U value indicates a more uniform temperature distribution within the array; a larger U value indicates a more non-uniform temperature distribution and more pronounced thermal drift inconsistencies among individual elements.

[0059] After obtaining the temperature distribution uniformity index U, the array consistency evaluation unit 1204 generates the array-level compensation correction coefficient Carray. The generation logic of this correction coefficient is based on the following physical fact: when the array temperature distribution is non-uniform, simply performing independent thermal drift compensation on each unit may actually amplify the amplitude-phase inconsistency of the array. This is because the compensation amount of each unit is calculated independently based on its own temperature-drift model, without considering the relative consistency between the units after compensation.

[0060] Therefore, the evaluation unit compares the U value with a preset uniformity threshold U. th Compare. When U ≤ U th When U > U, it indicates that the array temperature distribution is relatively uniform and the thermal drift state of each unit is not significantly different. At this time, Carray takes the value of 1, and the compensation calculation unit 1202 directly outputs the compensation amount calculated independently for each unit without additional correction. th When the value of U exceeds the threshold, it indicates that there is significant temperature non-uniformity in the array. At this time, the evaluation unit calculates the correction coefficient based on the degree to which the U value exceeds the threshold.

[0061] When the temperature distribution uniformity index U deteriorates significantly, exceeding a higher preset threshold U cal (U) cal >U th When the temperature reaches a certain level, it indicates that the array has entered a state of severe temperature non-uniformity, which may be caused by factors such as heat dissipation failure in some areas, abnormal flow distribution in the cooling system, or local overheating of the array surface. At this time, the actual operating temperature of each power amplifier unit has deviated significantly from the calibration range of its respective temperature-drift model, and the compensation amount calculated based on the original drift model will no longer be accurate.

[0062] In this case, the array consistency evaluation unit 1204 generates an array recalibration command and sends it to the compensation calculation unit 1202. In response to this command, the compensation calculation unit 1202 suspends the calculation of compensation parameters based on the preset drift model and instead executes the following recalibration process: First, based on the real-time operating temperature data of each power amplifier unit, combined with the array's current input power, operating frequency, pulse duty cycle, and other operating status parameters, it reconstructs the temperature-gain drift relationship and temperature-phase drift relationship of each unit under the current operating conditions; second, it recalculates the compensation parameters of all power amplifier units based on the updated drift relationships; finally, it outputs the recalculated compensation parameters to the compensation execution module 130, achieving a comprehensive refresh of the array compensation status.

[0063] Each phase compensation unit 1302 in this embodiment includes (e.g.) Figure 3 (as shown)

[0064] The digital-to-analog conversion subunit 13011 is used to convert the corresponding compensation parameters into analog control signals;

[0065] The phase shift subunit 13021 is coupled to the digital-to-analog converter subunit 13011 and connected in series to the RF signal input or RF signal output terminal of the corresponding power amplifier unit. It is used to adjust the phase of the RF signal passing through the phase shift subunit 13021 according to the analog control signal.

[0066] The phase shift subunit 13021 is a digital phase shifter with N-bit phase control accuracy, N≥4. The compensation parameters include a phase control word. The digital phase shifter performs phase adjustment according to the phase control word, and the phase control accuracy of the digital phase shifter corresponding to each power amplifier unit is configured independently.

[0067] Specifically, the digital-to-analog conversion subunit 13011 receives compensation parameters in digital form output from the compensation control module 120, which includes N-bit phase control words. This subunit converts the phase control words into corresponding analog control signals (such as a 0 / +5V bias voltage or bias current) and outputs them to the switching control terminals of each phase shift in the phase shift subunit 13021. The phase control accuracy (i.e., the number of bits N) of the digital phase shifters corresponding to each power amplifier unit can be configured independently, which is an important prerequisite for achieving differentiated phase compensation for each unit in the array. For edge power amplifier units with poor heat dissipation and severe thermal drift, phase shifters with higher bit numbers (such as N=6 or N=8) can be configured to provide finer phase compensation granularity. For center region power amplifier units with better heat dissipation and relatively mild thermal drift, phase shifters with lower bit numbers (such as N=4 or N=5) can be configured to reduce system cost and power consumption.

[0068] The compensation device in this embodiment also includes (such as...) Figure 1 (as shown)

[0069] Temperature prediction module 140 and coupled compensation control module 120 are used to predict the temperature of each power amplifier unit in the future period based on the historical temperature data and current working status of each power amplifier unit.

[0070] The compensation control module 120 is also coupled to the temperature prediction module 140, which is used to perform feedforward correction of the compensation parameters based on the predicted temperature.

[0071] The temperature prediction module 140 uses a prediction model based on the thermal time constant of each power amplifier unit. The thermal time constant is pre-calibrated according to the heat dissipation structure and installation position of each power amplifier unit.

[0072] The compensation effect monitoring module 150 is coupled to the signal output terminal of each power amplifier unit and the compensation control module 120. It is used to monitor the actual gain and / or actual phase of each power amplifier unit after compensation in real time and to feed back the monitoring results to the compensation control module 120.

[0073] The compensation control module 120 is also used to perform closed-loop correction of the compensation parameters based on the monitoring results; the compensation effect monitoring module 150 is also used to send a parameter recalculation request to the compensation control module 120 when the actual gain or actual phase of any power amplifier unit after compensation is detected to deviate from the target value by more than the preset tolerance range, and the compensation control module 120 recalculates the compensation parameters of the power amplifier unit in response to the parameter recalculation request.

[0074] Specifically, a step signal (such as a pulsed radio frequency signal) of known power is applied to each power amplifier unit, and the transient rise and fall curves of the power amplifier tube junction temperature are recorded using an infrared thermal imager or micro-Raman thermal measurement technology. The thermal time constant τ of the unit can be extracted by performing an exponential fit on these curves. It is important to understand that the thermal time constant of power amplifier units in different locations can differ by several times due to differences in heat dissipation conditions (e.g., units at the edge of the array dissipate heat better than densely packed units in the center, and units near the coolant inlet dissipate heat better than units at the outlet). Therefore, calibration must be performed independently for each unit.

[0075] After each compensation execution module 130 completes the compensation parameter adjustment, the monitoring module immediately measures the actual gain and / or actual phase of the power amplifier unit and compares it with the preset target value. The comparison result is fed back to the compensation control module 120 in real time. The compensation control module 120 determines whether the current compensation is in place. If there is a residual deviation, it calculates the correction amount and outputs the adjusted compensation parameters again, forming a closed-loop control loop.

[0076] The system presets a gain tolerance range (e.g., ±0.3dB) and a phase tolerance range (e.g., ±3°) for each power amplifier unit. When the monitoring module detects that the deviation between the actual gain or actual phase of a power amplifier unit after compensation and the target value exceeds the preset tolerance range, it immediately sends a parameter recalculation request to the compensation control module 120. In response to this request, the compensation control module 120 does not simply add a fixed correction value to the current compensation amount, but instead calls the temperature prediction module 140 to obtain the latest temperature data (including real-time temperature and predicted temperature), re-traverses the compensation calculation process, and generates entirely new compensation parameters. This recalculation mechanism, unlike conventional incremental correction, can cope with nonlinear thermal drift caused by sudden changes in the external environment (such as cooling system failure or sudden changes in ambient temperature) or degradation of the power amplifier unit's own characteristics, ensuring that the compensation device always calculates based on the most accurate temperature conditions.

[0077] Regarding the thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array described in the above embodiments, this embodiment also provides a thermal drift compensation method for a solid-state power amplifier array, the method comprising the following steps:

[0078] The operating temperature of each power amplifier unit is collected in real time by multiple temperature sensors that are respectively set at each power amplifier unit of the solid-state power amplifier array.

[0079] Receive the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit, calculate the corresponding compensation parameters for each power amplifier unit based on each operating temperature, and output each compensation parameter;

[0080] Gain compensation and / or phase compensation are performed on each power amplifier unit according to the compensation parameters.

[0081] It should be noted that the thermal drift compensation method for a solid-state power amplifier array provided in this embodiment is different from the one described above. Figure 1 The thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array shown is a technical solution based on the same inventive concept. Through the detailed description of the thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array provided in the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand the various steps included in the thermal drift compensation method for a solid-state power amplifier array in this embodiment. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, it will not be described again here.

[0082] Accordingly, the method provided in this embodiment achieves accurate perception of the thermal drift state of each unit by independently acquiring the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit in the array. This overcomes the problem of traditional compensation methods that only perform uniform compensation for a single power amplifier while ignoring the inconsistent thermal drift of each unit in the array due to differences in heat dissipation conditions and installation positions. Therefore, it can implement differentiated compensation based on the actual temperature state of each power amplifier unit, effectively improving the targeting and effectiveness of the compensation. Simultaneously, by dynamically switching between linear and nonlinear compensation modes based on the comparison results of the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit with a preset threshold, it can adapt to the nonlinear drift characteristics of the power amplifier units in different temperature ranges, further improving the compensation accuracy across the entire temperature range.

[0083] This method also generates array-level compensation correction coefficients by pre-storing independent temperature-gain drift and temperature-phase drift models for each power amplifier unit and combining them with real-time evaluation of the array temperature distribution uniformity index. This not only compensates for the thermal drift of each power amplifier unit itself but also optimizes the gain and phase consistency between units at the overall array level. When the temperature distribution uniformity index exceeds the limit, an array recalibration command is automatically triggered, and the compensation parameters of all power amplifier units are recalculated based on the current temperature state. This effectively suppresses beam pointing deviation and sidelobe level rise caused by inconsistent thermal drift among units, significantly improving the beam pointing accuracy and radiation performance of the phased array system. Furthermore, the phase control accuracy of the digital phase shifter corresponding to each power amplifier unit is configured independently, allowing each channel in the array to flexibly adjust the compensation resolution according to its actual phase drift characteristics, optimizing system resource allocation while ensuring compensation effectiveness.

[0084] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array, characterized in that, include: A temperature detection module, comprising multiple temperature sensors, each of which is correspondingly located at a power amplifier unit of the solid-state power amplifier array and is configured to collect the operating temperature of the corresponding power amplifier unit in real time. The compensation control module, coupled to the temperature detection module, is configured to receive the operating temperature of each of the power amplifier units, calculate the compensation parameters corresponding to each of the power amplifier units based on the operating temperature, and output the compensation parameters. The compensation execution module, coupled to the compensation control module and each of the power amplifier units of the solid-state power amplifier array, is configured to perform gain compensation and / or phase compensation on each of the power amplifier units according to each of the compensation parameters.

2. The thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compensation control module includes: A temperature data processing unit, coupled to the temperature detection module, is used to perform analog-to-digital conversion and filtering on the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit. The compensation calculation unit, coupled to the temperature data processing unit, pre-stores the temperature-gain drift model and temperature-phase drift model of each power amplifier unit, and is used to calculate the required gain compensation amount and / or phase compensation amount of each power amplifier unit according to each operating temperature and the corresponding drift model. The compensation parameter output unit, coupled to the compensation calculation unit, is used to convert each of the gain compensation amounts and / or phase compensation amounts into compensation control signals corresponding to each of the power amplifier units, and output them to the compensation execution module.

3. The thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array according to claim 2, characterized in that, The temperature-gain drift model and the temperature-phase drift model are pre-calibrated differentiated models based on the heat dissipation conditions, installation location and / or historical operating data of each power amplifier unit, and the drift models corresponding to each power amplifier unit are independent of each other; The compensation calculation unit is also used to dynamically switch the compensation strategy of each power amplifier unit according to the comparison result between the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit and the preset temperature threshold. When the operating temperature is lower than the first preset threshold, a linear compensation mode is executed, and when the operating temperature is higher than the second preset threshold, a nonlinear compensation mode is executed. The second preset threshold is greater than the first preset threshold.

4. The thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array according to claim 2, characterized in that, The compensation control module further includes: An array consistency evaluation unit, coupled to the compensation calculation unit, is used to calculate the temperature distribution uniformity index of the solid-state power amplifier array based on the operating temperature of each power amplifier unit, and generate array-level compensation correction coefficients based on the temperature distribution uniformity index. The compensation calculation unit is also coupled to the array consistency evaluation unit, and is used to correct the required gain compensation and / or phase compensation of each power amplifier unit according to the array-level compensation correction coefficient; the array consistency evaluation unit is also used to generate an array recalibration command when the temperature distribution uniformity index exceeds a preset threshold, and the compensation calculation unit responds to the array recalibration command by recalculating the compensation parameters of all power amplifier units based on the current operating temperature of each power amplifier unit.

5. The thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compensation execution module includes: Multiple gain compensation units are provided, each of which is coupled to one of the power amplifier units. Each gain compensation unit adjusts the gate bias voltage or drain bias voltage of the corresponding power amplifier unit according to the corresponding compensation parameters to compensate for the gain drift of the power amplifier unit. Multiple phase compensation units are provided, each of which is coupled to one of the power amplifier units. Each phase compensation unit adjusts the input signal phase or output signal phase of the corresponding power amplifier unit according to the corresponding compensation parameters to compensate for the phase drift of the power amplifier unit.

6. The thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned gain compensation units includes: A digital-to-analog converter subunit is used to convert the corresponding compensation parameters into analog voltage signals; A bias adjustment subunit is coupled to the digital-to-analog conversion subunit and the gate or drain terminal of the corresponding power amplifier unit, and is used to adjust the gate bias voltage or drain bias voltage of the power amplifier unit according to the analog voltage signal. The bias adjustment subunit further includes a temperature feedback correction branch, which is connected in parallel between the gate terminal of the power amplifier unit and ground, and is used to perform secondary fine-tuning of the gate bias voltage according to the real-time operating temperature of the power amplifier unit.

7. The thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the phase compensation units includes: A digital-to-analog conversion subunit is used to convert the corresponding compensation parameters into analog control signals; A phase-shifting subunit, coupled to the digital-to-analog converter subunit, and connected in series to the RF signal input or RF signal output terminal of the corresponding power amplifier unit, is used to adjust the phase of the RF signal passing through the phase-shifting subunit according to the analog control signal. The phase shift subunit is a digital phase shifter with N-bit phase control accuracy, where N≥4. The compensation parameters include a phase control word. The digital phase shifter performs phase adjustment according to the phase control word, and the phase control accuracy of the digital phase shifter corresponding to each power amplifier unit is configured independently.

8. The thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compensation device further includes: A temperature prediction module, coupled to the compensation control module, is used to predict the temperature of each power amplifier unit in a future period based on the historical temperature data and current operating status of each power amplifier unit. The compensation control module is also coupled to the temperature prediction module, and is used to perform feedforward correction on the compensation parameters based on the predicted temperature. The temperature prediction module uses a prediction model based on the thermal time constant of each power amplifier unit. The thermal time constant is pre-calibrated according to the heat dissipation structure and installation position of each power amplifier unit.

9. A thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compensation device further includes: The compensation effect monitoring module is coupled to the signal output terminal of each power amplifier unit and the compensation control module. It is used to monitor the actual gain and / or actual phase of each power amplifier unit after compensation in real time and to feed the monitoring results back to the compensation control module. The compensation control module is also used to perform closed-loop correction of the compensation parameters based on the monitoring results; the compensation effect monitoring module is also used to send a parameter recalculation request to the compensation control module when the actual gain or actual phase of any power amplifier unit after compensation is detected to deviate from the target value by more than a preset tolerance range, and the compensation control module recalculates the compensation parameters of the power amplifier unit in response to the parameter recalculation request.

10. A method for thermal drift compensation of a solid-state power amplifier array, applied to the thermal drift compensation device for a solid-state power amplifier array as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The methods include: The operating temperature of each power amplifier unit is collected in real time by multiple temperature sensors respectively set at each power amplifier unit of the solid-state power amplifier array. Receive the operating temperature of each of the power amplifier units, calculate the compensation parameters corresponding to each of the power amplifier units based on the operating temperature, and output the compensation parameters. Gain compensation and / or phase compensation are performed on each of the power amplifier units according to the compensation parameters.

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