Amplifier circuit and amplifier chip

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides an amplifier circuit and an amplifier chip, and relates to the technical field of amplifiers. The amplifier circuit comprises an amplifier and at least one phase nonlinear compensation filter; the phase nonlinear compensation filter is connected to an output port or an input port of the amplifier; in a target frequency range, the curve of the phase difference of the phase nonlinear compensation filter changing along with the frequency and the curve of the phase difference of the amplifier changing along with the frequency are mutually compensated, so that the curve of the overall phase difference of the amplifier circuit changing along with the frequency is smoother than the curve of the phase difference of the amplifier changing along with the frequency. The phase nonlinearity of the amplifier is improved, and the broadband performance of the amplifier is not affected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of amplifiers, and particularly to amplifier circuits and amplifier chips. Background Art

[0002] Due to the frequency response of the capacitors and inductors used for matching in broadband amplifier chips, within the entire bandwidth, the slope of the fluctuation of the phase of the amplifier with respect to frequency change is relatively large, and the phase non-linearity is poor.

[0003] Currently, for broadband amplifier chips, the phase non-linearity of the amplifier is not specifically addressed, resulting in relatively large phase fluctuations of the broadband amplifier chip within the entire frequency band, which has a certain impact on the signal quality of the entire link.

[0004] Figure 1 Shows the curve of the input-output phase difference of an ideal amplifier changing with frequency. The horizontal axis represents frequency, with the unit of GHz. The vertical axis represents the input-output phase difference, with the unit of degrees. The characteristic of an ideal amplifier is that regardless of how the frequency changes, the phase difference is a constant 0.

[0005] Figure 2 Shows the curve of the input-output phase difference of an actual amplifier changing with frequency. The horizontal axis represents frequency, with the unit of GHz. The vertical axis represents the input-output phase difference, with the unit of degrees. It can be seen from the figure that within the frequency range of 2 GHz to 18 GHz, as the frequency increases, the input-output phase difference of this amplifier first decreases and then gradually levels off. It is not a constant value, and the curve is far from being flat. The gap between the maximum and minimum values of the phase difference is relatively large, and the maximum phase difference exceeds 20 degrees.

[0006] How to improve the phase non-linearity of the amplifier while ensuring the broadband performance of the amplifier is a technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Utility Model

[0007] The purpose of this application is to provide an amplifier circuit and an amplifier chip to improve the phase non-linearity of the amplifier while ensuring the broadband performance of the amplifier.

[0008] To achieve the above purpose, the embodiments of this application have taken the following technical solutions.

[0009] In a first aspect, an embodiment of this application provides an amplifier circuit, including an amplifier and at least one phase non-linearity compensation filter;

[0010] The phase non-linearity compensation filter is connected to the output port of the amplifier, or the phase non-linearity compensation filter is connected to the input port of the amplifier, or at least one phase non-linearity compensation filter is connected to the output port of the amplifier and at least one phase non-linearity compensation filter is connected to the input port of the amplifier;

[0011] Within the target frequency range, the curve of the phase difference varying with frequency of the phase non-linear compensation filter compensates with the curve of the phase difference varying with frequency of the amplifier, so that the curve of the phase difference varying with frequency of the overall amplifier circuit is flatter than the curve of the phase difference varying with frequency of the amplifier; the phase difference is the phase at the output end minus the phase at the input end.

[0012] Optionally, the phase non-linear compensation filter is a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter or an all-pass filter.

[0013] Optionally, the phase non-linear compensation filter includes a multi-stage high-pass filter or a multi-stage low-pass filter.

[0014] Optionally, the phase non-linear compensation filter is a high-pass filter, and the high-pass filter includes a capacitor, a first inductor and a second inductor;

[0015] The first end of the capacitor is connected to the first end of the first inductor, serving as the input end of the high-pass filter;

[0016] The second end of the capacitor is connected to the first end of the second inductor, serving as the output end of the high-pass filter;

[0017] The second ends of the first inductor and the second inductor are both grounded.

[0018] Optionally, the phase non-linear compensation filter is a low-pass filter, and the low-pass filter includes a first capacitor, an inductor and a second capacitor;

[0019] The first end of the inductor is connected to the first end of the first capacitor, serving as the input end of the low-pass filter;

[0020] The second end of the inductor is connected to the first end of the second capacitor, serving as the output end of the low-pass filter;

[0021] The second ends of the first capacitor and the second capacitor are both grounded.

[0022] Optionally, the phase non-linear compensation filter is an all-pass filter, and the all-pass filter includes a third capacitor, a fourth capacitor, a third inductor and a fourth inductor; the third inductor and the fourth inductor are coupled as a transformer;

[0023] The first end of the third capacitor is connected to the first end of the third inductor, serving as the input end of the all-pass filter;

[0024] The second end of the third capacitor is connected to the first end of the fourth inductor, serving as the output end of the all-pass filter;

[0025] The second end of the third inductor and the second end of the fourth inductor are both connected to the first end of the fourth capacitor, and the second end of the fourth capacitor is grounded.

[0026] Optionally, within the target frequency range, the phase difference of the amplifier decreases as the frequency increases, and the phase difference of the phase non-linear compensation filter increases as the frequency increases.

[0027] Optionally, within the target frequency range, the phase difference of the amplifier decreases as the frequency increases and gradually flattens out, and the phase difference of at least one of the phase non-linear compensation filters increases as the frequency increases and gradually flattens out.

[0028] Optionally, the input port of the amplifier is connected to a first high-pass filter, and the output port of the amplifier is sequentially connected to a second high-pass filter and an all-pass filter;

[0029] The phase difference of the high-pass filter increases as the frequency increases and gradually flattens out within the target frequency range;

[0030] The phase difference of the all-pass filter first flattens out and then decreases as the frequency increases within the target frequency range.

[0031] In a second aspect, an amplifier chip provided by an embodiment of the present application includes the amplifier circuit of the first aspect, and the amplifier circuit is located on the same substrate.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, the present application has the following beneficial effects:

[0033] The phase non-linear compensation filter processes the signal passing through the amplifier. A filter with a phase difference change trend opposite to that of the amplifier is selected as the phase non-linear compensation filter, improving the phase non-linearity of the amplifier without affecting the broadband performance of the amplifier. Description of the Drawings

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present application and should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0035] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the curve of the input-output phase difference of an ideal amplifier changing with frequency;

[0036] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the curve of the input-output phase difference of an actual amplifier changing with frequency;

[0037] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of a phase non - linear compensation filter provided by an embodiment of the present application connected to the output port of an amplifier;

[0038] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of a phase non - linear compensation filter provided by an embodiment of the present application connected to the input port of an amplifier;

[0039] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of a phase non - linear compensation filter provided by an embodiment of the present application connected to the output and input ports of an amplifier;

[0040] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of a low - pass filter provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a curve showing the phase difference of a low - pass filter provided by an embodiment of the present application varying with frequency;

[0042] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of a high - pass filter provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of a curve showing the phase difference of a high - pass filter provided by an embodiment of the present application varying with frequency;

[0044] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of an all - pass filter provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of a curve showing the phase difference of an all - pass filter provided by an embodiment of the present application varying with frequency;

[0046] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of an amplifier connected to a multi - stage filter provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 13 For Figure 12 Schematic diagram of a curve showing the phase difference of the amplifier circuit shown varying with frequency. Detailed implementation manners

[0048] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. The described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present application. Usually, the components of the embodiments of the present application described in the accompanying drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0049] Accordingly, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed present application, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the present application without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Without conflict, the following embodiments and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0050] In the description of the present application:

[0051] Relative terms such as first and second are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations;

[0052] "Connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium.

[0053] Due to the non-linearity of the transistor, there is phase non-linearity in the amplifier itself, and the phase non-linearity is more serious for a broadband amplifier. Currently, for a broadband amplifier chip, there is no dedicated solution to deal with the phase non-linearity of the amplifier, so the phase fluctuation of the broadband amplifier chip in the entire frequency band is relatively large, which will have a certain impact on the signal quality of the entire link.

[0054] To overcome the above problems, the embodiments of the present application provide an amplifier circuit, including an amplifier and at least one phase non-linearity compensation filter. The position of the phase non-linearity compensation filter can be selected in one of the following setting methods:

[0055] (1) As Figure 3 , the phase non-linearity compensation filter is connected to the output port of the amplifier;

[0056] (2) As Figure 4 , the phase non-linearity compensation filter is connected to the input port of the amplifier;

[0057] (3) As Figure 5 , at least one phase non-linearity compensation filter is connected to the output port of the amplifier, and at least one phase non-linearity compensation filter is connected to the input port of the amplifier.

[0058] In order to select a suitable filter as the phase non-linearity compensation filter, the curve of the phase difference of the amplifier changing with frequency can be measured first, and the phase difference is the phase at the output end minus the phase at the input end.

[0059] The curve of the phase difference of the alternative filter varying with frequency is measured, and a filter satisfying the following conditions is selected as the phase non-linearity compensation filter: the trend of the phase difference varying with frequency is opposite to that of the amplifier. That is, within the target frequency range, the curve of the phase difference of the phase non-linearity compensation filter varying with frequency compensates for the curve of the phase difference of the amplifier varying with frequency, so that the curve of the phase difference of the overall amplifier circuit varying with frequency is flatter than the curve of the phase difference of the amplifier varying with frequency.

[0060] The flatter curve is reflected in the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the curve. In the target frequency range, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the phase difference of the overall amplifier circuit is less than the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the phase difference of the amplifier itself.

[0061] The flatter curve is also reflected in the maximum slope of the curve. The maximum slope of the phase difference curve of the overall amplifier circuit is less than the maximum slope of the phase difference curve of the amplifier itself.

[0062] The flatter curve can also be reflected in the average slope of the curve. The average slope of the phase difference curve of the overall amplifier circuit is less than the average slope of the phase difference curve of the amplifier itself.

[0063] The phase non-linearity compensation filter may include any one or several of a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter, or an all-pass filter. The curve of the phase difference of the amplifier varying with frequency may be compensated by one or several of a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter, or an all-pass filter.

[0064] Figure 6 A low-pass filter is shown. Figure 7 The curve of the phase difference of the low-pass filter varying with frequency is shown.

[0065] As Figure 6 , the low-pass filter includes a first capacitor C1, an inductor L, and a second capacitor C2. The first end of the inductor L is connected to the first end of the first capacitor C1 as the input end of the low-pass filter; the second end of the inductor L is connected to the first end of the second capacitor C2 as the output end of the low-pass filter; the second ends of the first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2 are both grounded.

[0066] As Figure 7 , within the frequency range of 2 GHz to 18 GHz, the phase difference of the low-pass filter increases with the increase of frequency, and the slope is relatively uniform.

[0067] Figure 8 A high-pass filter is shown. Figure 9 The curve of the phase difference of the high-pass filter varying with frequency is shown.

[0068] AsFigure 8 The high-pass filter includes a capacitor C, a first inductor L1, and a second inductor L2. The first end of the capacitor C is connected to the first end of the first inductor L1, serving as the input end of the high-pass filter. The second end of the capacitor C is connected to the first end of the second inductor L2, serving as the output end of the high-pass filter. The second ends of the first inductor L1 and the second inductor L2 are both grounded.

[0069] As Figure 9 shown, in the frequency range from 2 GHz to 15 GHz, the phase difference of the high-pass filter first increases and then levels off as the frequency increases. In the frequency range from 16 GHz to 18 GHz, the phase difference decreases as the frequency increases. In the frequency range from 2 GHz to 18 GHz, the slope of the curve is first positive and then negative.

[0070] Figure 10 Figure 10 shows an all-pass filter, Figure 11 Figure 12 shows the curve of the phase difference of the all-pass filter changing with frequency.

[0071] As Figure 10 shown, the all-pass filter includes a third capacitor C3, a fourth capacitor C4, a third inductor L3, and a fourth inductor L4. The third inductor L3 and the fourth inductor L4 are coupled as a transformer. The first end of the third capacitor C3 is connected to the first end of the third inductor L3, serving as the input end of the all-pass filter. The second end of the third capacitor C3 is connected to the first end of the fourth inductor L4, serving as the output end of the all-pass filter. The second ends of the third inductor L3 and the fourth inductor L4 are both connected to the first end of the fourth capacitor C4, and the second end of the fourth capacitor C4 is grounded.

[0072] As Figure 11 shown, in the frequency range from 2 GHz to 7 GHz, the phase difference of the all-pass filter first increases and then levels off as the frequency increases. In the frequency range from 8 GHz to 18 GHz, the phase difference decreases and then levels off as the frequency increases, and the absolute value of the slope first increases and then decreases.

[0073] The phase non-linear compensation filter can also be set in the form of multiple filters cascaded in series, and each stage of the filter can be the same or different. The characteristics of multiple filters are combined for compensation, which is convenient for more flexible design and more accurate compensation.

[0074] To take into account the noise performance of the entire broadband amplifier, most of the matching is compensated through the output port, as Figure 12, the input port of the amplifier can be connected to the first high-pass filter 1, and the output port of the amplifier is sequentially connected to the second high-pass filter 2, the third high-pass filter 3, and the all-pass filter 4. The phase differences of the first high-pass filter 1, the second high-pass filter 2, and the third high-pass filter 3 within the target frequency range increase with the increase of frequency and gradually flatten out. The all-pass filter 4 within the target frequency range, as the frequency increases, the phase difference first flattens out (or can also rise relatively gently) and then decreases. In this way, it can Figure 2 perform phase non-linearity compensation on the amplifier with the characteristics shown.

[0075] Figure 2 The amplifier with the characteristics shown passes through Figure 12 the filter shown for phase non-linearity compensation. Figure 12 The curve of the phase difference of the entire amplifier circuit changing with frequency is as shown in Figure 13 . In the frequency range from 2 GHz to 18 GHz, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the phase difference is about 10 degrees, and the phase non-linearity is significantly improved.

[0076] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide an amplifier chip. The structure of the amplifier chip includes the above amplifier circuit, and the above amplifier circuit can be fabricated on the same substrate.

[0077] Generally speaking, the present application proposes an amplifier circuit and an amplifier chip. The amplifier circuit includes an amplifier and at least one phase non-linearity compensation filter; the phase non-linearity compensation filter is connected to the output port or the input port of the amplifier; within the target frequency range, the curve of the phase difference of the phase non-linearity compensation filter changing with frequency compensates with the curve of the phase difference of the amplifier changing with frequency, so that the curve of the phase difference of the overall amplifier circuit changing with frequency is flatter than the curve of the phase difference of the amplifier changing with frequency, the phase non-linearity of the amplifier is improved, and the broadband performance of the amplifier is not affected.

[0078] The device and system embodiments described above are only illustrative. Some or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand and implement it without creative work.

[0079] The above is only the preferred specific implementation manner of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily thought of by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present application should be covered within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An amplifier circuit, characterized in that: comprising an amplifier and at least one phase nonlinear compensation filter; The phase nonlinear compensation filter is connected to the output port of the amplifier, or the phase nonlinear compensation filter is connected to the input port of the amplifier, or at least one phase nonlinear compensation filter is connected to the output port of the amplifier and at least one phase nonlinear compensation filter is connected to the input port of the amplifier; Within the target frequency range, the curve of the phase difference of the phase nonlinear compensation filter varying with frequency and the curve of the phase difference of the amplifier varying with frequency compensate each other, so that the curve of the phase difference of the entire amplifier circuit varying with frequency is smoother than the curve of the phase difference of the amplifier varying with frequency; the phase difference is the phase at the output end minus the phase at the input end.

2. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that The phase nonlinear compensation filter includes a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter or an all-pass filter.

3. The amplifier circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that The phase nonlinear compensation filter includes a multi-stage high-pass filter or a multi-stage low-pass filter.

4. The amplifier circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that The phase nonlinear compensation filter comprises a high-pass filter, and the high-pass filter comprises a capacitor, a first inductor and a second inductor; The first end of the capacitor is connected to the first end of the first inductor as an input end of the high-pass filter; The second end of the capacitor is connected to the first end of the second inductor to serve as the output end of the high-pass filter; A second end of the first inductor and a second end of the second inductor are both grounded.

5. The amplifier circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that The phase nonlinear compensation filter comprises a low-pass filter, and the low-pass filter comprises a first capacitor, an inductor and a second capacitor; The first end of the inductor is connected to the first end of the first capacitor as an input end of the low-pass filter; The second end of the inductor is connected to the first end of the second capacitor as the output end of the low-pass filter; The second end of the first capacitor and the second end of the second capacitor are both grounded.

6. The amplifier circuit according to claim 2, wherein: The phase nonlinear compensation filter comprises an all-pass filter, and the all-pass filter comprises a third capacitor, a fourth capacitor, a third inductor and a fourth inductor; the third inductor and the fourth inductor are coupled to form a transformer; The first end of the third capacitor is connected to the first end of the third inductor as an input end of the all-pass filter; The second end of the third capacitor is connected to the first end of the fourth inductor as the output end of the all-pass filter; The second end of the third inductor and the second end of the fourth inductor are both connected to the first end of the fourth capacitor, and the second end of the fourth capacitor is grounded.

7. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein: In the target frequency range, the phase difference of the amplifier decreases as the frequency increases, and the phase difference of the phase nonlinear compensation filter increases as the frequency increases.

8. The amplifier circuit according to claim 7, characterized in that In the target frequency range, the phase difference of the amplifier decreases and gradually becomes flat as the frequency increases, and the phase difference of at least one of the phase nonlinear compensation filters increases and gradually becomes flat as the frequency increases.

9. The amplifier circuit according to claim 8, characterized in that The input port of the amplifier is connected to a first high-pass filter, and the output port of the amplifier is connected to a second high-pass filter and an all-pass filter in sequence; The phase difference of the high-pass filter within the target frequency range increases and gradually becomes flat as the frequency increases; In the all-pass filter, as the frequency increases within the target frequency range, the phase difference is first flat and then decreases.

10. An amplifier chip, characterized in that: The amplifier chip comprises the amplifier circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and the amplifier circuit is located on the same substrate.

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