Standing wave protection circuit and high-power power amplifier system

Abstract

According to the standing wave protection circuit and the high-power power amplifier system, in the standing wave protection circuit, an input port of a circulator is connected with one output end of a first coupler of the power amplifier system, and a straight-through port is connected with a radio frequency connector connected with an antenna in the power amplifier system; the input end of the second coupler is connected with the output port of the circulator, one output end of the second coupler is connected with a high-power load, the other output end of the second coupler is connected with a second detection sampling circuit, and the second coupler is used for outputting a power signal from the circulator to the high-power load and the second detection sampling circuit; the second detection sampling circuit is used for carrying out detection processing on the signal from the second coupler and converting the signal into an analog signal; the threshold comparison circuit is used for comparing the analog signal with a preset threshold and outputting a comparison result; and the power supply control circuit is used for controlling the power amplifier power supply circuit according to the comparison result. The power amplifier system comprises the standing wave protection circuit. According to the scheme, the power amplifier system can be protected under the open circuit condition.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to standing wave protection technology for power amplifier systems, and more particularly to a standing wave protection circuit and a high-power power amplifier system. Background Technology

[0002] In the design of various high-power modules and radar components, the protection of power amplifiers is particularly important due to the requirements of reliability and the high cost of high-power power amplifier devices. Various redundancy designs, derating designs and protection designs to ensure product functionality are essential. In practical applications and testing, external factors such as abnormal standing waves of the downstream antenna, interface loss, and test misoperation must also be taken into account.

[0003] Conventional power amplifier standing wave (SWR) protection circuits use couplers for sampling or isolators for isolation protection after the power amplifier stage. Their response to external SWR abrupt changes and persistent open circuits is limited. Specifically, their power amplifier output includes couplers for sampling and isolators. The protection capability against external open circuits depends on the load resistance of the isolator itself. This capability is weak at high power levels (above 100W). Furthermore, due to layout limitations, severe localized temperature rises in the isolator's load resistance can also affect the power amplifier section. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the shortcomings of the prior art, this application provides a standing wave protection circuit and a high-power amplifier system to protect the amplifier system under open-circuit conditions.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technology:

[0006] A standing wave protection circuit, connected to a power amplifier system, includes a circulator, a second coupler, a high-power load, a second detection sampling circuit, a threshold comparison circuit, and a power control circuit.

[0007] The circulator's input port is connected to one output of the first coupler of the power amplifier system, and its through port is connected to the RF connector for the antenna in the power amplifier system.

[0008] The input of the second coupler is connected to the output port of the circulator. One output of the second coupler is connected to a high-power load, and the other output is connected to a second detection and sampling circuit. The second coupler is used to output the power signal from the circulator to the high-power load and the second detection and sampling circuit. The high-power load is used to convert the power signal into heat dissipation. The second detection and sampling circuit is used to detect the signal from the second coupler and convert it into a corresponding analog signal.

[0009] The input of the threshold comparison circuit is connected to the output of the second detection and sampling circuit, and is used to compare the analog signal with a preset threshold and output the comparison result.

[0010] The power control circuit is connected to the threshold comparator circuit and the power amplifier power supply circuit of the power amplifier system, and is used to control the power amplifier power supply circuit according to the comparison result.

[0011] A high-power amplifier system includes a power amplifier chip, a first coupler, an RF connector connected in sequence, and a power amplifier power supply circuit connected to the power amplifier chip and used to control the power supply of the power amplifier chip using an external power input, and also includes the aforementioned standing wave protection circuit.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0013] 1. By replacing the isolator with a circulator and adding detection, sampling, threshold comparison and power control circuits, the power amplifier system can be protected under open circuit conditions through simple logic design; replacing the conventional isolator with a circulator has almost no impact on the link parameters and will not degrade the output power of the power amplifier.

[0014] 2. In cases of abnormal output of high-power amplifier system, abnormal antenna standing wave, no antenna connected at the end, open circuit transmission, etc., the standing wave protection circuit will transfer the reflected signal to the high-power load for dissipation and shut down the power amplifier power supply, waiting for the system to reset, so as to protect the key components of the system and improve the system reliability.

[0015] 3. Applicable to almost all power amplifier circuits, including pulse power amplifiers, continuous wave power amplifiers, etc., and has simple functions and low cost. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present utility model clearer, the implementation methods of the present utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments described in the present utility model are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0018] One aspect of this application provides a standing wave protection circuit, connected to a power amplifier system, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes a circulator, a second coupler, a high-power load, a second detection and sampling circuit, a threshold comparison circuit, and a power control circuit. Generally, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier chip for amplifying external signal input, a first coupler connected to the power amplifier chip, an RF connector connected to the first coupler, and an antenna connected to the RF connector.

[0019] The input port of the circulator is connected to one output of the first coupler of the power amplifier system, and the through port is connected to the RF connector for connecting the antenna in the power amplifier system; the input of the second coupler is connected to the output port of the circulator, one output of the second coupler is connected to a high-power load, and the other output is connected to the second detection and sampling circuit.

[0020] A circulator is a directional device that redirects reflected signals from RF connectors or antennas, blocking high-power signals from flowing to the power amplifier chip in the power amplifier system.

[0021] The second coupler outputs the power signal from the circulator to a high-power load and a second detection and sampling circuit. The high-power load converts the power signal into heat dissipation, and the second detection and sampling circuit detects the signal from the second coupler and converts it into a corresponding analog signal.

[0022] The input of the threshold comparison circuit is connected to the output of the second detection sampling circuit. It compares the analog signal with a preset threshold and outputs the comparison result. Optionally, the threshold can be set to the value of the detection sampling circuit at the critical point of abnormal output standing wave (VSWR) of the power amplifier system; derating can also be implemented. The comparison reveals whether the power amplifier system is operating abnormally at this point.

[0023] The power control circuit is connected to the threshold comparator circuit and the power amplifier power supply circuit of the power amplifier system. It is used to control the power amplifier power supply circuit according to the comparison result, such as performing power-off, reset, and delay operations to ensure the safety and reliability of the power amplifier system.

[0024] Another aspect of this application provides a high-power amplifier system, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes a power amplifier chip, a first coupler, an RF connector, and a power amplifier power supply circuit connected in sequence, and a power amplifier power supply circuit connected to the power amplifier chip and used to control the power supply of the power amplifier chip using an external power input. The other output terminal of the first coupler is connected to a first detection sampling circuit. Specifically, it also includes the standing wave protection circuit described in the previous embodiment.

[0025] In cases of abnormal output of high-power amplifier system, abnormal antenna standing wave, no antenna connected at the end, or open circuit transmission, the standing wave protection circuit will transfer the reflected signal to the high-power load for dissipation, and shut down the power amplifier power circuit through the power control circuit, waiting for the system to reset, thereby protecting the critical components of the system and improving the system reliability.

[0026] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application.

Claims

1. A standing wave protection circuit connected to a power amplifier system, characterized by, The power amplifier system comprises a circulator, a second coupler, a high-power load, a second detection sampling circuit, a threshold comparison circuit, and a power supply control circuit. An input port of the circulator is connected to an output port of the first coupler of the power amplifier system, and a through port is connected to a radio frequency connector connected to an antenna in the power amplifier system. An input end of the second coupler is connected to an output port of the circulator, one output end of the second coupler is connected to the high-power load, and the other output end is connected to the second detection sampling circuit. The second detection sampling circuit is used for detecting and processing the signal from the second coupler and converting it into a corresponding analog signal. An input end of the threshold comparison circuit is connected to an output end of the second detection sampling circuit, and the threshold comparison circuit is used for comparing the analog signal with a preset threshold value and outputting a comparison result.

2. The standing wave protection circuit of claim 1, wherein, The power supply control circuit is connected to the threshold comparison circuit and a power amplifier power supply circuit of the power amplifier system, and is used for controlling the power amplifier power supply circuit according to the comparison result.

3. The standing wave protection circuit of claim 1, wherein, The high-power load is used for converting the power signal into heat dissipation.

4. A high-power power amplifier system, comprising a power amplifier chip, a first coupler, a radio frequency connector connected in sequence, and a power amplifier power supply circuit connected with the power amplifier chip and used for power supply control of the power amplifier chip by using external power input, characterized in that, The threshold value is set as a detection sampling circuit value of the power amplifier system at a critical point of an output standing wave abnormal state.

5. The high power amplifier system of claim 4, wherein, The power amplifier system further comprises the standing wave protection circuit according to any one of claims 1-3. The other output end of the first coupler is connected to a first detection sampling circuit.

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