Millimeter wave isolation amplifier

Abstract

The present invention discloses a millimeter wave isolation amplifier (10), comprising a first isolated circuit (20), a second isolated circuit (30) and a millimeter wave transmission circuit (40). The first isolated circuit (20) comprises an adder module (21), an integrator module (22), a first switching circuit (23), a comparator module (24), sequentially connected between the analog signal input interface provided by said first isolated circuit (20) and the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module (41); said second isolated circuit (30) comprises a second switching circuit (31), a low-pass filter module (32) and an operational amplifier module (33), sequentially connected between the output end of said millimeter wave receiver module (42) and the analog signal output interface of said second isolated circuit (30). Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Millimeter wave isolation amplifier Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of integrated circuit design, and in particular to a millimeter wave isolation amplifier.

[0002] TECHNICAL CONTEXT

[0003] Isolation Amplifier is used to transmit input signals to an output end in an isolated manner, while providing an amplification function, its main role is to provide electrical isolation between two circuits that do not share ground, so as to prevent signal interference and protect the electrical safety of the system.

[0004] Existing isolation amplifiers generally consist of inductors, optocouplers, transformers or capacitors on the input side and the output side. The input end isolates the power supply and ground from the output end, so that there is no direct electrical connection between the input signals and the output signals, thus achieving electrical isolation. Existing isolation amplifiers generally use PWM debugging to convert analog signals into PWM signals and transmit the signals to the other side through a digital isolator, and then use a low-pass filter to restore the PWM signals to analog signals and perform amplification operations.

[0005] However, the existing isolation amplifier has the following technical defects:

[0006] (1) Complexity of the circuit, it is necessary to use simultaneously components such as PWM modulation circuits, digital isolators, low-pass filters and amplifiers, this makes the circuits quite complex; especially in rail-to-rail PWM modulation, achieving high-precision triangular waves may encounter many technical challenges such as temperature stability, linearity and power consumption;

[0007] (2) PWM signal distortion: It is relatively difficult to obtain PWM signals rail-to-rail, and voltage limitations can cause distortion of PWM signals, affecting the precision and accuracy of restored analog signals;

[0008] (3) Limitation of the bandwidth of the digital isolator: the isolators Existing digital capacitively or magnetically coupled devices generally have low transmission rates and cannot provide high-speed data transmission, which limits the accuracy of PWM modulation and restoration as well as the bandwidth of the signals. The low transmission rate may lead to a risk of signal delay and data loss. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: to provide a millimeter wave isolation amplifier, to improve the voltage withstand capability of the isolation amplifier and to reduce the signal distortion rate.

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a millimeter wave isolation amplifier, comprising a first isolated circuit and a second isolated circuit, further comprising a millimeter wave transmission circuit; said first isolated circuit, said second isolated circuit and said millimeter wave transmission circuit are integrated on a same chip; the output end of said first isolated circuit is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmission circuit, the output end of said millimeter wave transmission circuit is connected to the input end of said second isolated circuit; wherein, said millimeter wave transmission circuit comprises a millimeter wave transmitter module and a millimeter wave receiver module;the output end of said first isolated circuit is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module, the output end of said millimeter wave receiver module is connected to the input end of said second isolated circuit; insulation strips are provided between said millimeter wave transmitter module and said millimeter wave receiver module; said first isolated circuit comprises: an adder module, an integrator module, a first switching circuit, a comparator module; the first input end of said adder module is connected to the analog signal input interface provided to said first isolated circuit, the second input end is connected to the output end of said first switching circuit, the output end is connected to the input end of said integrator module;the output end of said integrator module is connected to the non-inverting input end of said comparator module, the inverting input end of said comparator module is grounded, the output end of said comparator module is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module; the input end of said first switching circuit is connected between the output end of said comparator module and the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module; said second isolated circuit comprises: a second switching circuit, a low-pass filter module and an operational amplifier module; the input end of said second switching circuit is connected to the output end of said; millimeter wave receiver module, the output end of said second switching circuit is connected to the input end of said low-pass filter module, the output end of said low-pass filter module is connected to said operational amplifier module, the output end of said operational amplifier is connected to the analog signal output interface of said second isolated circuit.

[0011] Preferably, said first switching circuit further comprises a first conductor terminal, a second conductor terminal; wherein said first conductor terminal is connected to a first positive reference voltage; said second conductor terminal is connected to a first negative reference voltage.

[0012] Preferably, said second switching circuit further comprises a third conductor terminal, a fourth conductor terminal; wherein said third conductor terminal is connected to a second positive reference voltage; said fourth conductor terminal is connected to a second negative reference voltage.

[0013] Preferably, said millimeter wave transmitter module comprises: a millimeter wave transmitter circuit and a transmitter antenna; said millimeter wave receiver module comprises: a millimeter wave receiver circuit and a receiver antenna; said comparator module is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter circuit, the output end of said millimeter wave transmitter circuit is connected to said transmitter antenna; said receiver antenna is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave receiver circuit, the output end of said millimeter wave receiver circuit is connected to the input end of said second switching circuit.

[0014] Preferably, said millimeter wave transmission circuit is a millimeter wave transmission chip.

[0015] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that: a millimeter wave transmission circuit is provided between a first isolated circuit and a second isolated circuit to communicate via a millimeter wave transmission circuit. The isolation level of the millimeter wave transmission circuit ensures the requirements for the safety distance between said first isolated circuit and said second isolated circuit, and the thickness of the insulation layer can reach a centimeter level, thereby reducing the parasitic capacitance on both sides of the isolation; furthermore, by combining the Sigma-Delta modulator and the millimeter wave signal isolation, the millimeter wave communication can achieve a maximum communication rate of 10 Gbps, with a signal delay of less than 3nS, and the signal jitter can be controlled at the pS level, thereby realizing the ultra-high-speed Sigma-Delta modulation of the signals, and thus, it thus achieves ultra-high signal reproduction while overcoming the limitations of traditional digital isolators with regard to signal bandwidth; furthermore, by controlling the power, millimeter waves can easily achieve centimeter communication distance, which greatly increases its isolation voltage resistance; said millimeter wave isolation amplifier outperforms existing isolation amplifiers in terms of signal bandwidth, signal delay, signal distortion and isolation voltage resistance. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0016] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of the structure of a millimeter wave isolation amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] [Fig.2] is a schematic view of the structure of a first kind of the circuit of a millimeter wave transmission module in a millimeter wave isolation amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] [Fig.3] is a schematic view of the structure of a second kind of the circuit of a millimeter wave transmission module in a millimeter wave isolation amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Reference number shown in the figures:

[0020] millimeter wave isolation amplifier 10

[0021] first isolated circuit 20

[0022] adder module 21

[0023] integrator module 22

[0024] first switching circuit 23

[0025] comparator module 24

[0026] second isolated circuit 30

[0027] second switching circuit 31

[0028] low-pass filter module 32

[0029] operational amplifier module 33

[0030] millimeter wave transmission circuit 40

[0031] millimeter wave transmitter module 41

[0032] millimeter wave transmitter circuit 411

[0033] transmitting antenna 412

[0034] millimeter wave receiver module 42

[0035] millimeter wave receiver circuit 421

[0036] receiving antenna 422

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0038] In order to illustrate in detail the technical contents, the objectives achieved and the effects of the present invention, the following is described with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0039] Referring to [Fig.l], a millimeter wave isolation amplifier 10, comprising a first isolated circuit 20, a second isolated circuit 30, a millimeter wave transmission circuit 40.

[0040] Said first isolated circuit 20, said second isolated circuit 30 and said millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 are integrated on the same chip.

[0041] The output end of said first isolated circuit 20 is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmission circuit 40, the output end of said millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 is connected to the input end of said second isolated circuit 30.

[0042] More precisely, said first isolated circuit 20 is provided with an analog signal input interface, or Analog Signal Input in English; said second isolated circuit 30 is provided with an analog signal output interface, or Analog Signal Output in English.

[0043] Said millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 comprises a millimeter wave transmitter module 41 and a millimeter wave receiver module 42.

[0044] The output end of said first isolated circuit 20 is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module 41 and the output end of said millimeter wave receiver module 42 is connected to the input end of said second isolated circuit 30. Insulation strips are provided between said millimeter wave transmitter module 41 and said millimeter wave receiver module 42.

[0045] In the present embodiment, said first isolated circuit 20 is a Sigma-Delta type modulator circuit; more precisely, said first isolated circuit 20 comprises: an adder module 21, an integrator module 22, a first switching circuit 23, and a comparator module 24.

[0046] More specifically, the first input end of said adder module 21 is connected to the analog signal input interface provided to said first isolated circuit 20, the second input end is connected to the output end of said first switching circuit 23, and the output end is connected to the input end of said integrator module 22.

[0047] The output end of said integrator module 22 is connected to the non-inverting input end of said comparator module 24, the inverting input end of said comparator module 24 is grounded, the output end of said comparator module 24 is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module 4L

[0048] The input end of said first switching circuit 23 is connected between the output end of said comparator module 24 and the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module 41.

[0049] Further, said first switching circuit 23 also comprises a first conductor terminal, a second conductor terminal; wherein said first conductor terminal is connected to a first positive reference voltage, i.e. Vref 1; said second conductor terminal is connected to a first negative reference voltage, i.e. -Vrefl.

[0050] Said second isolated circuit 30 comprises: a second switching circuit 31, a low-pass filter module 32 and an operational amplifier module 33.

[0051] Specifically, the input end of said second switching circuit 31 is connected to the output end of said millimeter wave receiver module 42, the output end of said second switching circuit 31 is connected to the input end of said low-pass filter module 32, the output end of said low-pass filter module 32 is connected to said operational amplifier module 33, the output end of said operational amplifier 33 is connected to the analog signal output interface of said second isolated circuit 30.

[0052] Said second switching circuit 31 further comprises a third conductor terminal, a fourth conductor terminal; wherein said third conductor terminal is connected to a second positive reference voltage, i.e. Vref2; said fourth conductor terminal is connected to a second negative reference voltage, i.e. - Vref2.

[0053] Further, said millimeter wave transmitter module 41 comprises: a millimeter wave transmitter circuit 411 and a transmitter antenna 412; said millimeter wave receiver module 42 comprises: a millimeter wave receiver circuit 421 and a receiver antenna 422.

[0054] Specifically, said transmitting antenna 412 makes it possible to convert the level signals into millimeter waves; said receiving antenna 422 makes it possible to convert the millimeter wave signals into level signals.

[0055] Said millimeter wave transmitter module 41 and said millimeter wave receiver module 42 are completely independent, the width of the insulation strip can be designed according to the project requirements and adjusted at the centimeter level; the area between said millimeter wave transmitter module 41 and said millimeter wave receiver module 42 can be filled with low dielectric constant materials in order to obtain lower parasitic capacitance and higher voltage resistance capability.

[0056] Furthermore, said comparator module 24 is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter circuit 411, the output end of said millimeter wave transmitter circuit 411 is connected to said transmitting antenna 412.

[0057] Said receiving antenna 422 is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave receiving circuit 421, the output end of said millimeter wave receiving circuit 422 is connected to the input end of said second switching circuit 31.

[0058] Said first isolated circuit 20 is used for inputting first analog signals and processing said first analog signals to output corresponding PWM signals to said millimeter wave transmitter circuit 411. In the present embodiment, said first isolated circuit 20 is a Sigma-Delta type modulator circuit for quantizing said inputted first analog signals with high precision by means of oversampling, feedback loop processing and for generating corresponding PWM signals. Specifically, the operating principle of said Sigma-Delta type modulator circuit for processing said first analog signals to generate second analog signals is the same as that of the prior art and there is no need to describe it in the present document.

[0059] Said millimeter wave transmitter circuit 411 receives and processes the PWM signals output by said first isolated circuit 20 to convert said PWM signals into corresponding millimeter wave signals and, via said transmitter antenna 412, transmit said millimeter wave signals.

[0060] Said millimeter wave receiver module 42 receives said millimeter wave signals transmitted by said transmitting antenna 412 via said receiving antenna 422 and through the processing of said millimeter wave receiver circuit 421, converts said reduced millimeter wave signals into PWM signals.

[0061] Said third conductor terminal of said second switching circuit 31 is conductively connected to the output end for connecting said second positive reference voltage +Vref2 into the circuit; said low-pass filter module 32 receives said second positive reference voltage +Vref2 and said PWM signals generated by said millimeter wave receiver circuit 421, and performs filtering processing to output said second analog signals.

[0062] Said operational amplifier module 33 operationally amplifies said second analog signals generated by said low-pass filter module 32 and outputs amplified third analog signals via said analog signal output interface.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the transmission of signals between said first isolated circuit 20 and said second isolated circuit 30 is carried out using said circuit of millimeter wave transmission, since the signal transmission of said millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 is carried out using millimeter waves, this plays a role in the spatial isolation between said first isolated circuit 20 and said second isolated circuit 30, which greatly improves the signal transmission speed.

[0064] In another optional embodiment, said millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 is a millimeter wave transmission chip, which makes it possible to further reduce the size of the switching power supply thanks to the chip-based design, and to achieve a thin and lightweight design of the device.

[0065] In this way, by oversampling the first analog signals input by said first isolated circuit 20, it is possible to achieve high-precision sampling and quantization of the low-frequency signals or noises, to produce highly restored analog signals and to transmit them quickly and accurately to said second isolated circuit via said millimeter-wave transmission circuit, so as to obtain highly restored original analog signals for the circuits of the next stage.

[0066] Referring to [Fig.2], said millimeter wave transmitter circuit comprises a digital-to-analog converter, a first baseband amplifier, a first mixer, a first phase-locked loop, a first radio frequency power amplifier and a first filter;

[0067] Said first millimeter wave receiver circuit comprises a second filter, a second radio frequency power amplifier, a second mixer, a second phase-locked loop, a second baseband amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter;

[0068] The second input end of said first mixer is connected to the output end of said phase-locked loop, the output end is connected to the input end of said second radio frequency power amplifier;

[0069] the output end of said first radio frequency power amplifier is connected to the input end of said first filter;

[0070] the output end of said first filter is connected to said transmitting antenna;

[0071] the input end of said second filter is connected to said receiving antenna, the output end is connected to the first input end of said second mixer;

[0072] the second input end of said second mixer is connected to the output end of said second phase-locked loop, the output end is connected to the input end of said second baseband filter.

[0073] As mentioned above, said millimeter wave transmitter circuit 411, said millimeter wave receiver circuit 421 in the present embodiment realization all present the above-mentioned circuit structures and there is no need to repeat them here.

[0074] Referring to [Fig.3], in another embodiment, said millimeter wave transmitter circuit comprises an oscillator, a modulator and a third radio frequency power amplifier;

[0075] said millimeter wave receiver circuit comprises a fourth radio frequency power amplifier and an envelope detector;

[0076] the output end of said oscillator is connected to the first input end of said modulator;

[0077] the second input end of said modulator is connected to said output interface of digital signals or PWM signals, the output end is connected to the input end of said third radio frequency power amplifier;

[0078] the output end of said third radio frequency power amplifier is connected to said transmitting antenna;

[0079] the input end of said fourth radio frequency power amplifier is connected to said receiving antenna, the output end is connected to the input end of said envelope detector;

[0080] the output end of said envelope detector is connected to the input end of said second switching circuit.

[0081] As mentioned above, said millimeter wave transmitter circuit 411, said millimeter wave receiver circuit 421 in the present embodiment all have the above-mentioned circuit structures and there is no need to repeat here.

[0082] In conclusion, the present invention provides a millimeter wave isolation amplifier, a millimeter wave transmission circuit is provided between a first isolated circuit and a second isolated circuit to communicate via a millimeter wave transmission circuit, the insulation level of the millimeter wave transmission circuit ensures the requirements of the safety distance between said first isolated circuit and said second isolated circuit, and the thickness of the insulation layer can reach a centimeter level, which reduces the parasitic capacitance on both sides of the insulation;furthermore, said first isolated circuit is a Sigma-Delta type modulator circuit, since millimeter wave communication can achieve a maximum communication rate of 10 Gbps, with a signal delay of less than 3nS, and the jitter of the signals can be controlled at the pS level, therefore, said millimeter wave transmission circuit provided after said Sigma-Delta type modulator circuit, can realize the ultra-high rate Sigma-Delta modulation of the signals, and thus, it can thus achieve ultra-high signal reproduction while overcoming the limitations of isolators; traditional digital amplifiers in terms of signal bandwidth; furthermore, by controlling the power, millimeter waves can easily achieve centimeter communication distance, which greatly increases its isolation voltage resistance; said millimeter wave isolation amplifier outperforms existing isolation amplifiers in terms of signal bandwidth, signal delay, signal distortion and isolation voltage resistance.

[0083] The foregoing are merely embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the patent of the present invention, and all equivalent transformations using the specification of the present invention and the accompanying drawings, or directly or indirectly in the relevant technical fields, are included within the scope of the patent protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. Claims Millimeter wave isolation amplifier (10), comprising a first isolated circuit (20) and a second isolated circuit (30), characterized in that it also comprises a millimeter wave transmission circuit (40); said first isolated circuit (20), said second isolated circuit (30) and said millimeter wave transmission circuit (40) are integrated on the same chip; the output end of said first isolated circuit (20) is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmission circuit (40), the output end of said millimeter wave transmission circuit (40) is connected to the input end of said second isolated circuit (30); wherein, said millimeter wave transmission circuit (40) comprises a millimeter wave transmitter module (41) and a millimeter wave receiver module (42); the output end of said first isolated circuit (20) is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module (41) and the output end of said millimeter wave receiver module (42) is connected to the input end of said second isolated circuit (30); insulation strips are provided between said millimeter wave transmitter module (41) and said millimeter wave receiver module (42); said first isolated circuit (20) comprises: an adder module (21), an integrator module (22), a first switching circuit (23), and a comparator module (24); the first input end of said adder module (21) is connected to the analog signal input interface provided to said first isolated circuit (20), the second input end is connected to the output end of said first switching circuit (23), and the output end is connected to the input end of said integrator module (22); the output end of said integrator module (22) is connected to the non-inverting input end of said comparator module (24), the inverting input end of said comparator module (24) is grounded, the output end of said comparator module (24) is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module (41); the input end of said first switching circuit (23) is connected between the output end of said comparator module (24) and the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter module (41); said second isolated circuit (30) comprises: a second switching circuit (31), a low-pass filter module (32) and an operational amplifier module (33); the input end of said second switching circuit (31) is connected to the output end of said millimeter wave receiver module (42), the output end of said second switching circuit (31) is connected to the input end of said low-pass filter module (32), the output end of said low-pass filter module (32) is connected to said operational amplifier module (33), the output end of said operational amplifier (33) is connected to the analog signal output interface of said second isolated circuit (30).

2. A millimeter wave isolation amplifier (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, said first switching circuit (23) further comprises a first conductor terminal, a second conductor terminal; wherein said first conductor terminal is connected to a first positive reference voltage; said second conductor terminal is connected to a first negative reference voltage.

3. A millimeter wave isolation amplifier (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, said second switching circuit (31) further comprises a third conductor terminal, a fourth conductor terminal; wherein said third conductor terminal is connected to a second positive reference voltage; said fourth conductor terminal is connected to a second negative reference voltage.

4. A millimeter wave isolation amplifier (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, said millimeter wave transmitter module (41) comprises: a millimeter wave transmitter circuit (411) and a transmitter antenna (412); said millimeter wave receiver module (42) comprises: a millimeter wave receiver circuit (421) and a receiver antenna (422); said comparator module (24) is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave transmitter circuit (411), the input end output end of said millimeter wave transmitter circuit (411) is connected to said transmitting antenna (412); said receiving antenna (422) is connected to the input end of said millimeter wave receiver circuit (421), the output end of said millimeter wave receiver circuit (421) is connected to the input end of said second switching circuit (31).

5. A millimeter wave isolation amplifier (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said millimeter wave transmission circuit (40) is a millimeter wave transmission chip.

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