Millimeter-wave isolation amplifier

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention is a millimeter-wave isolation amplifier, comprising a first isolated circuit, a second isolated circuit and a millimeter wave transmission circuit, wherein the first isolated circuit comprises a summer module, an integrator module, a first switch circuit and a comparator module, which are sequentially connected between an analog signal input interface of the first isolated circuit and an input end of a millimeter wave emission module; and the second isolated circuit comprises a second switch circuit, a low-pass filter module and an operational amplifier module, which are sequentially connected between an output end of a millimeter wave receiving module and an analog signal output interface of the second isolated circuit. The present invention achieves an ultra-high degree of restoration of signals while breaking through the signal bandwidth limitations of conventional digital isolators; the isolation and voltage-withstanding capability of the present invention is improved, and the signal delay is also reduced.

Description

A 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. Background Art

[0002] An isolation amplifier is used to transmit the input signal to the output end in isolation while providing amplification function. Its main function is to provide electrical isolation between two circuits that do not share a ground to prevent mutual interference of signals and protect the electrical safety of the system.

[0003] Existing isolation amplifiers typically consist of inductors, optocouplers, transformers, or capacitors on both the input and output sides. The input side isolates the power supply and ground from the output side, eliminating direct electrical connection between the input and output signals and achieving electrical isolation. Existing isolation amplifiers typically use PWM debugging, converting analog signals into PWM signals and transmitting them to the other side via a digital isolator. A low-pass filter then restores the PWM signal to an analog signal for amplification.

[0004] However, existing isolation amplifiers have the following technical defects:

[0005] (1) Circuit complexity: Components such as PWM modulation circuits, digital isolators, low-pass filters, and amplifiers need to be used simultaneously, which complicates the circuit. Especially in rail-to-rail PWM modulation, achieving high-precision triangular waves may face many technical challenges, such as temperature stability, linearity, and power consumption.

[0006] (2) PWM signal distortion: It is difficult to achieve rail-to-rail PWM signals. Voltage limitations may cause PWM signal distortion, thereby affecting the precision and accuracy of the recovered analog signal.

[0007] (3) Digital isolator bandwidth limitation: Existing capacitive or magnetic coupled digital isolators generally have low transmission rates and cannot achieve high-speed data transmission. This will limit the accuracy of PWM modulation and recovery and the signal bandwidth. Low transmission rates may lead to signal delays and the risk of data loss.

[0008] Summary 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 resistance of the isolation amplifier and reduce the signal distortion rate.

[0010] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a millimeter wave isolation amplifier, comprising a first isolated circuit and a second isolated circuit, and also comprising a millimeter wave transmission circuit; the first isolated circuit, the second isolated circuit and the millimeter wave transmission circuit are integrated on the same chip; the output end of the first isolated circuit is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmission circuit, and the output end of the millimeter wave transmission circuit is connected to the input end of the second isolated circuit; wherein the millimeter wave transmission circuit comprises a millimeter wave transmitting module and a millimeter wave receiving module; the output end of the first isolated circuit is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting module, and the output end of the millimeter wave receiving module is connected to the input end of the second isolated circuit; an isolation zone is set between the millimeter wave transmitting module and the millimeter wave receiving module; the first isolated circuit comprises: a summer module, an integrator module, a first switching circuit, and a comparator module; the first input end of the summer module is connected to the The first isolated circuit is connected to an analog signal input interface, the second input end is connected to the output end of the first switching circuit, and the output end is connected to the input end of the integrator module; the output end of the integrator module is connected to the non-inverting input end of the comparator module, the inverting input end of the comparator module is grounded, and the output end of the comparator module is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting module; the input end of the first switching circuit is connected between the output end of the comparator module and the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting module; the second isolated circuit includes: a second switching circuit, a low-pass filter module and an operational amplifier module; the input end of the second switching circuit is connected to the output end of the millimeter wave receiving module, the output end of the second switching circuit is connected to the input end of the low-pass filter module, the output end of the low-pass filter module is connected to the operational amplifier module, and the output end of the operational amplifier is connected to the analog signal output interface of the second isolated circuit.

[0011] The first switch circuit further includes a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal; the first conductive terminal is connected to a first positive reference voltage; and the second conductive terminal is connected to a first negative reference voltage.

[0012] The second switch circuit further includes a third conduction terminal and a fourth conduction terminal; wherein the third conduction operator is connected to a second positive reference voltage; and the fourth conduction terminal is connected to a second negative reference voltage.

[0013] Among them, the millimeter wave transmitting module includes: a millimeter wave transmitting circuit and a transmitting antenna; the millimeter wave receiving module includes: a millimeter wave receiving circuit and a receiving antenna; the comparator module is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting circuit, and the output end of the millimeter wave transmitting circuit is connected to the transmitting antenna; the receiving antenna is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave receiving circuit, and the output end of the millimeter wave receiving circuit is connected to the input end of the second switching circuit.

[0014] Wherein, the millimeter wave transmission circuit is a millimeter wave transmission chip.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: a millimeter wave transmission circuit is set between the first isolated circuit and the second isolated circuit to communicate via the millimeter wave transmission circuit, and the safety distance requirement between the first isolated circuit and the second isolated circuit is guaranteed by the isolation of the millimeter wave transmission circuit, and the thickness of the isolation layer can reach the centimeter level, reducing the parasitic capacitance on both sides of the isolation; further, combined with the Sigma-Delta modulator and millimeter wave signal isolation, the current millimeter wave communication can achieve a communication rate of up to 10Gbps, the signal delay is within 3nS, and the signal jitter can be controlled at the pS level, which can realize ultra-high-speed Sigma-Delta signal modulation, thereby breaking through the signal bandwidth limitation of traditional digital isolators while achieving ultra-high signal restoration; in addition, by controlling the power, millimeter waves can easily achieve a communication distance of centimeters, greatly increasing its isolation and withstand voltage capability; the millimeter wave isolation amplifier is superior to existing isolation amplifiers in terms of signal bandwidth, signal delay, signal distortion rate and isolation and withstand voltage capability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure of a millimeter-wave isolation amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first circuit of a millimeter wave transmission module in a millimeter wave isolation amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a second circuit of a millimeter-wave transmission module in a millimeter-wave isolation amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Description of the accompanying drawings: Millimeter-wave isolation amplifier 10 First isolated circuit 20 Summer module 21 Integrator module 22 First switch circuit 23 Comparator module 24 Second isolated circuit 30 Second switch circuit 31 Low-pass filter module 32 Operational amplifier module 33 Millimeter-wave transmission circuit 40 Millimeter-wave transmitting module 41 Millimeter-wave transmitting circuit 411 Transmitting antenna 412 Millimeter-wave receiving module 42 Millimeter-wave receiving circuit 421 Receiving antenna 422 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] To illustrate the technical content, achieved objectives and effects of the present invention in detail, the following description is given in conjunction with the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0021] Please refer to FIG. 1 , which shows a millimeter-wave isolation amplifier 10 , including a first isolated circuit 20 , a second isolated circuit 30 , and a millimeter-wave transmission circuit 40 .

[0022] The first isolated circuit 20, the second isolated circuit 30 and the millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 are integrated on the same chip.

[0023] The output end of the first isolated circuit 20 is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 , and the output end of the millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 is connected to the input end of the second isolated circuit 30 .

[0024] Specifically, the first isolated circuit 20 is provided with an analog signal input interface, ie, Analog Signal Input; and the second isolated circuit 30 is provided with an analog signal output interface, ie, Analog Signal Output.

[0025] The millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 includes a millimeter wave transmitting module 41 and a millimeter wave receiving module 42 .

[0026] The output of the first isolated circuit 20 is connected to the input of the millimeter wave transmitting module 41, and the output of the millimeter wave receiving module 42 is connected to the input of the second isolated circuit 30. An isolation zone is provided between the millimeter wave transmitting module 41 and the millimeter wave receiving module 42.

[0027] In this embodiment, the first isolated circuit 20 is a Sigma-Delta modulator circuit. Specifically, the first isolated circuit 20 includes: a summer module 21 , an integrator module 22 , a first switch circuit 23 , and a comparator module 24 .

[0028] Specifically, the first input end of the summer module 21 is connected to the first isolated circuit 20 to set an analog signal input interface, the second input end is connected to the output end of the first switch circuit 23 , and the output end is connected to the input end of the integrator module 22 .

[0029] The output end of the integrator module 22 is connected to the non-inverting input end of the comparator module 24 , the inverting input end of the comparator module 24 is grounded, and the output end of the comparator module 24 is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting module 41 .

[0030] An input end of the first switch circuit 23 is connected between an output end of the comparator module 24 and an input end of the millimeter wave transmitting module 41 .

[0031] Furthermore, the first switch circuit 23 further includes a first conduction terminal and a second conduction terminal; wherein the first conduction terminal is connected to a first positive reference voltage, ie, Vref1; and the second conduction terminal is connected to a first negative reference voltage, ie, -Vref1.

[0032] The second isolated circuit 30 includes a second switch circuit 31 , a low-pass filter module 32 , and an operational amplifier module 33 .

[0033] Specifically, the input end of the second switching circuit 31 is connected to the output end of the millimeter wave receiving module 42, the output end of the second switching circuit 31 is connected to the input end of the low-pass filter module 32, the output end of the low-pass filter module 32 is connected to the operational amplifier module 33, and the output end of the operational amplifier 33 is connected to the analog signal output interface of the second isolated circuit 30.

[0034] The second switch circuit 31 further includes a third conduction terminal and a fourth conduction terminal; wherein the third conduction terminal is connected to a second positive reference voltage, ie, Vref2; and the fourth conduction terminal is connected to a second negative reference voltage, ie, -Vref2.

[0035] Furthermore, the millimeter wave transmitting module 41 includes: a millimeter wave transmitting circuit 411 and a transmitting antenna 412 ; the millimeter wave receiving module 42 includes: a millimeter wave receiving circuit 421 and a receiving antenna 422 .

[0036] Specifically, the transmitting antenna 412 can realize the conversion of the level signal to the millimeter wave; the receiving antenna 422 can realize the conversion of the millimeter wave signal to the level signal.

[0037] The millimeter wave transmitting module 41 and the millimeter wave receiving module 42 are completely independent, and the width of the isolation zone can be designed according to project requirements, with an adjustment range of centimeters. The middle area between the millimeter wave transmitting module 41 and the millimeter wave receiving module 42 can be filled with low dielectric constant material to achieve smaller parasitic capacitance and higher voltage resistance.

[0038] Furthermore, the comparator module 24 is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting circuit 411 , and the output end of the millimeter wave transmitting circuit 411 is connected to the transmitting antenna 412 .

[0039] The receiving antenna 422 is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave receiving circuit 421 , and the output end of the millimeter wave receiving circuit 422 is connected to the input end of the second switch circuit 31 .

[0040] The first isolated circuit 20 is configured to input a first analog signal and process the first analog signal to output a corresponding PWM signal to the millimeter-wave transmitting circuit 411. In this embodiment, the first isolated circuit 20 is a Sigma-Delta modulator circuit, which, through oversampling and a feedback loop, performs high-precision quantization on the input first analog signal and generates a corresponding PWM signal. Specifically, the operating principle of the Sigma-Delta modulator circuit for processing the first analog signal to generate the second analog signal is the same as in the prior art and is not further described here.

[0041] The millimeter wave transmitting circuit 411 receives and processes the PWM signal output by the first isolated circuit 20 to convert the PWM signal into a corresponding millimeter wave signal, and transmits the millimeter wave signal through the transmitting antenna 412 .

[0042] The millimeter wave receiving module 42 receives the millimeter wave signal emitted by the transmitting antenna 412 through the receiving antenna 422 , and converts the millimeter wave signal into the PWM signal through processing by the millimeter wave receiving circuit 421 .

[0043] The third conduction terminal of the second switching circuit 31 is conductively connected to the output end to connect the second positive reference voltage +Vref2 to the circuit; the low-pass filter module 32 receives the second positive reference voltage +Vref2 and the PWM signal generated by the millimeter wave receiving circuit 421, and performs filtering processing to output a second analog signal.

[0044] The operational amplifier module 33 amplifies the second analog signal generated by the low-pass filter module 32 through operation, and outputs the amplified third analog signal through the analog signal output interface.

[0045] In this embodiment, signal transmission between the first isolated circuit 20 and the second isolated circuit 30 is achieved with the help of a millimeter wave transmission circuit. Since the millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 uses millimeter waves to achieve signal transmission, it spatially isolates the first isolated circuit 20 and the second isolated circuit 30, greatly improving the signal transmission speed.

[0046] In another optional embodiment, the millimeter wave transmission circuit 40 is a millimeter wave transmission chip. The chip design can further reduce the size of the switching power supply and achieve a lightweight design of the device.

[0047] In this way, by oversampling the input first analog signal through the first isolated circuit 20, high-precision sampling and quantization of low-frequency signals or noise can be achieved, and a highly restored analog signal can be output. It can be quickly and accurately transmitted to the second isolated circuit through the millimeter wave transmission circuit, so that the subsequent circuit can obtain a highly restored original analog signal.

[0048] Please refer to FIG2 , the millimeter wave transmitting circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter, a first baseband amplifier, a first mixer, a first phase-locked loop, a first radio frequency amplifier, and a first filter;

[0049] The first millimeter wave receiving circuit includes a second filter, a second radio frequency amplifier, a second mixer, a second phase-locked loop, a second baseband amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter;

[0050] The second input terminal of the first mixer is connected to the output terminal of the phase-locked loop, and the output terminal of the first mixer is connected to the input terminal of the second radio frequency amplifier;

[0051] The output end of the first radio frequency amplifier is connected to the input end of the first filter;

[0052] The output end of the first filter is connected to the transmitting antenna;

[0053] The input end of the second filter is connected to the receiving antenna, and the output end is connected to the first input end of the second mixer;

[0054] The second input end of the second mixer is connected to the output end of the second phase-locked loop, and the output end of the second mixer is connected to the input end of the second baseband filter.

[0055] As described above, the millimeter wave transmitting circuit 411 and the millimeter wave receiving circuit 421 in the embodiment of the present invention both have the circuit structure described above, and are not described in detail here.

[0056] Referring to FIG3 , in another embodiment, the millimeter wave transmitting circuit includes an oscillator, a modulator, and a third radio frequency amplifier;

[0057] The millimeter wave receiving circuit includes a fourth radio frequency amplifier and an envelope detector;

[0058] The output terminal of the oscillator is connected to the first input terminal of the modulator;

[0059] The second input end of the modulator is connected to the digital signal or PWM signal output interface, and the output end is connected to the input end of the third radio frequency amplifier;

[0060] The output end of the third radio frequency amplifier is connected to the transmitting antenna;

[0061] The input end of the fourth radio frequency amplifier is connected to the receiving antenna, and the output end is connected to the input end of the envelope detector;

[0062] The output end of the envelope detector is connected to the input end of the second switch circuit.

[0063] As described above, the millimeter wave transmitting circuit 411 and the millimeter wave receiving circuit 421 in the embodiment of the present invention both have the circuit structure described above, and are not described in detail here.

[0064] In summary, the present invention provides a millimeter-wave isolation amplifier, in which a millimeter-wave transmission circuit is arranged between a first isolated circuit and a second isolated circuit to communicate via the millimeter-wave transmission circuit. The isolation of the millimeter-wave transmission circuit ensures the safety distance requirement between the first isolated circuit and the second isolated circuit, and the thickness of the isolation layer can reach the centimeter level, thereby reducing the parasitic capacitance on both sides of the isolation. Furthermore, the first isolated circuit is a Sigma-Delta modulator circuit. Since millimeter-wave communication can achieve a communication rate of up to 10 Gbps, the signal delay is within 3 nS, and the signal jitter can be controlled at the pS level, a millimeter-wave transmission circuit is arranged after the Sigma-Delta modulator circuit, which can achieve ultra-high-speed Sigma-Delta signal modulation, thereby breaking through the signal bandwidth limitation of traditional digital isolators while achieving ultra-high signal restoration. In addition, by controlling the power, millimeter waves can easily achieve a communication distance of centimeters, greatly increasing their isolation and withstand voltage capabilities. The millimeter-wave isolation amplifier is superior to existing isolation amplifiers in terms of signal bandwidth, signal delay, signal distortion rate, and isolation and withstand voltage capabilities.

[0065] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent transformations made using the contents of the present invention's description and drawings, or directly or indirectly applied in related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A millimeter wave isolation amplifier, comprising a first isolated circuit and a second isolated circuit, characterized in that: Also included is a millimeter wave transmission circuit; The first isolated circuit, the second isolated circuit and the millimeter wave transmission circuit are integrated on the same chip; The output end of the first isolated circuit is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmission circuit, and the output end of the millimeter wave transmission circuit is connected to the input end of the second isolated circuit; The millimeter wave transmission circuit includes a millimeter wave transmitting module and a millimeter wave receiving module; the output end of the first isolated circuit is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting module, and the output end of the millimeter wave receiving module is connected to the input end of the second isolated circuit; an isolation zone is set between the millimeter wave transmitting module and the millimeter wave receiving module; The first isolated circuit includes: a summator module, an integrator module, a first switch circuit, and a comparator module; the first input end of the summator module is connected to the analog signal input interface set by the first isolated circuit, the second input end is connected to the output end of the first switch circuit, and the output end is connected to the input end of the integrator module; the output end of the integrator module is connected to the non-inverting input end of the comparator module, the inverting input end of the comparator module is grounded, and the output end of the comparator module is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting module; the input end of the first switch circuit is connected between the output end of the comparator module and the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting module; The second isolated circuit includes: a second switching circuit, a low-pass filter module and an operational amplifier module; the input end of the second switching circuit is connected to the output end of the millimeter wave receiving module, the output end of the second switching circuit is connected to the input end of the low-pass filter module, the output end of the low-pass filter module is connected to the operational amplifier module, and the output end of the operational amplifier is connected to the analog signal output interface of the second isolated circuit.

2. The millimeter wave isolation amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first switch circuit further includes a first conduction terminal and a second conduction terminal; wherein the first conduction terminal is connected to a first positive reference voltage; and the second conduction terminal is connected to a first negative reference voltage.

3. The millimeter wave isolation amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second switch circuit further includes a third conduction terminal and a fourth conduction terminal; wherein the third conduction terminal is connected to a second positive reference voltage; and the fourth conduction terminal is connected to a second negative reference voltage.

4. The millimeter wave isolation amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that: The millimeter wave transmission module includes: a millimeter wave transmission circuit and a transmission antenna; The millimeter wave receiving module includes: a millimeter wave receiving circuit and a receiving antenna; The comparator module is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave transmitting circuit, and the output end of the millimeter wave transmitting circuit is connected to the transmitting antenna; The receiving antenna is connected to the input end of the millimeter wave receiving circuit, and the output end of the millimeter wave receiving circuit is connected to the input end of the second switch circuit.

5. The millimeter wave isolation amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that: The millimeter wave transmission circuit is a millimeter wave transmission chip.

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