Doherty Power Amplifier Layout for Fast Frequency-Band Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Doherty amplifiers require frequent adjustments or replacements of adjustment lines when switching between different frequency bands, leading to increased maintenance workload and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

The power amplifier design incorporates a transmission line unit with adjustable length and an impedance transformation unit, allowing for easy access and replacement through a maintenance hole, while burying adjustment-unnecessary elements to reduce maintenance workload and enable efficient operation across various frequency bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If adjustment lines are used to match phases and impedances in a Doherty amplifier, then signal amplification efficiency is improved, but maintenance workload increases due to frequent adjustments and replacements when switching frequency bands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal amplification efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance workload
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the adjustment lines replaceable and reconfigurable. Instead of fixed adjustment lines, the system allows dynamic replacement of adjustment line units with different electrical lengths to match different frequency bands, thereby maintaining amplification efficiency while reducing the need for frequent adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment lines are segmented into replaceable adjustment line units with different electrical lengths. This segmentation allows selective replacement of only the necessary units when switching frequency bands, rather than adjusting the entire amplifier system, thus reducing maintenance workload while preserving signal amplification efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If adjustment lines with specific electrical lengths are used for frequency band optimization, then amplification performance is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple adjustment line units and maintenance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamplification performanceVSAvoidnumber of adjustment line units
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment line units are designed with multi-functionality to serve different frequency bands. Each unit has a specific electrical length optimized for a particular frequency band, and the same type of unit can be reused across different bands by selecting the appropriate electrical length, reducing the overall number of unique components needed while maintaining high amplification performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjustment lines are frequently adjusted or replaced for different frequency bands, then adaptability to different frequency bands is improved, but loss of time increases due to maintenance interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency band adaptabilityVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple adjustment line units with different electrical lengths are pre-configured and stored in the amplifier system. When switching frequency bands, the appropriate pre-configured unit is simply replaced rather than adjusting existing lines, which significantly reduces maintenance time while maintaining frequency band adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment line units are extracted as separate, independently replaceable components from the amplifier system. This extraction allows quick removal and replacement of specific units without disturbing other amplifier components, reducing maintenance interruption time while preserving the ability to adapt to different frequency bands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration reduces maintenance workload and allows the Doherty amplifier to efficiently amplify signals across a wide frequency range without the need for frequent adjustments or replacements, enhancing operational efficiency and apparatus design flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

The electrical length of each of the adjustment lines 111, 113, and 114 is adjusted so that signals having a frequency ranging from 630 MHz to 700 MHz can be transmitted with high efficiency. The electrical length is represented by a phase. The electrical length may be represented as, for example, 90 degrees.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical length adjustment for phase shifting:

Implementation Method 2

In the case of matching the output-side impedance of the adjustment line 114 to 50 Ω and matching the input-side impedance of the adjustment line 114 to 25 Ω, the adjustment line 114 having an electrical length of 90 degrees at 666 MHz and having a characteristic impedance of 35.5 Ω is used.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpedance transformation through transmission lines:

Data Source

PatentEP3046254B1Power amplifier and transmission apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 NEC CORP
  • EP3046254B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3046254B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3046254B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the invention is to provide an amplifying apparatus capable of reducing a maintenance work load. A power amplifier according to the present invention includes: an apparatus housing (10) having a hole (11) for maintenance formed therein; a transmission line unit (12) disposed in a location covered by the apparatus housing (10), a transmission line length of the transmission line unit being adjusted depending on a frequency band of an input signal; and an element (13) that requires no adjustment of a transmission line even when an adjustment of the transmission line unit (12) is required along with a change in the frequency band of the input signal. The transmission line unit (12) is disposed near a surface of an apparatus that is accessible from outside through the hole (11) for maintenance, and the element (13) that requires no adjustment of the transmission line is buried in a location within the apparatus housing that is inaccessible through the hole for maintenance (11).