Doherty Amplifier Reverse Power Sensing for Peaking Fault Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The Doherty amplification device faces challenges in detecting abnormalities in peaking amplifiers, which can affect output power and adjacent channel leakage ratio, leading to decreased service quality due to the lower usage rate of peaking amplifiers compared to carrier amplifiers.
Innovation Solution
An amplification device with an abnormality sensing unit that monitors reverse power from the peaking amplifier, generates a sensed voltage, and compares it with a reference voltage to detect abnormalities, and includes switch units to disconnect the peaking amplifier when an issue is detected, allowing the carrier amplifier to take over signal amplification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a Doherty amplification device uses a peaking amplifier for high power level signals, then amplification efficiency is improved, but abnormality detection becomes difficult due to lower usage rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing an abnormality sensing unit that continuously monitors the peaking amplifier before actual failure occurs. The sensing unit detects reverse power conditions and generates abnormality signals in advance, enabling proactive detection despite the amplifier's low usage rate. This resolves the contradiction by establishing detection capability independent of usage frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through a closed-loop monitoring system where the abnormality sensing unit continuously measures reverse power from the peaking amplifier, compares it against threshold values, and generates feedback signals when abnormalities are detected. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection regardless of how frequently the peaking amplifier is activated, resolving the detection difficulty caused by low usage rate.
2Device complexity
If the peaking amplifier is not monitored, then device complexity is reduced, but service quality decreases due to undetected abnormalities affecting output power and ACLR
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the amplification device into distinct functional modules: a carrier amplifier path, a peaking amplifier path, and a separate abnormality sensing unit. The sensing unit is further segmented into a reverse power sensing part and a signal generation part. This modular segmentation allows targeted monitoring of the peaking amplifier without significantly increasing overall device complexity, while maintaining service quality through dedicated abnormality detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary abnormality sensing unit that mediates between the peaking amplifier and the control system. This intermediary component monitors reverse power conditions and generates abnormality signals without requiring direct intervention in the main signal path. The intermediary approach enables reliable service quality monitoring while minimizing added complexity through a focused, specialized sensing module.
3Measurement precision
If reverse power sensing is implemented, then abnormality detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensing components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing reverse power sensing specifically at the peaking amplifier output stage where abnormality conditions manifest most clearly. The abnormality sensing unit is localized to monitor only the critical reverse power parameter rather than implementing comprehensive monitoring of all amplifier parameters. This focused local sensing approach achieves high abnormality detection precision while minimizing the addition of sensing components and overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one mode of the inventive concept, an amplification device includes a first amplification unit configured to amplify an input signal when a power level of the input signal is within a first range, a second amplification unit configured to amplify the input signal when the power level of the input signal is within a second range, and an abnormality sensing unit configured to sense an occurrence of an abnormality in the second amplification unit. The abnormality sensing unit senses reverse power regarding an output of the second amplification unit to generate a sensed voltage and compares the sensed voltage with a reference voltage to sense whether an abnormality occurs in the second amplification unit.