Hybrid-Cascaded Power Amplifier for Backoff Efficiency Pits
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of achieving high efficiency and ultra-wideband operation in power amplifiers for wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, is exacerbated by high peak-to-average power ratios and wide instantaneous bandwidths, which lead to efficiency pits during power backoff.
Innovation Solution
A power amplifier device incorporating multiple power amplifier circuits, couplers, and circulators for hybrid cascading, allowing for power combination and multiple high-efficiency points, with a circulator as the last-stage power combination unit, suitable for large power capacity scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a power amplifier device is disposed inside an outdoor unit to be mounted on a rooftop, then integration is improved, but the device is exposed to weather conditions such as rain and snow causing deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional units: the outdoor unit (transceiver) remains on the rooftop for integration benefits, while the power amplifier device is extracted and relocated to an indoor location, protecting it from weather exposure while maintaining system functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The power amplifier device is extracted from the outdoor unit and relocated to an indoor power amplifier device. This extraction removes the sensitive component from the harsh outdoor environment while preserving the outdoor unit's mounting position and integration advantages
2Reliability
If the power amplifier device is relocated to an indoor location, then protection from weather is improved, but connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A waveguide serving as an intermediary component connects the indoor power amplifier device to the outdoor unit. This waveguide acts as a mediator that transmits microwave signals between the protected indoor location and the outdoor mounting position, simplifying the overall connection structure despite the spatial separation
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the indoor power amplifier device and outdoor unit is achieved through electromagnetic wave transmission via waveguide rather than direct mechanical/electrical connection, enabling separation while maintaining signal integrity
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a power amplifier device, a remote radio unit, and a base station. The power amplifier device is applicable to input of up to three signals, and combines power through hybrid cascading of a coupler and a circulator. The coupler may be used as a last-stage power combination unit, or the circulator may be used as a last-stage power combination unit. The power amplifier device may generate at least three high-efficiency points. Because there are a plurality of high-efficiency points, a problem of an efficiency pit during large backoff can be alleviated, and modulation wave efficiency of a radio frequency power amplifier device can be improved. In addition, a working bandwidth of the power amplifier device depends on working bandwidths of a first power amplifier circuit, the coupler, and the circulator, so that an ultra-wideband high-power design can be implemented.