Solid-State Microwave Branch Phase Alignment for Power Combining
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-frequency kilowatt-class solid-state microwave sources face significant challenges in achieving branch power amplifier consistency due to phase differences, requiring complex and costly real-time phase and amplitude compensation, especially when synthesizing multiple branches, which increases difficulty and expense.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state microwave source with N branch units connected via amplitude and phase stable cables, each equipped with independent switches, blocking capacitors, and series-connected driver chips, utilizing microstrips for phase adjustment and driver chips to control insertion loss, along with a branch consistency control method involving coarse and fine adjustment steps to ensure phase and gain consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If real-time phase and amplitude compensation is implemented for multiple branch power amplifiers, then branch consistency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary phase calibration during the manufacturing process by adjusting the phase of each branch power amplifier before assembly. This preliminary action establishes consistent phase relationships among all branches, eliminating the need for complex real-time phase compensation systems during operation. The phase calibration is performed by measuring phase differences and adjusting each branch's phase to match a reference, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between branch consistency and control system complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If real-time phase and amplitude compensation is implemented for multiple branch power amplifiers, then branch consistency is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs phase calibration during the manufacturing process rather than requiring expensive real-time compensation systems. By adjusting phase relationships among branch power amplifiers before assembly and operation, the system achieves consistent branch performance without the need for costly real-time phase and amplitude compensation hardware and software, thereby resolving the contradiction between branch consistency and manufacturing cost.
3Manufacturing precision
If phase adjustment is performed online in real time, then phase consistency is improved, but control difficulty increases due to high-speed signal collection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs phase calibration during manufacturing by measuring phase differences among branch power amplifiers and adjusting each branch's phase to achieve consistency. This preliminary phase alignment eliminates the need for complex real-time phase measurement and adjustment systems, thereby resolving the contradiction between phase consistency and signal collection difficulty.
4Power
If multiple branch power amplifiers are synthesized for kilowatt-class output, then power capability is improved, but phase differences between branches worsen due to frequency-dependent variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs comprehensive phase calibration during manufacturing by measuring phase differences among all branch power amplifiers at their operating frequency and adjusting each branch's phase to match a reference. This preliminary frequency-specific phase alignment compensates for frequency-dependent phase variations, enabling multiple branches to be synthesized for high-power output while maintaining phase consistency, thereby resolving the contradiction between power capability and phase difference.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a solid-state microwave source and a branch consistency control method thereof. The branch consistency control method includes: collecting phase information of each branch unit under each of a plurality of preset target powers, and performing phase adjustment for each branch unit based on the phase information under each of the target powers; assembling coarsely-adjusted N branch units, a driver module, a power distribution module, a radial combiner, a circulator, and a waveguide coupler; adjusting a branch power by using the driver module and the power distribution module, to collect the phase information of each branch unit under each of the target powers; and when the phase information of each branch unit under each of the target powers meets a preset condition, performing phase adjustment for the branch unit based on the phase information.