Multi-Path Amplifier Circuit for Wideband High-Power Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current amplifier arrangements for high bandwidth applications are complex and costly due to the need for broadband amplifiers that cover the entire frequency band and operate with equal phase and amplitude frequency response, making it difficult to achieve high power amplification with large instantaneous bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
An amplifier circuit with multiple signal paths that amplify different overlapping frequency bands, using a diplexer to combine the amplified signals, allowing for the use of amplifiers with smaller frequency bands and focusing on power output rather than full bandwidth coverage, thus simplifying the design and reducing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If broadband amplifiers covering the entire frequency band are used, then the amplifier circuit can achieve large instantaneous bandwidth, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The amplifier circuit is divided into multiple independent signal paths, each handling a specific frequency band. The signal splitter separates the input signal into multiple frequency bands, which are then amplified by separate amplifiers optimized for their respective bands. This segmentation allows each amplifier to focus on a narrower bandwidth, reducing complexity while maintaining overall wide bandwidth coverage through the combination of parallel paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If broadband amplifiers covering the entire frequency band are used, then the amplifier circuit can achieve large instantaneous bandwidth, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the frequency spectrum into multiple bands handled by separate amplifiers, the patent enables the use of lower-cost, band-specific amplifiers rather than expensive broadband amplifiers. Each amplifier can be manufactured with optimized components for its specific frequency range, reducing overall manufacturing costs while achieving the same total bandwidth coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Each signal path is optimized with local quality characteristics specific to its frequency band. The amplifiers, filters, and other components in each path are tailored to the specific requirements of their assigned frequency range, allowing for more cost-effective manufacturing compared to using uniform broadband components across the entire spectrum.
3Power
If amplifiers are optimized for high power output, then the amplifying power increases, but the bandwidth coverage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into multiple bands, each handled by a dedicated amplifier optimized for high power output in its specific range. This allows each amplifier to achieve maximum power efficiency and output for its assigned band without the performance degradation that would occur in a broadband amplifier attempting to cover the entire spectrum with a single design.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple high-power, band-specific amplifiers are merged through parallel signal paths and combined at the output. The signal combiner integrates the outputs of all amplifiers, effectively merging their individual high-power capabilities to deliver overall high power output across the entire frequency spectrum, with each amplifier contributing its optimized power to its specific band.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides an amplifier circuit (100, 200, 300) for amplifying an incoming signal (101, 201, 301), the amplifier circuit (100, 200, 300) comprising at least two signal paths (109, 110, 209, 210, 309, 310, 328) configured to amplify signals of different overlapping frequency bands (550, 551, 552), a signal splitter (102, 202, 302) comprising an input port (103, 203, 303) configured to receive the incoming signal (101, 201, 301), the signal splitter (102, 202, 302) being coupled to an input side of the signal paths (109, 110, 209, 210, 309, 310, 328) and configured to split the incoming signal (101, 201, 301) into split signals (107, 108, 207, 208, 307, 308, 335) for the signal paths (109, 110, 209, 210, 309, 310, 328), and a diplexer (115, 215, 315) coupled to an output side of the signal paths (109, 110, 209, 210, 309, 310, 328) and configured to combine the amplified signals (113, 114, 213, 214, 313, 314, 330) and provide a combined amplified signal (118, 218, 318). Further, the present invention provides a respective method.