Outphasing Amplifier Phase Matching for Wider Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing outphasing amplifier designs face challenges in maintaining optimal impedance matching and phase differences across amplifiers, leading to deteriorated characteristics and reduced bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The proposed outphasing amplifier configuration includes multiple amplifiers and impedance converters with specific phase differences and matching circuits to suppress reactance components and improve characteristics, featuring a Chireix combiner for combining signals, and using open stubs and transmission lines to adjust impedance and phase differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional outphasing amplifier designs are used, then the structure is simpler, but the impedance matching deteriorates and bandwidth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces impedance converters as intermediary components between amplifiers and matching circuits. These converters act as mediators that transform impedance levels, enabling optimal impedance matching while maintaining signal integrity. The first impedance converter is connected between the first amplifier and the first matching circuit, and the second impedance converter is connected between the second amplifier and the second matching circuit, thereby resolving the impedance mismatch problem without requiring complete redesign of the amplifier structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the amplifier system into separate functional modules: amplifiers, impedance converters, and matching circuits. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function. The matching circuits are designed with specific phase differences (first matching circuit with less than 90° and second matching circuit with more than 90°) to handle different impedance transformation requirements, thereby improving overall system performance while maintaining manageable complexity.
2Reliability
If standard matching circuits are used, then the design is easier, but reactance components are not suppressed and characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different phase difference characteristics to different matching circuits based on their specific functions. The first matching circuit is designed with a phase difference of less than 90° to suppress reactance components in one path, while the second matching circuit is designed with a phase difference of more than 90° to suppress reactance components in the other path. This localized optimization of phase characteristics ensures that each part of the system contributes to suppressing reactance, thereby improving overall amplifier characteristics without requiring uniform complex design throughout.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bandwidth is increased, then frequency range is improved, but impedance matching becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic phase compensation through the impedance converters and matching circuits that can adapt to frequency variations. The specific phase difference configurations (less than 90° and more than 90°) are designed to provide dynamic compensation across the operating bandwidth, allowing the system to maintain impedance matching over a wider frequency range. This dynamic approach enables the amplifier to accommodate frequency changes while preserving matching characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
An outphasing amplifier includes first to fourth amplifiers, first and second impedance converters, a first matching circuit, a second matching circuit, a third matching circuit matching output impedance of first impedance converter with input impedance of third amplifier, a fourth matching circuit matching output impedance of second impedance converter with input impedance of fourth amplifier, and a combiner combining the first signal amplified by third amplifier and the second signal amplified by fourth amplifier, wherein a first phase difference of the first signal input to third matching circuit with respect to the first signal output from first matching circuit is less than 90° at a center frequency of an operating frequency band, and a second phase difference of the second signal input to fourth matching circuit with respect to the second signal output from second matching circuit is more than 90° at the center frequency.