RF Amplifier Circuit Segmentation for Base-Station Antenna Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radio frequency amplifier circuits for base-station antennas require complex and costly feeding systems, leading to inefficient power distribution and high sensitivity to resistive losses, which limits the achievable antenna output and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency amplifier circuit design with multiple power amplifiers and front-end networks that distribute power to multiple feed points of radiators, allowing for lower output power from each amplifier, which can be integrated into a common integrated circuit chip using low-cost technology, reducing complexity and cost while enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single high-power amplifier is used to drive the antenna, then the antenna output power is sufficient, but the system complexity and cost increase due to high voltage requirements and sensitive current distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single high-power amplifier into multiple low-power amplifiers, each operating at lower voltage (e.g., 3.6V CMOS). These amplifiers are distributed across different locations and their outputs are combined through a network to achieve the required total antenna output power, thereby reducing individual amplifier complexity while maintaining overall power output.
2Ease of manufacture
If low-voltage CMOS amplifiers are used, then cost and integration are improved, but the output impedance becomes impractically low requiring lossy matching networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple low-impedance amplifier outputs through a combining network. By merging the outputs of multiple amplifiers, the system achieves a higher effective output impedance that can be more efficiently matched to the antenna, reducing the losses that would occur if a single low-impedance amplifier were used with a lossy matching network.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple amplifiers are used to reduce per-amplifier power, then integration is easier, but the number of components and connections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal amplifier block design that can be replicated multiple times. Each amplifier block has the same standardized interface and functionality, allowing them to be manufactured using the same process and integrated systematically. This multi-functional approach allows the system to scale by simply adding more identical blocks rather than designing custom amplifiers for each position.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design achieves higher antenna output with lower power requirements per amplifier, enabling cost-effective and efficient power distribution and radiation, suitable for massive MIMO systems, while simplifying the construction and integration of power amplifiers.
Implementation Method 1
The first power amplifier, the second power amplifier, the third power amplifier and the fourth power amplifier are configured to perform an amplification based on a radio communication signal to produce a first amplifier output signal, a second amplifier output signal, a third amplifier output signal, and a fourth amplifier output signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A radio frequency circuit (100) is described, which comprises a first power amplifier (102) comprising a first output (104), a second power amplifier (106) comprising a second output (108), a third power amplifier (110) comprising a third output (112), and a fourth power amplifier (114) comprising a fourth output (116). The first power amplifier (102), the second power amplifier (106), the third power amplifier (110) and the fourth power amplifier (114) are configured to perform an amplification based on a radio communication signal to produce a first amplifier output signal, a second amplifier output signal, a third amplifier output signal, and a fourth amplifier output signal. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a transmitter comprising such a radio frequency amplifier circuit.