Transmitter Transformation Unit for Low-Loss Power Combining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radio communication systems face challenges in generating high transmit powers efficiently, especially in micro or millimeter wave systems, due to the complexity and cost of semiconductor integration, and existing power combiners suffer from increased losses and structural complexity as the number of amplifiers increases.

Innovation Solution

A transmitter system with a plurality of amplifier circuits and antennas adapted to different main directions, utilizing a transformation unit to combine amplified signals with controllable gains and phases, allowing for low-loss bundling and efficient power transmission in specific directions, potentially using orthogonal or discrete Fourier transformations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If multiple amplifier circuits are used to generate high transmit power, then the transmit power is improved, but the device complexity and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmit powerVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter is divided into multiple independent amplifier circuits, each handling a portion of the total transmit power. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high overall power while keeping individual amplifier units manageable in size and complexity, avoiding the need for a single complex high-power amplifier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple amplified signals from different amplifier circuits are combined through a transformation unit to produce a single combined power signal. This merging process achieves the desired high transmit power by summing the contributions of multiple lower-power amplifiers without requiring each individual amplifier to be overly complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Power

If existing power combiners are used to combine signals from multiple amplifiers, then the transmit power is improved, but the losses increase and structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmit powerVSAvoidpower loss

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or passive power combiner structures with a transformation unit that uses controllable phase shifting and signal processing. This substitution reduces power losses by avoiding the inherent insertion losses of traditional combiners while maintaining the ability to combine multiple amplified signals efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The transformation unit dynamically adjusts the phase and amplitude parameters of individual amplifier outputs to achieve constructive interference and maximum power combination. By optimizing these parameters, the system minimizes power losses during the combining process while achieving the desired high transmit power output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If traditional beam forming methods are used, then directional transmission is achieved, but the coverage angle is limited and complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam direction controlVSAvoidbeam forming complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic beam forming where the transformation unit can rapidly adjust the phase and amplitude of signals to different antenna elements. This dynamic control allows the beam direction to be changed electronically without mechanical movement, achieving both directional transmission and wide angular coverage while keeping the system compact and manageable in complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The transformation unit serves multiple functions: it combines signals from multiple amplifiers, performs beam forming for directional transmission, and enables wide angular coverage through electronic steering. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving the desired performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Power

If the number of amplifiers is increased to improve power output, then the transmit power is improved, but the structural complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmit powerVSAvoidtransmitter size

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The transformation unit is designed to integrate multiple signal combining and beam forming functions within a compact structure. By nesting functional elements and using shared components across the multiple amplifier paths, the system achieves high power output from multiple amplifiers while minimizing the overall transmitter size and avoiding linear scaling of physical dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9294176B2Transmitter

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a transmitter including a plurality of amplifier circuits, a plurality of antennas adapted to have different main transmit directions and a transformation unit. The transformation unit includes a plurality of inputs connected to the plurality of amplifier circuits and a plurality of outputs connected to the plurality of antennas. The transformation unit is configured to transform a plurality of amplified transmit signals present at the plurality of inputs into a combined power transmit signal and to provide the combined power transmit signal at one of the plurality of outputs.