Combined high power rf/microwave amplifier with multiple power amplifier units and automatic failure protection

摘要

A high power RF or microwave amplifier may amplify an RF or microwave input signal. The high power RF or microwave amplifier may include an input signal divider (DIV) that has an input port that receives the RF or microwave input signal and that divides this input signal into multiple sub-input signals; multiple power amplifier units (PAUs), each having an input port that receives an RF or microwave signal, an output port that delivers an amplified version of the received RF or microwave signal, and an interface port; an interface control unit (ICU) that communicates with each PAU through its interface port; and an output signal switching combiner unit (SCU) that coherently sums the outputs of the on-line PAUs and delivers this to an output port. The ICU may set one or more of the PAUs to amplify one of the multiple sub-input signals (hereinafter referred to as on-line PAU in on-line mode); monitor each on-line PAU to verify that it is operating within one or more pre-determined PAU specifications; and upon detecting that one of the on-line PAUs is no longer operating within the one or more pre-determined PAU specifications (malfunctioning PAU), set the malfunctioning PAU not to amplify one of the multiple sub-input signals and not to be available to be switched to the on-line mode by the ICU (hereinafter referred to as off-line PAU in off-line mode).

主权项

1. A high power RF or microwave amplifier that amplifies an RF or microwave input signal comprising:
an input signal divider (DIV) that has an input port that receives the RF or microwave input signal and that divides this input signal into multiple sub-input signals; multiple power amplifier units (PAUs), each having an input port that receives an RF or microwave signal, an output port that delivers an amplified version of the received RF or microwave signal, and an interface port; an interface control unit (ICU) that communicates with each PAU through its interface port and that:
sets one or more of the PAUs to amplify one of the multiple sub-input signals (such a PAU hereinafter referred to as an “on-line PAU” and the mode of such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as an “on-line mode”);monitors each on-line PAU to verify that it is operating within one or more pre-determined PAU specifications; andupon detecting that one of the on-line PAUs is no longer operating within the one or more pre-determined PAU specifications (such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as “malfunctioning PAU”), sets the malfunctioning PAU not to amplify one of the multiple sub-input signals and not to be available to be switched to the on-line mode by the ICU (such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as an “off-line PAU” and the mode of such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as an “off-line mode”); an output signal switching combiner unit (SCU) that coherently sums the outputs of the on-line PAUs and delivers this to an output port; and wherein one or more of the following:
the ICU: sets one or more of the PAUs not to amplify one of the multiple sub-input signals and to be available to be switched to the on-line mode (such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as a “standby PAU” and the mode of such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as a “standby mode”); upon detecting a malfunctioning on-line PAU, changes one of the standby PAUs to the on-line mode, thereby causing such previously-standby PAU to amplify one of the multiple input signals and to thereby replace the malfunctioning on-line PAU; and monitors each standby PAU to verify that it is operating within the one or more pre-determined PAU specifications; and upon detecting that one of the standby PAUs is no longer operating within the one or more pre-determined PAU specifications (such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as a “malfunctioning standby PAU”), changes the malfunctioning standby PAU to the off-line mode, thereby preventing the PAU from being one of the standby PAUs that is changed to the on-line mode in response to detection of a malfunctioning PAU;the ICU: sets one or more of the PAUs not to amplify one of the multiple sub-input signals and to be available to be switched to the on-line mode (such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as a “standby PAU” and the mode of such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as a “standby mode”); upon detecting a malfunctioning on-line PAU, changes one of the standby PAUs to the on-line mode, thereby causing such previously-standby PAU to amplify one of the multiple input signals and to thereby replace the malfunctioning on-line PAU;the input signal includes a series of pulses; and the ICU begins and completes both of the following between two sequential pulses in the series of pulses: changes a malfunctioning PAU to the off-line mode; and changes one of the standby PAUs to the on-line mode;the high power amplifier automatically shuts down after the ICU detects more than a pre-determined number of malfunctioning on-line PAUs;an on-line PAU can be deliberately or accidentally removed from the high power amplifier during operation of the high power amplifier, without interfering with or degrading the performance of the high power amplifier during or after the removal; and further comprising a sense switch that senses the removal of each PAU from the high power amplifier and wherein the ICU quickly places any such removed PAU that is in the on-line mode into the off-line mode before any of its multiple electrical connections are broken by the continued removal of the PAU;the ICU: sets one or more of the PAUs not to amplify one of the multiple sub-input signals and to be available to be switched to the on-line mode (such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as a “standby PAU” and the mode of such a PAU is hereinafter referred to as a “standby mode”); and upon detecting a malfunctioning on-line PAU, changes one of the standby PAUs to the on-line mode, thereby causing such previously-standby PAU to amplify one of the multiple input signals and to thereby replace the malfunctioning on-line PAU;and further comprising multiple power supply units (PSUs); orthe PAUs and PSUs are water cooled.