Hybrid system for control and monitoring of an amplifier

摘要

A hybrid system (18) for control and monitoring of an amplifier (330) is provided. The hybrid control system (18) includes an analog control subsystem (81) and a digital control subsystem (82). The analog control system provides an automatic gain control loop for maintaining the gain of amplifier (330) at a predetermined level. The digital control subsystem (82) monitors a plurality of operating characteristics of amplifier (330) and commands the analog control subsystem (81) to reduce the gain of amplifier (330) responsive to certain predetermined fault conditions. The digital control subsystem (82) shuts down amplifier (330) responsive to other predetermined fault conditions. The digital control subsystem (82) also controls the power-on sequence and power-down sequence for amplifier (330), insuring that the gate bias voltage is first applied or maintained before the drain voltage is applied or removed.