US5404113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High efficiency power amplifier
Assignee: Boeing Co
•
Filing: 1994-05-16
•
Granted: 1995-04-04
•
Expires: 2014-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A high-efficiency amplifier (10, 18) that may be used in, for example, a radar system to amplify signals received at an exciter (22) before they are applied to an antenna (20). The amplifier includes, among other components, an adaptive matching network (48) that is controlled by a processing system (26) to allow the amplifier to be adaptively matched to the load as the operating frequency of the system undergoes changes. Specifically, the network is adjusted based upon information regarding the ratio R of reflected power over incident power measured at the load the last time the system operated at the same frequency. As a result, the system is able to respond more quickly to frequency changes.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Nitardy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:40
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/02; H03F1/0205; H03F1/0211; H03F1/0216; H03F1/0222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of adaptively matching an amplifier to a load when the amplifier is operable at various frequencies, said method comprising the steps of: determining the frequency the amplifier is being operated at; sensing the degree to which the amplifier is matched to the load for the frequency; storing a signal-representative of matching between the amplifier and the load. at the frequency; repeating the steps of determining, sensing, and storing for each new frequency the amplifier is operated at; and adjusting the operation of an adaptive matching network coupling the amplifier to the load in response to the signal representative of the matching, at the new frequency.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of adaptively matching an amplifier to a load when the amplifier is operable at various frequencies, said method comprising the steps of: determining the frequency the amplifier is being operated at; sensing the degree to which the amplifier is matched to the load for the frequency; storing a signal-representative of matching between the amplifier and the load. at the frequency; repeating the steps of determining, sensing, and storing for each new frequency the amplifier is operated at; and adjusting the operation of an adaptive matching network coupling the amplifier to the load in response to the signal representative of the matching, at the new frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: storing assumed initial matching network variables for matching between the amplifier and load at a particular frequency; and adjusting the operation of the adaptive matching network in response to the assumed initial matching network variables when the system has not previously been operated at the particular frequency.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of controlling an adaptive matching network to adaptively match an amplifier to a load, the amplifier being operable at a plurality of different operating frequencies, said method comprising the steps of: measuring the power delivered by the amplifier to the load when the operating frequency of the amplifier is at a first level to determine matching network variables; storing a representation of the matching network variables when the operating frequency of the amplifier is at the first level; recalling the representation of the matching network variables the next time the operating frequency of the amplifier is at the first level; and adjusting the operation of the adaptive matching network in response to the recalled representation.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of controlling an adaptive matching network to adaptively match an amplifier to a load, the amplifier being operable at a plurality of different operating frequencies, said method comprising the steps of: measuring the power delivered by the amplifier to the load when the operating frequency of the amplifier is at a first level to determine matching network variables; storing a representation of the matching network variables when the operating frequency of the amplifier is at the first level; recalling the representation of the matching network variables the next time the operating frequency of the amplifier is at the first level; and adjusting the operation of the adaptive matching network in response to the recalled representation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said steps of measuring, storing, recalling, and adjusting are repeated when the operating frequency of the amplifier is at a second level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the adaptive matching network comprises two pairs of varactors, each pair of varactors being coupled at a control point, and wherein said step of storing a representation of the matching network variables comprises the step of storing two control signals, and wherein said step of adjusting the operation of the adaptive matching network comprises the step of applying the two signals to the control points.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the adaptive matching network comprises a third pair of varactors coupled at a control point, and wherein said step of storing a representation of the matching network variables comprises the step of storing a third control signal, and wherein said step of adjusting the operation of the adaptive matching network comprises the step of applying the third control signal to the control point of the third pair of varactors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the adaptive matching network composes two arrays of series-connected pin diodes and capacitors coupled in parallel, each series-connected pin diode and capacitor including a control point, and wherein said step of storing a representation of the matching network variables comprises the step of storing two digital control words, and wherein said step of adjusting the operation of the adaptive matching network comprises the step of applying the control words to the control points.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of controlling a matching network that is used to adaptively couple an amplifier to a load, the amplifier being operable at different frequencies, said method comprising the steps of: determining the operating frequency of the amplifier; sensing power transfer from the amplifier to the load at the operating frequency; retrieving an indication of the power transfer between the amplifier and the load the last time the operating frequency of the amplifier was equal to the determined operating frequency; and adjusting the operation of the matching network based upon the retrieved indication rather than upon the sensed power transfer.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of controlling a matching network that is used to adaptively couple an amplifier to a load, the amplifier being operable at different frequencies, said method comprising the steps of: determining the operating frequency of the amplifier; sensing power transfer from the amplifier to the load at the operating frequency; retrieving an indication of the power transfer between the amplifier and the load the last time the operating frequency of the amplifier was equal to the determined operating frequency; and adjusting the operation of the matching network based upon the retrieved indication rather than upon the sensed power transfer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB550094A
Cited
US3413570A
Cited
US3467876A
Cited
US3528011A
Cited
US3526791A
Cited
US3486128A
Cited
US3624560A
Cited
US4045743A
Cited
US4593287A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-03 | 1998-10-03 | 1999-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-10-03 | 2003-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-03 | 2006-10-03 | 2007-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |