US5955920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Signal feed matrix LPA reduction system and method
Assignee: Kathrein SE
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Filing: 1997-07-29
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Granted: 1999-09-21
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Expires: 2017-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for providing distributed amplification of a plurality of input signals is disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention utilizes two substantially different matrixes to dissect an input signal for amplification and subsequent recombination. The unique matrixes disclosed provide for the distributed amplification of any even number of input signals, therefore reducing the number of linear power amplifiers required where a number of input signals other than a power of two are used.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas O. Reudink
- 👤 Todd Elson
- 👤 Gary Allen Martek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:56
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/60; H03F3/602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A distributed signal manipulation system comprising: a plurality of input ports, wherein the number of input ports of said plurality of input ports is any even number not a power of two; a plurality of output ports wherein the number of said output ports of said plurality of output ports is the same as said number of input ports; means for dividing a signal input at any one of said plurality of input ports into a plurality of signal components, wherein the number of signal components of said plurality of signal components is less than said number of input ports; means for combining said plurality of signal components into an output signal; and means for independently manipulating ones of said signal components, said manipulating means providing manipulated signal components for combining by said combining means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A distributed signal manipulation system comprising: a plurality of input ports, wherein the number of input ports of said plurality of input ports is any even number not a power of two; a plurality of output ports wherein the number of said output ports of said plurality of output ports is the same as said number of input ports; means for dividing a signal input at any one of said plurality of input ports into a plurality of signal components, wherein the number of signal components of said plurality of signal components is less than said number of input ports; means for combining said plurality of signal components into an output signal; and means for independently manipulating ones of said signal components, said manipulating means providing manipulated signal components for combining by said combining means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said signal manipulation means comprises: at least one linear power amplifier, and wherein said output signal includes an amplified aspect of said input signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 2, wherein the number of said linear power amplifiers is equal to said number of input ports.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 3, wherein substantial cross-talk is experienced at only a subset of said plurality of signal output ports upon a failure of one of said linear power amplifiers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1, wherein substantial cross-talk is experienced at only a subset of said plurality of output ports upon a partial failure of said manipulating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said dividing means provides substantially different signal paths than said combining means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said dividing means comprises: a plurality of 90° hybrid combiners interconnected in a predetermined manner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said combining means comprises: a plurality of 90° hybrid combiners interconnected in a predetermined manner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said number of said plurality of input ports is selected from the group consisting of six, ten, twelve, fourteen, eighteen, twenty, and twenty-four.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 9, wherein said number of said signal components said input signal is divided into by said dividing means is selected from the group consisting of four, eight, and sixteen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising: means for summing at least two of said signal components, said summing means being coupled between said dividing means and said manipulating means; and means for splitting at least one of said summed signals after said summed signal has been manipulated by said manipulating means, said splitting means being coupled between said manipulating means and said combining means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for providing distributed signal manipulation, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a number of discrete signals for which to provide said distributed signal manipulation, wherein said number selected may be any even number; providing a plurality of input ports equal to the number selected in said selecting step; providing a plurality of output ports equal to the number of said input ports; dividing an input signal input at any of said input ports into a plurality of signal components, wherein the number of signal components of said plurality of signal components is the greatest power of two not larger than said number of input ports; manipulating said plurality of signal components, said manipulating step providing a plurality of manipulated signal components; and combining said plurality of manipulated signal components into an output signal, wherein said output signal is a function of said input signal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for providing distributed signal manipulation, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a number of discrete signals for which to provide said distributed signal manipulation, wherein said number selected may be any even number; providing a plurality of input ports equal to the number selected in said selecting step; providing a plurality of output ports equal to the number of said input ports; dividing an input signal input at any of said input ports into a plurality of signal components, wherein the number of signal components of said plurality of signal components is the greatest power of two not larger than said number of input ports; manipulating said plurality of signal components, said manipulating step providing a plurality of manipulated signal components; and combining said plurality of manipulated signal components into an output signal, wherein said output signal is a function of said input signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said manipulating step comprises the step of amplifying said signal components.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said manipulating step utilizes a subset of amplifiers of a plurality of amplifiers, and wherein the number of amplifiers in said plurality of amplifiers is equal to said number of input ports provided in said providing step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said dividing step utilizes substantially different signal paths than said combining step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of: interconnecting a plurality of 90° hybrid combiners to be utilized in dividing said input signal at said dividing step, wherein said plurality of 90° hybrid combiners are associated with signal dividing stages equal in number to the exponent of said power of two.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of: interconnecting a plurality of 90° hybrid combiners to be utilized in combining said input signal at said combining step, wherein said plurality of 90° hybrid combiners are associated with signal combining stages equal in number to the exponent of said power of two.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said number selected in said selecting step is not a power of two.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: summing at least two of said plurality of signal components for manipulation at said manipulating step; and splitting at least one of said summed signals after said summed signal has been manipulated in said manipulating step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
149 words
A distributed signal manipulation system comprising: an input signal path matrix having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, wherein said input signal path matrix is adapted to divide a signal input at any one of said input ports into a plurality of signal components; an output signal path matrix having a plurality of output ports and a plurality of input ports, wherein said output signal path matrix is adapted to combine said plurality of signal components into an output signal, and wherein said output signal path matrix provides a substantially different arrangement of signal paths than said input signal path matrix; and a plurality of amplifiers for independently manipulating ones of said plurality of signal components, said plurality of amplifiers providing manipulated signal components for combining by said output signal path matrix, wherein said output signal is an amplified rendition of said input signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
149 words
A distributed signal manipulation system comprising: an input signal path matrix having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, wherein said input signal path matrix is adapted to divide a signal input at any one of said input ports into a plurality of signal components; an output signal path matrix having a plurality of output ports and a plurality of input ports, wherein said output signal path matrix is adapted to combine said plurality of signal components into an output signal, and wherein said output signal path matrix provides a substantially different arrangement of signal paths than said input signal path matrix; and a plurality of amplifiers for independently manipulating ones of said plurality of signal components, said plurality of amplifiers providing manipulated signal components for combining by said output signal path matrix, wherein said output signal is an amplified rendition of said input signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said amplifiers of said plurality of amplifiers are linear power amplifiers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 20, wherein the number of amplifiers of said plurality of amplifiers is equal to the number of input ports of said plurality of input ports of said input signal path matrix.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 22, wherein undesired signals are experienced at only a subset of said plurality of signal output ports of said output signal path matrix upon a failure of one of said amplifiers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said input signal path matrix comprises a hybrid matrix including 90° hybrid combiners.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said output matrix comprises a hybrid matrix including 90° hybrid combiners.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 20, wherein the number of input ports of said plurality of input ports of said input signal path matrix is any even number.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 20, wherein the number of input ports of said plurality of input ports of said input signal path matrix is selected from the group consisting of six, ten, twelve, fourteen, eighteen, twenty, and twenty-four.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said number of signal input ports of said input signal path matrix and of said signal output ports of said output signal path matrix is twelve.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 28, wherein said number of said plurality of output ports of said input signal path matrix to which at least a portion of said input signal applied to any one of said plurality of signal input ports of said input signal path matrix is provided is eight.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
111 words
The system of claim 20, further comprising: a signal combiner coupled to at least two of said plurality of output ports of said input signal path matrix; and a signal splitter coupled to at least two of said plurality of input ports of said output signal path matrix, wherein at least one of said plurality of amplifiers is coupled to at least two of said plurality of output ports of said input signal path matrix through said signal combiner and said at least one of said plurality of amplifiers is coupled to at least two of said plurality of input ports of said output signal path matrix through said signal splitter.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
240 words
A system providing distributed manipulation of an input signal applied to a signal input port of a plurality of signal input ports to result in an output signal having a predetermined manipulated aspect at a particular signal output port of a plurality of signal output ports corresponding to said signal input port, said system comprising: an input signal path matrix providing said plurality of signal input ports and a plurality of distributed signal output ports, wherein at least a portion of said input signal is provided to ones of said plurality of distributed signal output ports, and wherein said ones of said plurality of distributed signal output ports is the greatest power of two not larger than said plurality of signal input ports; an output signal path matrix providing said plurality of signal output ports and a plurality of distributed signal input ports, wherein signals applied to ones of said distributed signal input ports are combined to provide said output signal, wherein said output signal path matrix provides a substantially different arrangement of signal paths than said input signal path matrix; and a plurality of signal manipulation devices coupled to said input signal path matrix and said output signal path matrix providing manipulation of signals appearing at ones of said plurality of distributed signal output ports of said input signal path matrix for input into ones of said plurality of distributed signal input ports of said output signal path matrix.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
240 words
A system providing distributed manipulation of an input signal applied to a signal input port of a plurality of signal input ports to result in an output signal having a predetermined manipulated aspect at a particular signal output port of a plurality of signal output ports corresponding to said signal input port, said system comprising: an input signal path matrix providing said plurality of signal input ports and a plurality of distributed signal output ports, wherein at least a portion of said input signal is provided to ones of said plurality of distributed signal output ports, and wherein said ones of said plurality of distributed signal output ports is the greatest power of two not larger than said plurality of signal input ports; an output signal path matrix providing said plurality of signal output ports and a plurality of distributed signal input ports, wherein signals applied to ones of said distributed signal input ports are combined to provide said output signal, wherein said output signal path matrix provides a substantially different arrangement of signal paths than said input signal path matrix; and a plurality of signal manipulation devices coupled to said input signal path matrix and said output signal path matrix providing manipulation of signals appearing at ones of said plurality of distributed signal output ports of said input signal path matrix for input into ones of said plurality of distributed signal input ports of said output signal path matrix.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 31, wherein one of said signal manipulation devices comprise linear power amplifiers, and wherein said output signal is an amplified rendition of said input signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said input signal path matrix does not present an inverse signal path of said output signal path matrix.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said input signal path matrix comprises: a hybrid matrix including 90° hybrid combiners disposed in a number of stages equal to the exponent of said power of two.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said output signal path matrix comprises: a hybrid matrix including 90° hybrid combiners disposed in a number of stages equal to the exponent of said power of two.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said number of signal input ports of said plurality of signal input ports of said input signal path matrix is twelve.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 31, wherein the number of said distributed signal output ports of said input signal path matrix to which at least a portion of said input signal is provided is eight.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 31, wherein a failure of any one of said signal manipulation devices results in said output signal experiencing a power loss of approximately 1 dB.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 31, wherein a failure of any one of said signal manipulation devices results in a maximum cross-talk of approximately 18 dB.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 39, wherein said cross-talk is experienced at only a subset of said plurality of signal output ports.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
109 words
The system of claim 31, further comprising: a signal summer coupled to at least two of said distributed signal output ports of said input signal path matrix; and a signal splitter coupled to at least two of said distributed signal input ports of said output signal path matrix, wherein a signal manipulation device of said plurality of signal manipulation devices is coupled to at least two of said distributed signal output ports of said input signal path matrix through said signal summer and said signal manipulation device is coupled to at least two of said distributed signal input ports of said output signal path matrix through said signal splitter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |