MXPA98010628A - Article that comprises a combiner-separates - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-carrier linear RF power amplifier incorporating an improved signal separator and an improved signal combiner is disclosed. The amplifier comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped amplifier modules. When these modules are disposed radially and butt-bound to each other, the facing edges of the modules collectively define an axially or centrally located opening. An improved signal separator, a combiner or a dual separator / combiner are advantageously arranged in the axially located opening. The signal separator or signal combiner is a conductive structure comprising a plurality of conductors of equal length, arranged radially in a dielectric substrate. The conductive structure is arranged vetajosamente within a housing configured in a convenient manner. The housing is placed inside the axially located opening

Description

ARTICLE THAT COMPRISES A COMBINATOR-SEPARATOR Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to telecommunications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a combiner-separator, for use in conjunction with a multi-carrier RF amplifier. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a portion of a wireless communications system typical in the prior art. This system provides wireless telecommunications services to a number of wireless terminals (for example, wireless terminals 101-1 to 103-1, which are located within a geographical region). The heart of a typical wireless telecommunications system is a wireless switching center ("SC" = Wireless Switch Center) 120, which can also be known as a mobile switching center, ("MSC" = Mobile Switch Center) or a central mobile telephone ("MTSO" = Mobile Telephone Switching Office). Typically, the WSC 120 is connected to a plurality of base stations (eg, base stations 103-1 to 103-5) that are dispersed throughout the geographic area served by the system. In addition, WSC 120 is connected to local and quota REF: 28982 exchanges (for example, local exchange 130, local exchange 138, and quota exchange 140). The WSC 120 is responsible among other things for establishing and maintaining calls between wireless terminals and between a wireless terminal and a physical line terminal that is connected to the system by the local networks of the grid and / or long distance. The geographical area served by a wireless telecommunications system is divided into a number of spatially distinct areas called "cells". As illustrated in Figure 1, each cell is represented schematically by a hexagon; in practice, however, each cell usually has an irregular shape that depends on the topography of the terrain. Typically, each cell contains a base station, comprising radios and antennas that the base station uses to communicate with the wireless terminals in this cell and also comprises the transmission equipment that the base station uses to communicate with WSC 120. For example, when the wireless terminal 101-1 wishes to communicate with the wireless terminal 101-2, the wireless terminal 101-1 transmits the desired information to the base station 103-1, which relays the information to the WSC 120. Upon receiving the information with the intended knowledge for the wireless terminal 101-2, the WSC 120 then returns the information back to the base station 103-1, which retransmits the information by radio, to the wireless terminal 101-2. The manner in which the information received from WSC 120 is processed within the base station 103-1, is illustrated in Figure 2. This information is transmitted from the WSC 120 to the base station 103-1, as the multiplexed signal 202. This signal comprises a multiplicity of constituent signals, which in the context of the present discussion are RF carrier signals. Each of these constituent RF carrier signals differs in all other signals according to a particular muliplejado scheme employed (for example, time division multiplexed, multiplexed with frequency division, multiple with code division, etc.). When received by the base station 103-1, the signal 202 is demultiplied in its constituent RF carrier signals 202 ^ 1 = 1 N * in the demultiplexer 204. Each of the N constituent RF carrier signals is addressed to a corresponding one. of N radios 206i, S _ 1 N *. Each radio 206i is operable to modulate a message signal on the constituent signal 202, which receives in accordance with a particular modulation scheme (eg, multiple access with time division, multiple access with code division, etc.). A modulated RF carrier signal 208i, generated by each radio, it is supplied to the summing device 210 where these modulated carrier signals are summed to generate RF signal of multiple carriers 212. As the RF carrier signals modulated 208j. generated by the radios are very low power signals, the multi-carrier RF signal 212 should be routed to the amplifier 214, typically a multi-carrier linear RF power amplifier with forward correction ("FMLRF power amplifier" = Feedforward multicarrier linear RF power a plifier), to reinforce the signal strength for transmission from the base station to various wireless terminals, such as 101-2. An FMLRF power amplifier can usually amplify all the RF carrier signals in use within a given cell. The design and operation of these amplifiers is familiar to those with skill in the art. See, for example, US patent. No. 5,304,945, incorporated herein by reference. Within the power amplifier FMLRF 214, the RF signal of multiple carriers 212 is divided by the separator 216 in J Signals of equal power 212¿ and supplies J with identical amplifier modules 218 ?. Each of the signals 212? it is amplified at a certain output power in the amplifier modules. The 220x amplified signals from the amplifier modules combine to form the multi-carrier RF signal 224 in the combiner 222. The signal 224 is directed to the antenna 226 for transmission, such as the wireless terminal 101-2. Increasing wireless traffic results in a need to increase the calling capacity of these wireless systems. One way to increase call capacity is to increase the number of cells within a given geographic area. This increase results in smaller cells and of course more base stations. Increasing the number of cells results in a decrease in the signal transmission power requirements (due to a smaller coverage area), thus allowing use of smaller, lower power FMLRF power amplifiers. Previous separator and combiner designs for conventional high-power FMLRF power amplifiers have used cavities of a special size and geometry well-suited to these larger FMLRF power amplifiers. With decreasing size requirements of these power amplifiers, a new, more compact design is required for a power splitter and power combiner.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A multi-carrier linear RF power amplifier is disclosed incorporating an improved signal separator and an improved signal combiner. The amplifier comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped amplifier modules. When these modules are arranged radially and abutting each other, the edges facing inwardly of the modules collectively define a centrally or axially located opening. An improved signal separator, signal combiner or dual separator / combiner according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is advantageously arranged in the axially located opening. In some embodiments, a signal separator or signal combiner is a conductive structure comprising a plurality of conductors of equal length, arranged radially on a suitable dielectric surface. The conductive structure is advantageously arranged within a conveniently configured housing. The housing is positioned within the axially located opening. Each conductor within the structure has a length? / 4 where? is the central frequency of the multiple carrier signal. The impedance of each conductor is given by: Z = Z0, n12, where Z0 is the desired impedance of the external lines to the separator or the combiner, typically 50 ohms and n is the number of conductors in the plurality. In some embodiments, each driver is advantageously "suspended" within the housing, thereby minimizing signal loss. In some embodiments, this is achieved by locating the conductors in cylindrical cavities that form inside the housing. Each conductor is "suspended" within the cavity in the dielectric surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a wireless telecommunications system of the prior art; Figure 2 illustrates a simplified diagram of the way in which a multiplexed signal that is received from a wireless switching center is processed in a prior art base station; Figure 3 illustrates a top view of a portion of a multi-carrier linear amplifier according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the portion of the multiple carrier linear amplifier of Figure 3, with several amplification modules removed to show a spacer housing and a combiner housing; Figure 5 illustrates a conductive structure according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates grooves formed in the plates of a combiner or spacer housing according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of a combiner or spacer housing, incorporating cylindrical cavities formed in abutting the slotted plates of Figure 6; and Figure 8 illustrates a dual separator / combiner according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 3 is a top view of a portion of the illustrative multi-carrier linear amplifier 314 showing 8 amplifier modules radially arranged, of equal size, wedge-shaped 318? -3188. The amplifier modules 318i are conveniently dimensioned such that when disposed in abutting relationship as shown in Figure 3, the perimeter of octagonal shape 322 is defined, collectively by the outwardly directed edge 320 of each module. Additionally, when disposed as illustrated in Figure 3, the octagonal region 326 is defined, collectively by the inwardly directed edge 324 of each module. Figure 4, which illustrates a perspective view of Figure 3 (with several amplifier modules removed for clarity of illustration), shows spacer housing 416 and combiner housing 422 advantageously axially aligned in region 326 formed by the amplifying modules 318j .. The placement of a signal separator, signal combiner or both in this manner is known in the art. When these devices are thus aligned, signal paths of equal length are easily obtained for each n nonamplified "divided" signals, running from the separator to each of the amplifier modules n, and for each n amplified signals traveling from each amplifier module to the combiner. These signal paths of equal length are required to maintain phase relationships between each of the n-amplified signals n, which are generated by the separator and each of the n amplified signals that are supplied to the combiner. The spacer housing 416 includes an axially aligned gate 430 for receiving an RF signal from multiple low power carriers of an adder (see Figure 2). The combiner housing 422 also includes an axially aligned gate 432 to which an amplified multiple carrier RF signal is supplied. The spacer housing 416 further includes 8 output gates (not shown) for supplying each of the 8 divided signals to one of the 8 amplifier modules 318. Likewise, the combiner housing 422 includes 8 power gates (not shown) to receive each of the 8 amplified signals of the 8 amplifier modules. Each amplifier module 318? it has a power gate and an output gate (not shown) to receive and supply unamplified and amplified signals respectively. The 8 output gates of the separator housing 416 and the 8 feed gates in the amplifier modules 318i are arranged uniformly such that the path length for each of the 8 divided signals are identical. The 8 feed gates in the combiner housing 422 and the 8 output gates in the amplifier modules are arranged for similar purposes. Figure 5 illustrates a conductive structure 500 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, suitable for functioning as a separator or combiner. This conductor structure is located within the separator and combiner housings 416, 422. Eight conductors 504! -5048 having the same length, are arranged triangularly radially on the insulating surface 502. In some embodiments, the insulating surface 502 is a dielectric material. The length L of each of the 504x conductors is? / 4, where? is the center frequency of the multi-carrier signal processed. The impedance of the external lines to the separator or combiner is typically 50 ohms. To achieve impedance matching, the impedance of each conductor 504 must be: Z = Z0, n1:, [1] where: Z0 is 50 ohms and n is the number of conductors. For example, if there are 8 conductors, then the impedance of each conductor 504, is 50 x 812 = 141 ohms. It is known by those skilled in the art to design a conductor to have a specific impedance (for example, 141 ohms) by appropriately selecting line width, dielectric and the like. To minimize the loss of signal, each driver 504j. advantageously "suspends" within housings 416, 422. In some embodiments that can be achieved by forming semicircular grooves 619 and 622 within respective upper and lower portions 618 (Figure 6A) 621 (Figure 6B) of the spacer and combiner housing Illustrative 620. Figure 7 illustrates upper and lower portions 618, 621 of housing 620 joined. The conductive structure 500 is disposed between the joined portions. The drivers 504 ^. they are "suspended" in a dielectric surface, such as is used to form printed circuit boards, within the cylindrical cavities 124. It should be noted that for this suspended conductor, a dielectric constant is estimated which takes into account the fact that there is dielectric material surrounded by air. In the illustrative embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5, the multi-carrier linear RF amplifier 314 is considered to comprise 8 amplifier modules. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments for other applications, this amplifier may be constituted by other numbers of amplifier modules. If a different number of amplifier modules is employed, splitter and combiner housings 416, 422 (Figure 4) will typically have a different shape consistent with this different number of modules. And of course, the number of drivers will change directly with the number of amplifier modules. For example, if 6 amplifier modules are employed, the region 326 (Figure 3) will typically have a perimeter of hexagonal shape such that the spacer and combiner housings are advantageously hexagonally formed. Even more, if they employ 6 amplifier modules, then 6 conductors will have to be used. In the illustrative embodiments described above, the separator and the combiner were arranged in separate housings. In other embodiments, the separator and combiner are advantageously arranged in a single housing. That dual separator / combiner requires two separator conductor structures one to function as a separator, the other as a combiner. Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a dual separator / combiner 800 including a 3-piece housing 820, and first and second conductor structures 802, 804 in accordance with the present invention. One of the conductive structures functions as a separator, and the other conductive structure functions as a combiner. It will be understood that said functionality is determined based on the way in which a conductive structure is integrated with the rest of the amplifier. That is, if a signal is supplied to the center of a conductive structure, it will function as a separator; If signals are supplied at the end of each conductor of the structure, the structure will function as a combiner. Each of the conductive structures includes a number, n, of conductors (not shown). As previously described, the particular number, n of conductors in the conductor structures is dictated by the number of amplifier modules. The three-piece housing 820 comprises the lower plate 822, the middle plate 826 and the upper plate 832. The upper surface 822b of the lower plate 822 advantageously includes n semicircular grooves 824, one for each conductor 802x of the first conductive structure 802. The lower surface 826a of the middle plate 826 advantageously includes n semicircular grooves 828. The grooves 824 in the lower plate 822 and the grooves 828 in the lower surface 826a of the middle plate 826, are located in a complementary manner to each other such that when the lower and middle plates are placed in confining to butt relationship, the slots 824 and 828 align forming a first group of n cylindrical cavities 840 to receive a similar number n of conductors from the first conductive structure 802. The surface upper 826b of the middle plate 826, includes n semicircular shaped grooves 830. And the lower surface 832a of the upper plate 832, includes n semicircular grooves 834. When the upper plate 832 and the middle plate 826 are placed in confining relationship with the stop, the grooves 830 and 834 align forming a second group of n cylindrical cavities 842 to receive the n conductors of the second conductor structure 804. The middle plate advantageously provides shielding between the first conductor structure 802 and the second conductor structure 804. In the dual separator / combiner 800 illustrated in Figure 8, the grooves 824 in the lower plate and the grooves 824 in the upper surface of the middle plate, the grooves 830 are advantageously displaced in the upper surface of the middle plate and grooves 832 in the upper plate. This displacement results in thinner plates and results in a natural shift between a first set of gates / interfaces (required for electrical connection between the conductive structure that functions as a separator and the amplifier modules) and a second set of gates / interfaces (required for electrical connection between the amplifier modules and the conductive structure that works as a combiner). The non-amplified multiple carrier RF signal is supplied through the axially aligned gate 836 through the upper plate 832 to one of the conductive structures. Due to the equal signal path lengths between the center of the conductive structure and the power supply of each amplifier module, the RF signal of multiple carriers is divided into n equal power signals traveling over the n conductors. The amplified signals returning from the amplifier modules are supplied to the conductors in the other conductive structure, and are combined into a single amplified multiple carrier RF signal at the center of this conductive structure. The multi-carrier amplified RF signal leaves the combiner through an axially aligned gate (not shown) extending through the bottom plate 822. It will be understood that the configuration of the separator / combiner can be reversed, wherein the Non-amplified is received in the gate on the bottom plate and the amplified output is supplied to the gate 836 through the top plate. Although specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described herein, it will be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the many possible specific structures that can be designed in application of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other structures can be designed according to these principles by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that these other structures be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (19)

1. CLAIMS 1.- An article for amplifying a first RF signal of multiple carriers, characterized in that it comprises: a first plurality of radially disposed conductors operable to divide the first RF signal of multiple carriers into a plurality of RF signals of multiple carriers of equal power, wherein an RF signal of multiple carriers is transported on each radially disposed conductor; a plurality of amplifier modules, wherein each amplifier module is electrically connected to one of the radially disposed conductors of the first plurality and is operable to amplify the RF signal of multiple carriers carried on the radially disposed conductor electrically connected thereto, and a second plurality of radially disposed conductors, wherein each radially disposed conductor of the second plurality is electrically connected to one of the amplifier modules, and further wherein each radially disposed conductor of the second plurality is operable to receive the RF signal of multiple carriers amplified amplifier module electrically connected to it, and further the second plurality of radially arranged conductors is operable, collectively to combine the RF signals of multiple amplified carriers into a second RF signal of multiple carriers.
2. 2. The article according to claim 1, characterized in that the first plurality of radially arranged conductors is placed on a first dielectric surface, and the second plurality of radially arranged conductors are placed on a second dielectric surface.
3. 3. The article according to claim 1, characterized in that the first RF signal of multiple carriers is supplied to a central axis of the first plurality of radially arranged conductors, wherein in the central axis, all radially arranged conductors of the first plurality are in physical contact with each other.
4. 4. - The article according to claim 3, characterized in that the RF signals of multiple amplified carriers are combined in the second RF signal of multiple carriers in a central axis of the second plurality of radially arranged conductors, where all these conductors they are in physical contact with each other.
5. 5. The article according to claim 3, characterized in that the signal path length from the central axis to the first plurality of conductors radially disposed to the central axis of the second plurality of conductors radially disposed on any of the radially arranged conductors is equal to the signal path length over any other radially arranged conductors.
6. 6. The article according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of each conductor is? / 4, where? is the center frequency of the first multi-carrier RF signal.
7. 7. The article according to claim 1, characterized in that the first plurality of radially arranged conductors is located in a first housing.
8. 8. - The article according to claim 7, characterized in that each radially disposed conductor of the first plurality is suspended within the first housing.
9. 9. The article according to claim 8, characterized in that each radially disposed conductor of the first plurality is arranged in a cylindrical cavity of a first group of the cavities within the first housing.
10. 10. The article according to claim 7, characterized in that the second plurality of radially arranged conductors is located in the first housing.
11. 11. The article according to claim 10, characterized in that the second plurality of radially arranged conductors is suspended within the first housing.
12. 12. The article according to claim 11, characterized in that each radially disposed conductor of the second plurality is placed inside a cylindrical cavity of a second group of these cavities within the first housing.
13. 13. The article according to claim 11, characterized in that the housing comprises a lower plate, a middle plate and an upper plate, and the middle plate protects the first plurality of radially disposed conductors of the second plurality of radially arranged conductors.
14. 14. - A base station for a wireless telecommunications system, characterized in that it comprises: a demultiplexer for a multiplexed RF signal in a first plurality of RF signals; a plurality of radii, each of whose radii is operable to receive one of the RF signals of the first plurality and modulates a message signal; a summing device for combining the modulated RF signals of the plurality of radios into a first RF signal of multiple carriers; a multi-carrier linear RF amplifier for amplifying the RF signal of multiple carriers, the amplifier comprises: a first plurality of radially arranged conductors that are operated to divide the first RF signal of multiple carriers into a plurality of RF signals of multiple carriers of the same power, wherein an RF signal of multiple carriers is transported on each radially disposed conductor; a plurality of amplifier modules, wherein each amplifier module is electrically connected to one of the radially disposed conductors of the first plurality and is operable to amplify the RF signal of multiple carriers carried on the radially disposed conductor electrically connected thereto; and a second plurality of radially disposed conductors, wherein each radially disposed conductor of the second plurality is electrically connected to one of the amplifying modules, and further wherein each radially disposed conductor of the second plurality is operable to receive the multiple RF signal. amplified carriers of the amplifier module electrically connected to it and further, the second plurality of radially arranged conductors, is collectively operable to combine the RF signals of multiple amplified carriers into a second RF signal of multiple carriers, and an antenna to transmit the second signal RF of multiple carriers.
15. 15. - An article for dividing a signal into a plurality of signals of equal power, characterized in that it comprises: a first plurality of radially arranged conductors of equal length, wherein the conductors physically contact each other in a first central axis; a first feed gate arranged on the first central axis and operable to supply a signal to the first plurality of radially arranged conductors; and a plurality of output gates, wherein each output gate is operable to receive a signal of equal power carried in one of the radially disposed conductors of the first plurality.
16. 16. The article according to claim 15, characterized in that in addition the first plurality of radially arranged conductors is placed on a dielectric substrate.
17. 17. - The article according to claim 16, characterized in that further each radially disposed conductor is suspended by circumscribing it within a cylindrical cavity.
18. 18. - The article according to claim 15, characterized in that it further comprises: a second plurality of radially arranged conductors of equal length, wherein the conductors physically contact each other in a second central axis; a plurality of feed gates, wherein each feed gate of the plurality is operable to receive a signal from a plurality of these signals and supply it to one of the radially disposed conductors of the second plurality; and an output gate arranged on the second central axis and operable to receive a combined signal that is formed on the second central axis of the plurality of signals.
19. 19. An article for combining a plurality of signals in a combined signal, characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of radially arranged conductors of equal length, wherein the conductors physically contact each other on a central axis; a plurality of feed gates wherein each feed gate is operable to receive a signal from the plurality of these signals and supply it to one of the radially disposed conductors; and an output gate disposed on the central axis and operable to receive the combined signal that is formed on the central axis of the plurality of signals.