JPH0515523U - Microwave power combiner circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An object is to obtain a circuit that can be used in a wide frequency range and a wide temperature range in a microwave power combining circuit that combines the outputs of two high-power amplifiers for microwaves. [Structure] A power distributor 1, first and second high-power amplifiers 2 and 3 connected to the power distributor 1, a hybrid circuit 4 connected to the outputs of two high-power amplifiers, and one output terminal of the hybrid circuit 4. And a variable phase shifter 6 connected between the power distributor 1 and the first high-power amplifier 2. [Effect] By connecting the variable phase shifter 6, it is possible to minimize the combined loss in a wide frequency and temperature range by correcting the change in the transmission phase due to the frequency characteristic and the temperature characteristic of the electric length of the microwave circuit.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a microwave power combining circuit for combining the outputs of two high-power amplifiers in order to obtain a large transmission output in a transmitter of a radar device or a communication device using microwaves.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional microwave power combining circuit, in which 1 is a power distributor having an input terminal and first and second output terminals, and 2 is a first output of the power distributor. A first high power amplifier connected to the terminal, 3 is a second high power amplifier connected to the second output terminal of the power distributor, and 4 is a hybrid connected to the outputs of the first and second high power amplifiers. Circuit 5 is a terminator connected to one of the two outputs of the hybrid circuit.

Next, the operation will be described. The microwave signal input to the power distributor 1 is equally divided into two and output to the first and second output terminals. The microwave signal at the first output terminal is amplified by the first high power amplifier 2 and input to one side of the hybrid circuit 4, and the microwave signal at the second output terminal is amplified by the second high power amplifier 3. Input to the other side of the hybrid circuit 4. The electrical length of each of the two microwave circuits divided from the power distributor 1 to the input end of the hybrid circuit 4 is such that two signals input at one output end of the hybrid circuit 4 appear in phase. Is set, and the combined output of the first and second high-power amplifiers 2 and 3 is obtained at this output terminal. The other output end of the hybrid circuit 4 is terminated by the terminator 5, but the electrical length is set so that the two input signals appear in opposite phases, so the two input signals are mutually They cancel each other out and do not appear at the output end.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The conventional microwave power combiner circuit is configured as described above, and since the electric length of the microwave circuit divided into two parts from the power distributor to the hybrid circuit is fixed, the frequency characteristics of the microwave circuit are fixed. However, due to the frequency and temperature characteristics of the high-power amplifier, a difference occurs in the electrical length between the two microwave circuits, and power synthesis loss due to the phase difference occurs in a wide frequency band and operating temperature range. there were. Also, since the electric length of the microwave circuit divided into two is fixed, it is fixed to one of the two output terminals of the hybrid circuit where the combined output appears. If the output is to be switched and input, it is necessary to add a waveguide switch to the output of the hybrid circuit for switching. Since the waveguide switch is mechanically switched, the switching time is slow, and the size and weight are large. Also, because the outputs of the two high-power amplifiers are combined using a hybrid circuit, if one of the high-power amplifiers stops operating due to a failure, etc., the output of the hybrid circuit is the output of one high-output power amplifier. There was a problem that it decreased to half.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. In the example of a conventional circuit consisting of a power divider, two high-power amplifiers, a hybrid circuit, and a terminator, a function is provided that allows the electrical length between the two divided microwave circuits to be set arbitrarily, The objective is to obtain a circuit that can eliminate power combined loss by adjusting. Another object of the present invention is to obtain a circuit capable of switching the output terminal of the hybrid circuit in which the combined output of the high output amplifier appears by switching the electrical length between the two divided microwave circuits by 180 degrees. It is also an object of the present invention to obtain a circuit configuration in which the output power of one high-power amplifier can be obtained at the output end even when one of the two high-power amplifiers stops operating.

[0006]

A microwave power combining circuit according to the present invention is a conventional circuit composed of a power distributor, two high power amplifiers, a hybrid circuit and a terminator. It consists of a circuit in which a variable phase shifter is placed on one side of two microwave circuits between high-power amplifiers.

In addition, in an example of a conventional circuit composed of a power distributor, two high-power amplifiers, a hybrid circuit, and a terminator, 180 ° is provided on one side of the two microwave circuits between the power distributor and the high-power amplifier. It is configured by a circuit including a phase switch.

Also, the outputs of the two high power amplifiers connected to the power distributor are connected to the first waveguide switch, and the output of the first waveguide switch is hybridized with the second waveguide switch. Circuit to connect the output of the second waveguide switch to the third waveguide switch and the hybrid circuit, and to connect one output of the hybrid circuit to the third waveguide switch. It is composed.

[0009]

[Action]

 The microwave power combiner circuit configured as described above can operate even if the microwave lengths of the two microwave circuit tubes differ due to the frequency characteristics of the microwave circuit, the frequency and temperature characteristics of the high-power amplifier, etc. It is possible to correct the electrical length difference by adjusting the phase with the variable phase shifter placed on one side of the two microwave circuits between the distributor and the high-power amplifier, and it is possible to minimize the combined loss of the hybrid circuit output. ..

In another circuit configuration in which a 180-degree phase shifter is inserted on one side of the two microwave circuits between the power distributor and the high-power amplifier, the output of one high-power amplifier is changed by the 180-degree phase shifter. Since the phase can be switched by 180 degrees, the input phase on one side of the hybrid circuit changes by 180 degrees, and the output signals of the two high-power amplifiers become in phase before switching, and the two signals are reversed at the output end where the combined output appeared. The two output signals of the two high-power amplifiers have opposite phases before switching and the output signals do not appear. At the output terminal where the outputs do not appear, the two signals become in phase and a composite output appears. In this way, the output end of the combined output can be switched by switching the 180-degree phase shifter.

In other circuit configurations, the outputs of the two high-power amplifiers can be connected to the two input terminals of the hybrid circuit by switching the first and second waveguide switches without passing through the hybrid circuit. It is also possible to connect to a third waveguide switch, and to connect the composite output from the hybrid circuit to the output circuit by switching the third waveguide switch, It is also possible to connect the output of the output amplifier.

[0012]

【Example】

 Example 1. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a power distributor having an input terminal and first and second output terminals, and 2 is a power distributor connected to the first output terminal of the power distributor. A first high-power amplifier, 3 a second high-power amplifier connected to the second output terminal of the power distributor, 4 a hybrid circuit connected to the outputs of the first and second high-power amplifiers, 5 Is a terminator connected to one of the two outputs of the hybrid circuit, and 6 is a variable phaser connected between the power divider 1 and the first high-power amplifier 2.

In the microwave power combining circuit configured as described above, when the frequency changes due to the frequency characteristics of the microwave circuit, a difference appears in the electrical length of the two divided circuits. By adjusting 6 it is possible to eliminate the phase difference and to minimize the combined loss at the output of the hybrid circuit 4. A high-power amplifier usually has a temperature characteristic in the amount of transmitted phase shift, and synthetic loss occurs because the amount of phase shift changes as the operating temperature changes. However, by adjusting the variable phase shifter 6, the phase difference is eliminated and the hybrid The combined loss at the output of the circuit 4 can be minimized.

Example 2. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a power distributor having an input terminal and first and second output terminals, and 2 is a first output terminal of the power distributor 1. First high-power amplifier connected, 3 is a second high-power amplifier connected to the second output terminal of the power distributor 1, and 4 is a hybrid circuit connected to the outputs of the first and second high-power amplifiers. 5 is a terminator connected to one of the two outputs of the hybrid circuit 4, and 7 is a 180-degree phaser connected between the power distributor 1 and the first high-power amplifier 2.

In the microwave power combining circuit configured as described above, when the phase of the input signal of the first power amplifier 2 is switched by 180 degrees by the 180 degree phase shifter 7, one of the two input signals of the hybrid circuit 4 is changed. Since the phase of the two changes by 180 degrees, the phases of the two input signals are opposite to each other at the output terminal where the combined output appeared before the switching, so they cancel each other out and the combined output does not appear. At the output terminal where the combined output did not appear before switching, the combined output appears because the two input signals have the same phase. In this way, by switching the phase shifter 180 degrees, the output terminal of the composite output can be switched.

Example 3. FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a power distributor having an input terminal and first and second output terminals, and 2 is a first output terminal of the power distributor. The first high-power amplifier, 3 is the second high-power amplifier connected to the second output terminal of the power divider, and 8 is the two output terminals connected to the outputs of the first and second high-power amplifiers. A first waveguide switch, a second waveguide switch 9 connected to one output terminal of the first waveguide switch 8 and having two output terminals, 4 a first waveguide switch A hybrid circuit 10 connected to the other output terminal of the switch 8 and one output terminal of the second waveguide switch 9 and having two output terminals, is a hybrid circuit 10 of the other one of the second waveguide switch 9 A third waveguide switch connected to the output terminal and one output terminal of the hybrid circuit 4, 5 is a hybrid A terminator connected to the other one of the circuit 4.

In the microwave power combining circuit configured as described above, the following three connections can be obtained by switching the first, second and third waveguide tube switches 8, 9 and 10. .. First, the output of the first high-power amplifier 2 is connected to the second waveguide switch 9 by the first waveguide switch 8, and is connected to the hybrid circuit 4 by the second waveguide switch 9. At this time, the output of the second high-power amplifier 3 is connected to the other input of the hybrid circuit 4 by the first waveguide switch 8. Further, the third waveguide switch 10 is switched so as to be connected to the hybrid circuit 4 and the output circuit. At this time, the electrical length from the power combining circuit to the first high-power amplifier 2, the first waveguide switch 8, the second waveguide switch 9, and the hybrid circuit 4 output terminal, and the power combining circuit to the second The high-power amplifier 3, the first waveguide switch 8, and the electrical length to the output terminal of the hybrid circuit 4 are set so that the two signals at the output terminal of the hybrid circuit 4 have the same phase. At the output terminal of 4, the combined output of the two high power amplifiers appears. This output appears in the output circuit through the third waveguide switch 10. In this way, the combined output of the first and second high power amplifiers can be connected to the output circuit.

In the second connection, the output of the first high-power amplifier 2 is connected to the second waveguide switch 9 by the first waveguide switch 8 and the second waveguide switch 9 is connected. It is connected to the third waveguide switch 10 and is connected to the output circuit by the third waveguide switch 10. In this connection, the output of the first high output amplifier 2 can be connected to the output circuit without passing through the hybrid circuit 4, and is used when the second high output amplifier 3 is stopped due to a failure or the like.

In the third connection, the output of the second high-power amplifier 3 is connected to the second waveguide switch 9 by the first waveguide switch 8, and the second waveguide switch 9 is used. It is connected to the third waveguide switch 10 and is connected to the output circuit by the third waveguide switch 10. In this connection, the output of the second high output amplifier 3 can be connected to the output circuit without passing through the hybrid circuit 4, and is used when the first high output amplifier 2 is stopped due to a failure or the like.

[0020]

[Effect of the device]

 Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

Since the variable phase shifter 6 is connected between the power distributor 1 and the first high output amplifier 2 so that one phase of the divided microwave circuit can be arbitrarily adjusted, the microwave circuit Since the combined loss can be minimized by compensating for the amount of phase change due to the frequency characteristics and temperature characteristics of, it can be used in a wider frequency range and wider temperature range than the conventional configuration.

Further, since the 180-degree phase shifter 7 is connected between the power distributor 1 and the first high-power amplifier 2 so that one phase of the microwave circuit divided into two can be switched by 180 degrees, By switching the phase shifter 7, the output terminal of the composite output of the hybrid circuit 4 can be switched. Since the 180-degree phase shifter 7 is used with the low power output of the power distributor 1, it can be configured with a phase shifter that uses a semiconductor switch such as a pin diode with low withstand voltage, and is added when switching the output with the conventional configuration. It is possible to shorten the switching time (several tens to several hundreds ms) of the waveguide switch, which has been necessary to do so, to several μs or less. Further, it is possible to obtain an output terminal switching circuit which can be made smaller in size and weight than a waveguide switch.

The first and second. By switching the third waveguide switches 8, 9 and 10, the combined output of the first and second high output amplifiers 2 and 3, the output of the first high output amplifier 2 or the second high output. Any of the outputs of the amplifier 3 can be connected to the output circuit. For this reason, the synthetic output is normally used, and when one of the high-power amplifiers is stopped due to a failure or the like, the other one of the high-output amplifier outputs is output without passing through the hybrid circuit 4. With this configuration, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the output becomes half that of one high-power amplifier when one high-power amplifier is operating, and the redundancy function of the transmitter can be further enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a microwave power combining circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a microwave power combining circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of a microwave power combining circuit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a conventional microwave power combining circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power divider 2 1st high output amplifier 3 2nd high output amplifier 4 Hybrid circuit 5 Terminator 6 Variable phaser 7 180 degree phaser 8 1st waveguide switch 9 2nd waveguide switch 10 Third waveguide switch

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A power distributor having an input terminal, first and second output terminals, a variable phase shifter connected to the first output terminal of the power splitter, and a first high phase shifter connected to the variable phase shifter. An output amplifier, a second high power amplifier connected to the second output terminal of the power distributor, a hybrid circuit connected to the outputs of the first and second high power amplifiers, and two outputs of the hybrid circuit A microwave power combiner consisting of a terminator connected to one side. 2. A power distributor having an input terminal and first and second output terminals, a 180-degree phase switch connected to the first output terminal of the power distributor, and a 180-degree phase switch A first high power amplifier, a second high power amplifier connected to the second output terminal of the power divider, and a first and second output connected to the outputs of the first and second high power amplifiers. A microwave power combiner consisting of a hybrid circuit with terminals. 3. A power distributor having an input terminal and first and second output terminals, a first high power amplifier connected to the first output terminal of the power distributor, and a second power amplifier of the power distributor. A second high-power amplifier connected to the output terminal, a first waveguide switch connected to the outputs of the first and second high-power amplifiers and having two output terminals, and a first waveguide switch A second waveguide switch with two output terminals connected to one output terminal,
A hybrid circuit having two output terminals connected to the other output terminal of the first waveguide switch and one output terminal of the second waveguide switch, and the other one of the second waveguide switch A microwave power combiner circuit comprising a third waveguide switch connected to the output terminal of the hybrid circuit and one output terminal of the hybrid circuit, and a terminator connected to the other end of the hybrid circuit.