MICROWAVE ABSORBER ATTENUATOR FOR LINEAR SSPA POWER CONTROL

Abstract: The nonlinearity of the frequency response of a solid state power amplifier (SSPA, 13) is obviated by effectively operating the SSPA at the ldB compression point, where the nonlinearity does not exist, and controllably reducing, downstream of the SSPA, the power output produced by the SSPA to the level required by the link. In particular, the output is reduced by controllably inserting (24) a relatively thin tapered blade of ferrite material into a waveguide coupling section (14) downstream of the SSPA. Preferably the ferrite material is comprised of a robust carbonyl steel of sufficient thickness to withstand the heat induced in the course of its absorbing microwave energy at the SSPA output, while being of a narrow or thin configuration and oriented for insertion into the absorbing section of waveguide so as to not effectively alter the characteristics of the signal profile of the electromagnetic wave.

Description: MICROWAVE ABSORBER ATTENUATOR FOR LINEAR SSPA POWER CONTROL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to satellite communication systems, and is particularly directed to a scheme for controlling the output power of a microwave solid state power amplifier through the use of ferrite absorber element, the insertion of which into a section of output waveguide is adjustable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ■ ' Because of its low cost and compact size, the solid state (GaAs) power amplifier (SSPA) is a commonly employed component of the uplink transmitter of a VSAT (very small aperture terminal) Ku band earth station. The (gain) transfer (power output vs. power input) characteristic of a typical SSPA has a positive sloped linear region which gradually decreases over a knee portion to a slightly negative- sloped saturation region. When drive at the l.OdB gain compression point, namely at that point on the knee of the transfer characteristic which is ldB below an extension of its linear, positive slope region, the frequency response of the SSPA has a substantially smooth profile over its intended operational range. For currently available SSPAs the output power at the ldB gain compression point is on the order of two watts, which may be considerably greater than the power required by the link (e.g. one watt). Consequently, it is necessary to reduce the output power transmitted by the uplink terminal. Ideally, this power reduction would be accomplished by simply reducing the input power to the SSPA, as its output linearly tracks its input over the linear portion of its transfer characteristic below the ldB compression point. Unfortunately, the frequency response of the SSPA does not follow suit. Instead, the frequency response drastically departs from the smooth flat profile at ldB compression and ripples significantly across the transmit passband. In copending U.S. Patent Application entitled "Power Control System for VSAT Earth Station" , by William E. McGann, filed September 15, 1986, U.S. Serial No. 907,009, assigned to the Assignee of the present application, and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated into the present application by reference, there is described a signal processing scheme for compensating for this nonlinear frequency response and additional performance variables (e.g. gain vs . temperature) which essentially comprises a preemphasis mechanism inserted upstream of the SSPA. Now, while the nonlinearity compensation scheme described .in that application is certainly a useful technique for solving the nonlinearity problem, it would be preferred, if possible, to operate the SSPA in such a manner to avoid the problem altogether. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Pursuant to the present .invention, the objective discussed above is achieved by effectively operating the SSPA at the ldB compression point, where the passband ripple does not exist, and controllably reducing, downstream of the SSPA, the power output produced by the SSPA to the level required by the link. In particular, the present invention is directed to a mechanism for controllably inserting a relatively thin tapered blade of ferrite material into a waveguide coupling section downstream of the SSPA. Preferably the ferrite material is comprised of epoxy-bonded carbonyl steel particles of sufficient thickness to withstand the heat induced in the course of its absorbing microwave energy at the SSPA output, while being of a narrow or thin configuration and oriented for insertion into the absorbing section of waveguide so as to not effectively alter the characteristics of the signal profile of the electromagnetic wave. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a VSAT power amplifier section incorporating a waveguide attenuator in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 are respective sectional side and end views of the attenuator waveguide section 14 shown in Figure 1 depicting the manner in which the attenuator element is inserted into the waveguide section; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the attenuator element 33 employed in the attenuator waveguide section shown in Figures 2 and 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a schematic block diagram of a power control section containing a solid-state power amplifier and attenuator waveguide section incorporated in the up-converter circuitry between the IF input and RF output of a VSAT earth station. More s ecifically, an input signal (e.g. an intermediate frequency signal having a frequency of 140MHz) is coupled to an up-converter 12 of the earth station transmitter. The output of up-converter 12 has a frequency corresponding to the transmission frequency of the earth terminal, as beamed from the earth terminal antenna to the satellite. For purposes of the present description, it will be assumed that this output frequency lies in a Ku band range of 14.0-14.5GHz . The up-converter 12 is coupled to a solid state power amplifier (SSPA) 13, the output of which is coupled to an attenuator waveguide section 14, the details of which will be described below in conjunction with the description of Figures 2 and 3. Attenuator waveguide section 14 serves to controllably attenuate the output of SSPA 13 to the level required by the satellite link. As mentioned briefly above, SSPA 13 is operated at its ldB gain compression point so that its frequency response is subs antially flat over the range of frequencies of interest (e.g. 14.0-14.5GHz) . The output of waveguide section 14 is coupled through a waveguide filter stage 16 to an orthomode transducer 18. Waveguide filter stage 16 is comprised of a pair of cascaded filters, specifically a harmonic output rejection filter for SSPA 13 and a receive band noise power rejection filter. The output of orthomode transducer 18 is coupled over link 19 to an. antenna feedhorn (not shown) . As mentioned above, the behavioral characteristics of a typical SSPA 13 are such that its gain varies considerably with a change in frequency when operated below its ldB gain compression point. Pursuant to the present invention, SSPA 13 is operated at its ldB gain compression point so that its output characteristic is substantially flat over the frequency range of interest. For present day VSAT stations, operating in the Ku band, the output power of the terminal may be on the order of several watts or less. (Typically, for a commercially available gallium arsenide SSPA, its ldB gain compression point produces an output on the order of two watts.) The power required by the satellite link can be expected to be between one and two watts, so that the output of the SSPA must b e reduced. Pursuant to the present invention, rather than reduce the input to the SSPA, which would certainly reduce its output, but would do so by driving the operational state of the SSPA to a gain level that results in a very nonlinear frequency response, the present invention operates the SSPA at a gain where its frequency response is substantially flat (for example at Its ldB gain compression point) and attenuates the substantially full power output level of the SSPA. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 1, the output of attenuator waveguide section 14 is coupled over link 21 to a comparator 22. A second input of comparator 22 is coupled over link 23 to an attenuation reference voltage, corresponding to the desired power level on the satellite output link. Such an attenuation reference voltage may be derived directly from a manually set voltage source or from a voltage combining circuit (e.g. summing circuit), shown in broken lines at 26 in Figure 1, the output of which represents the sum or (or difference between) the manually set voltage and one or more monitored system parameters, such as a signal representative of E]-,/N 0 used for uplink power control for compensating for a reduction in signal level (e.g. rain fade at the local site) . The difference between the actual output produced by attenuator section 14 and the desired level produces a signal at the output of comparator 22 which is supplied to an attenuator insertion controller 24. Attenuator insertion controller 24 is essentially comprised of a linear DC actuator which controls the insertion of a ferrite attenuator element to be described below into waveguide section 14. More particularly, with reference to Figures 2 and 3, attenuator waveguide section 14 is shown as comprising a rectangular waveguide 34 having a slot 35 at the top thereof which is sized to accommodate a tapered ferrite attenuator element 33. Element 33 is coupled to one end of the output displacement arm of linear DC actuator 24, shown diagrammatically at 32 in Figures 2 and 3. As mentioned above, linear actuator 24 displaces its output arm 32 in accordance with the differential signal supplied at the output of comparator 22. The displacement of output arm 32 and, consequently, the degree of insertion of attenuator element 33 through slot 35 in waveguide 34 controls the degree of absorption of the 14.5-15.0GHz electromagnetic wave travelling through the waveguide. For maximum absorption control, slot 35 is preferably situated in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis (the z axis) 5 of the waveguide and symmetrical about a center line 40 of the waveguide. The attenuator element itself is preferably comprised of a microwave absorber material that offers both strength and heat dissipation robustness with respect to the electromagnetic energy which is coupled through the 0 waveguide section 34. For this purpose, element 33 may comprise a tapered blade of magnetically loaded epoxide, such as ECCOSORB MF materials manufactured by Emerson and Cuming . For purposes of the present embodiment, it may be assumed that ECCOSORB 5 MF 117 type material may be employed as absorber element 33. As shown In the cross-sectional view of Figure 4, the physical configuration of the absorber element is such that it is symmetrically tapered at regions 41 and 43 about a 0 vertical plane line 50 which is intended to be coincident with the center line 40 of waveguide section 14 when the absorber Is inserted into slot 35 at the top of the waveguide shown in Figures 2 and 3. Region 41 has a pair αf " tapered faces 51 and 52 which extend from a pair of __3_ parallel sidewalls 46 and 47 and taper to a point 55 at one end of the absorber. At the other end of the absorber, region 43 , which is contiguous with a central region 42 of the absorber, has a pair of tapering side faces 53 and 54 which extend to an edge 57. For minimizing the VSWR, the 0 tapering of faces 51-54 follows a Tschebyscheff binomial taper. The length L-j- of regions 41 and 43 and the length of L Q of central region 42 between tapered regions 41 and 43, as well as the width or thickness WQ of central region 42 of absorber blade 33, depends upon the size of 5 the waveguide, the frequency of the energy being absorbed, the degree of absorption to be obtained, any external cooling that may be supplied, etc. For purposes of the present description,, for providing a variable degree of absorption of up to 15dB of signals in the frequency range of interest (14.5 - 15.0GHz) , the dimensions may lie in the following ranges: 0<L T <0.750 ; 0<L C <0.500 ; 0<W C <0.050 , where the material is ECCOSORB MF 117. Because the leading and trailing edges 55 and 57, respectively, of the absorber blade 33 are narrowed to a point and the absorber is tapered away from those edges towards its thickness in the central region of the absorber, the electromagnetic wave travelling through the waveguide does not abruptly encounter the absorber material, thereby minimizing its effect on the voltage standing wave ratio. . As shown in Figures 2 and 3 , the. top and bottom surfaces 36 and 37 of absorber 33 are substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the waveguide 34, the separation between which corresponds to the interior height or b dimension of the waveguide 34. Thus, maximum absorption is provided when the absorber 33 is inserted fully into the waveguide and extends from the top interior surface of the waveguide to the bottom interior surface thereof as delineated by broken lines 38 in Figures 2 and 3. For the parametric values recited here, it has been found that the absorber can provide approximately lOOdB of absorption capability when fully inserted into the waveguide. However, in practical use, the range of absorption is on the order of 0-15dB, to provide the transmitter output power levels mentioned previously . To form an individual absorber element, a sheet or bar of the absorber material, such as the ECCOSORB MF series of material, manufactured by Emerson & Cuming, may be individually cut and machined to provide the requisite cross-section. Preferably, however, the absorber material, which basically comprises a steel carbonyl microsphere paste, is formed into the prescribed state of molding. This permits the absorber blade element to be inexpensively mass-produced. Advantageously, the absorber configuration of the present Invention is a cost effective alternative to the look-up table frequency response correction scheme for correcting for the nonlinearity of the operation of the SSPA as described in the above-referenced copending application. The present invention may be incorporated Into the system described in that application and, in so doing, the monitor and control processor and associated memory through which the frequency response correction is carried out can be eliminated. Specifically, the present invention is inserted at the downstream end of the SSPA, as shown in Figure 1, while the temperature correction and down link AGC correction networks are retained at the upstream end of the link. The SSPA is operated at its ldB compression point to obtain the essentially flat frequency response characteristic. Controlled insertion of the absorber element into a section of slotted waveguide thereby offers a simple and relatively inexpensive mechanical expedient to the electronically Implemented look-up table tracking procedure of the system described in the foregoing application. When combined with the temperature controlled network and downlink AGC correction circuitry, the present invention equips the VSAT .with a cost effective power control mechanism for simplifying adjustment of SSPA output power. For maximizing utility of the control network, accordingly, it is preferred that the temperature control and AGC downlink control portions of the system described in the copending application, which form an upstream input controller to the SSPA, be combined with the downstream attenuator absorber mechanism of the present invention. While I have shown and described an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED 1. For use with a signal amplification network through which input signals to be transmitted over a communication link are coupled, said network including a signal ampli ication device the frequency response of which has a first characteristic for a first output level of said device and a second characteristic for a second output level of said device, a method of operating said network such that signals coupled therefrom effectively correspond to the second output level of said device but the frequency response of which has said first characteristic comprising the steps of: (a) operating said signal amplification device such that the signal output level thereof corresponds to said first output level at which the frequency response thereof has said first characteristic; and (b) adjusting the level of the signal output produced by said signal amplification device to said second output level. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises adjusting the level of the signal output produced by said signal amplification device in accordance with a variation in one or more a prescribed operational characteristics of said communication link. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first frequency response characteris ic corresponds to a substantially flat power output over the frequency range of operation of said device and said second frequency response characteristic corresponds to a nonlinear power output over the frequency range of operation of said device. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein step (b) comprises absorbing a controlled amount of the signal energy produced at the output of said device so as to reduce the level of the signal output from first level to said second level. 1 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said 2 device comprises a solid state power amplifier and step (a) 3 comprises operating said solid state power amplifier 4 at a gain whereat the frequency response characteris ic of 5 said amplifier is substantially flat. 1 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein step (b) 2 comprises coupling the output of said solid state power 3 amplifier through a section of waveguide downstream 4 thereof, and controllably inserting a microwave absorber 5 into said section of waveguide so as to reduce the signal 6 level to a level less than said first level. 1 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said 2 microwave absorber comprises a body of material having 3 tapered leading and trailing surfaces extending in the 4 direction of transmission of microwave signals through said 5 section of waveguide. 1 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said 2 tapered surfaces taper to leading and trailing edges of 3 said absorber such that microwave signals travelling 4 through said section of waveguide gradually encounter the 5 bulk of the material of said absorber. 1 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said 2 absorber is controllably inserted into a slot in said 3 section of waveguide whereat the magnitude of the electric 4 field vector is at a maximum. 1 10. A method according to claim 1, further including the steps of 3 (c) storing information representative of the * * variation in the manner in which said signal amplification -- network couples signals therethrough over a range of *-* variation of at least one prescribed operating parameter; 7 and (d) modifying input signals coupled to said signal amplification device in accordance with information stored 10 in step (c) . 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the information stored in step (c) is representative of the variation in gain of said signal amplification network for variations in ambient temperature thereof, and step (d) comprises controllably adjusting said input signals as a complementary function of said variation of gain with temperature. 12. A method according to claim 11, further including the steps of (e) modifying input signals coupled to said signal amplification device in accordance with a prescribed transmission characteristic of said communication link. 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said prescribed transmission characteristic of said communication link corresponds to attenuation of signals thereover during the transmission signals over said link. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein step (e) Includes monitoring a signal representative of the carrier level of signals received downlink of said network which will compensate for fades in the uplink by increasing the uphigh powers proportion to the detected downhigh fades. 15. An electromagnetic wave absorber comprising a body of electromagnetic energy absorbent material having a central body section opposite surfaces of which are substantially parallel to one another and a pair of tapered body sections extending from said central body section. 16. An electromagnetic wave absorber according to claim 15, wherein each of said tapered body sections has a pair of surfaces respectively tapered from the parallel opposite surfaces of said central body section to an edge portion thereof. 17. An electromagnetic wave absorber according to claim 16, wherein the entirety of said control body * section and said tapered body sections are made of a ferrite-based electromagnetic energy absorbent material. -~ 18. An electromagnetic wave absorber according to 2. claim 15, further comprising a section of waveguide having 3 an aperture in a wall portion thereof and means for 4 controllably inserting said body of electromagnetic energy 5 absorbent material through said aperture into the cavity of 6 said section of waveguide. I 19. An electromagnetic wave absorber according to 2. claim 18, wherein said body is arranged to be inserted into 3* the cavity of said section of waveguide such that said 4 tapered body sections extend in the longitudinal direction 5 of said section of waveguide. 1 20. An electromagnetic wave absorber according to 2 claim 16, wherein each of the tapered surfaces of each of said tapered body sections has an effectively exponential varying slope between a parallel opposite surface and an edge portion. 21. For use with a signal amplification network through which input signals to be transmitted over a communication link are coupled, said network including a signal amplification device the frequency response of which has a first characteristic for a first output level of said device and a second characteristic for a second output level of said device, an arrangement for operating said network such that signals coupled therefrom effectively correspond to the second output level of said device but 0 the frequency response of which has said first 1 characteris ic comprising: 2 first means for operating said signal amplification 3 device such that the signal output level thereof 4 corresponds to said first output level at which the 5 frequency response thereof has said first characteris ic; 6 and 7 second means, coupled to the output of said signal 8 amplification device, for adjusting the level of the signal 9 output produced by said signal amplification device to said second output level. 22. An arrangement according to claim 21, wherein said second means comprises means for adjusting the level of the signal output produced by said signal amplification device in accordance with a variation in a prescribed operational characteristic of said communication link. 23. An arrangement according to claim 21, wherein said first frequency response characteristic corresponds to a substantially flat power output over the frequency range of operation of said device and said second frequency response characteristic corresponds to a nonlinear power output over the frequency range of operation of said device. 24. An arrangement according to claim 23, wherein said second means comprises means for absorbing a controlled amount of the signal energy produced at the output_ of said device so as to reduce the level of the signal output from first level to said second level. 25. An arrangement according to claim 23, wherein said device comprises a solid state power amplifier and said first means comprises means for operating said solid state power amplifier at a gain whereat the frequency response characteristic of said amplifier is substantially flat. 26. An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein second means comprises a section of waveguide coupled the output of said solid state power amplifier, and means controllably inserting a microwave absorber into said section of waveguide so as to reduce the signal level to a level less than the gain level whereat the frequency response characteristics of said amplifier is substantially flat. 27. An arrangement according to claim 26, wherein said microwave absorber comprises a body of material having tapered leading and trailing surfaces extending in the direction of transmission of microwave signals through said section of waveguide. 28. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said tapered surfaces taper to leading and trailing edges of said absorber such that microwave signals travelling through said section of waveguide gradually encounter the bulk of the material of said absorber. 29. An arrangement according to claim 28, wherein said second means includes means for inserting said absorber into a slot in said section of waveguide whereat the magnitude of the electric field vector is at a maximum. 30. An arrangement according to claim 21, further including third means for storing information representative of the variation in the manner in which said signal amplification network couples signals therethrough over a range of variation of at least one prescribed operating parameter; and fourth means for modifying input signals coupled to said signal amplification device in accordance with information stored by said third means. 31. An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein the information stored by said third means is representative of the variation in gain of said signal amplification network for variation in ambient temperature thereof, and said fourth means comprises means for controllably adjusting said input signals as a complementary function of said variation of gain with temperature. 32. An arrangement according to claim 31, further including fifth means for modifying input signals coupled to said signal amplification device in accordance with a prescribed transmission char cteris ic of said communication link. 33. An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said prescribed transmission characteristic of said communication link corresponds to attenuation of signals thereover during the transmission signals over said link. 34. An arrangement according to claim 33, wherein said fifth means includes means for monitoring a signal representative of the carrier level of signals received downlink of said network. 35. An electromagnetic wave attenuation control device for use in a communication link, said device comprising: (a) a section of waveguide; (b) an electromagnetic wave absorber comprising a body of electromagnetic energy absorbent material extending Into said waveguide; (c) means for supporting said body within said waveguide at a location corresponding * to an energy absorbent condition, including means " for adjusting the location of said body within said waveguide; and (d) means for controlling said adjustment means in response to one or more prescribed operational characteristics of the communication link. 36. The device set forth in claim 35, wherein said control means is responsive to changes in the uplink power requirements in the satellite communications link. 37. The device set forth in claim 35, wherein said control means is responsive to changes in the power level of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said waveguide _ 38. The device set forth in claim 35, wherein said control means is responsive to changes in the power level of the electromagnetic energy being transmitted by said waveguide and to changes in uplink power requirements in the satellite communications link.

Inventors: MCGANN WILLIAM E, TODD JOHN R, MCGANN, WILLIAM, E., TODD, JOHN, R.
Applicants: HARRIS CORP, HARRIS CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H01P1
IPC codes: H01P1, H03G3, H04B7