Patent Description:
In the state of the art, broadband amplifier (BBA) devices are known that relate to broadband power combining techniques. The broadband amplifier devices typically comprise several low power amplifier circuits wherein the output powers of the respective low power amplifier circuits are combined in a broadband environment and, thus, forming the broadband amplifier device. Accordingly, the broadband amplifier device comprises several amplifier stages established by the low power amplifier circuits.

The broadband amplifier devices known in the state of the art also comprise a load resistor besides the several amplifier stages, which is also called load-balancing resistor. The load resistor is used in case of a failure occurring in one of the several amplifier stages, namely the low power amplifier circuits. In fact, a part of the power processed by the broadband amplifier device is directed into the load resistor in order to convert the power into heat that dissipates. Accordingly, the load resistor used by the broadband amplifier device has to convert high power into heat in case of a faulty amplifier stage, as the respective output power of the faulty amplifier stage is forwarded to the load resistor. Therefore, the load resistor has to withstand high powers, which makes the load resistor expensive. In addition, a cooling of the load resistor is necessary in order to reduce the heat of the load resistor in case of a failure to avoid failure of the load resistor itself.

Thus, the broadband amplifier device is expensive, as the load resistance used has to handle high powers in case of failure of one of the amplifier stages. Further, the costs increase since a separate cooling of the load resistor is necessary. Moreover, the (radio frequency) energy is wasted by the load resistor, as it is converted into heat that dissipates.

<CIT> shows a corporate amplifier having a plurality of amplifier modules that are integrated in respective lines by means of relays which are controlled by a fault signal.

In <CIT>, a spring-loaded switching member for interrupting a line is shown.

<CIT> discloses an amplifier arrangement with a plurality of amplifier modules, wherein an electromagnet is shown that grounds a line.

In <CIT>, a power combiner is shown that comprises manually operated coaxial connectors and switches.

<CIT> shows a switch arrangement for interrupting a signal flow on a microstrip transmission line by means of an electromagnetically actuated conductive plunger that is supported by a conductive diaphragm spring connected to the ground plane.

Accordingly, there is a need for an energy-efficient amplifier device that can be manufactured in a cost-efficient manner.

The invention provides a method of operating an amplifier device having at least two parallel amplifier stages, with the following steps:.

Further, the invention provides an amplifier device comprising at least a first amplifier stage and a second amplifier stage. Both amplifier stages are parallel to each other. The amplifier device comprises an error-monitoring unit configured to monitor the status of the amplifier stages. The error-monitoring unit is configured to generate an error signal in case of failure of at least one amplifier stage. The amplifier stages each are coupled to a rest of the amplifier device via a coupling interface in a releasable manner such that the amplifier stages are galvanically separable from the rest of the amplifier device. The amplifier device comprises a switching unit that is assigned to at least one of the coupling interfaces, wherein the error signal controls the switching unit that comprises a stepping motor that is configured to cause a movement that provides the galvanic separation of the faulty amplifier stage since a part of the amplifier stage is moved by the stepping motor, wherein the part has the respective coupling interface.

Accordingly, the impedance matching of the amplifier device can be adapted in case of failure of at least one amplifier stage, as the faulty amplifier stage is galvanically separated from the rest of the amplifier device. The failure of the at least one amplifier stage is monitored by means of the error-monitoring unit such that the error signal is generated when the error-monitoring unit identifies an error or rather failure of the at least one amplifier stage.

The rest of the amplifier device comprises the other amplifier stages, namely the non-faulty ones or rather the operable ones, as well as a main component, for instance a combining portion to which the amplifier stages are coupled via the respective coupling interfaces.

In the state of the art, an amplifier device having two amplifier stages of a certain power, for instance <NUM> W resulting in <NUM> W total power. In case of failure of one of the amplifier stages, half of the total power fails, for instance <NUM> W. A quarter of the total power, for instance <NUM> W, is converted into heat in the load resistor, whereas another quarter of the entire power, for instance <NUM> W, reaches a device connected to the amplifier device, for instance an antenna.

In contrast to the state of the art, the inventive amplifier device as well as the inventive method of operating an amplifier device ensure that half of the total power is forwarded to the device connected to the amplifier device, for instance the antenna. In fact, the faulty amplifier stage is separated galvanically from the rest of the amplifier device such that half of the total power fails, for instance <NUM> W, whereas the portion of the power converted into heat by the load resistance is zero, namely <NUM> W. Thus, a load resistance is no more necessary in the amplifier device according to the invention. Further, active cooling of the load resistance is not necessary anymore, as no load resistance is present.

Accordingly, the amplifier device may be established free of any load resistance and/or cooling.

Particularly, the amplifier device is a high power amplifier device processing radio frequency signals or rather high frequency signals.

The galvanic separation ensures that the respective signals cannot be processed by the amplifier device.

Further, the galvanic separation may relate to a mechanical separation, which means that no mechanical connection is provided between the faulty amplifier stage and the rest of the amplifier device.

Generally, the amplifier device is a broadband amplifier device that relates to broadband power combining techniques. In fact, the power outputs of the amplifier stages, for instance the low power amplifier circuits, are combined by the amplifier device.

In other words, the invention provides a power combiner established by the amplifier device. For instance, the power combiner is a Wilkinson-Combiner or a radial combiner.

The error signal controls the switching unit that separates the at least one faulty amplifier stage galvanically from the rest of the amplifier device. In other words, the amplifier device comprises the switching unit that is assigned to at least one of the coupling interfaces. Thus, the switching unit may interact with the amplifier stages, particularly their coupling interfaces.

Hence, the error signal is used by the amplifier device in order to automatically separate the at least one faulty amplifier stage from the rest of the amplifier device by means of the switching unit. Thus, no manual interaction of a user of the amplifier device is required.

Particularly, the switching unit is connected with the error-monitoring unit. For instance, the error-monitoring unit is configured to control the switching unit. Thus, a signal can be transmitted from the error-monitoring unit to the switching unit in order to control the switching unit. Put another way, the error-monitoring unit identifies the occurrence of a failure of at least one amplifier stage and, thus, controlling the switching unit in order to galvanically separate the at least one faulty amplifier stage from the rest of the amplifier device. Thus, the galvanic separation is done in an automatic manner, as the error-monitoring unit automatically controls the switching unit in an appropriate manner.

However, the at least one faulty amplifier stage may also be separated galvanically from the rest of the amplifier device in a manual manner in addition to the automatic separation. Thus, the error signal indicates to the user of the amplifier device that at least one amplifier stage has an error or rather failure. In other words, the error signal enables the user to identify the respective amplifier stage so as to galvanically separate the faulty amplifier stage manually from the rest of the amplifier device in addition to the automatic separation.

Thus, the faulty amplifier stage is separated from the rest of the amplifier device by means of the stepping motor. In case of failure, the stepping motor causes a movement that provides the galvanic separation of the faulty amplifier stage.

The stepping motor may also rotate the amplifier stages and/or a part of the amplifier device, for instance a coupling member, in order to galvanically separate the faulty amplifier stage from the rest of the amplifier device.

Another aspect provides that the switching unit comprises a rotatable coupling member to which the coupling interfaces are assigned, in particular wherein the coupling member comprises an isolated terminal. Thus, the rotatable coupling member may be rotated due to the control signal issued by the error-monitoring unit. The rotation of the coupling member results in an assignment of the at least one faulty amplifier stage with the isolated terminal such that the faulty amplifier stage is galvanically separated from the rest of the amplifier device.

The rotatable coupling member may be rotated in an automatic manner by means of the stepping motor. Hence, the stepping motor drives the rotatable coupling member so as to bring the isolated terminal in connection with the faulty amplifier stage.

In addition to the automatic rotation, the rotatable coupling member may be rotated manually by the user in order to assign the faulty amplifier stage to the isolated terminal. Thus, the faulty amplifier stage is galvanically separated from the rest of the amplifier device.

Furthermore, at least one of the amplifier stages may comprise a line, particularly a microstrip line. The respective line may be connected with a connection terminal, for instance via its coupling interface. The connection terminal may be provided by the rotatable coupling member in addition to the isolated terminal. In an initial state of the amplifier device, the lines are connected via their coupling interfaces with the corresponding connection terminals.

Only in case of failure of one of the amplifier devices, the connection is released via the respective coupling interface of the faulty amplifier stage.

Moreover, the switching unit may be assigned to the line that is partially movable, in particular wherein the switching unit is configured to move the partially movable line to galvanically separate the line from the rest of the amplifier device. Thus, the respective line assigned to the amplifier stage(s) is at least partly movable. For instance, the line has a movable tip that is assigned to the stepping motor.

The movable part of the line may be moved by the stepping motor in order to disconnect the line from the rest of the amplifier device in case of failure of the associated amplifier stage. Thus, the galvanic separation of the at least one faulty amplifier stage from the rest of the amplifier device is ensured.

The amplifier device may comprise an optical indication unit, in particular wherein the error-monitoring unit is connected with the optical indication unit. The optical indication unit is provided in order to optically indicate the occurrence of a failure by issuing an optical signal. The optical signal may be controlled by the error signal generated. Thus, a user of the amplifier device recognizes whether or not at least one of the amplifier stages has a failure, particularly which of the amplifier stages has a failure. Then, the user, in addition to the automatic separation, is enabled to (manually) separate the faulty amplifier stage from the rest of the amplifier device, for instance by simply (mechanically) disconnecting the respective amplifier stage resulting in a galvanic separation.

Hence, occurrence of the error signal may be indicated optically. Thus, an optical indication is provided by the amplifier device that enables the user of the amplifier device to recognize whether or not a failure occurs. Thus, the user is enabled to manually separate the faulty amplifier stage in a galvanic manner from the rest of the amplifier device in addition to the automatic separation. The optical indication may identify the respective amplifier stage in an unambiguous manner.

In general, the amplifier device is configured to perform a method as described above. In other words, the aspects mentioned above can be combined in any manner.

The invention will now be described with reference to preferred embodiments, which are shown in the enclosed drawings. In the drawings,.

In <FIG>, a broadband amplifier device <NUM> is shown that comprises several amplifier stages <NUM>.

In the shown embodiment, the amplifier device <NUM> has four amplifier stages indicated by A - D. As shown in <FIG>, the amplifier stages <NUM> are parallel to each other, as they are connected with a main component <NUM> of the amplifier device <NUM>. In fact, the amplifier device <NUM> shown in <FIG> relates to a radial combiner, as the respective amplifier stages <NUM> are orientated in a radial manner with respect to the main component <NUM> in which the output powers of the amplifier stages <NUM> are combined.

Generally, the amplifier stages <NUM> each comprise a line <NUM> via which signals are forwarded to the main component <NUM>. Put another way, the several lines <NUM> are connected with the main component <NUM>, wherein the respective lines <NUM> each have a coupling interface <NUM> via which the lines <NUM>, namely the respective amplifier stages <NUM>, are connected to the main component <NUM> of the amplifier device <NUM>.

Furthermore, the amplifier device <NUM> has an error-monitoring unit <NUM> that is configured to monitor the status of the amplifier stages <NUM>. For this purpose, the error-monitoring unit <NUM> is connected to each of the amplifier stages <NUM> in order to obtain status information. This is schematically shown in <FIG>.

The error-monitoring unit <NUM> is configured to generate an error signal in case of detection of a failure of at least one of the several amplifier stages <NUM>.

The error-monitoring unit <NUM> may be connected to an optical indication unit <NUM> as schematically shown in <FIG>. Thus, the occurrence of a failure, namely the issuance of the error signal, is optically indicated by the optical indication unit <NUM> in order to inform a user of the amplifier device <NUM>.

Then, the user is enabled to galvanically separate the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> from the rest of the amplifier device <NUM>, namely the main component <NUM> as well as the other amplifier stages <NUM> being not faulty.

A shown in <FIG>, the galvanic separation may be done by mechanically disconnecting the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> by separating the respective line <NUM> from the main component <NUM> via the coupling interface <NUM> of the amplifier stage <NUM>, via which the amplifier stage <NUM>, namely the line <NUM> is connected to the rest of the amplifier device <NUM> in a releasable manner.

The impedance matching of the amplifier device <NUM> may be adapted, as the Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) may correspond to <NUM> in the initial state, whereas it increases to <NUM> in the failure state.

In an embodiment shown in <FIG>, the error-monitoring unit <NUM> may be connected to a switching unit <NUM> that is assigned to the coupling interfaces <NUM> of the amplifier stages <NUM>.

In the shown embodiment of <FIG>, the switching unit <NUM> comprises a stepping motor <NUM> that interacts with a part of the line <NUM> that is at least partially movable, namely a tip <NUM> of the respective line <NUM>. In <FIG>, this is only shown for the amplifier stage <NUM> indicated by B. However, the switching unit <NUM> may be assigned to each of the amplifier stages <NUM>.

Accordingly, each of the tips <NUM> of the lines <NUM>, which comprise the respective coupling interfaces <NUM>, is assigned to the switching unit <NUM>, particularly the motor <NUM>. The tips <NUM> can be moved forward and rearward so as to couple the amplifier stages <NUM> with the main component <NUM> having respective connection terminals <NUM> for the coupling interfaces <NUM>.

Hence, the error-monitoring unit <NUM> is connected with the switching unit <NUM> such that the error-monitoring unit <NUM> controls the switching unit <NUM>, particularly the motor <NUM>, in order to galvanically separate the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> from the rest of the amplifier device <NUM> in case of failure. Thus, the respective tip <NUM> comprising the coupling interface <NUM> is moved away from the main component <NUM> of the amplifier device <NUM>, particularly the respective connection terminal <NUM>, in order to galvanically separate, namely mechanically disconnect, the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> from the rest of the amplifier device <NUM>.

From <FIG> it becomes obvious that the respective lines <NUM> may be established by coaxial lines having an inner conductor having the tip <NUM> and an outer conductor. The respective outer conductors may form an (internal) housing part of the amplifier device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, another embodiment of the amplifier device <NUM> is shown that comprises an alternative of the switching unit <NUM>. The respective amplifier device <NUM> is assigned to a Wilkinson-Combiner, as the respective lines <NUM> are provided by micro strip lines.

In the shown embodiment, not forming part of the claimed invention, the switching unit <NUM> comprises a spring-loaded switching member <NUM>, a bayonet lock <NUM> as well as a spring <NUM>. The spring <NUM> is assigned to both the spring-loaded switching member <NUM> and the bayonet lock <NUM>.

Further, a printed circuit board <NUM> comprising electrically conductive material <NUM>, for instance copper, is provided wherein a gap is provided within the electrically conductive material <NUM> that is bridged by the spring-loaded switching member <NUM> in the initial state shown. The spring-loaded switching member <NUM> is made of an electrically conductive material, for instance copper.

In the initial state, the spring-loaded switching member <NUM> is pressed via the spring <NUM> on the electrically conductive material <NUM> provided on the printed circuit board <NUM>. Thus, a continuous electrical connection is established such that the signals provided by the amplifier stage <NUM> can be combined by the amplifier device <NUM>.

In case of a failure occurring in one of the amplifier stages <NUM>, the bayonet lock <NUM> may be released (manually or automatically) resulting in releasing the spring <NUM> and, thus, interrupting the connection established via the spring-loaded switching member <NUM>. Accordingly, the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> is separated from the rest of the amplifier device <NUM> galvanically.

The bayonet lock <NUM> may be unlocked in a manual manner or automatically by means of the switching unit <NUM>, namely a motor or any other automatically controlled module.

In general, the spring <NUM> may be located at different positions while ensuring a biasing force in the initial state, which acts on the spring-loaded switching member <NUM> so as to close the connection.

Hence, releasing the spring <NUM> results in the galvanic separation of the amplifier stage <NUM>, as the electrically conductive switching member <NUM> is no longer connected with the electrically conductive material <NUM>.

In <FIG>, another embodiment of the amplifier device <NUM> is shown wherein the amplifier device <NUM>, particularly the switching unit <NUM>, comprises a rotatable coupling member <NUM> that is assigned to the coupling interfaces <NUM>.

The rotatable coupling member <NUM> comprises the coupling terminals <NUM> as at least one isolated terminal <NUM>. In the failure state, the isolated terminal <NUM> is used for connecting the coupling interface <NUM> of the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> so as to galvanically separate the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> from the rest of the amplifier device <NUM>.

The rotatable coupling member <NUM> may be rotated by the stepping motor <NUM>.

The connection terminals <NUM> provided by the rotatable coupling member <NUM> may be assigned to coaxial interfaces, as an inner conductor <NUM> as well as an outer conductor <NUM> is provided by the connection terminal <NUM>.

Thus, the coaxial lines <NUM> of the respective amplifier stags <NUM> may be connected with the rotatable coupling member <NUM>.

The respective terminals <NUM>, <NUM> provided by the rotatable coupling member <NUM> can be rotated about a centre M.

In general, each of the amplifier devices <NUM> shown in the different embodiments provide the functionality of separating the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> in a galvanic manner from the rest of the amplifier device <NUM>.

Thus, a failure or rather error of at least one of the amplifier stages <NUM> is identified by means of the error-monitoring unit <NUM>. The error-monitoring unit <NUM> further generates an error signal in order to indicate the occurrence of a respective failure.

Due to the error signal, the at least one faulty amplifier stage <NUM> can be separated galvanically from the rest of the amplifier device <NUM>, for instance manually or rather in an automatic manner by controlling the switching unit <NUM>.

For the automatic separation, the error-monitoring unit <NUM> may issue the error signal that is forwarded to the switching unit <NUM> configured to automatically separate the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> galvanically from the rest of the amplifier device <NUM>, for instance by controlling the motor <NUM> appropriately.

The manual separation may be done by optically indicating the failure of the respective faulty amplifier stage <NUM> enabling the user to identify the error as well as the faulty amplifier stage <NUM>. Then, the faulty amplifier stage <NUM> is galvanically separated from the rest of the amplifier device <NUM> by mechanically disconnecting the faulty amplifier stage <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method of operating an amplifier device (<NUM>) having at least two parallel amplifier stages (<NUM>), with the following steps:
- Generating an error signal in case of failure of at least one amplifier stage (<NUM>) that is coupled to a rest of the amplifier device (<NUM>) via a coupling interface (<NUM>) in a releasable manner such that the amplifier stage (<NUM>) is galvanically separable from the rest of the amplifier device (<NUM>), wherein the error signal controls a switching unit (<NUM>) that comprises a stepping motor (<NUM>), and
- Separating the at least one faulty amplifier stage (<NUM>) galvanically from the rest of the amplifier device (<NUM>) by means of the stepping motor (<NUM>) causing a movement that provides the galvanic separation of the faulty amplifier stage (<NUM>) since a part of the amplifier stage (<NUM>) is moved by the stepping motor (<NUM>), wherein the part has the coupling interface (<NUM>).