Patent ID: 8411447

Claim:
A power amplifier chassis for an n+1 redundant power amplifier system, the power amplifier chassis comprising: an embedded controller and a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier module for amplifying an RF signal; the RF power amplifier module disengageable from the power amplifier system while the power amplifier system is in operation; the embedded controller configured to operate the power amplifier chassis in a master controller mode or a slave controller mode; wherein when the power amplifier chassis is operated in the master controller mode, the embedded controller monitors at least one operating parameter associated with the power amplifier chassis, and is configured to transfer control of the power amplifier system in response to the embedded controller sensing that at least one of the monitored operating parameters indicates a failure or impending failure of the power amplifier chassis; and wherein when the power amplifier chassis is operated in the slave controller mode, the embedded controller is configured to receive control instructions from the master controller power amplifier module, and to reconfigure the power amplifier chassis from the slave controller mode to the master controller mode in response to a failure or imminent failure indication of a first power amplifier chassis operated in master controller mode; wherein the power amplifier chassis further comprises a backplane printed circuit board (PCB) in data communication with a microcontroller, the backplane comprising circuit traces for interconnecting parallel busses that electrically interconnect the backplane PCB to a microcontroller PCB, a rear fan module and a power supply connection; the microcontroller PCB further comprising control logic necessary for executing master control commands when the power amplifier chassis is assigned as the master controller of the array; and the microcontroller PCB further comprising logic configured to detect the power amplifier chassis or the RF power amplifier module is failing or about to fail, and to transfer control of an amplifier array to another power amplifier chassis of the amplifier array.