Outphased Spatial Combiner
AssigneeL-3 Communications Corporation
InventorsJohnny M. Harris, Kyle D. Holzer, Janez Jeraj
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Spatially combining signals may include receiving a number of RF input signals at a number of RF input connectors. At least one of the RF input signals is a variable envelope signal. A variable envelope signal is converted into two or more outphased constant envelope signals. The two or more outphased constant envelope signals are amplified. The amplified outphased constant envelope signals are radiated. At a spatial combiner aperture, the radiated amplified outphased constant envelope signals are combined to create a combined signal. The combined signal is output onto an output RF connector.
Claims20
A method of spatially combining signals, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of RF input signals at a plurality of RF input connectors, wherein at least one of the RF input signals is a variable envelope signal;
- converting the at least one variable envelope signal into two or more constant envelope outphased signals;
- amplifying the two or more outphased constant envelope signals;
- radiating the amplified outphased constant envelope signals;
- at a spatial combiner aperture, spatially combing the radiated amplified outphased constant envelope signals to create a combined signal;
- and
- outputting the combined signal onto an output RF connector.
A method of spatially combining signals, the method comprising:
- converting a variable envelope RF input signal into two or more constant envelope outphased signals;
- amplifying the two or more outphased constant envelope signals;
- radiating the amplified outphased constant envelope signals;
- at a spatial combiner aperture, spatially combing the radiated amplified outphased constant envelope signals to create a combined signal;
- and
- outputting the combined signal onto an output RF connector.
A method of spatially combining signals, the method comprising:
- receiving a variable envelope RF input signal at a first RF input of a device;
- converting the variable envelope signal into two or more constant envelope outphased signals;
- amplifying the two or more outphased constant envelope signals;
- radiating the amplified outphased constant envelope signals;
- receiving a constant envelope RF input signal at a second RF input of the device;
- amplifying the constant envelope input signal using an amplifier coupled to the second RF input;
- radiating the amplified constant envelope input signal;
- and
- at a spatial combiner aperture of the device, spatially combing the radiated amplified constant envelope input signal with the radiated amplified constant envelope outphased signals to create a combined signal;
- and
- outputting the combined signal onto an output RF connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.