Computer program product configured to control modular transmission system components

A computer program product having a computer readable medium readable by a machine for implementing a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for controlling a signal level output by a driver assembly to a plurality of amplifier modules, said method comprising the steps of:

• polling said plurality of amplifier modules so to determine respective operational states of said plurality of amplifier modules;
• obtaining a sample of a composite output signal formed by a radial combiner that combines respective output signals from said plurality of amplifier modules;
• processing said sample so as to determine an output forward power of said composite output signal and whether said output forward power is within a predetermined range;
• determining a signal level adjustment indicator on a basis of whether said forward power is within said predetermined range;
• and
• adjusting a level of said signal output that is output from said driver, an amount of corresponding to the signal level adjustment indicator.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for adjusting a level of an input signal that is input to a modular amplifier having a plurality of amplifier modules, comprising the steps of:

• identifying a measured output power of a composite amplified output signal that is output from said modular amplifier, said modular amplifier forming said composite amplified output signal by,
• dividing said input signal into divided signals,
• applying said divided signals in respective of said plurality of amplifier modules, and
• forming said composite amplified output signal by combining respective output signals from said plurality of amplifier modules with a radial combiner;
• identifying a number of said amplifier modules presently operating in a transmit mode of operation;
• comparing said measured output power with a predetermined range of output power values of said composite amplified output signal for said number of amplifier modules presently operating in said transmit mode of operation and obtaining an adjustment value;
• and
• adjusting said level of said input signal by said adjustment value so as to bring said measured output power to within said predetermined range.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for replacing a power amplifier module in a modular power amplifier system having a plurality of power amplifier modules while others of the plurality of power amplifier modules remain in a transmit state of operation, comprising the steps of:

• adjusting respective gate-to-source voltages of a plurality of discrete amplifiers in said power amplifier module so as to pinch-off respective channels in said discrete amplifiers;
• adjusting respective drain voltages of said plurality of discrete amplifiers to respective normal operational voltages after said channels of said plurality of discrete amplifiers have been pinched-off;
• readjusting said respective gate-to-source voltages of said plurality of discrete amplifiers so as to place said plurality of discrete amplifiers in a transmit state of operation;
• and
• outputting an amplified output signal from said power amplifier module and applying said amplified output signal to said radial combiner.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for adjusting control voltages on respective discrete amplifiers in a power amplifier module of a plurality of amplifier modules in a modular power amplifier system, said method comprising the steps of:

• monitoring respective drain voltages being applied to respective drain terminals of said discrete amplifiers;
• comparing said drain voltages with a predetermined voltage range;
• determining if respective of said drain voltages are outside of said predetermined voltage range;
• and
• adjusting respective of said drain voltages by respective amounts that bring respective of said drain voltages to within said predetermined voltage range.

A computer-readable memory device encoded with a data structure accessed by a radio-frequency transmitter network control program, the data structure comprising:

• a transmitter address field configured to hold a transmitter address which identifies a particular transmitter in a network of transmitters;
• an amplifier address field configured to hold a module address of a power amplifier module in the transmitter identified by the transmitter address held in said transmitter address field;
• and
• an attribute field configured to hold a parameter corresponding to at least one of an indication of an operational status of the power amplifier module identified by said module address and an action command configured to change an operational attribute of the power amplifier identified in said module address field.