High-efficiency power module
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsRainee N Simons, Edwin G Wintucky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One or more embodiments of the present invention pertain to an all solid-state microwave power module. The module includes a plurality of solid-state amplifiers configured to amplify a signal using a low power stage, a medium power stage, and a high power stage. The module also includes a power conditioner configured to activate a voltage sequencer (e.g., bias controller) when power is received from a power source. The voltage sequencer is configured to sequentially apply voltage to a gate of each amplifier and sequentially apply voltage to a drain of each amplifier.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of solid-state amplifiers configured to amplify a signal using a low power stage, a medium power stage, and a high power stage;
- and
- a power conditioner configured to activate a voltage sequencer when power is received from a power source,
- wherein the voltage sequencer is configured to sequentially apply a constant voltage to a gate of each amplifier and sequentially apply a constant voltage to a drain of each amplifier;
- and
- a radio frequency output monitor comprising a temperature controller and a power out monitor.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a low power amplifier configured to receive a signal from a radio frequency input and amplify the received signal into a second signal;
- a medium power amplifier operatively connected to the low power amplifier and configured to receive the second signal and amplify the second signal into a third signal;
- a high power amplifier operatively connected to the medium power amplifier and configured to receive the third signal and amplify the third signal to a level sufficient to perform navigation, radar, and communication functions;
- and
- a power conditioner configured to receive power from a power source and activate a voltage sequencer configured to sequentially apply a constant voltage to a gate of each amplifier and sequentially apply a constant voltage to a drain of each amplifier;
- and
- wherein the voltage sequencer is configured to sequentially apply negative power to a gate of each amplifier and then sequentially apply positive power to a drain of each amplifier.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a low power amplifier configured to receive a signal from a radio frequency input and amplify the received signal into a second signal;
- a medium power amplifier operatively connected to the low power amplifier and configured to receive the second signal and amplify the second signal into a third signal;
- a high power amplifier operatively connected to the medium power amplifier and configured to receive the third signal and amplify the third signal to a level sufficient to perform navigation, radar, and communication functions;
- and
- a power conditioner configured to receive power from a power source and activate a voltage sequencer configured to sequentially apply a constant voltage to a gate of each amplifier and sequentially apply a constant voltage to a drain of each amplifier;
- and
- a blanking control configured to activate and deactivate the high power amplifier based on instructions received from a radio frequency output monitor.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of low power amplifiers, each low power amplifier is configured to receive a signal from an radio frequency input and amplify the received signal into a first amplified signal;
- a medium power amplifier configured to receive the first amplified signal and amplify the first amplified signal into a second amplified signal;
- a high power amplifier configured to receive the second amplified signal and amplify the second amplified signal into a third amplified signal;
- and
- a power conditioner configured to receive power from a direct current input and cause a voltage sequencer to provide a negative constant voltage to a gate of each preamplifier, the medium power amplifier and the high power amplifier before providing a positive constant voltage to a drain of each preamplifier, the medium power amplifier and the high power amplifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.