Amplifier arrangement with enhanced harmonic rejection
The present disclosure relates to an amplifier arrangement ( 1, 100, 200 ) comprising a first amplifier device ( 2, 102, 202 ) and a second amplifier device ( 3, 103, 203 ) where each amplifier device ( 2, 3; 102, 103; 202, 203 ) is connected to an input circuit ( 8, 108 ) and has a first type output terminal ( 4, 6 ; D) and a second type output terminal ( 5, 7 ; S), where the output terminals ( 4, 6 , D; 5, 7 , S) are connected to an output circuit ( 9, 109, 109 ′). The first type output terminal ( 4 , D) of the first amplifier device ( 2, 102, 202 ) is connected to the second type output terminal ( 7 , S) of the second amplifier device ( 3, 103, 203 ) by means of a first connection ( 10, 110 ), and the first type output terminal ( 6 , D) of the second amplifier device ( 3, 103, 203 ) is connected to the second type output terminal ( 5 , S) of the first amplifier device ( 2, 102, 202 ) by means of a second connection ( 11, 111 ). The first type output terminal ( 4 , D) of the first amplifier device ( 2, 102, 202 ) and the first type output terminal ( 6 , D) of the second amplifier device ( 3, 103, 203 ) are electrically separated in the output circuit ( 9, 109, 109 ′), and the second type output terminal ( 5 , S) of the first amplifier device ( 2, 102, 202 ) second type output terminal ( 7 , S) of the second amplifier device ( 3, 103, 203 ) are electrically separated in the output circuit ( 9, 109, 109 ′).
1 . An amplifier arrangement comprising:
a first amplifier device; and
a second amplifier device,
each amplifier device being connected to an input circuit, the input circuit comprising an input balun and one input matching network for each input signal, the input balun constituted by a broadside coupled line input and two microstrip lines, a ground plane being provided between the two microstrip lines,
each amplifier device has a first type output terminal and a second type output terminal where the output terminals are connected to an output circuit,
the first type output terminal of the first amplifier device is connected to the second type output terminal of the second amplifier device by means of a first connection,
the first type output terminal of the second amplifier device is connected to the second type output terminal of the first amplifier device by means of a second connection,
the first type output terminal of the first amplifier device and the first type output terminal of the second amplifier device are electrically separated in the output circuit, and
the second type output terminal of the first amplifier device and the second type output terminal of the second amplifier device are electrically separated in the output circuit.
2 . The amplifier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein each connection comprises a direct current (DC) blocking component.
3 . The amplifier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein each connection constitutes a short-circuit at a pre-determined signal frequency band.
4 . The amplifier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier devices are adapted to be run in a differential mode and in a common mode, where, when run in the differential mode, a majority of the current supplied by the amplifier devices runs through a load and, where, for a certain frequency band, the majority of the current supplied by the amplifier devices does not run through the load when the amplifier devices are run in the common mode.
5 . The amplifier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein
the input circuit comprises an input balun and one input matching network for each input signal, and
the input circuit comprises transmission lines (TL1in, TL2in) running from the input balun towards input matching networks, where the amplifier arrangement comprises a resistive component that connects ground potentials of each transmission line (TL1in, TL2in).
6 . The amplifier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein
the input circuit comprises two digital-to-analogue converters that are connected to the respective terminals of the amplifier devices, and
the DACs are adapted to receive signal input by means of corresponding optical couplers.
7 . The amplifier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the input circuit comprises two optical couplers that are connected to the respective terminals of the amplifier devices.
8 . The amplifier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein
the output circuit comprises at least one output matching network, and
the connections are connected to at least partly constitute an output balun that is connected to the output matching network.
9 . The amplifier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein
the second type output terminals of the amplifier devices are connected to electrically separated ground planes, and
the separated ground planes are formed by means of a slot in a ground plane, the slot having a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side, where the first type output terminal of the first amplifier device and the second type output terminal of the second amplifier device are connected to the ground plane along the first longitudinal side of the slot, and where the second type output terminal of the first amplifier device and the first type output terminal of the second amplifier device are connected to the ground plane on an opposite side of the slot, along the second longitudinal side of the slot.
10 . The amplifier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein
the output circuit comprises at least one output matching network, and
the output circuit comprises transmission lines (TL1out, TL2out) running from the output matching network to an output balun, where the amplifier arrangement comprises a resistive component that connects ground potentials of each transmission line (TL1out, TL2out).
11 . A method for configuring an amplifier arrangement, the method comprising:
providing a first amplifier device and a second amplifier device, each amplifier device having a first type output terminal and a second type output terminal;
connecting the amplifier devices to an input circuit;
providing an input balun and one input matching network for each input signal at the input circuit, the input balun constituted by a broadside coupled line input and two microstrip lines, a ground plane being provided between the two microstrip lines;
connecting the output terminals to an output circuit;
connecting the first type output terminal of the first amplifier device to the second type output terminal of the second amplifier device using a first connection; and
connecting the first type output terminal of the second amplifier device to the second type output terminal of the first amplifier device by using a second connection, where
the first type output terminal of the first amplifier device and the first type output terminal of the second amplifier device are electrically separated in the output circuit, and
the second type output terminal of the first amplifier device and the second type output terminal of the second amplifier device are electrically separated in the output circuit.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises providing a direct current, DC, blocking component at each connection.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each connection constitutes a short-circuit at a pre-determined signal frequency band.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the amplifier devices are used for running in a differential mode and in a common mode, where, when run in the differential mode, a majority of the current supplied by the amplifier devices runs through a load and, where, for a certain frequency band, the majority of the current supplied by the amplifier devices does not run through the load when the amplifier devices are run in the common mode.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein
the method comprises providing an input balun and one input matching network for each input signal at the input circuit, and
the method comprises providing transmission lines (TL1in, TL2in), running from the input balun towards input matching networks, at the input circuit, and providing a resistive component that connects ground potentials of each transmission line (TL1in, TL2in).
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises providing two digital-to-analogue converters, DACs, at the input circuit, the DACs being connected to the respective terminals of the amplifier devices.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein
the output circuit comprises at least one output matching network,
the method comprises connecting the connections to at least partly constitute an output balun that is connected to the output matching network, and
the method comprises providing transmission lines (TL1out, TL2out), running from the output matching network towards an output balun, and providing a resistive component that connects ground potentials of each transmission line (TL1out, TL2out).
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein
the method comprises connecting the second type output terminals of the amplifier devices to electrically separated ground planes, and
the separated ground planes are formed by means of a slot in a ground plane, the slot having a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side, where the first type output terminal of the first amplifier device and the second type output terminal of the second amplifier device are connected to the ground plane along the first longitudinal side of the slot, and where the second type output terminal of the first amplifier device and the first type output terminal of the second amplifier device are connected to the ground plane on an opposite side of the slot, along the second longitudinal side of the slot.