Transmitter system with reconfigurable amplifiers

1. An amplifier comprising:

a coupler;

a main amplifier; and

an auxiliary amplifier,

wherein the main amplifier and the auxiliary amplifier are supplied with signals derived from an input signal and amplify the input signal,

wherein the coupler combines output signals of the main amplifier and of the auxiliary amplifier,

wherein at least one of the main amplifier or the auxiliary amplifier includes an operating point that is adjustable during operation,

wherein a first output of the coupler is terminated with a termination that is not in use and is physically non-switchable during operation, the termination having one or more components including at least one of an inductance, a capacitor, or an element that is a series connection of an inductance and a capacitance (“LC element”),

wherein an output signal of the amplifier is detectable at a second output of the coupler, and

wherein, through a dimensioning of the one or more components of the termination, a frequency range of the amplifier in a Doherty mode is adjustable.

2. The amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein the operating point of the at least one of the main amplifier or the auxiliary amplifier is for an AB-mode or a C-mode, and

wherein an adjustment of the operating point of the at least one of the main amplifier or the auxiliary amplifier allows a switching between a broadband mode and a Doherty mode of the amplifier.

3. The amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein a frequency range of the amplifier in a broadband mode is independent of the dimensioning of the one or more components of the termination.

4. The amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein a frequency range of the amplifier in a broadband mode is partially independent of the dimensioning of the one or more components of the termination.

5. An amplifier arrangement, comprising:

a first amplifier, which is an amplifier according to claim 1 ;

a second amplifier, which is an amplifier according to claim 1 ; and

a control device for independent adjustment of the respective operating points of the at least one of the main amplifier and the auxiliary amplifier of the respective first and second amplifiers,

wherein the first and second amplifiers are independently operable in the Doherty mode and in a broadband mode.

6. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 5 , further comprising a memory,

wherein the control device detects or reads out from the memory a frequency range of every amplifier of the amplifier arrangement in order to:

adjust the operating point of each amplifier of which the frequency range corresponds to a desired frequency range of the amplifier arrangement to operate in the Doherty mode, and

adjust the operating point of each amplifier of which the frequency range does not correspond to the desired frequency range of the amplifier arrangement to operate in the broadband mode.

7. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the control device communicates a desired frequency range of the amplifier arrangement to every amplifier of the amplifier arrangement amplifiers, and

wherein the first and second amplifiers of the amplifier arrangement:

operate in the Doherty mode when the desired frequency range corresponds to the frequency range of the respective first and second amplifiers, and

operate in the broadband mode when the desired frequency range does not correspond to the frequency range of the respective first and second amplifiers.

8. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a reflection detector that detects reflections at an output of the amplifier arrangement; and

an attenuation element that adjusts an attenuation factor dependent upon reflections detected by the reflection detector.

9. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 5 , further comprising a phase adjustment element that compensates phase hops of the output signal of the respective first and second amplifiers in an adjustment of the respective operating points of the at least one of the main amplifier and of the auxiliary amplifier of at least one of the first and second amplifiers.

10. A transmitter, comprising:

a first amplifier arrangement, which is an amplifier arrangement according to claim 5 ; and

a second amplifier arrangement, which is an amplifier arrangement according to claim 5 ,

wherein the transmitter has a desired frequency range, and

wherein all amplifiers of the respective first and second amplifier arrangements of the transmitter are independently operable in the Doherty mode in the desired frequency range of the transmitter and in the broadband mode.

11. A transmitter system, comprising:

a first transmitter, which is a transmitter according to claim 10 ;

a second transmitter, which is a transmitter according to claim 10 ; and

a redundant transmitter, which is a transmitter according to claim 10 ,

wherein the redundant transmitter does not operate if the first and second transmitters of the transmitter system are in operation and achieve a given minimum output, and

wherein the redundant transmitter operates as soon as one of the first and second transmitters of the transmitter system is out of operation or as soon as operation of the first and second transmitter falls below the given minimum output.

12. The transmitter system according to claim 11 , wherein the respective amplifiers of the respective amplifier arrangements of the redundant transmitter operate in the Doherty mode when the frequency ranges of the respective amplifiers correspond to a frequency range of the one of the first and second transmitters which is disposed out of operation, and

wherein the respective amplifiers of the respective amplifier arrangements of the redundant transmitter operate in the broadband mode when the frequency ranges of the respective amplifiers do not correspond to the frequency range of the transmitter disposed out of operation.

13. The transmitter system according to claim 11 , wherein the respective amplifiers of the respective amplifier arrangements of the redundant transmitter always operate in the broadband mode.

14. The transmitter system according to claim 11 , wherein the redundant transmitter includes at least one amplifier arrangement having every frequency range of all other amplifier arrangements of the transmitter system.

15. The transmitter system according to claim 14 , wherein the transmitter system further comprises a redundant amplifier arrangement of arbitrary frequency range,

wherein, in case of a failed amplifier arrangement during operation, the failed amplifier arrangement being one of the respective first and second arrangements of one of the first and second transmitters, the transmitter system accommodates:

a removal of the failed amplifier arrangement,

a removal of one of the first and second amplifier arrangements of the redundant transmitter having a frequency range that corresponds with a frequency range of the failed amplifier arrangement,

an introduction of the one of the first and second amplifier arrangements of the redundant transmitter instead of the failed amplifier arrangement, and

a replacement of the one of the first and second amplifier arrangements of the redundant transmitter with the redundant amplifier arrangement.

16. An amplifier arrangement, comprising:

a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier including a coupler, a main amplifier, and an auxiliary amplifier, the respective main amplifiers and auxiliary amplifiers being supplied with signals derived from an input signal and amplifying the input signal, the respective couplers combining respective output signals of the respective main amplifiers and auxiliary amplifiers, and at least one of the respective main amplifiers or auxiliary amplifiers including an operating point adjustable during operation; and

a control device for independent adjustment of the respective operating points of the respective main amplifiers and auxiliary amplifiers of the plurality of amplifiers,

wherein the plurality of amplifiers are independently operable in a Doherty mode and in a broadband mode,

wherein a first output of each respective coupler is terminated with a termination that is not in use and is physically non-switchable during operation, the respective terminations having one or more components including at least one of an inductance, a capacitor, or an element that is a series connection of an inductance and a capacitance (“LC element”),

wherein an output signal of each amplifier is detectable at a second output of the respective couplers, and

wherein, through a dimensioning of the one or more components of the respective terminations, a frequency range of the respective amplifiers in the Doherty mode is adjustable.

17. A transmitter, comprising:

a first amplifier arrangement and a second amplifier arrangement, each of the amplifier arrangements respectively including,

a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier including a coupler, a main amplifier, and an auxiliary amplifier, the respective main amplifiers and auxiliary amplifiers being supplied with signals derived from an input signal and amplifying the input signal, the respective couplers combining respective output signals of the respective main amplifiers and auxiliary amplifiers, and at least one of the respective main amplifiers or auxiliary amplifiers including an operating point adjustable during operation, and

a control device for independent adjustment of the respective operating points of the respective main amplifiers and auxiliary amplifiers of the plurality of amplifiers, the plurality of amplifiers being independently operable in a Doherty mode and in a broadband mode,

wherein the transmitter has a desired frequency range,

wherein every amplifier of the respective amplifier arrangements of the transmitter is independently operable in the Doherty mode in the desired frequency range of the transmitter and the broadband mode,

wherein a first output of each respective coupler is terminated with a termination that is not in use and is physically non-switchable during operation, the respective terminations having one or more components including at least one of an inductance, a capacitor, or an element that is a series connection of an inductance and a capacitance (“LC element”),

wherein an output signal of each amplifier is detectable at a second output of the respective couplers, and

wherein, through a dimensioning of the one or more components of the respective terminations, a frequency range of the respective amplifiers in the Doherty mode is adjustable.