U.S. patent application number 15/293515 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-19 for phase shifters for gallium nitride amplifiers and related methods.
This patent application is currently assigned to MACOM Technology Solution Holdings, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is MACOM Technology Solution Holdings, Inc.. Invention is credited to Thomas Kelly.
Application Number | 20180109228 15/293515 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60191489 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180109228 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kelly; Thomas |
April 19, 2018 |
PHASE SHIFTERS FOR GALLIUM NITRIDE AMPLIFIERS AND RELATED
METHODS
Abstract
Circuits for protecting devices, such as gallium nitride (GaN)
devices, and operating methods thereof are described. Such circuits
may include a temperature sensor configured to sense the
temperature of at least a portion of a device, and a phase shifter
configured to shift the phase of the signal output by the device,
when the sensed temperature is outside a safe temperature range,
e.g., above a predefined temperature threshold. The phase may be
shifted discretely or continuously. These circuits safeguard
devices from damaging operating conditions to prolong the operating
life of the protected devices.
Inventors: |
Kelly; Thomas; (Lowell,
MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MACOM Technology Solution Holdings, Inc. |
Lowell |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
MACOM Technology Solution Holdings,
Inc.
Lowell
MA
|
Family ID: |
60191489 |
Appl. No.: |
15/293515 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H03F 2200/447 20130101;
H03F 1/306 20130101; H01L 29/7787 20130101; H01L 29/808 20130101;
H01P 1/185 20130101; H01L 29/2003 20130101; H03F 1/56 20130101;
H01P 1/184 20130101; H03F 3/19 20130101; H03F 1/30 20130101; H03F
1/52 20130101; H03H 7/20 20130101; H03F 3/195 20130101; H03F
2200/468 20130101; H03F 2200/451 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H03F 1/30 20060101
H03F001/30; H01L 29/20 20060101 H01L029/20; H03F 3/195 20060101
H03F003/195; H01P 1/18 20060101 H01P001/18; H01P 1/185 20060101
H01P001/185 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a gallium nitride (GaN) radio-frequency
(RF) amplifier comprising an output terminal and configured to
output an RF signal through the output terminal; a temperature
sensor thermally coupled to the GaN RF amplifier and configured to
sense a temperature of the GaN RF amplifier; a phase shifter
electrically coupled to the output terminal of the GaN RF
amplifier; and control circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor
and the phase shifter and configured to: receive, from the
temperature sensor, data representing the temperature of the GaN RF
amplifier; and cause, based at least in part on the data
representing the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier, the phase
shifter to shift the phase of the RF signal by a phase amount until
the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is within a safe
temperature range.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is
configured to cause the phase shifter to shift the phase of the RF
signal when it determines that the data representing the
temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is greater than a threshold
value.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phase amount is selected
from a discrete set of selectable phase amounts.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the discrete set of selectable
phase amounts comprises approximately zero and approximately
.pi..
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phase amount is selected
from a continuous set of selectable phase amounts.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phase shifter comprises a
microstrip phase shifter.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phase shifter comprises a
pin diode hybrid phase shifter.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the GaN RF amplifier, the
temperature sensor, the phase shifter and the control circuitry are
disposed on a common substrate.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor
comprises one selected from the group consisting of a thermistor, a
thermocouple, and a silicon bandgap temperature sensor.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phase amount is
adjustable.
11. A method comprising: outputting a radio-frequency (RF) signal
using a gallium nitride (GaN) RF amplifier; sensing a temperature
of the GaN RF amplifier using a temperature sensor; determining
whether the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is within a safe
temperature range; and shifting a phase of the RF signal until the
sensed temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is within the safe
temperature range responsive to determining that the temperature of
the GaN amplifier is outside the safe temperature range.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein shifting the phase of the RF
signal until the sensed temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is
within the safe temperature range comprises shifting the phase of
the RF signal until the sensed temperature of the GaN RF amplifier
is less than a threshold value.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein shifting the phase of the RF
signal comprises shifting the phase of the RF signal by a
predefined phase amount.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predefined phase amount is
selected from among a discrete set of selectable phase amounts.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the discrete set of selectable
phase amounts comprises approximately zero and approximately
.pi..
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the predefined phase amount is
selected from among a continuous set of selectable phase
amounts.
17. A system for providing an RF signal to a load, the system
comprising: a gallium nitride (GaN) radio-frequency (RF) amplifier
comprising an output terminal and configured to output the RF
signal through the output terminal; a temperature sensor disposed
in proximity to the GaN RF amplifier and configured to sense a
temperature of the GaN RF amplifier; a phase shifter electrically
coupled to the output terminal of the GaN RF amplifier; and control
circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor and the phase shifter
and configured to: receive, from the temperature sensor, data
representing the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier; determine
whether the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is above a
threshold; and cause the phase shifter to shift the phase of the RF
signal such that the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is reduced
responsive to the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier being above
the threshold.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is
configured to cause the phase shifter to shift the phase of the RF
signal by a predefined phase amount.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the predefined amount is
adjustable.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the predefined amount is
selectable from among a discrete set of selectable phase amounts.
Description
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] The technology relates to circuits to safeguard a device,
such as a gallium nitride (GaN) device, from operating conditions
that can damage or destroy the device.
Discussion of the Related Art
[0002] GaN semiconductor material has received appreciable
attention in recent years because of its desirable electronic and
electro-optical properties. GaN has a wide, direct bandgap of about
3.4 eV. Because of its wide bandgap, GaN is more resistant to
avalanche breakdown and has a higher intrinsic field strength
compared to more common semiconductor materials, such as silicon
and gallium arsenide. In addition, GaN is able to maintain its
electrical performance at higher temperatures as compared to other
semiconductors, such as silicon or gallium arsenide. GaN also has a
higher carrier saturation velocity compared to silicon.
Additionally, GaN has a Wurtzite crystal structure, is a hard
material, has a high thermal conductivity, and has a much higher
melting point than other conventional semiconductors such as
silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide. Accordingly, GaN is
useful for high-speed, high-voltage, and high-power applications.
For example, GaN materials may be used as active circuit components
in semiconductor amplifiers for radio-frequency (RF)
communications, radar, and microwave applications.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to one aspect of the present application, an
apparatus for providing a signal to a load is provided. The
apparatus may comprise a gallium nitride (GaN) radio-frequency (RF)
amplifier comprising an output terminal and configured to output an
RF signal through the output terminal, a temperature sensor
thermally coupled to the GaN RF amplifier and configured to sense a
temperature of the GaN RF amplifier, a phase shifter electrically
coupled to the output terminal of the GaN RF amplifier, and control
circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor and the phase shifter
and configured to receive, from the temperature sensor, data
representing the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier, and cause,
based at least in part on the data representing the temperature of
the GaN RF amplifier, the phase shifter to shift the phase of the
RF signal by a phase amount until the temperature of the GaN RF
amplifier is within a safe temperature range.
[0004] In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to
cause the phase shifter to shift the phase of the RF signal when it
determines that the data representing the temperature of the GaN RF
amplifier is greater than a threshold value.
[0005] In some embodiments, the phase amount is selected from a
discrete set of selectable phase amounts.
[0006] In some embodiments, the discrete set of selectable phase
amounts comprises approximately zero and approximately .pi..
[0007] In some embodiments, the phase amount is selected from a
continuous set of selectable phase amounts.
[0008] In some embodiments, the phase shifter comprises a
microstrip phase shifter.
[0009] In some embodiments, the phase shifter comprises a pin diode
hybrid phase shifter.
[0010] In some embodiments, the GaN RF amplifier, the temperature
sensor, the phase shifter and the control circuitry are disposed on
a common substrate.
[0011] In some embodiments, the temperature sensor comprises one
selected from the group consisting of a thermistor, a thermocouple,
and a silicon bandgap temperature sensor.
[0012] In some embodiments, the phase amount is adjustable.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present application, a
method for providing a signal to a load is provided. The method may
comprise outputting a radio-frequency (RF) signal using a gallium
nitride (GaN) RF amplifier, sensing a temperature of the GaN RF
amplifier using a temperature sensor, and shifting a phase of the
RF signal until the sensed temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is
within a safe temperature range.
[0014] In some embodiments, shifting the phase of the RF signal
until the sensed temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is within the
safe temperature range comprises shifting the phase of the RF
signal until the sensed temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is less
than a threshold value.
[0015] In some embodiments, shifting the phase of the RF signal
comprises shifting the phase of the RF signal by a predefined phase
amount.
[0016] In some embodiments, the predefined phase amount is selected
from among a discrete set of selectable phase amounts.
[0017] In some embodiments, the discrete set of selectable phase
amounts comprises approximately zero and approximately .pi..
[0018] In some embodiments, the predefined phase amount is selected
from among a continuous set of selectable phase amounts.
[0019] According to another aspect of the present application, a
system for providing an RF signal to a load is provided. The system
may comprise a gallium nitride (GaN) radio-frequency (RF) amplifier
comprising an output terminal and configured to output the RF
signal through the output terminal, a temperature sensor disposed
in proximity to the GaN RF amplifier and configured to sense a
temperature of the GaN RF amplifier, a phase shifter electrically
coupled to the output terminal of the GaN RF amplifier, and control
circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor and the phase shifter
and configured to receive, from the temperature sensor, data
representing the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier, and cause,
based at least in part on the data representing the temperature of
the GaN RF amplifier, the phase shifter to shift the phase of the
RF signal such that the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is
limited.
[0020] In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to
cause the phase shifter to shift the phase of the RF signal by a
predefined phase amount.
[0021] In some embodiments, the predefined amount is
adjustable.
[0022] In some embodiments, the predefined amount is selectable
from among a discrete set of selectable phase amounts.
[0023] The foregoing apparatus and method embodiments may be
included in any suitable combination with aspects, features, and
acts described above or in further detail below. These and other
aspects, embodiments, and features of the present teachings can be
more fully understood from the following description in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The skilled artisan will understand that the figures,
described herein, are for illustration purposes only. It is to be
understood that in some instances various aspects of the
embodiments may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an
understanding of the embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily
to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the
principles of the teachings. In the drawings, like reference
characters generally refer to like features, functionally similar
and/or structurally similar elements throughout the various
figures. A depicted device or circuit may be integrated within a
larger circuit.
[0025] When referring to the drawings in the following detailed
description, spatial references "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower,"
"vertical," "horizontal," and the like may be used. Such references
are used for teaching purposes, and are not intended as absolute
references for embodied devices. The terms "on" and "over" are used
for ease of explanation relative to the illustrations, and are not
intended as absolute directional references. An embodied device may
be oriented spatially in any suitable manner that may be different
from the orientations shown in the drawings. The drawings are not
intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any
way.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for
providing a radio-frequency (RF) signal to a load, according to
some embodiments;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing an
RF signal to a load, according to some embodiments;
[0028] FIG. 3A is a plot illustrating a current and a voltage as a
function of a phase, according to some embodiments;
[0029] FIG. 3B is a plot illustrating power dissipated by an
amplifier as a function of a phase, according to some
embodiments;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a plot illustrating a first RF signal and a second
RF signal having an opposite phase with respect to the first RF
signal, according to some embodiments;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a
phase shifter, according to some embodiments;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a Smith chart illustrating a plurality of points
representing RF signals having different phases, according to some
embodiments;
[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates schematically an RF amplifier for diving
a microwave oven, according to some embodiments.
[0034] Features and advantages of the illustrated embodiments will
become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below
when taken in conjunction with the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] As described above, transistors comprising gallium nitride
(GaN) material are useful for high-speed, high-voltage, and
high-power applications because of the favorable material
properties of GaN. Some applications relating to RF communications,
radar, and microwaves can place demanding performance requirements
on devices that include GaN transistors. For example, some
applications may require high-power transistors capable of
amplifying signals to power levels between approximately 50 Watts
and approximately 200 Watts.
[0036] The favorable properties of GaN transistors also come with
new limitations relative to silicon based transistors. For example,
the gate-to-source breakdown voltage of a GaN transistor may
decrease as the temperature of the GaN transistor increases. The
temperature of the GaN transistor may rise because of increases in
the magnitude of the current in the GaN transistor caused by
operating condition changes. The lower gate-to-source breakdown
voltage may increase the gate-to-source leakage current in the GaN
transistor and may lead to the complete failure of the GaN
transistor.
[0037] The inventors have appreciated that the failure of GaN
transistors from excess heat caused by overcurrent or overvoltage
conditions may be prevented by introducing a phase shift between
the GaN transistor and the load. In this way the effective
impedance seen by the GaN transistor may be varied, and may be set
to a value that reduces the heating of the GaN transistor. This
approach may be particularly useful when the impedance of the load
is not known a priori, and/or when the impedance of the load varies
over time.
[0038] The inventors have conceived and developed various circuits
and operating methods thereof to monitor the temperature of the GaN
transistor (or other device) and adjust the impedance seen by the
transistor when the temperature is outside a safe temperature
range. The expression "safe temperature range" will be used herein
to refer to temperatures that are not at risk of causing damage to
a GaN transistor (e.g., caused by drain-to-source currents).
[0039] In some embodiments, control circuitry may be used to
monitor the temperature of a GaN transistor, for example by
receiving data obtained by a temperature sensor placed in proximity
to the GaN transistor. If it is determined that the temperature is
outside a safe temperature range, the control circuitry may cause a
phase shifter to introduce, along the signal path, a phase shift
between the GaN transistor and the load. The phase may be varied
until the temperature of the RF transistor is deemed safe. In some
embodiments, the phase may be varied by discrete amounts, such as
by approximately 45.degree., approximately 90.degree. or
approximately 180.degree.. In other embodiments, the phase may be
varied continuously. It should be appreciated that the circuits and
associated methods disclosed herein may be readily applied to
protect devices other than GaN transistors.
[0040] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for
providing a radio-frequency (RF) signal to a load, according to
some non-limiting embodiments. System 100 may comprise GaN RF
amplifier 102, temperature sensor 104, phase shifter 106 and
control circuitry 108. System 100 may be connected to a load 110.
GaN RF amplifier 102, also referred to herein as "the amplifier",
may comprise one or more GaN transistors, such as one or more GaN
metal-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MESFET) or
high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMT). Alternatively, or
additionally, amplifier 102 may comprise one or more transistors
based on other III-nitride materials, such as aluminum nitride
(AlN), indium nitride (InN), or any suitable alloy thereof. GaN RF
amplifier 102 may receive an input RF signal through an input
terminal (not shown in FIG. 1) and may output, at an input
terminal, an amplified version of the RF input signal. The
amplified signal may have any suitable frequency, or range of
frequencies. For example, the amplified signal may have a carrier
frequency that is between 10 MHz and 100 GHz, between 100 MHz and
10 GHz, between 910 MHz and 920 MHz, between 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz or
within any other suitable range within such ranges. The amplified
signal may have a power (e.g., the RMS power) between 10 mW and 1
KW in some embodiments, or within any range within such range.
[0041] Temperature sensor 104 may be disposed in proximity of GaN
RF amplifier 102. For example, temperature sensor 104 may be placed
to be thermally coupled to GaN RF amplifier 102. In this way,
temperature sensor 104 may be sensitive to the temperature of a
specific location within the GaN RF amplifier (e.g., the
temperature of the surface of the die, the temperature of the
substrate or the temperature of a junction of a GaN transistor).
Temperature sensor 104 may be implemented using any suitable type
of sensor, such as a thermocouple, a thermistor or a silicon
bandgap temperature sensor. The temperature sensor 104 may output a
signal that is representative of the sensed temperature. For
example, the output signal may be proportional to the sensed
temperature.
[0042] Phase shifter 106 may be coupled to the output terminal of
GaN RF amplifier 102, and may receive the amplified signal. Phase
shifter 106 may be configured to shift the phase of the amplified
signal, thus varying the impedance seen by the amplifier. In this
way, the power reflected by the load back to the amplifier may be
limited. Phase shifter 106 may introduce any desired amount of
phase shift, which may be varied discretely or continuously. Phase
shifter 106 may be implemented using any suitable type of
circuitry, such as a hybrid-coupler quadrature phase shifter, a
Lange-coupler quadrature phase shifter or a rat-race quadrature
phase shifter. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to limit
the insertion loss associated with phase shifter 106. To limit such
losses, a microstrip phase shifter may be used.
[0043] Control circuitry 108 may be coupled to temperature sensor
104, and may be configured to receive a signal representative of
the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier. In addition, control
circuitry 108 may be coupled to phase shifter 106, and may be
configured to cause the phase shifter to shift the phase of the
amplified signal by a desired amount when the sensed temperature is
outside a safe temperature range. For example, the control
circuitry may trigger a phase shift when the temperature of the GaN
RF amplifier is greater than a predefined threshold temperature.
The control circuitry may be configured to trigger phase shifts by
any suitable amounts. In some embodiments, the range of phase
shifts 0.degree.-360.degree. may be segmented in 2.sup.n intervals,
where n may be any integer equal to or greater than one. To each
interval may correspond a selectable value for the phase shift. In
one non-limiting example, the range may be segmented into two
intervals, and the set of selectable values may comprise
approximately 0.degree. (e.g., between -10.degree. and 10.degree.)
and approximately 180.degree. (e.g., between 170.degree. and
190.degree.). Zero may be selected when the temperature of the
amplifier is within a safe temperature range, otherwise 180.degree.
may be selected. In another non-limiting example, the set of
selectable values may comprise approximately 0.degree.,
approximately 90.degree., approximately 180.degree. and
approximately 270.degree.. The phase may be varied until the
temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is safe. Control
circuitry 108 may be implemented using any suitable type of
circuitry, such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and/or a
field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The control circuitry may
further comprise a memory for storing data corresponding to a safe
temperature range, e.g., a threshold temperature.
[0044] In some embodiments, at least two among GaN RF amplifiers
102, temperature sensor 104, phase shifter 106 and control
circuitry 108 may be disposed on the same substrate, such a printed
circuit board (PCB). In some embodiments, at least two among GaN RF
amplifier 102, temperature sensor 104, phase shifter 106 and
control circuitry 108 may be bonded using a suitable packaging
technique, such as wire bonding or flip-chip bonding.
[0045] Load 110 may comprise a microwave oven, an antenna, a radar
apparatus, a cellular phone transmitter, a plasma lighting system,
a plasma emission system, or any other suitable type of load
configured to receive microwave signals. In some embodiments, load
110 may exhibit an impedance that is not known a priori. As a
result, the power reflected from the load when the load is driven
with system 100 may be unknown. Additionally, or alternatively, the
impedance of load 110 may vary over time. For example, as the load
receives power from system 100, a physical property of the load,
such as an electrical resistance and/or an electrical reactance,
may vary. In such circumstances, the phase shift provided by phase
shifter 106 may be adjusted to vary accordingly.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of proving an RF
signal to a load, according to some non-limiting embodiments.
Method 200 may be implemented using system 100 in some embodiments.
Method 200 may begin at act 202. At act 204, a GaN RF amplifier may
output an RF signal, and may provide the RF signal to a load.
Depending on the impedance seen by the GaN RF amplifier, a fraction
of the output power may return back to the amplifier as a reflected
signal. Such reflected signal may cause a rise in the temperature
of the GaN RF amplifier, such as a rise in the temperature of a
junction of a GaN transistor. At act 206, a temperature sensor
thermally coupled to the GaN RF amplifier may sense a temperature
of the GaN RF amplifier, and may produce a signal representative of
such temperature. In some embodiments, the sensed temperature may
be calibrated to be proportional to the temperature of a junction
of a GaN transistor within the amplifier. At act 208, it is
determined if the sensed temperature is within a safe temperature
range, e.g., if the temperature is greater or lower than a
threshold temperature. Such determination may performed using
control circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor. If it is
determined that the temperature is within such range, no action may
be taken by the control circuitry, and the temperature sensor may
continue to sense the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier.
[0047] Otherwise, if it is determined that the temperature is
outside such range, the phase of the signal output by the amplifier
may be varied at act 210. The phase may be shifted discretely, or
continuously, until the temperature of the GaN RF amplifier is
within the safe range. Method 200 may continue for as long as the
amplifier outputs a signal to the load.
[0048] As discussed above, the impedance of the load may be
unknown. As a result, the power of the signal transferred to the
load and the power of the reflected signal may be also unknown.
FIG. 3A is a plot illustrating an example of a signal comprising a
voltage and a corresponding current. In particular, plot 300
illustrates voltage V.sub.0 obtained at an output terminal of
amplifier 102 and a current I.sub.0 output by amplifier 102 as a
function of the phase of the reflected signal. In FIG. 3A, curve
302 represents I.sub.0 while 304 represents V.sub.0. In this
example, I.sub.0 exhibits a maximum at approximately 95.degree.
while V.sub.0 exhibits a maximum at approximately 155.degree..
[0049] The power dissipated at the GaN RF amplifier may be given by
the combination of the power transferred to the load and the
reflected power. An example of a dissipated power is illustrated in
plot 301 of FIG. 3B. In this example, the power 306 exhibits a
minimum at approximately 125.degree.. Having a minimum in the
dissipated power, the region of plot 301 surrounding 125.degree.
exhibits a corresponding minimum in the temperature of the
amplifier. To prevent damage to the amplifier, it may desirable to
operate GaN RF amplifier 102 in the region surrounding the minimum
power dissipation (e.g., a region that is 90.degree.-wide and
centered about the phase of minimum power dissipation).
[0050] However, in some circumstances, a GaN RF amplifier may
operate in a region out of such desirable region of plot 301. FIG.
4 is a plot illustrating the temperature of GaN RF amplifier 102 as
a function of the phase. In the example illustrated, the threshold
temperature is set to 150.degree. C., and as result the safe
temperature range includes temperatures below 150.degree. C.
However, other threshold temperatures may be chosen. Curve 402
exhibits, at a phase of approximately 125.degree., a temperature
that is well beyond the safe range. According to one aspect of the
present application, control circuitry 108 may be configured to
cause the phase shifter to introduce a phase shift when the
temperature of the amplifier exceeds the threshold. As shown in the
non-limiting example provided by curve 404, the phase of the
amplified signal may be varied by approximately 90.degree., which
may cause the temperature of the amplifier, at a phase of
125.degree., to drop below the threshold.
[0051] Phase shifter 106 may be implemented in any suitable way. In
some embodiments, the phase shift introduced may be adjustable and
may be selected from among a discrete set of selectable values. An
example of a phase shifter is illustrated in FIG. 5. Phase shifter
500 may comprise a plurality of impedance elements disposed in a
hybrid coupler configuration. The impedance elements may be
implemented using transmission lines. In some embodiments, phase
shifter 500 comprises four impedance elements Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2,
Z.sub.3 and Z.sub.4. In some embodiments, the impedance of Z.sub.2
and Z.sub.3 may be approximately equal to each other, while the
impedance of Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.4 may be approximately equal to the
impedance of Z.sub.2 divided by {square root over (2)}. Phase
shifter 500 may further comprise resistors R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, pin
diodes D.sub.1 and D.sub.2, and variable capacitors C.sub.1 and
C.sub.2. Signal V.sub.control, which may be provided by control
circuitry 108, may be used to bias, through respective resistors
R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, pin diodes D.sub.1 and D.sub.2. Variable
capacitors C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 may have capacitances that depend on
the bias of diodes D.sub.1 and D.sub.2. For example, C.sub.1 and
C.sub.2 may represent the junction capacitances of D.sub.1 and
D.sub.2. As an input signal is coupled to phase shifter 500 through
the input terminal, the signal may split between a path going
through Z.sub.2, and a path going through Z.sub.1. If diode D.sub.1
is in a conductive state, the signal going through Z.sub.1 may
exhibit a reflection, whose value may depend on the capacitance of
C.sub.1. Similarly, if diode D.sub.2 is in a conductive state, the
signal going through Z.sub.4 may exhibit a reflection, whose value
may depend on the capacitance of C.sub.2. As the reflected signals
recombine at the output terminal, the resulting output signal may
exhibit a phase difference with respect to the input signal. By
adjusting the capacitances of C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 through
V.sub.control, the phase difference between the input signal and
the output signal may be adjusted.
[0052] While the example shown in FIG. 4 illustrates how the
temperature of the amplifier can be reduced below threshold by
shifting the phase of the amplified signal by 180.degree., other
phase shift amounts may be introduced in some circumstances. FIG. 6
is a Smith chart illustrating how the phase of the amplified signal
may be varied. Before any phase shift is introduced, it will be
assumed, in the non-limiting example of FIG. 6, that the impedance
seen by the GaN RF amplifier is represented by point A on the Smith
chart. In some embodiments, the impedance may be moved anywhere
along the constant standing wave ratio circle 602 by introducing
phase shifts between 0.degree. and 180.degree. (assuming no
phase-dependent insertion losses). For example, if the impedance
corresponding to point A causes the temperature of the amplifier to
rise outside the safe range, the impedance may be moved,
continuously or by discrete steps, to point B, C or D, until the
temperature is reduced below threshold.
[0053] As described above, system 100 may be used in a variety of
applications. One such application is in microwave ovens, whether
domestic or industrial. Because the impedance of a microwave oven
may depend on the type of food being cooked, on its quantity, and
even on the temperature of the food, the amount of power reflected
back to the amplifier may be unpredictable. In certain
circumstances, for example, the reflected power may be comparable,
or even exceed the power transferred to the load. Such reflections
may lead to reductions in the lifetime of the amplifier. For this
reason, routinely replacements of some parts of conventional
amplifiers are often required, which may lead to substantial
maintenance costs. According to one aspect of the present
application, maintenance costs may be reduced by using systems and
methods of the type described herein. FIG. 7 illustrates
schematically a microwave oven cavity 704, connected to a microwave
oven driver 702. Microwave oven driver 702 may comprise a system
100 in some embodiments. In the non-limiting example illustrated, a
microwave oven driver 702 is connected to microwave oven cavity 704
via waveguide 710. However, the connection may be implemented using
any suitable signal conductor. A microwave oven driver 704 may be
disposed inside or outside microwave oven cavity 704. Microwave
oven driver 702 may be configured to operate at approximately 915
MHz, at approximately 2.450 GHz, or at any other suitable
frequency.
[0054] Aspects of the present application may provide one or more
benefits, some of which have been previously described. Now
described are some non-limiting examples of such benefits. It
should be appreciated that not all aspects and embodiments
necessarily provide all of the benefits now described. Further, it
should be appreciated that aspects of the present application may
provide additional benefits to those now described.
[0055] Being based on GaN, amplifiers of the type described herein
may able to output substantially more power compared to equivalent
amplifiers using conventional transistors, such as silicon
transistor. Nevertheless, in spite of the increased output power,
aspects of the present application provide circuitry configured to
prevent damage to the amplifiers caused by back reflections.
[0056] The terms "approximately" and "about" may be used to mean
within .+-.20% of a target dimension in some embodiments, within
.+-.10% of a target dimension in some embodiments, within .+-.5% of
a target dimension in some embodiments, and yet within .+-.2% of a
target dimension in some embodiments. The terms "approximately" and
"about" may include the target dimension.
[0057] The technology described herein may be embodied as a method,
of which at least some acts have been described. The acts performed
as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way.
Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are
performed in an order different than described, which may include
performing some acts simultaneously, even though described as
sequential acts in illustrative embodiments. Additionally, a method
may include more acts than those described, in some embodiments,
and fewer acts than those described in other embodiments.
[0058] Having thus described at least one illustrative embodiment
of the invention, various alterations, modifications, and
improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such
alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be
within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended
as limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in the
following claims and the equivalents thereto.
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