Eads Deutschland Gmbh

Joerg Schroth

Rolf Reber

Rainer Rittmeyer

Marion Filleboeck

Hardy Sledzik

Marion Filleböck

In a method and apparatus for compensating for gain changes in an amplifier circuit comprising radio-frequency modules and attenuation elements, a radio-frequency module is driven with a first temperature-dependent monitoring voltage U(T), and an attenuation element with a second temperature-dependent monitoring voltage U(T). The first temperature-dependent monitoring voltage U(T) is produced by applying a temperature dependency to an individual monitoring voltage U, which is predetermined for a predetermined temperature for a radio-frequency module, in order to set the optimum operating point of the radio-frequency module. The second temperature-dependent monitoring voltage U(T) is produced by applying a temperature dependency to a predetermined monitoring voltage Ufor the attenuation element. The monitoring voltage Uis determined in an iteration method, such that the output power of the amplifier circuit reaches a predeterminable level at a constant input power. Memory devices are provided for storing values for producing monitoring voltages for the radio-frequency modules and attenuation elements.

Method and apparatus for compensating for gain changes in an amplifier circuit

The invention relates to a method to control the power of millimeter waves for a V-band TR module. According to said method, the output power is detected and controlled at a constant level with an electronic control circuit by means of a variable attenuator. The invention proposes that in transmit mode, for operation at a frequency in the 60 GHz range and higher, a first SPDT (single pole double throw) MMIC switch is used as a variable attenuator and a second SPDT MMIC switch which acts as a transmit-receive switch is used as an output power detector. In receive mode, both SPDTs are used as switches. Overall, the power control for the entire TR module results in an increase of the module yield through compensation of chip spread and temperature effects. The multiple use of the SPDT MMICs as switches, variable attenuator and power detector saves costs.

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Ulm, Germany

Joerg Schroth