The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 13, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 10, 2000
Graham Dolman, Saffron Walden, GB;
Scott Widdowson, Harlow, GB;
Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent, CA;
Abstract
This invention relates to power detectors as employed in electrical circuits in general. The invention also relates to power detectors associated with high power amplifiers and, in particular, but not exclusively, relates to power detectors associated with telecommunications high power and high frequency power amplifiers. The present invention further provides apparatus and methods of switching amplifier blocks. The present invention seeks to provide an improved power detector having an increased range. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a radio frequency power detector, which detector comprises a radio frequency coupler, a radio frequency to direct current voltage converter and an operational amplifier circuit to provide voltage scaling; wherein the operational amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers operable to amplify the dc signals. The amplifiers can be switched into operation under microprocessor control or by diode switching. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating this radio frequency power detector.