Structures for spatial power-combining devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10855240-B2
Application number	US-201816191541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2018
Priority date	Nov 15, 2018
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

Improved structures for spatial power-combining devices are disclosed. A spatial power-combining device includes a plurality of amplifier assemblies and each amplifier assembly includes a body structure that supports an input antenna structure, an amplifier, and an output antenna structure. According to embodiments disclosed herein, the body structure comprises a material that is configured to provide the spatial power-combining device with reduced weight while maintaining good thermal dissipation for heat generated by the amplifiers. In certain embodiments, the body structure may comprise an allotrope of carbon such as graphite or graphene, among others. In certain embodiments, the body structure may include one or more thermal vias configured to dissipate heat from the amplifier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spatial power-combining device for modifying a signal comprising a plurality of amplifier assemblies, wherein each amplifier assembly of the plurality of amplifier assemblies comprises:
an amplifier;
an input antenna structure and an output antenna structure that are arranged on a substrate; and
a body structure that is configured to support the amplifier, the input antenna structure, the output antenna structure, and the substrate, wherein the body structure comprises an allotrope of carbon and one or more thermal vias that are arranged to extend at least partially through the allotrope of carbon.

2. The spatial power-combining device of claim 1 , wherein the allotrope of carbon comprises graphite.

3. The spatial power-combining device of claim 2 , wherein the body structure comprises an electrically conductive film on the graphite.

4. The spatial power-combining device of claim 3 , wherein the electrically conductive film comprises at least one of plated nickel or copper.

5. The spatial power-combining device of claim 2 , wherein the graphite comprises a dopant that is configured to improve mechanical stability or improve electrical conductivity.

6. The spatial power-combining device of claim 1 , wherein the allotrope of carbon comprises at least one of graphene, a coating comprising fullerenes, or a coating comprising carbon nanotubes.

7. The spatial power-combining device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an input coaxial waveguide section configured to concurrently provide a signal to the input antenna structure of each amplifier assembly of the plurality of amplifier assemblies; and
an output coaxial waveguide section configured to concurrently combine a signal from the output antenna structure of each amplifier assembly of the plurality of amplifier assemblies.

8. The spatial power-combining device of claim 1 , wherein the input antenna structure further comprises:
an input signal conductor on a first face of the substrate and an input ground conductor on a second face of the substrate that opposes the first face.

9. The spatial power-combining device of claim 1 , further comprising an input port for receiving a signal and an output port for transmitting an amplified signal.

10. The spatial power-combining device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of amplifier assemblies is arranged radially around a center axis of the spatial power-combining device.

11. The spatial power-combining device of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier comprises a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifier.

12. The spatial power-combining device of claim 1 , further comprising a heat transfer device that is arranged to at least partially surround each amplifier assembly of the plurality of amplifier assemblies.

13. A spatial power-combining device for modifying a signal comprising a plurality of amplifier assemblies, wherein each amplifier assembly of the plurality of amplifier assemblies comprises:
an amplifier;
an input antenna structure and an output antenna structure that are arranged on a substrate; and
a body structure that is configured to support the amplifier, the input antenna structure, the output antenna structure, and the substrate, wherein the body structure comprises one or more thermal vias that are configured to dissipate heat from the amplifier.

14. The spatial power-combining device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more thermal vias are configured to dissipate heat from the amplifier in a direction perpendicular to a surface on which the amplifier is mounted.

15. The spatial power-combining device of claim 14 , wherein the body structure comprises an anisotropic heat spreader configured to dissipate heat away from the one or more thermal vias.

16. The spatial power-combining device of claim 15 , wherein the anisotropic heat spreader comprises graphite.

17. The spatial power-combining device of claim 16 , wherein the body structure further comprises an electrically conductive film on the graphite.

18. The spatial power-combining device of claim 17 , wherein the electrically conductive film comprises plated nickel.

19. The spatial power-combining device of claim 17 , wherein the electrically conductive film comprises copper.

20. The spatial power-combining device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more thermal vias extend partially through the body structure.

21. The spatial power-combining device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more thermal vias extend entirely through the body structure.

22. The spatial power-combining device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more thermal vias extend into the body structure with a distance that is greater than one or more other thermal vias that extend into the body structure.

Assignees

• Qorvo Us Inc

Inventors

• Bojkov Christo
• Murdock Dylan
• Dry Robert Charles

Classifications

• H01Q3/22

  varying the orientation in accordance with variation of frequency of radiated wave · CPC title

• H01Q13/085

  Slot-line radiating ends · CPC title

• H03F3/602 Primary

  Combinations of several amplifiers · CPC title

• H01Q9/28

  Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines (waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00) · CPC title

• H01Q3/42

  using frequency-mixing {(H01Q3/2676 takes precedence)} · CPC title