This invention aims to present a smart and dynamic power amplifier module that features both power combining and power sharing capabilities. The proposed flexible power amplifier (PA) module consists of a pre-processor, N PAs, and a post-processor. The pre-processor is an M-to-N wavefront (WF) multiplexer (muxer), while the post processor is a N-to-M WF de-multiplexer (demuxer), where N≧M≧2. Multiple independent signals can be concurrently amplified by a proposed multi-channel PA module with a fixed total power output, while individual signal channel outputs feature different power intensities with no signal couplings among the individual signals. In addition to basic configurations, some modules can be configured to feature both functions of parallel power amplifiers and also as M-to-M switches. Other programmable features include configurations of power combining and power redistribution functions with a prescribed amplitude and phase distributions, as well as high power PA with a linearizer.

A power amplifier system is disclosed having a first amplifier with a high-power input and a high-power output. A second amplifier has a low-power input and a low-power output. A reconfigurable mode switch network has a first series switch branch coupled between the high-power output and an RF output, a first shunt branch is coupled between the RF output and a fixed voltage node, and a second series switch branch is coupled between the low-power output and a shared node of the first shunt branch. The shared node separates the first shunt branch into a first shared section that is between the RF output and the shared node and a second shared section that is between the shared node and the fixed voltage node.

An RF module with improved testing capabilities is provided. The module has a first switch with signal outputs and an additional auxiliary connection connected to an auxiliary terminal. The auxiliary terminal can be connected to an RF filter while a power amplifier is decoupled from the filter.

An RF module with improved testing capabilities is provided. The module has a first switch with signal outputs and an additional auxiliary connection connected to an auxiliary terminal. The auxiliary terminal can be connected to an RF filter while a power amplifier is decoupled from the filter.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a switch architecture for switching between a low power amplifier and a high power amplifier. One example amplification system includes a high power amplifier and a low power amplifier. The amplification system further includes a first switch coupled between the high power amplifier and an output. The amplification system further includes a second switch coupled between the output and a reference potential. The second switch is further coupled between the low power amplifier and the output and configured to selectively couple the low power amplifier to the output. The amplification system further includes a third switch coupled between the low power amplifier and the second switch.

A power amplification system comprises a pre-processor including a wavefront multiplexer, a set of power amplifiers, and a post-processor including a wavefront demultiplexer. The wavefront multiplexer receives concurrently N input signals, N being an integer greater than 2, performs a wavefront multiplexing transform on the N input signals by attaching N wavefronts to the N input signals respectively, and generates N first output signals. The N wavefronts are unique and mutually orthogonal. The wavefront multiplexing transform has an inverse. The N power amplifiers amplify the N first output signals and generate N amplified signals. The wavefront demultiplexer performs the inverse of the wavefront multiplexing transform on the N amplified signals and generates N second output signals, the N second output signals corresponding respectively to the N input signals. Each of the N second output signals is an amplified version of a corresponding one of the N input signals.

A broadband linear processing system includes a pre-processing module and a set of M linear processors coupled to the pre-processing module, M being an integer greater than 1. The pre-processing module includes a wavefront multiplexer having M input ports and M output ports. The wavefront multiplexer receives M input signals at the M input ports, performs a wavefront multiplexing transform on the M input signals and outputs M narrowband signal streams at the M output ports. The wavefront multiplexing transform has an inverse. Each of the M linear processors receives and processes a corresponding one of the M narrowband signal streams, and outputs a corresponding one of M processed narrowband signal streams.

The invention relates to a sound reinforcement system (400) comprising a loudspeaker (130) and two audio amplifiers (410, 410), wherein: each audio amplifier (410, 410) is equipped with an output relay (214), which extends to an amplifier output terminal (116) of the associated audio amplifier, as well as a ground output terminal (118); each of two terminals of the loudspeaker (130) is connected to one of the amplifier output terminals; the ground output terminals (118) of the two audio amplifiers (410, 410) are connected to one another and/or to ground. The invention also relates to a method for operating a sound reinforcement system (400) of said type.

A broadband linear processing system includes a pre-processing module and a set of M linear processors coupled to the pre-processing module, M being an integer greater than 1. The pre-processing module includes a wavefront multiplexer having M input ports and M output ports. The wavefront multiplexer receives M input signals at the M input ports, performs a wavefront multiplexing transform on the M input signals and outputs M narrowband signal streams at the M output ports. The wavefront multiplexing transform has an inverse. Each of the M linear processors receives and processes a corresponding one of the M narrowband signal streams, and outputs a corresponding one of M processed narrowband signal streams.

A broadband digital beam forming system comprises a set of Q pre-processing modules, Q being an integer greater than or equal to 2, and a set of M digital beam forming modules in communication with the Q preprocessing modules. Each of the Q preprocessing modules receives a respective one of Q broadband input signal streams and outputs M narrowband signal streams, M being an integer greater than or equal to 2. The total number of narrowband signal streams outputted by the Q pre-processing modules is Q times M. Each of the M digital beam forming modules receives corresponding Q narrowband signal streams of the Q times M narrowband signal streams, and outputs R beam signals, R being an integer greater than or equal to 1. The system further comprises a set of R post-processing modules in communication with the M digital beam forming modules. Each of the R post-processing modules receives M beam signals, each of the M beam signals being a corresponding one of the R beam signals from each of the M digital beam forming modules, and outputs a corresponding broadband output signal.