Power amplification device and television signal transmission system

Abstract

A power amplification device capable of detaching an element relating to the power amplification of an RF signal from an element relating to the combining of RF signals. The amplifying unit is provided with a plurality of groups of amplifier circuits that amplifies the power of a RF signal and the plurality of groups of amplifier circuits each includes a predetermined number of the amplifier circuits. A combining unit includes a first combiner and a second combiner. The first combiner is provided in association with the group of the amplifier circuits, combines RF signals output from the amplifier circuits belonging to the corresponding group, and outputs the RF signal after combining. The second combiner combines the RF signals output from each first combiner and outputs the RF signal after combining. The amplifying unit is attachable to and detachable from the combining unit.

1 . A power amplification device comprising:
 an amplifying unit provided with a plurality of groups of amplifier circuits that amplifies the power of a radio frequency (RF) signal, the plurality of groups of amplifier circuits each including a predetermined number of the amplifier circuits; and   a combining unit including first combiners and a second combiner, the first combiners being provided in association with the groups, wherein the first combiners combine RF signals output from the amplifier circuits belonging to the corresponding group and output first combined RF signals, and wherein the second combiner combines the first combined RF signals output from the respective first combiners and outputs a second combined RF signal,   wherein   a housing of the amplifying unit and a housing of the combining unit are separate housings, and the amplifying unit is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the combining unit,   the amplifying unit is provided with the same number of output ports as the number of amplifier circuits,   the combining unit is provided with the same number of input ports as the number of output ports of the amplifying unit,   the input ports of the combining unit are arranged so as to be connected to the corresponding output ports of the amplifying unit, and   the housing of the amplifying unit and the housing of the combining unit have a one-to-one correspondence when the amplifying unit is attached to the combining unit.   
     
     
         2 . The power amplification device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the groups of the amplifier circuits each include three amplifier circuits, one of the three amplifier circuits being an amplifier circuit configured to perform a class AB operation or a class B operation, the remaining two amplifier circuits being amplifier circuits configured to perform a class C operation.   
     
     
         3 . The power amplification device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the groups of the amplifier circuits each include two amplifier circuits, one of the two amplifier circuits being an amplifier circuit configured to perform a class AB operation or class B operation, the remaining one amplifier circuit being an amplifier circuit configured to perform a class C operation.   
     
     
         4 . The power amplification device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second combiner is a 3 dB coupler.   
     
     
         5 . A television signal transmission system comprising:
 one or more power amplification devices according to  claim 1 ;   an exciter for generating an RF signal to be transmitted as a television signal;   a distributor that is connected to the amplifying unit of each power amplification device for distributing the RF signal output from the exciter to each amplifier circuit provided in the amplifying unit of said power amplification device;   an antenna; and   a power combiner that is connected to the combining unit of each power amplification device for performing power combining of RF signals output from the combining unit of said power amplification device and outputting the RF signal after power combining to the antenna,   wherein the combining unit of each power amplification device is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the power combiner.   
     
     
         6 . The television signal transmission system according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the amplifying unit of each power amplification device is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the distributor.