SENDER
SENDER S.A.
SENDER A.M. Transmitters
SENDER
SENDER S.A.
• Company was created in 1997 by a group of engineers and
technitians with long experience in Solid state A.M.
Transmitters.
• Located in Santiago Chile, with 25 employes.
40% of them are shareholders.
• Main activity: Design and manufacturing of A.M. transmitters,
antenna tuning units, duplexers and triplexers.
• First transmitter in operation Nov 1997.
• Transmitters sold up to now:127 from 1 KW to 12.5 KW.
SENDER
Product Line
AM 1500 SS 1.5 KW/1.1 KW, single phase / 2 power
amplifiers
AM 3000 SS 2.25 KW/3KW, single phase or 3 phase / 4
power amplifiers.
AM 7500 SS 5.5 KW/ 7.5 KW, 3 phase or single phase / 7
power amplifiers.
AM 15000 SS 11 KW/13 KW,3 phase / 14 power
amplifiers
AM 25000 SS 22 KW/26KW, 3 phase / 28 power amplifiers
SENDER
Product highlights
• Solid State. Modular / redundant
architecture
• High efficiency. PWM & class D R.F.
amplifiers
• Hot plug in power amplifiers with Mosfets.
• Simple design with standard components.
• Totally rustproof cabinet made of iridated
aluminum with stainless steel hardware.
• Excellent specs and audio quality.
• Outstanding factory support.
• Very competitive price.
SENDER
Basic specifications
Frequency range: .53 MHZ to 1.7 MHZ.
Input voltage: 110V or 220 V single phase, 220V or 380V 3 ph
+or - 10%. Line frequency 47HZ to 63 HZ.
Efficiency: 75% or better for single phase transmitters,
80% or better for 3 phase transmitters.
Frequency response: Better than +or- 1 dB 30 Hz to 10 KHZ.
Distortion: Less than 1% at nominal power and 90% modulation.
Harmonics and spurious:- 73 dB or better for AM 1500 SS,
- 80 dB or better for other models.
SENDER
Frequency stability:+- 5 Hz.
Output impedance: 50 Ohm
Dimentions and weigths:
AM 1500 SS W=44 cm,H=62.5cm
D=60 cM , 100 Kg.
AM 3000 SS W=44 cm,H=65.5cm
D=60 cM , 160 Kg.
AM 15000 SS W=80 cm,H=181cm
D=81 cM , 500 Kg.
SENDER
Standard features:
2 power level with independient adjustment
and modulation autotracking.
Start, stop,power level selection and power
level adjustment remotely controled.
Automatic alarm reset.
Positive and negative limiter.
SENDER
Basic block diagram
A1
Synth
A2
Combiner Output
Filter
PWM Out
An
PWR
Control
Supply
SENDER
Relationship with
RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS
• Exclusive representation for Asia and other specific countries.
• Joint project to manufacture transmitters in U.S.A.
• Sender sells Omnicast F.M. Transmitters in Latin America.
• Excellent level of personal contacts .
SENDER
Near future projects
• FCC type acceptance.
• Frequency agile 1.5 KW transmitter.
• IBOC compatibility.
• Inboard audio processor and modulation monitor.
• Higher power amplifiers
SENDER
Reliability in A.M. stations
SENDER
Introduction
Station Concept
• Harmonic set of:
– Transmitter
– Radiating system
– Energy System
– Auxiliary Equipment
SENDER
Experience with stations using Solid
State A.M. Transmitters
• Very high reliability if precautions related with the
following topics are considered:
Antenna discharges
A.C. Source transients and discharges
A.C. Source voltage limits
Load stability
Interference from nearby stations
Reliability is reduced in unprotected stations
SENDER
Basic elements of a station
ANTENNA
Audio &
STL Rem. Ctrl.
RX
RF
H.V
TRANSF.
DISTR. TX
BOARD T.P. ATU
A.C.
GROUND PLANE
SENDER
TRANSMITTER BASIC BLOCKS
• POWER SUPPLY
• PWM MODULATOR
• R.F. DRIVER
• CLASS D or E
• R.F. OUTPUT FILTER
• CONTROL,PROTECTIONS,SIGNALING
• EXTERNAL INTERFACE
SENDER
PWM MODULATOR
• GENERATES D.C + A.C. VOLTAGE FOR
THE R.F. AMP.
• SWITCHING DEVICE, HIGH EFFICIENCY
• A FILTER IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE
SWITCHING FREQUENCIES
• CONMUTATION FREQUENCY IS 72 KHZ.
SENDER
PWM (PULSE WIDTH MODULATION)
SIMPLIFIED DIAGRAM:
R.F.
AMPLIFIER
D.C. SUPPLY Switch
PWM FILTER LOAD
(Mosfet)
SENDER
PWM BASIC OPERATION
• Between 1) y 4) duty cycle is increased
• Mean voltage in the load increases proportionally
• A filter is required to remove high frequency components
F = 72 kHz PWM waveform Filtered output voltage
1)
S 2)
V RL 3)
4)
SENDER
PWM Frequency spectrum
Amplitude
D.C Component PWM 0°
Audio
72 kHz 144 kHz Frecuency
SENDER
PWM Frequency spectrum
Amplitude
D.C. component
PWM 180°
Audio
72 KHZ components out of phase
144 kHz Frecuency
72 kHz
SENDER
PWM filter diagram
SENDER
PWM filter frequency response
SENDER
PWM filter response sensibility
to load changes
Rload +/- 15%
SENDER
Load change consequences
• With reduced load (Rload< Rnominal)
transmitter will produce high frequency
submodulation
• With increased load (Rload>Rnominal)
transmitter will show high frequency
overmodulation
• Distorsion will increase if filter is not
propperly loaded.
SENDER
Modulated class D R.F. Amplifier.
+V
T1 T3
RL
T2 T4
PWM filter
SENDER
Class D r.f. Amplifier diagram
SENDER
Class D Bridge parasitic
elements
V+
Cgd Cgd
Cds Cds
Cgs RL Cgs
Cgd Cgd
Cds Cds
Cgs Cgs
Ciss = Cgs + Cgd Crss = Cgd Coss = Cds + Cgd
SENDER
Mosfets drive
Vgs Dead
V+
time
T1 T3 Vgs(thr)
RL
time
T2 T4
Vgs peak = 13V
SENDER
R.F. drive circuit
• Ls and Cs series resonant
• Lp paralel resonant with mosfet input
capacitance (Partially)
Ls Cs MOSFET drive
Drive signal
Lp Cgs
SENDER
Class D bridge current paths
V+ V+
T1 T3 T1 T3
RL RL
T2 T4 T2 T4
SENDER
Class D bridge undisered current
paths.
V+ V+
T1 T3 T1 T3
RL RL
T2 T4 T2 T4
SENDER
Class D Amplifier basics.
• Low impedance driver required for:
– Fast switching
– Low Vgs modulation by Crss
• Tuned load to produce sinusoidal current
• High efficiency (>95 %)
• Duty cycle should be < 0.5
– Avoid transversal currents
– Coss charge and discharge through Rl
Class D R.F. Amp typical
SENDER
waveforms.
SENDER
MOSFET characteristics
• No secondary breakdown
• positive temperature coeff. Of Rdson
(Simplify parallel operation)
• Voltage controled device (Vgs)
• Driver impedance dependent switching
times.
• Intrinsic antiparallel diode
SENDER
IRFP350 MOSFET
• Rdson = 0.3 ohms
• Vdss = 400 Vdc
• Vgs = +/- 20 Vmax Vth = 3 V Vsat = 9 V
• Id = 16 A @ Tc=25ºC 10 A @ Tc=100ºC
• Idmax = 64 A
• Capacitance @ f=1MHz, Vds=25V , Vgs=0V
– Ciss = 2600 pF (2400 pF for Vds>40V)
– Coss = 660 pF (200 pF for Vds>40V)
– Crss = 250 pF (50 pF for Vds>40V)
SENDER
Class D amplifier example
SENDER
SENDER
Class D Simulation
(1/2 bridge,Vmax<400x.75/2.5)
• Cicuit data • Operational data
– Vdc = 110 V – RL = 15 ohms
– F = 1600 kHz – Po = 132.36 W
– d = 0.43 – h = 97.93 %
– Transistor IRFP350
• Rdson = 0.3 ohms
•Transistor stresses
• Ton = 16 ns – Vmax = 110.81 V
• Toff = 40 ns – Imax = 4.12 A
• Coss = 200 pF
– L2 = 7.04 uH
– Pdis = 0.70 W x2
(1.4 Wtotal)
– C2 = 1.55 nF
*Simulated with HB plusfrom Design Automation
SENDER
Class E Amplifier diagram
SENDER
Class E amplifier example
SENDER
Class E amplifier basics.
• R.F.Choke large enough to produce constant
current
• High Q series resonant circuit to produce
sinusoidal current
• Vds y dVds/dt =0 prior to starting conduction
• High efficiency (>95%)
– if special high voltage transistors with low Rdson
are used
SENDER
Clase E Waveforms
SENDER
Clase E Simulation
(Vmax<400x.75/2.5)
• Circuit Data • Operational Data
– Vdc = 33 V – RL = 7.3 ohms
– F = 1600 kHz – Po = 125.27 W
– d = 0.48 – h = 90.53 %
– Transistor IRFP350 • Transistor stresses
• Rdson = 0.3 ohms – Vmax = 118.79 V
• Ton = 16 ns – Imax = 9.84 A
• Toff = 40 ns – Pdis = 6.55 W x2
• Coss = 200 pF (13.1 Wtotal)
– L1=12.3uH L2=3.7uH
– C1= 4.1nF C2=4.9nF
*Simulated with HEPA Plus from Design Automation
SENDER
Passband Output filter
• Reduce R.F. Harmonics
– High third harmonic att > 80 dB
– Medium second harmonic att. > 40 dB
– Higher harmonics att > 70 dB
• Permits impedance matching between
amplifier and load.
• Atenuates low frequency components
(Lightning protection)
SENDER
Output filter
• Design oriented to protect R.F.amplifier
– Low frequency attenuation
– Inductor input
– Strategically located sensors:
• Spark Gap °Transient suppressor
• SWR °Overpower
• Overcurrent °Phase
• Input transient suppressor(Active or pasive)
SENDER
Output filter diagram
SENDER
Output filter frequency response
SENDER
Real and imaginary part of filter
input impedance
SENDER
Protections integrated in the
output filter
SENDER
SENDER
SENDER
Posible Transmitter Agresions
• Antenna
– Impedance change and discharges
• A.C. Supply
– Voltage variation and transients
• Program signal
– Level variations and transients
• Ground
– Transfered potentials and high ground currents
SENDER
Antenna related problems
• Impedance change
– Low heigth antennas are particularly
unstable
• Restricted bandwidth
• Interference from other stations
• Discharges
SENDER
Short antenna example
60 m tower operating at 700 kHz
ZL = 8 - j160
Q = 20
Electrical length = 50.4º
SENDER
Type T -90º Standard A.T.U.
4.55uH 40.9uH
j20 j180
Zin
11.37nF ZL
50+j0
-j20 8-j160
SENDER
A.T.U.Sensibility to antenna
impedance changes
Change in XL (+/- 10 ohm=6%)
if ZL=8-j150 Zin=19.5-j24.4 SWR=3.26
if ZL=8-j160 Zin=50+J0 SWR=1
if Zl=8-J170 Zin=19.5+j24.4 SWR=3.26
Change in RL ( +/- 1 ohm =12.5%)
if ZL=7-j160 Zin=57.1+j0 SWR=1.14
if ZL=9-j160 Zin=44.4+j0 SWR=1.14
RL and XL simultaneous variation
if ZL=7-j150 Zin=18.8-j26.8 SWR=3.52
if ZL=7-j170 Zin=18.8+j26.8 SWR=3.52
if ZL=9-j150 Zin=19.9-j22 SWR=3.10
if ZL=9-j170 Zin=19.9+j22 SWR=3.10
SENDER
Complex A.T.U. (dual T)
-j44.9 j50.5 j5 j145
Zin ZL
50+j0 -j92.5 20-J13 j37 8-j160
-20° 20°
Variations in XL
if ZL=8-j150 Zin=50+j62.5 SWR=3.26
if ZL=8-j160 Zin=50+j0 SWR=1.00
if ZL=8-j170 Zin=50-j62.5 SWR=3.26
Note: SWR of 8+/-j10 refered to a 8+j0 is 3.26 !
SENDER
Load ladder
RF amplifiers
Z1 50 Ohm Antenna
1
combiner filter A.T.U.
Zn
n
15 Ohm
Extreme values for SWR 1:1.5, refered to 50 Ohm, are:
33.3+j0 75.0+j0
50-j20.4 50+j20.4
SENDER
Load variation effects
Class D amplifier
Load VSWR (%) P (1/2 Vmax (V) Imax (A)
bridge)
15 1 97.93 132.36 110.81 4.12
15-j6.1 1.5 96.55 151.92 109.80 57.77
15+j6.1 1.5 97.83 93.00 110.83 3.44
22.5 1.5 98.47 96.08 110.02 13.89
10.0 1.5 96.94 165.02 110.84 5.66
SENDER
A.T.U. And amplifier stresses
A)ZL=50-J62.5
20°+20° Eff=93.5% Po=4.5W Ip=15.5A
B) ZL=50+J62.5
Eff=90.9% Po=2.02W Ip=1A
C) ZL=19.5+J24.4
90° Eff=84% Po=44W Ip=105A
D)ZL=19.5+J24.4
Eff=93.8% Po=395W Ip=73.7A
SENDER
Class D waveforms
Ro=15 VSWR=1:1
SENDER
Class D waveforms
Ro=15-j6.1 VSWR=1:1.5
SENDER
Class D waveforms
Ro=15+j6.1 VSWR=1:1.5
Class D waveforms
SENDER
Ro=22.5 VSWR=1:1.5
SENDER
Class D waveforms
Ro=10.0 VSWR=1:1.5
SENDER
Atmospheric discharges
• At the antenna
• In A.C.lines
• In telephone lines
Characteristics
Imax: 200 kA Itypical: 10 a 20 kA
dI/dT typical: 10 kA/useg
Risetime: 2 useg Decay time:40 useg to 50%
SENDER
Criteria to minimize damages
• Disipators
– Avoid charge acumulation using sharp points
– or active systems
• Well designed grounding system
– Low impedance direct paths
– High impedance undesired paths
– Radial equipotential conections
– Antenna and ground conection closely located at
TX
SENDER
Discharge probability function
N = 15 L (C·H+h)2 ·10-6
N = Discharges per year
L = Ceraunic level (Nº of days per year when thunderstorms
are heared)
C = Site topographic index (0 to 0,3)
H = Site mean heigth above surroundings (1 to2 km)
h = Antenna heigth
Example: C=0.1 L=50 H=100m h=120m
N = 12.7 discharges per year.
SENDER
Discharge current 1 17
circulation 2
3
1. Strike
4
2. Antenna
3. Discharge through the antenna
4. Guy
5. Isolator
6. Spark gap
7. Ground rod
9
8. Base insulator 15 14 13 12 11 5
9. Cnecting Loop 6
16 8
11. A.T.U. isolator
12. A.T.U. 7
13. Ferrite core 10
14. Coaxial cable
15. Discharge current in caxial cable
16. A.T.U. Spark gap
17. Disipator
SENDER
Equipment Instalation
Reference ground Coaxial cable
A.C. Line transient protector
A.C. mains
Panelboard
Ferrite
toroids
Ground to
auxiliary Transmitter A.C. line
equipment
Building ground
SENDER
Ground system equivalent circuit
SENDER
Discharge voltages and currents
Interference SENDER
1.- Intermodulation products are generated
2.- SWR protection is desensitized
3.- Dangerous voltages at the R.F. Amplifier and
output filter maybe generated.
SENDER
Transmitter Protections
•A.C.input • R.F.
Overload Overcurrent
Short cicuit SWR
Transients Phase
Overvoltage overpower
Undervoltage Transients
Assimetry
•D.C.supply • Internal
Overload R.F. Drive
Transients Temperature
Failure PLL
SENDER
Factory tests to ensure transmitter
reliability
• Power amplifiers
– Long time operation at 150% modulation
• Output
– Open cicuit
– Short circuit
– Simulated lightning strike
– SWR
• A.C. input
– Phase failure
– Simulated transient
– Voltage variationSENDER
SENDER
Conclusions
Reliability in a transmitting sytem is a function of
• Transmitter intrinsic reliability
– Power stages regimes much lower than devices
limits
– Simple low power stages with low number of
components
• Rational protections adjustment
SENDER
Conclusions
• High quality station engineering
– A.C. Transient protection
– Antenna discharges protection
– Well dimentioned and coordinated grounds.
– Stable radiating sysytem.
– Interference filtering
• Coordination with the manufacturer
SENDER
Recomended instrumentation for
test and adjustment
1.- To measure resonance:
1.1 R.F.Generator
1.2 Oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer
2.- To measure R.F.impedance:
2.1 R.F. bridge (General
Radio 1609 or Delta OIB-3)
2.2 R.F. generator (Delta RG3-A or
similar)
2.2 Spectrum analyzer
(HP 8553B or similar) or detector
included in RG3-A
SENDER
2.3 An H.P. vector impedance meter
may be used instead of 2.1,2.2 and 2.3
3.- To measure power:
3.1 R.F. Dummy load,non inductive or with
a tuning network to adjust it to 50+J0
Ohm.
3.2 R.F. Ammeter (Delta TC-1 or similar)
or R.F. Wattmeter
4.- To measure frequency response and distortion:
4.1 General purpose oscilloscope, 2 channel
4.2 Audio analyzer (Audio precision Portable
One or similar)
4.3 Modulation monitor (H.P. 8901 A or B , Belar
AMM3, TFT 923 A.M. or similar.)
SENDER
5.- To measure spectrum.-
5.1 Spectrum analyzer 100KHZ.to 50 MHZ or more
TEK 2711, H.P. 8553B plus display unit or similar).
5.2 R.F. atenuator.
5.3 OPTIONAL. Notch filter to remove the carrier
frequency and avoid intermodulation
6.- To check efficiency.
6.1 A.C. Analyzer.(To measure A.C. voltage, current,
power and power factor
SENDER
7.- To measure transmitter carrier frequency.
7.1 Digital frequency meter up to 10 MHZ.
Or higher frequency, time base 1 P.P.M. or less.
8.- To measure temperature.
8.1 Infrared temperature measuring unit with suitable
digital multitester. (Fluke).
9.- For general voltage and current measurements:
9.1 True RMS digital multimeter, suitable to operate
in high R.F. fields. (Our best experience is with Fuke
Digital multimeters.)
SENDER
10.- For long run test.
10.1 USASI Noise generator. (Delta SNG-1).
SENDER
SENDER
Pablo Phillips D.
Agosto 1999
