Broadband Microwave Combiner Divider Coupled Line Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave combiner/divider circuits, such as the Wilkinson divider, face challenges in handling high power signals due to electrical delay and heat dissipation issues, and Gysel combiners/dividers introduce signal filtering complexities and increased losses with coupled lines.
Innovation Solution
A power combiner and divider device is designed with a coupled line configuration, where even and odd mode equivalent impedances are adjusted independently using a single coupled line, allowing for high power handling and broad frequency operation with minimal loss by isolating incident even-mode signals from reflected odd-mode signals through impedance mismatch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If Wilkinson divider is used, then power division is achieved, but heat dissipation and power handling capability are reduced due to isolation resistor constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the isolation resistor from the Wilkinson divider structure, eliminating the component that limits power handling capability and heat dissipation. This allows the power combining/ dividing function to be achieved through coupled lines without the restrictive isolation resistor, thereby improving power handling and heat dissipation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the power combining/ dividing function from the isolation function. Instead of using a single Wilkinson divider structure that combines both functions with inherent limitations, the invention separates these functions and implements power combining/ dividing through coupled lines, allowing independent optimization of power handling and isolation characteristics.
2Power
If Gysel combiner/divider with coupled lines is used, then high power handling is achieved, but design complexity and losses increase due to multiple poles and zeros
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex coupled line structures from the Gysel combiner/divider that introduce multiple poles and zeros. By eliminating these complex coupling structures, the invention achieves high power handling through a simplified topology that maintains power combining capability without the associated design complexity and losses.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex coupled lines to achieve power combining as in traditional Gysel structures, the patent inverts the approach by using simple series-connected transmission lines with a shunt stub configuration. This inverted topology achieves the same power combining function with significantly reduced complexity and fewer poles and zeros.
3Adaptability or versatility
If broadband operation is achieved, then frequency range is extended, but insertion loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter optimization of the shunt stub configuration, including adjusting the stub length, impedance, and position to achieve broadband operation with minimal insertion loss. By carefully controlling these parameters, the invention extends the operating bandwidth while maintaining low loss characteristics across the frequency range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses symmetric coupling between identical transmission line structures to achieve broadband operation. The symmetric configuration creates complementary poles and zeros that extend the bandwidth while maintaining low insertion loss, as the symmetric geometry naturally balances the frequency response across a wide range.
Data Source
AI summary
A power combiner and divider device includes a first port electrically connected to a first impedance line and a second impedance line; a second port electrically connected to the first impedance line and a coupled line; a third port electrically connected to the second impedance line and the coupled line; a third impedance line electrically connected to the coupled line; and a fourth impedance line electrically connected to each of the third impedance line and the coupled line.