Combining-Radiating Assembly for High-Power Coherent Wavefront Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power-combining techniques require complex matching networks and significant circuit area, leading to performance degradation due to impedance mismatches and amplifier device failures.
Innovation Solution
A power-combining system that uses a combining-radiating assembly with phase controllers to coherently combine energy from multiple sources within the assembly, eliminating the need for circuit-based combiners and allowing for polarization diversity and compensation for signal path degradations, utilizing a patch antenna with uniformly spaced ports and phase-controlled coherent sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional power-combining techniques use stripline or microstrip circuits to combine amplifier outputs, then high-power signal levels are generated, but significant circuit area is required compared with the area occupied by the amplifier devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power combining function and the radiating function into a single integrated structure. The combining-radiating assembly directly radiates the combined power without requiring separate stripline or microstrip combining circuits, thereby eliminating the need for additional circuit area while maintaining high-power signal generation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The combining-radiating assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a power combiner and a radiating element. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate combining circuits and radiating antennas, significantly reducing the overall circuit area while maintaining high-power output
2Power
If conventional power-combining techniques are used to generate high-power signal levels, then power combining is achieved, but complex matching networks are required due to the very low output impedances of the high-power devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex matching networks from the conventional power-combining system. By using the combining-radiating assembly that directly radiates combined power, the need for additional matching components is removed, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining high-power generation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the power combining function with the radiating function in a single integrated assembly. This combination eliminates the need for separate matching networks that would be required in conventional systems, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving high-power signal levels
3Power
If conventional power-combining techniques combine amplifier outputs, then high-power signal levels are generated, but the failure of an amplifier device may result in an impedance mismatch that may significantly degrade the performance of the power combiner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a design where the combining-radiating assembly can operate with a reduced number of active elements if some amplifiers fail. The system is designed to tolerate amplifier failures without causing catastrophic impedance mismatches, providing beforehand protection against performance degradation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system generates high-power coherent wavefronts with reduced circuit complexity, minimizing reflections and maximizing power transfer, while enabling flexible polarization and compensation for signal path failures.
Implementation Method 1
combining-radiating assembly with phase controllers to coherently combine energy from multiple sources within the assembly
Implementation Method 2
Phase controllers 102 may generate signals with a predetermined phase shift for an associated one of ports 114
Implementation Method 3
energy from ports 114 may be coherently combined and radiated by combining-radiating assembly 108 to generate coherent high-power wavefront 109
Data Source
AI summary
A power-combining system and method for generating a high-power coherent wavefront are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. The power-combining system comprises a combining-radiating assembly having a plurality of ports. Phase controllers generate signals with a predetermined phase shift for an associated one of the ports. Pluralities of coherent sources receive signals from an associated one of the phase controllers and to provide the signals to an associated port of the combining-radiating assembly with the predetermined phase shifts. Energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated to provide a coherent high-power wavefront. In some embodiments, the combining-radiating assembly comprises a conductive patch having a plurality of ports spaced uniformly around the patch. In these embodiments, energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated by the patch to provide the coherent high-power wavefront.