Power Combiner Using Spatially Divided Coaxial Waveguide
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current broadband solid state amplifiers face limitations in output power, particularly in the 2 to 20 GHz frequency band, with high combining loss when integrating multiple amplifiers, and existing technologies like TWTAs have drawbacks such as short life-time, poor linearity, high cost, large size, and high voltage risks.
Innovation Solution
A power combining device using longitudinally parallel wedge-shaped trays within a coaxial waveguide to spatially divide and combine TEM waves, with antenna elements arranged to maintain matched impedance across input and output sections, enabling efficient power combining and broadband frequency response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If corporate combining technique is used to integrate multiple solid state amplifiers, then output power level is improved, but combining loss increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the waveguide into multiple parallel sections, each handling a portion of the total power. Multiple antenna elements are distributed across different waveguide sections, allowing power to be combined spatially rather than through lossy corporate combining networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from planar corporate combining to three-dimensional spatial combining by stacking multiple antenna elements in parallel waveguide sections. This dimensional transition enables efficient power combination by utilizing the spatial domain rather than signal domain combining.
2Power
If TWTAs are used to achieve high output power, then power level is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple solid state amplifiers are merged into a single integrated waveguide structure with parallel antenna elements. This consolidation achieves TWA-level output power while maintaining the compact size advantage of solid state devices by eliminating the need for large TWA components.
3Ease of manufacture
If impedance mismatch occurs between waveguide sections, then ease of manufacture is improved, but insertion loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide sections are designed with gradually changing dimensional parameters to achieve impedance matching. The inner and outer conductor dimensions are carefully controlled to maintain matched impedance across all sections, minimizing reflections and insertion loss while remaining manufacturable.
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 solution achieves efficient power combining with reduced insertion loss, allowing for a broadband frequency response from 2 to 20 GHz, improved thermal management, and ease of integration with commercial MMICs, while minimizing impedance mismatch and fabrication complexity.
Implementation Method 1
spatially divide and combine a TEM (transverse electromagnetic) wave
Data Source
AI summary
A power combining apparatus includes an output waveguide section having inner and outer coaxial conductors, wherein an outer surface of the inner conductor and an inner surface of the outer conductor each includes a substantially linear taper, a center waveguide section having an input, an output, and a plurality of antenna elements, the output of the center waveguide section being coupled to the output waveguide section, and an output waveguide section coupled to the output of the center waveguide section. A power combining apparatus includes an output waveguide section having a central longitudinal axis, and inner and outer coaxial conductors configured to maintain a substantially constant characteristic impedance along the central longitudinal axis, a center waveguide section having an input, an output, and a plurality of antenna elements, the output of the center waveguide section being coupled to the output waveguide section, and an input waveguide section coupled to the input of the center waveguide section.