RF Power Divider With Integrated Matching to Cut Path Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radio frequency power dividers, such as Wilkinson power dividers, occupy significant space due to quarter-wave transformers, leading to increased path loss and restricted applications.
Innovation Solution
The proposed power divider design reduces the length and type of transmission lines by incorporating impedance matching structures, allowing for a more compact size while maintaining functionality, and integrates these structures into input matching networks to eliminate the need for quarter-wave transformers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transmission lines with certain lengths are used to implement power dividing and impedance transforming functionalities, then the power divider achieves the required electrical performance, but the overall size of the power divider increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the impedance matching structure and the offsetting structure into a single integrated structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate quarter-wave transformers while maintaining both the impedance matching and offsetting functionalities, thereby reducing the overall power divider size without compromising electrical performance
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides impedance matching between the transmission line and the power amplifying component, and it also provides the required offsetting function. This multi-functionality allows the power divider to achieve the required electrical performance with a compact size
2Reliability
If quarter-wave transformers are used for impedance matching, then the impedance matching requirement is satisfied, but the path loss increases and the area occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the impedance matching function with the offsetting function into a single integrated structure. This eliminates the need for separate quarter-wave transformers, thereby reducing the number of transmission line sections and minimizing the cumulative path loss while maintaining effective impedance matching
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate quarter-wave transformer component from the conventional power divider design. By removing this redundant component and integrating its functionality into the offsetting structure, the design reduces path loss and occupied area while maintaining impedance matching performance
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a power divider and a circuit including the same. The power divider may comprise: at least two branches; the at least two branches comprise a first branch coupled between a first port and a second port; and a second branch coupled between the first port and a third port; the first branch comprises a first transmission line for power dividing function coupled to the first port, and a first impedance matching structure coupled to the second port; and the second branch comprises a second transmission line for power dividing function coupled to the first port, and a second impedance matching structure coupled to the third port. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, lengths and/or even types of the transmission lines in the power divider may be reduced.