Stacked Coaxial Cavity Power Combiner for Low-Loss Multi-Port RF Output
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radio frequency power combiners for semiconductor amplifiers face limitations in power output and efficiency, particularly at low frequencies, due to increased size and high combining losses when multi-staged, and are restricted by the number of input ports.
Innovation Solution
A stacked coaxial cavity radio frequency power combiner design featuring a device main body with an outer conductor and inner conductor blocks, spaced apart by gaps, and an output coupler, allowing for high-power output and efficient electromagnetic wave transmission without size increase, even at low frequencies, by arranging amplifier modules radially and orthogonally around the central axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional waveguide cavity combiners are used at low frequencies, then the number of input ports can be increased, but the size of the cavity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where multiple amplifier modules are arranged concentrically around a central cavity. The first amplifier module surrounds the cavity, the second amplifier module surrounds the first amplifier module, and so on. This nested arrangement allows multiple input ports to be integrated in a compact configuration, resolving the contradiction between increasing the number of input ports and maintaining a small cavity size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional planar or linear arrangement to a three-dimensional concentric arrangement. By utilizing radial and axial dimensions simultaneously, the design accommodates multiple amplifier modules with different frequencies (e.g., 50 MHz, 100 MHz, 200 MHz) in a compact volume, effectively increasing the number of input ports without proportionally increasing the overall cavity size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multi-stage combiners are used to overcome input port limitations, then the number of combinable input ports increases, but the final combining loss rapidly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple amplifier modules of different frequencies into a single integrated cavity structure rather than using separate multi-stage combiners. The concentric arrangement allows all amplifier modules to feed into a common output through the central cavity, reducing the number of combining stages and minimizing cumulative combining losses while still accommodating multiple input ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The central cavity serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the resonant structure for all frequency bands, the combining point for all amplifier modules, and the output transmission path. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate combining stages for each frequency band, thereby reducing overall combining loss while maintaining high adaptability for multiple input ports.
3Power
If conventional combiners are used for high power output, then power per unit module can be increased, but efficiency decreases due to high combining losses
Solution Approach 1:
The nested concentric arrangement of amplifier modules around a central cavity creates efficient electromagnetic coupling paths. Each amplifier module is positioned to optimally couple with the central cavity at its specific frequency, minimizing power loss during the combining process while maintaining high power output capability across multiple frequency bands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes geometric parameters of the cavity and amplifier module positions to achieve critical coupling conditions for different frequency bands. By carefully adjusting the dimensions, spacing, and orientation of the nested structures, the design maximizes power transfer efficiency while maintaining high power output, thereby resolving the contradiction between power output and efficiency.
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 design enables miniaturization and high-efficiency high-power output without limiting the number of input ports, maintaining compact size across frequencies, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional combiners.
Implementation Method 1
electromagnetic waves of the input coupler of the plurality of amplifier modules are input to the output coupler through the plurality of inner conductor blocks
Implementation Method 2
both ends of the plurality of inner conductors include a side gap to provide a capacitance
Data Source
AI summary
A stacked coaxial cavity radio frequency power combiner is disclosed that includes: an outer conductor in which a cavity is formed in an axial direction; a plurality of amplifier modules, including an input coupler that surrounds the device main body, each amplifier module is spaced apart from each other on the outer wall of the device main body, stacked, and disposed radially and orthogonally to the central axis of the cavity; an inner conductor configured to stack and spaced apart by a predetermined inner gap in the central axial direction in the cavity of the device main body and include a plurality of inner conductor blocks disposed corresponding to each layer of the amplifier module; at least one inner insulating support located between the plurality of inner conductor blocks; and an output coupler provided at one side of the device main body and extended outside of the device main body.