Tri-Plane Antenna Power Combiner for Low-Loss Broadband Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current broadband solid-state amplifiers face limitations in output power, particularly in the 2 to 20 GHz frequency band, and suffer from high combining loss when integrating multiple amplifiers, making them less competitive with traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) in terms of power and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A spatial power combining device using a waveguide structure with longitudinally parallel trays and antenna elements that transform the electric field vector, enabling efficient power division and combination across a decade of bandwidth, optimized for reduced insertion loss and easy integration with commercial MMICs, featuring tri-planar microstrip to stripline to balanced antipodal finline exponential taper antenna elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If corporate combining technique is used to integrate multiple amplifiers, then power combining is achieved, but combining loss becomes very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from planar corporate combining to three-dimensional spatial power combining using stacked trays arranged vertically in the waveguide. Multiple amplifiers are positioned at different heights and angular orientations (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°), enabling power combination through spatial interference patterns rather than traditional signal routing, thereby reducing combining loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Antenna elements are introduced as intermediary components between the amplifiers and the waveguide. These antennas transform the field patterns of individual amplifiers and facilitate efficient power combining by matching impedance and optimizing spatial distribution of electromagnetic energy.
2Power
If TWTAs are used for broadband microwave power amplification, then high output power is achieved, but size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the high-power amplification function into multiple lower-power solid-state amplifiers distributed across several trays. Each amplifier operates independently at a lower power level, and their outputs are combined spatially to achieve the total required power, avoiding the need for a single heavy TWTA.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters by using multiple amplifiers at lower individual power levels instead of one amplifier at high power level. This parameter transformation enables the use of lighter solid-state technology while achieving equivalent or superior total output power through constructive spatial interference.
3Power
If multiple amplifiers are integrated using traditional techniques, then power combining is achieved, but insertion loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs three-dimensional spatial arrangement of amplifiers and antennas within the waveguide volume, utilizing vertical stacking and angular positioning to create constructive interference patterns that maximize power combination efficiency and minimize insertion loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes electromagnetic field parameters including phase, amplitude, and spatial distribution across multiple antenna elements. By carefully controlling these parameters, the invention achieves coherent power combining with minimal losses.
4Reliability
If solid state amplifiers are used instead of TWTAs, then cost and reliability improve, but output power is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The high-power requirement is segmented into multiple lower-power solid-state amplifier channels. Each amplifier operates within its optimal reliability range, and their combined output through spatial power combining achieves the total power level previously only attainable with TWTAs, maintaining both reliability and high power output.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple solid-state amplifier outputs are merged through spatial power combining in the waveguide. This merging process constructively combines the power from reliable solid-state devices to achieve high total output power, combining the advantages of both solid-state reliability and high-power performance.
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 broadband frequency response across 2 to 20 GHz or 4 to 40 GHz, minimizing insertion loss and enabling efficient power combining, while simplifying DC biasing and thermal management, thus improving the performance and competitiveness of solid-state amplifiers with TWTAs.
Implementation Method 1
each antenna element is configured to transform an electric field vector direction of an electromagnetic field by substantially 90 degrees rotation about a longitudinal axis of the waveguide structure
Data Source
AI summary
A power combining apparatus includes a waveguide structure and a plurality of antenna elements arranged in the waveguide structure, wherein each of the antenna elements comprises a center planar antenna layer, two outer planar antenna layers arranged on opposite sides of the center planar antenna layer, a non-conductive layer between the center planar antenna layer and one of the outer planar antenna layers, and another non-conductive layer between the center planar antenna and the other one of the outer planar antenna layers. The power combining apparatus includes a waveguide structure having an input, an output, and a plurality of antenna elements arranged in the waveguide structure, wherein each antenna element is configured to transform an electric field direction of an electromagnetic field by substantially 90 degrees rotation about a longitudinal axis of the waveguide structure, wherein a bandwidth of the antenna is less than, equal to, or greater than a decade of frequency range.