Radio frequency power combiner

摘要

A radio frequency power combiner includes a plurality of transmission lines connecting a plurality of input terminals to an output terminal. An RF switch is positioned between each of the input terminals and a transmission line connecting the output terminal to the input terminal. The electrical length between each RF switch and the output terminal is preferably one half of a wavelength at a central frequency, which may be realized by two transmission lines of different impedances in each path, each a quarter wavelength long. When the switches are on, the signal power applied to all of the input terminals is combined at the output terminal. When any given switch is turned off, the RF power incident to the switch is reflected, and the transmission lines connected between that switch and the output terminal appear as an open circuit. The power combiner can also operate as a power divider. The combiner and/or divider have particular utility in RF amplifier applications, to prevent excessive loss of RF power when one or more of the amplifiers fail, by switching off the RF switch(es) connected to the failed amplifier(s).