Frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner

• US 5,032,804 A
• Filed: 05/22/1989
• Issued: 07/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hollingsworth, Allen H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BENNY T
• Application Number:
  US07/355,533
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 333/126, 333/129, 333/132, 333/134, 370/38, 370/69.1, 370/123
• US Class Current: 333/132
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/50 Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0053 with common antenna for more than one band

Abstract

A frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner is disclosed that allows combining multiple transmitter outputs onto a single antenna feed where the transmitters are operated at multiple frequencies. According to the invention, a method is disclosed and an apparatus is described for receiving a plurality of RF signal inputs where each input may contain any of a predetermined set of frequencies. The input frequency is then coupled to a frequency splitter that couples the input frequency to a dedicated combiner that tends to isolate the RF inputs from each other. The signal is then coupled to a combiner output, and ultimately to a single antenna feed line.

Claims

1. A method for combining a first input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) and a second input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at said predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) to form an output signal, comprising the steps of:

(a) separating said first input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) into individual first input signal component signals at respective predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n);

(b) separating said second input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) into individual second input signal component signals at respective predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n);

(c) combining said individual first input signal component signal at f₁ with said individual second input signal component signal at f₁ to form a composite component signal at f₁ ;

(d) repeating step (c) for every other individual signal component at predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n), thereby forming composite component signal at f₂, . . . , composite component signal at f_n ;

(e) combining said composite component signal at f₁, said composite component signal at f₂, . . . , and said composite component signal at f_n ; and

(f) forming said output signal based on the results of step (e) above.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said separating step (a) includes a preceding exciting step of amplifying said first input signal and said separating step (b) includes a preceding exciting step of amplifying said second input signal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said combining step (e) includes a preceding power amplifier step of amplifying said composite component signal at f₁, composite component signal at f₂, . . . , composite component signal at f_n.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said combining steps (c) and (d) are performed by using a plurality (n) of isolating-type power combining devices.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said combining step (e) includes a following power amplifier step of amplifying said signal combiner output.

6. A frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner including means for combining a first input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) and a second input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at said predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) to form a frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner output signal, said means comprising:

means for separating said first input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) into individual first input signal component signals at respective predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) and for separating said second input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) into individual second input signal component signals at respective predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n);

means for combining said individual first input signal component signal at f₁ with said individual second input signal component signal at f₁ to form a composite component signal at f₁,

and for combining every other individual first input signal component signal of said group of signals at predetermined frequencies (f₁, f₂, . . . , f_n) with corresponding ones of the individual second input signal component signal at like frequency, thereby forming composite component signal at f₂, . . . , composite component signal at f_n ;

means for combining said composite component signal at f₁, said composite component signal at f₂, . . . , and said composite component signal at f_n and for forming said frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner output signal responsive thereto.

7. The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 6 wherein said separating means includes exciter means for amplifying said first input signal and for amplifying said second input signal.

8. The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 7 wherein said combining means includes power amplifier means for amplifying said composite component signal at f₁, composite component signal at f₂, . . . , composite component signal at f_n.

9. The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 8 wherein said combining means includes a plurality (n) of isolating-type power combining devices.

10. The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 9 wherein said combining means includes at least one multiport radio frequency signal combiner.

11. The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 7 wherein said combining means further includes power amplifier means for amplifying said frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner output.

12. A signal combiner, comprising:

means for receiving a predetermined number of input signals, each input signal at any of a predetermined group of frequencies,

means for separating each input signal into its frequency components;

means for combining all components of like frequencies, thereby forming a composite component at each frequency;

means for combining all composite components for all frequencies to form a common output signal responsive thereto.

13. A signal combiner, comprising:

k frequency selective splitters, each splitter designated as splitter_x, each splitter_x having means for receiving input signals at any of n predetermined frequencies, each frequency designated f_w, where w varies from 1 to n, and n splitter outputs designated splitter_x output_Y, where Y varies from 1 to n, and having means for selectively coupling said f_w to said splitter_x output_y, where w=Y, and means for isolating said frequency f_w from any other splitter output,

n combiners, each combiner designated combiner_z, where z varies from 1 to n, each combiner_z having k combiner inputs, each designated combiner_z input_p, a combiner output, and means for coupling said k inputs to said combiner output,

a frequency selective combiner having n inputs, each input designated frequency selective combiner input_q where q varies from 1 to n, a frequency selective combiner output, and means for coupling said n frequency selective combiner inputs to respective said frequency selective combiner output,

said combiner_z input_p where z varies from 1 to n, coupled to splitter_x output_Y where Y=z,

said frequency selective combiner input_q where q varies from 1 to n coupled to said combiner_z output where z=q,

where x varies from 1 to k,

and where p varies from 1 to k.

14. The signal combiner of claim 13 wherein said combiner_z has means for frequency isolating said combiner_z input_p from all other combiner_z input_p s, where z varies from 1 to n.

15. The signal combiner of claim 14 wherein said splitter_x includes exciter means for amplifying said input signal, where x varies from 1 to k.

16. The signal combiner of claim 15 wherein said combiner_z includes power amplifier means coupled in series with said combiner_z output, where z varies from 1 to n.

17. The signal combiner of claim 16 wherein said combiner_z comprises an isolating-type power combining device, where z varies from 1 to n.

18. The signal combiner of claim 15 wherein said frequency selective combiner includes power amplifier means coupled in series with said frequency selective combiner output.