Broadband high power amplifier

• US 5,206,604 A
• Filed: 12/20/1991
• Issued: 04/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vaninetti, Roy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOTTOLA, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US07/811,168
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 330/124 D, 330/124 R, 330/126, 330/286, 330/295, 330/53
• US Class Current: 330/124.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/602 Combinations of several amplifiers

Abstract

A broadband high power amplifier for multifrequency signal applications comprises an N-way power combiner that is arranged to combine a plurality of multi-frequency input signals and provide a combined (complex) signal at its output. The output of the N-way combiner is amplified in a preamplifier stage and supplied therefrom to an M-way power divider. The M-way power divider has a plurality of M output ports from which M subdivided versions of the combined (complex) output signal from the preamplifier are derived. Each of these effectively identical subdivided signals is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of M signal amplifier stages that drive the radial power combiner. Each amplifier stage is a relatively low to moderate gain amplifier stage, so that its amplitude and phase characteristics may be matched with those of the others of the M amplifier stages. Since the phase and amplitude characteristics of the amplifier stages that drive the radial power combiner are matched with one another, the M stage driver is effectively self-isolating, making it unnecessary to use band-limiting isolator components to protect the outputs of the respective driver amplifier stages feeding the radial power combiner.

Claims

1. A broadband high power amplifier comprising:

a plurality of N input ports to which a plurality of signals of differing frequencies are applied;

an N-way power combiner coupled to combine the plurality of signals applied to said input ports and provide a combined output signal at an output port thereof;

a preamplifier coupled to amplify the combined output signal provided by said N-way power combiner;

an M-way power divider having an input coupled to receive the amplified combined output signal from said preamplifier and providing said input port and a plurality of M output ports from which M subdivided combined output signals are derived;

a plurality of signal amplifier stages having matched amplitude and phase characteristics, respectively coupled to the plurality of output ports of said power divider; and

a radial power combiner having a plurality of inputs respectively coupled to outputs of said plurality of signal amplifier stages, and having an output from which an amplified signal is derived.

2. A method of combining and amplifying a plurality of signals of differing frequencies comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling said plurality of signals of differing frequencies to N input ports of an N-way power combiner, which is operative to combine the plurality of signals applied to said input ports and provide a combined output signal at an output port thereof;

(b) coupling said combined output signal to an M-way power divider which is operative to provide a plurality of M subdivided combined output signals;

(c) coupling said plurality of M subdivided combined output signals to a plurality of signal amplifier stages having matched amplitude and phase characteristics; and

(d) coupling a radial power combiner having a plurality of inputs to outputs of said plurality of signal amplifier stages, and deriving from an output thereof an amplified signal.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein step (b) comprises coupling a high gain amplifier stage between said input port and said M-way power divider.