Radial combiner

A method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of first signals at a plurality of coaxial ports equally spaced towards a periphery of a radial waveguide;
• and
• combining the plurality of first signals using a microwave combiner,
• wherein the microwave combiner comprises:
• a radial waveguide cavity defined by:
• a top plate having a circular cross-section and a metallic composition;
• a bottom plate having a circular cross-section, a metallic composition, and being situated substantially parallel to the top plate;
• an outside wall connecting the top plate and the bottom plate along a circumference of at least one of the top plate and the bottom plate;
• and
• an interior of the radial waveguide cavity located between the top plate, the bottom plate, and the outside wall with a substantially uniform height throughout;
• a plurality of monopole radiators located within the interior of the radial waveguide cavity,
• wherein the plurality of coaxial ports are mounted on one of the top plate or the bottom plate, mounted exterior to the radial waveguide cavity, and substantially equally spaced towards the periphery of the radial waveguide cavity,
• wherein each coaxial port in the plurality of coaxial ports:
• is mounted so as to be positioned normal relative to the top plate or the bottom plate;
• and is a coaxial center conductor which extends through a hole in one of the top plate and the bottom plate, the coaxial center conductor of each coaxial port being electrically connected to one of the respective monopole radiators for each coaxial port within the interior of the radial waveguide cavity;
• and
• a center conductor, wherein the center conductor:
• is located substantially at a center of the interior of the radial waveguide cavity;
• is positioned so as to be normal relative to the top plate or the bottom plate;
• extends within the interior of the radial waveguide cavity between the top plate and the bottom plate;
• transitions, on a first side of the interior, to a coaxial waveguide located exterior to the radial waveguide cavity;
• and
• terminates on a second side of the interior which is opposite the first side.

A radial combiner, comprising:

• a hollow cylindrical cavity, wherein the hollow cylindrical cavity:
• is metallic;
• is defined by a first plate as a top of the hollow cylindrical cavity, a second plate as a top of the hollow cylindrical cavity, and an outside wall as a side of the hollow cylindrical cavity, the first plate being substantially parallel to the second plate;
• and
• has a substantially uniform height between the first plate and the second plate;
• a plurality of coaxial ports mounted exterior to the hollow cylindrical cavity and on either one of the first plate or the second plate;
• a plurality of monopole radiators substantially equally spaced around a circle and attached to an interior of one of the first plate or the second plate, each monopole radiator being electrically connected respectively to one of the plurality of coaxial ports using a coaxial center conductor extending through a hole in the one of the first plate or the second plate;
• and
• a center conductor, wherein the center conductor:
• is located substantially at a center of an interior of the hollow cylindrical waveguide cavity;
• is positioned so as to be normal relative to the first plate or the second plate;
• extends within the interior of the hollow cylindrical cavity between the first plate and the second plate;
• transitions, on a first side of the interior, to a coaxial waveguide located exterior to the hollow cylindrical cavity;
• and
• terminates, on a second side of the interior which is opposite the first side.