Apparatus for splitting, amplifying and launching signals into a waveguide to provide a combined transmission signal

An apparatus comprising:

• a signal splitter configured to receive an input signal for transmission and to split the input signal to form two or more sub-signals;
• a first amplifier coupled to the signal splitter and configured to amplify a first sub-signal of the two or more sub-signals to generate a first amplified sub-signal;
• a second amplifier coupled to the signal splitter and configured to amplify a second sub-signal of the two or more sub-signals to generate a second amplified sub-signal;
• a first launcher coupled to the first amplifier and to a waveguide, wherein the first launcher is grounded against a first wall of the waveguide;
• and
• a second launcher coupled to the second amplifier and to the waveguide, the first and second launchers coupled to the waveguide such that a first radiative signal is generated by the first launcher responsive to the first amplified sub-signal and a second radiative signal is generated by the second launcher responsive to the second amplified sub-signal, wherein the first radiative signal and the second radiative signal are combined in the waveguide to form a transmission signal corresponding to the input signal,
• wherein the first launcher or the second launcher include a first conductive patch coupled to a first surface of a dielectric layer and further include a second conductive patch coupled to a second surface of the dielectric layer.

A method comprising:

• generating, by a signal splitter and based on an input signal for transmission, two or more sub-signals;
• amplifying, by a first amplifier coupled to the signal splitter, a first sub-signal of the two or more sub-signals to generate a first amplified sub-signal;
• amplifying, by a second amplifier coupled to the signal splitter, a second sub-signal of the two or more sub-signals to generate a second amplified sub-signal;
• generating, by a first launcher coupled to the first amplifier and to a waveguide, a first radiative signal responsive to the first amplified sub-signal, wherein the first launcher is grounded against a first wall of the waveguide;
• generating, by a second launcher coupled to the second amplifier and to the waveguide, a second radiative signal responsive to the second amplified sub-signal, wherein the second launcher is grounded against a second wall of the waveguide, the second wall opposite to the first wall;
• and
• combining the first radiative signal and the second radiative signal in the waveguide to form a transmission signal corresponding to the input signal.