Transformer power combiner apparatus and control method

A method comprising:

• forming primary windings of a distributed transformer on a first metal layer, wherein a first primary winding and a second primary winding of the distributed transformer are configured to be coupled to a negative output terminal and a positive output terminal of a first power amplifier respectively, and a third primary winding and a fourth primary winding of the distributed transformer are configured to be coupled to a negative output terminal and a positive output terminal of a second power amplifier respectively;
• forming second windings of the distributed transformer on a second metal layer;
• configuring a first conductive element to be connected between the negative output terminal of the first power amplifier and the negative output terminal of the second power amplifier;
• configuring a second conductive element to be connected between the positive output terminal of the first power amplifier and the positive output terminal of the second power amplifier;
• forming a first metal trace comprising the first primary winding and the fourth primary winding of the distributed transformer, wherein the first metal trace extends from a first negative port connected to the negative output terminal of the first power amplifier to a second positive port connected to the positive output terminal of the second power amplifier;
• forming a second metal trace comprising the second primary winding and the third primary winding of the distributed transformer, wherein the second metal trace extends from a first positive port connected to the positive output terminal of the first power amplifier to a second negative port connected to the negative output terminal of the second power amplifier;
• and
• forming a third metal trace comprising a first secondary winding, a second secondary winding, a third secondary winding and a fourth secondary winding of the distributed transformer, wherein the third metal trace extends from a first output port to a second output port of the distributed transformer.

A system comprising:

• a first power amplifier having a negative output terminal coupled to a first primary winding of a distributed transformer and a positive output terminal coupled to a second primary winding of the distributed transformer;
• a second power amplifier having a negative output terminal coupled to a third primary winding of the distributed transformer and a positive output terminal coupled to a fourth primary winding of the distributed transformer;
• a first conductive element connected between the negative output terminal of the first power amplifier and the negative output terminal of the second power amplifier;
• a second conductive element connected between the positive output terminal of the first power amplifier and the positive output terminal of the second power amplifier;
• a first secondary winding of the distributed transformer magnetically coupled to the first primary winding of the distributed transformer;
• a second secondary winding of the distributed transformer magnetically coupled to the second primary winding of the distributed transformer;
• a third secondary winding of the distributed transformer magnetically coupled to the third primary winding of the distributed transformer;
• and
• a fourth secondary winding of the distributed transformer magnetically coupled to the fourth primary winding of the distributed transformer, wherein the first secondary winding, the second secondary winding, the third secondary winding and the fourth secondary winding of the distributed transformer are connected in series between a first output port and a second output port.