High power combiner apparatus

A power combiner for combining at least two signals, the power combiner comprising:

• a power combining network for combining a first signal produced by a first power source, and a second signal produced by a second power source, the power combining network having a plurality of ports, a first port of the plurality of ports receiving the first signal from the first power source, and a second port of the plurality of ports receiving the second signal from the second power source;
• and
• a plurality of isolators, at least one isolator located between the first port receiving the first signal and the first power source, and at least one isolator located between the second port receiving the second signal and the second power source.

A hybrid power combiner for combining a plurality of signals produced by a plurality of power sources, each power source producing a respective one signal of the plurality of signals, the hybrid power combiner comprising:

• a hybrid coupler having a plurality of ports, each port of the plurality of ports receiving a respective different one signal of the plurality of signals;
• and
• a plurality of circulators, at least one circulator connected between at least one port of the plurality of ports and the respective power source producing the signal received at the port, and at least another one circulator located between at least one other port of the plurality of ports and the respective power source producing the signal received at the other port.

An apparatus for combining at least two signals, the apparatus comprising:

• means for combining a first signal produced by a first signal source with a second signal produced by a second signal source, the signal combining means having a plurality of ports, a first port of the plurality of ports receiving the first signal from the first signal source, and a second port of the plurality of ports receiving the second signal from the second signal source;
• and
• means for isolating the first signal from the second signal, the isolating means employing at least one isolator displaced between the first port receiving the first signal and the first signal source.