# US 2004/0174229 A1 · Signal combiner

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2004/0174229 A1
- Document ID: US20040174229A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/204,780
- Filed: 2002-08-21
- Published: 2004-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2000-02-21
- Assignees: IFR, Inc.
- Inventors: John Norman Wells
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040174229A1

## CPC

- H03D 7/1408: {with diodes}
- H03D: DEMODULATION OR TRANSFERENCE OF MODULATION FROM ONE CARRIER TO ANOTHER (masers, lasers H01S; circuits capable of acting both as modulator and demodulator H03C; details applicable to both modulators and frequency-changers H03C; demodulating pulses H03K9/00; transforming types of pulse modulation H03K11/00; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M; repeater stations H04B7/14; demodulators adapted for AC systems of digital information transmission H04L27/00; synchronous demodulators adapted for colour television H04N9/66)

## Abstract

A modulator 200 is based around a switching circuit 212 and a pausey stub balun 210. The balun 210 has a distributed resistance 232 to ground. The balun may be implemented as a strip line device (FIG. 5b).

## Claims

### Claim 1

Signal combining apparatus comprising terminal means, switching means, and balun means, wherein the balun means is connected via the switching means to the terminal means and ground, the switching means being such that when a control signal is supplied to the balun means, the switching means alternately connects the balun means to the terminal means and to ground to generate an output signal related to an input signal in the terminal means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the balun means may comprise a portion of transmission line connected to a portion of dummy line.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the balun means is a Pausey Stub balun.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the balun means is a stripline device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2, 3, 4)

Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the outer surface of the transmission line and dummy portions of the balun means have a distributed resistance to ground thereon.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the distributed resistance may decrease along either portion in the direction away from the connection between the portions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5, 6)

Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the distributed resistance is provided by a resistive film of varying resistance.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5, 6)

Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the distributed resistance is provided by discrete resistors spaced along the outside of the portions.

### Claim 9

A method of combining signals using apparatus comprising balun means connected via switching means to terminal means and ground, the method comprising supplying an input signal to the terminal means, and supplying a control signal to the balun means to alternately connect the balun means via the switching means to the terminal means and ground so that an output signal is generated in the terminal means.

### Claim 10

Signal combining apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 2 or FIG. 5.

### Claim 11

A method of combining signals substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 2 or FIG. 5.