US 4,175,257 A · Modular microwave power combiner

Abstract

A modular microwave power combiner having a plurality of identical microwave diode amplifier circuits grouped in sets within the body of a modular unit which are electrically coupled in parallel to a central cavity sized to be resonant at a single frequency to minimize mismoding thereby enhancing combiner efficiency. A number of waveguides are provided for coupling of the microwave diode in each amplifier circuit to the resonant cavity, and the waveguides are situated on one side of a PC board at the top of each modular unit. Since each of the modular units is essentially identical in physical size and shape, the overall power output of the power combiner can be increased by merely adding additional modular units. The individual modular units are sized to fit top-to-bottom such that the respective resonant cavities are spaced apart by one-half wavelength (.lambda./2) for the parallel electrical coupling of all of the resonating cavities. Each modular unit further includes a water jacket around the diode mounts for conducting heat away from the microwave diode thereby increasing circuit density and decreasing overall housing size.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A power combiner for microwave energy, comprising:

a housing having at least one internal cavity disposed therein defined by a pair of facing end surfaces, said internal cavity being sized to resonate at a single frequency;
diode means situated within said housing for providing a source of microwave energy;
diode waveguide means positioned to extend radially within said housing, and having a coupling point situated axially adjacent one end surface defining said internal cavity, for electrically coupling said diode means to said internal cavity;
aperture means disposed through one of said end surfaces defining said internal cavity, near the periphery thereof, and situated in axial alignment with said coupling point of said radial waveguide means for forming an opening to said internal cavity through which microwave energy can propagate;
output means including an axially extending waveguide through one of said end surfaces defining said internal cavity for propagating microwave energy out of said power combiner;
and
means including an axially extending waveguide through the other one of said end surfaces for reflecting microwave energy back into said cavity.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular microwave power combiner

Life of this patent

Modular microwave power combiner

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22