# US 5,705,962 A · Microwave power dividers and combiners having an adjustable terminating resistor

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

- Number: US 5,705,962 A
- Document ID: US5705962A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/775,323
- Filed: 1996-12-31
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1996-12-31
- Assignees: Hughes Electronics Corporation
- Inventors: Robert G. Fleeger; Alan L. Kovacs
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705962A

## CPC

- H01P 5/16: Conjugate devices, i.e. devices having at least one port decoupled from one other port
- H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B)

## Abstract

Microwave apparatus, such as microwave power dividers or combiners, having an adjustable terminating resistor. The present invention allows adjusting or trimming of the resistor and pretesting of substrates on which the apparatus is formed prior to installation of expensive integrated circuit components. The microwave power divider or combiner has a central contact disposed at a midpoint of the terminating resistor. This central contact is thus disposed at the midpoint of the terminating resistor and is coupled to a test point. Outer edges of the central contact are constructed to be parallel to inner edges of impedance paths or traces over which the terminating resistor lies so that each section of the terminating resistor has substantially the same resistance value.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Microwave apparatus comprising:
a first port coupled to a first impedance path that splits along two paths;
second and third impedance paths respectively coupled to the two paths;
second and third ports coupled to the second and third impedance paths, respectively;
a central contact disposed at a midpoint between respective inner edges of the second and third impedance paths; and
an adjustable terminating resistor overlying the respective inner edges of the second and third impedance paths and the central contact that forms first and second resistor sections disposed on either side of the central contact;
and wherein outer edges of the central contact are substantially parallel to the inner edges of the second and third impedance paths over which the terminating resistor lies so that each section of the resistor has substantially the same resistance value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central contact is coupled by way of a via to a test point that permits testing of the microwave apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central contact is coupled by way of a high impedance line to a test point that permits testing of the microwave apparatus.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the central contact is disposed along a centerline of the first port.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the central contact comprises a printed central contact.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the central contact comprises a deposited central contact.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a test port connected to the central contact for testing the microwave apparatus.

### Claim 8

Microwave apparatus comprising:
a first port coupled to a first impedance path having an impedance value Zc, that splits along two paths each having a nominal length of .lambda./4 and a nominal impedance value of 2(Zc);
second and third impedance paths, each having an impedance value Zc, respectively coupled to the two paths;
second and third ports coupled to the second and third impedance paths, respectively;
a central contact disposed at a midpoint between respective inner edges of the second and third impedance paths; and
an adjustable terminating resistor overlying the respective inner edges of the second and third impedance paths and the central contact that comprises first and second resistor sections disposed on either side of the central contact;
and wherein outer edges of the central contact are substantially parallel to the inner edges of the second and third impedance paths over which the terminating resistor lies so that each section of the resistor has substantially the same resistance value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the central contact is coupled by way of a via to a test point that permits testing of the microwave apparatus.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the central contact is coupled by way of a high impedance line to a test point that permits testing of the microwave apparatus.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the central contact is disposed along a centerline of the first port.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the central contact comprises a printed central contact.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the central contact comprises a deposited central contact.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a test port connected to the central contact for testing the microwave apparatus.