Variable power divider

A variable power divider having a first input port for receiving an RF signal and

• output ports for outputting two RF signals each at a substantially constant phase throughout the adjustment range and each with a variable amplitude, said variable power divider comprising
• a phase shifter comprising the first input port for receiving the RF signal, a first and a second output port, and a variable adjuster for splitting the RF signal into two phase shifted RF signals each with substantially a same amplitude and with adjustably variable differential phases as a function of the variable adjuster, the two phase shifted signals being delivered to the phase shifter's first and second output ports;
• and
• a hybrid power divider comprising a second and a third input port connected respectively to the phase shifter's first and second output ports for receiving the two phase shifted RF signals, and a third arid a fourth output ports for outputting two RF signals having substantially constant phases throughout the adjustment range of the variable adjuster and having complimentary amplitudes that are variable as a function of the variable adjuster of the phase shifter.

A variable power divider comprising:

• a single input port for receiving an RF signal;
• a single-control phase shifter, comprising the single input port, for dividing the RF signal into a first RF signal and a second RF signal, for generating a first phase for the first RF signal and a second phase for the second RF signal;
• a hybrid power divider operatively linked to the single-control phase shifter, for processing said first and second RF signal;
• a first output port of the power divider for propagating the first RF output signal, the first output RF signal having a first amplitude;
• a second output port of the power divider for propagating the second RF output signal, the second RF output signal having a second amplitude, a sum of the first amplitude and the second amplitude being substantially equal to a constant quantity throughout the adjustment range, the first and second phases being substantially constant quantities throughout the adjustment range.

A method for producing variable output RF power between two output ports comprising:

• inserting a main RF signal at an input port;
• dividing the main signal into first and second RF signals;
• generating a first phase difference between the first and second RF signals by propagating the first and second signals along two different electrical paths of variable electrical lengths having a predetermined range of lengths;
• generating a second phase difference between the first and second RF signals;
• and
• dividing and recombining the first and second RF signals to produce a first output RF signal having a first power and the second output RF signal has a second power, a sum of the first power and the second power being substantially equal to a constant quantity throughout the said ranges;
• whereby varying said electrical lengths produces variable output power between two output ports.

A method for variating and dividing RF power comprising:

• receiving an RF signal;
• dividing power of the RF signal equally;
• distributing the divided power along two electrical paths of different electrical lengths to a first and a second port such that a phase difference exists between a first RF signal at the first port and a second RF signal at the second port, wherein distributing the divided power further comprises changing the phase difference between the first and second RF signals by moving an electrical path that feeds the two electrical paths;
• and
• recombining the power such that a phase of an RF signal at a third port and a phase of an RF signal of a fourth port are substantially a constant quantity throughout the adjustment range.

A method for variating and dividing RF power comprising:

• receiving an RF signal;
• dividing power of the RF signal equally, wherein dividing the power of the RF signal equally further comprises feeding the RF signal into a moveable electrical path;
• distributing the divided power along two electrical paths of different electrical lengths to a first and a second port such that a phase difference exists between a first RF signal at the first port and a second RF signal at the second port;
• and
• recombining the power such that a phase of an RF signal at a third port and a phase of an RF signal of a fourth port are substantially a constant quantity throughout the adjustment range.

A method for variating and dividing RF power comprising:

• receiving an RF signal;
• dividing power of the RF signal equally, wherein dividing the power of the RF signal equally further comprises electrically coupling the RF signal across a dielectric medium to a moveable electrical path;
• distributing the divided power along two electrical paths of different electrical lengths to a first and a second port such that a phase difference exists between a first RF signal at the first port and a second RF signal at the second port;
• and
• recombining the plower such that a phase of an RF signal at a third port and a phase of an RF signal of a fourth port are substantially a constant quantity throughout the adjustment range.

A method for variating and dividing RF power comprising:

• receiving an RF signal;
• dividing power of the RF signal equally;
• distributing the divided power along two electrical paths of different electrical lengths to a first and a second port such that a phase difference exists between a first RF signal at the first port and a second RF signal at the second port, wherein distributing the divided power along two electrical paths further comprises capacitively coupling the divided power to the two electrical paths;
• and
• recombining the power such that a phase of an RF signal at a third port and a phase of an RF signal of a fourth port are substantially a constant quantity throughout the adjustment range.

A method for variating and dividing RF power comprising:

• receiving an RF signal;
• dividing power of the RF signal equally;
• distributing the divided power along two electrical paths of different electrical lengths to a first and a second port such that a phase difference exists between a first RF signal at the first port and a second RF signal at the second port;
• and
• recombining the power such that a phase of an RF signal at a third port and a phase of an RF signal of a fourth port are substantially a constant quantity throughout the adjustment range, wherein recombining the power further comprises dividing the power.

A method for variating and dividing RF power comprising:

• receiving an RF signal;
• dividing power of the RF signal equally;
• distributing the divided power along two electrical paths of different electrical lengths to a first and a second Port such that a phase difference exists between a first RF signal at the first port and a second RF signal at the second port;
• and
• recombining the power such that a phase of an RF signal at a third port and a phase of an RF signal of a fourth port are substantially a constant quantity throughout the adjustment range, wherein recombining the power further comprises processing the first RF signal and the second RF signal with a zero degree/one-hundred-eighty degrees hybrid power divider and the first and second RF signals outputted from the hybrid power have phases that differ by substantially ninety degrees.