A method of using low-loss waveguide septum combiners is developed into a high-power -band (31-36 GHz) amplifier producing 50 W at 33 GHz (Ka-band) using 32 low-power (>2 W) solid-state amplifier modules. By using low-loss waveguide combining and a packaged monolithic microwave integrated circuit with a low-loss microstrip-to-waveguide launcher, the output loss is minimized, allowing for the overall power-combining efficiency to remain high, 80% (average insertion loss of combiner < 0.7 dB and average insertion loss of launcher <0.3 dB) over 31-36 GHz. In the past, lower power-combining efficiencies have limited the number of modules that can be combined at -band, and hence, have limited the power output. The approach demonstrated in this paper, with high power-combining efficiency, allows a very large number (32) of solid-state amplifier modules to be combined to produce high powers. Greater than 50 W was demonstrated with low power modules, but even higher powers 120 W are possible. The current approach is based on corporate combining, using low-loss waveguide septum combiners that provide isolation, maintaining the true graceful degradation of a modular solid-state amplifier system.

A High-Power $Ka$ -Band (31–36 GHz) Solid-State Amplifier Based on Low-Loss Corporate Waveguide Combining

A $Ka$ -band isolated radial power divider via circular waveguide ${\rm TE}_{01}$ -mode converter is presented in this paper. By redesigning and using the circular waveguide ${\rm TE}_{01}$ -mode transducer to feed the 20-way radial power divider–combiner, the overall structure is miniaturized. Moreover, the resistive septum is inserted into the waveguide to improve the return loss and the isolation of the output ports. A measured return loss at the output port has improved by around 15 dB, while the worst case isolation is more than 12 dB over 28–36 GHz after using the resistive septum.

An Isolated Radial Power Divider via Circular Waveguide ${\rm TE}_{01}$ -Mode Transducer

CITATION: Beyers, R. D. & De Villiers, D. I. L. 2014. Compact conical line power combiner design using circuit models. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 62(11):2650-2658, doi:10.1109/TMTT.2014.2359855.

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Compact Conical-Line Power Combiner Design Using Circuit Models

A structure based on the radial wave power combiner has been developed that incorporates a radially periodic internal structure. This structure permits its design to be accomplished using techniques similar to those used for distributed-element filter design. Less than 0.3 dB insertion loss has been achieved over greater-than-one-octave bandwidth centered at 1200 MHz. The design technique achieves highly predictable performance, and is sufficiently general such that it may be applied to combiners of any order, operating bandwidth, and operating frequency. >

A comprehensive design technique for the radial wave power combiner

A 19-way waveguide isolated power divider has been developed with broad bandwidth, low insertion loss and high isolation. Its design allows a flexible number of output ports and uneven power distribution. It can be used as a feed network for an antenna array and, due to this power divider's high isolation characteristics, it can be used as a power combiner for a high power amplifier.

A 19-Way Isolated Power Divider Via the TE/sub 01/ Circular Waveguide Mode Transition

A 16-way, low-loss, wideband power divider/combiner network for V-band waveguide is described This network utilizes a section of radial waveguide operating in the TEM mode Over a frequency band of 55-67 GHz, this 16-way divider/combiner network has an insertion loss of 1 dB maximum and better than 12 dB return loss Matching elements which have been designed for each of the three transitions between different transmission media within this network are described in detail

Ting-Ih Hsu

Papers

A Wideband 60 GHz 16-Way Power Divider/Combiner Network