Reconfigurable broadband active power splitter ditto power combiner and ditto bidirectional power splitter/power combiner and circuits based on these

• Main Author: Ouacha, Aziz
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.03.2004

The present invention relates to a distribution network which is an active power splitter 1 to 2 (FC 1 A) or active power combiner 2 to 1 (FC 1 B) or alternatingly can be such a power splitter and such a power combiner, said power splitter consisting of two distributed amplifiers with a common input and one output each, and said power combiner consisting of two distributed amplifiers with one input each and a common output. For said power splitter, a switching element (ST 1 , . . . , ST N ; ST' 1 , . . . , ST' N ) is connected between each connection point on the outputs of the amplifying elements and earth, and for said power combiner, a switching element (ST 1 , . . . , ST N ; ST' 1 , . . . , ST' N ) is connected between each connection point on the inputs of the amplifying elements and earth, said switching elements being optimised to take, depending on a control voltage, one of two distinct states. A first corresponding to a capacitance (C off ) and a second state corresponding to a low impedance short circuit (R on ). This implies that when the control voltage is high for a distributed amplifier, i.e. half a power splitter or power combiner, this amplifier transmits power, and, when the control voltage is low for a distributed amplifier, this amplifier does not transmit power. The invention also relates to a multifunctional broadband electronically steered phased array system comprising at least one power splitter or power combiner as stated above.