Claims
- 1. A broadband high power amplifier comprising:
- a plurality of N input ports to which a plurality of signals of differing frequencies are applied;
- an N-way power combiner coupled to combine the plurality of signals applied to said input ports and provide a combined output signal at an output port thereof;
- a preamplifier coupled to amplify the combined output signal provided by said N-way power combiner;
- an M-way power divider having an input coupled to receive the amplified combined output signal from said preamplifier and providing said input port and a plurality of M output ports from which M subdivided combined output signals are derived;
- a plurality of signal amplifier stages having matched amplitude and phase characteristics, respectively coupled to the plurality of output ports of said power divider; and
- a radial power combiner having a plurality of inputs respectively coupled to outputs of said plurality of signal amplifier stages, and having an output from which an amplified signal is derived.
- 2. A method of combining and amplifying a plurality of signals of differing frequencies comprising the steps of:
- (a) coupling said plurality of signals of differing frequencies to N input ports of an N-way power combiner, which is operative to combine the plurality of signals applied to said input ports and provide a combined output signal at an output port thereof;
- (b) coupling said combined output signal to an M-way power divider which is operative to provide a plurality of M subdivided combined output signals;
- (c) coupling said plurality of M subdivided combined output signals to a plurality of signal amplifier stages having matched amplitude and phase characteristics; and
- (d) coupling a radial power combiner having a plurality of inputs to outputs of said plurality of signal amplifier stages, and deriving from an output thereof an amplified signal.
- 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein step (b) comprises coupling a high gain amplifier stage between said input port and said M-way power divider.
Government Interests
The present invention was conceived and reduced to practice in conjunction with the performance of a U.S. Government Contract, specifically USAF Contract No. F33657-88-C-2110.
US Referenced Citations (7)