Spatial power combiner using an active reflectarray of dual-feed aperture coupled microstrip patch antennas

An X-band 37-element microstrip patch reflectarray is explored as a power combining structure for MMIC amplifiers. This power combiner uses a planar array of dual-feed aperture coupled antenna elements and a small dual-corporate feed sub-array as a signal distributing receiving device. The MMIC amplifiers are located within the sections of transmission lines connecting orthogonal ports of the patches. Delay lines at the output ports of these amplifiers compensate for unequal electrical paths so that the amplified signals add in phase at the receiving sub-array to achieve maximum combined power.