HIGH EFFICIENCY KA-BAND MMIC SSPA POWER COMBINER FOR NASA'S SPACE COMMUNICATIONS

In this paper, we will review the design, construction and performance of the two-way Ka-band waveguide branch-line and asymmetric magic-T based unequal power combiners. The manufactured combiners were designed to combine input signals that are equal in phase and with an amplitude ratio of two. Next, the design, construction and performance of a three-way branch-line unequal power combiner, achieved by serially interconnecting two 2-way branch-line hybrids and optimizing the dimensions using software tools, is presented. The application of the two-way and three-way combiners for combining the output from two or three MMIC PAs was demonstrated. The observed efficiencies for all three power combining configurations are 90 percent or greater at Ka-band (31.8 to 32.3 GHz).

[1]  Mike Wojtowicz,et al.  Reliable GaN HEMTS for high frequency applications , 2010, 2010 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium.

[2]  Rainee N. Simons,et al.  Ka-band high efficiency asymmetric MMIC power combiner for space communications , 2010 .

[3]  Rainee N. Simons,et al.  Ka-band waveguide hybrid combiner for MMIC amplifiers with unequal and arbitrary power output ratio , 2009, IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[4]  A.E. Fathy,et al.  Synthesis of a compound T-junction for a two-way splitter with arbitrary power ratio , 2005, IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, 2005..

[5]  N. Yoneda,et al.  Ku-band power combiner composed of metal-plated plastic waveguide hybrid , 2004, 2004 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37535).

[6]  S. Sakanaka,et al.  Development of an asymmetric power divider for a high-power RF distribution system , 2001 .

[7]  S. Christopher,et al.  Design aspects of compact high power multiport unequal power dividers , 1996, Proceedings of International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology.

[8]  P. Park,et al.  Shunt/series coupling slot in rectangular waveguides , 1984 .