Patent ID: 6407648
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: H01P

Abstract:
A non-directional signal combiner comprising:first, second, third and fourth transmission lines, each having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, and each having first and second ends, the first ends of the inner conductors of said first, second, third and fourth transmission lines being for receiving input signals, and the first ends of the outer conductors of said first, second, third and fourth transmission lines being connected to a ground plane; fifth and sixth transmission lines, each having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, and each having first and second ends, the first end of the inner conductor of said fifth transmission line being connected to the second end of the inner conductor of said second transmission line, the first end of the inner conductor of said sixth transmission line being connected to the second end of the inner conductor of said third transmission line, the first end of the outer conductor of said fifth transmission line being connected to the second end of the outer conductor of said first transmission line, the first end of the outer conductor of said sixth transmission line being connected to the second end of the outer conductor of said fourth transmission line, and the second ends of the inner conductors of said fifth and sixth-transmission lines being connected together to form a signal output; seventh and eighth transmission lines, each having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, and each having first and second ends, the first end of the inner conductor of said seventh transmission line being connected to the second end of the inner conductor of said first transmission line, the first end of the inner conductor of said eighth transmission line being connected to the second end of the inner conductor of said fourth transmission line, the second end of the inner conductor of said seventh transmission line being connected to the second end of the outer conductor of said sixth transmission line, the second end of the inner conductor of said eighth transmission line being connected to the second end of the outer conductor of said fifth transmission line, the first end of the outer conductor of said seventh transmission line being connected to the second end of the outer conductor of said second transmission line, the first end of the outer conductor of said eighth transmission line being connected to the second end of the outer conductor of said third transmission line, and the second ends of the outer conductors of said seventh and eighth transmission lines being connected to the ground plane; wherein the interconnection between the second end of the outer conductor of said first transmission line and the first end of the outer conductor of said fifth transmission line and the interconnection between the second end of the outer conductor of said fourth transmission line and the first end of the outer conductor of said sixth transmission line are connected to the ground plane; even mode impedance inhibitors employed on said second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth transmission lines to inhibit flow of current on the outer surfaces of the outer conductors of said second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth transmission lines; and wherein said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth transmission lines all have the same characteristic impedance.