Patent ID: 7061315

Claim:
A high frequency amplifier network for selectively replacing a primary amplifier with an auxiliary amplifier, comprising: an auxiliary amplifier having an input and an output; at least one primary amplifier circuit, comprising: a circuit input; a circuit output; a primary amplifier, having an input and an output; a first transmission line for connecting said circuit input to said primary amplifier's input; a second transmission line for connecting said primary amplifier's output to said circuit output; a first shunt switch for selectively connecting said primary amplifier's input to ground; a second shunt switch for selectively connecting said primary amplifier's output to ground; a third shunt switch; a third transmission line for connecting said circuit input to said third shunt switch, said third shunt switch for selectively connecting said third transmission line to ground; a fourth transmission line for connecting said third shunt switch to said auxiliary amplifier's input; a fourth shunt switch; a fifth transmission line for connecting said circuit output to said fourth shunt switch, said fourth shunt switch for selectively connecting said fifth transmission line to ground; and a sixth transmission line for connecting said fourth shunt switch to said auxiliary amplifier's output; wherein when each of said first and second shunt switches is connected to ground and each of said third and fourth shunt switches is open, said primary amplifier is electronically isolated from said circuit input and said circuit output, and said auxiliary amplifier will operate to amplify a signal present at said circuit input and produce an amplified signal at said circuit output; and wherein when each of said first and second shunt switches is open and each of said third and fourth shunt switches is connected to ground, said auxiliary amplifier is electronically isolated from said circuit input and said circuit output, and said primary amplifier will operate to amplify a signal present at said circuit input and produce an amplified signal at said circuit output.