Patent ID: 7417508

Claim:
A microwave amplifier comprising: an input port for receiving a variable RF signal for amplification; the variable RF signal comprising signals corresponding to a predetermined set of frequencies; an output port for providing an amplified version of the variable RF signal therefrom; a circuit disposed electrically between the input port and the output port for amplifying the variable RF signal, the circuit comprising: an input fixed impedance matching circuit; an output fixed impedance matching circuit; a first amplifier disposed electrically between the input fixed impedance matching circuit and the input impedance port of the output fixed impedance matching circuit, the first amplifier comprising a front port for receiving at least a portion of the variable RF signal, a back port for providing an amplified version of the at least a portion of the variable RF signal, and a first gain circuit for providing an amplification of the at least a portion of the variable RF signal; at least one of a plurality of second amplifiers disposed electrically between the input fixed impedance matching circuit and output fixed impedance matching circuit, said plurality of second amplifiers other than in series with the first amplifier, each of the plurality of second amplifiers comprising a first port for receiving at least a portion of the variable RF signal, a second port for providing an amplified version of the at least a portion of the variable RF signal, a second gain circuit for providing an amplification of the at least a portion of the variable RF signal, and a tunable impedance matching circuit for providing a transformation of impedance from the output impedance of the output port of the second amplifier to the impedance of the input impedance port of the output fixed impedance matching circuit.