Patent ID: 7808343

Claim:
A radio frequency (RF) communication device, comprising: an RF signal combiner comprising: a first element comprising a first section for phase matching, a second section for conductive-layer inversion and signal coupling, and a third section for phase matching, the first section connected to the second section, the second section connected to the third section, each of the first section, the second section, and the third section including a conductive trace; a second element comprising a fourth section for phase matching, a fifth section for conductive-layer inversion and signal coupling, and a sixth section for phase matching, the fourth section connected to the fifth section, the fifth section connected to the sixth section, each of the fourth section, the fifth section, and the sixth section including a conductive trace; and one or more dielectric layers, wherein the conductive trace of the second section is formed on a layer different from a layer on which the conductive trace of the first section is formed and different from a layer on which the conductive trace of the third section is formed, wherein the conductive trace of the fifth section is formed on a layer different from a layer on which the conductive trace of the fourth section is formed and different from a layer on which the conductive trace of the sixth section is formed wherein the layer on which the conductive trace of the second section is formed is different from the layer on which the conductive trace of the fifth section is formed, wherein the conductive trace of the second section is located in proximity to the conductive trace of the fifth section to allow signal coupling between the conductive trace of the second section and the conductive trace of the fifth section, and wherein the conductive trace of the second section is not in direct contact with the conductive trace of the fifth section.