Patent ID: 8581801

Claim:
A quad-line balun column comprising: a central member having a square cross-sectional shape and having four external conductive surfaces which extend from a first end to a second opposite end of said central member; a first dielectric slab having a first surface disposed over a first portion of a first one of the four external conductive surfaces of said central member and wherein a second opposing surface of said first dielectric slab has a conductor disposed thereon wherein said first dielectric slab has a width substantially equal to the width of the first one of the four external conductive surfaces of said central member on which said first dielectric slab is disposed; a second dielectric slab having a first surface disposed over a second portion of a second one of the four external conductive surfaces of said central member wherein said second dielectric slab has a width substantially equal to the width of the second one of the four external conductive surfaces of said central member and wherein a second opposing surface of said second dielectric slab has a conductor disposed thereon, wherein said conductor has a width substantially equal to the width of said second dielectric slab; a third dielectric slab having a first surface disposed over a third portion of a third one of the four external conductive surfaces of said central member wherein said third dielectric slab has a width substantially equal to the width of the third one of the four external conductive surfaces of said central member and wherein a second opposing surface of said third dielectric slab has a conductor disposed thereon, wherein said conductor has a width substantially equal to the width of said third dielectric slab; and a fourth dielectric slab having a first surface disposed over a fourth portion of a fourth one of the four external conductive surfaces of said central member wherein said fourth dielectric slab has a width substantially equal to the width of the fourth one of the four external conductive surfaces of said central member and wherein a second opposing surface of said fourth dielectric slab has a conductor disposed thereon wherein said fourth dielectric slab has a width substantially equal to the width of the fourth one of the four external conductive surfaces of said central member on which said fourth dielectric slab is disposed.