Patent ID: 7724091

Claim:
A matrix balun having m columns and n transmission lines in a matrix comprising an input transmission line T 1 with an RF-in terminal for receiving a single-ended RF-in signal, the RF-in terminal being connected to one end of the input transmission line T 1 , and a first output transmission line T n−1 , with a first RF-out terminal being connected to one end of the first output transmission line T n−1 , the input transmission line T 1 having portions of the RF-in signal successively tapped to the first output transmission line T n−1 via one amplifier A 1,c or at least two amplifiers A 1,c arranged in parallel in one row, the amplifiers having an input terminal connected to the input transmission line T 1 and having a certain gain, wherein the input transmission line T 1 is directly or indirectly coupled to the first output transmission line T n−1 and wherein the matrix balun comprises a second output transmission line T n adjacent the first output transmission line T n−1 , the second output transmission line T n having a second RF-out terminal connected to one end of the second output transmission line T n , making a total of n transmission lines, T 1 to T n arranged in consecutive order after increasing value of n, and wherein the amplified portions of the RF-in signal flowing in the first output transmission line T n−1 are successively tapped from the first output transmission line T n−1 directly to the second output transmission line T n via one additional amplifier or at least two additional amplifiers arranged in parallel in a row, thus obtaining two balanced RF-out signals at the first and at the second RF-out terminal, where each RF-out signal has an amplitude level equal to or exceeding the amplitude level of the RF-in signal and where the RF-out signals have a mutual phase difference of 180° and are of equal amplitude levels.