SSPA power combiner
  • UnknownEditor
    4
    Suppose you are designing a solid-state power amp over a moderate bandwidth, using Wilkinson-style dividers. Is there a down-side to adding 90 degree phase length to half of the combiner inputs (and divider outputs), to put the power stage in quadrature? Seems like everyone would like a better input and output match, right? How come I can't buy something like this....
    Thanks in advance.
    UnknownEditor Options
  • Hadrien Theveneau
    1
    If I remember correctly, I have already seen such transformations between Wilkinson-like and Quadrature-like using 90° shifters.

    However, I find it simpler to go straight to a quadrature coupler for two reasons. For wideband designs, the 90° phase shifter is not trivial to design. For higher power designs, the grounded resistor of the quadrature couplers is simpler to handle than the floating resistor of the Wilkinson.

    Have a nice day,
    Hadrien Theveneau Options
  • UnknownEditor
    4
    My friend
    You have pointed out the weak part of Wilkinsons in SSPAs.... the resistor is going to blow up!
    Steve
    UnknownEditor Options
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