Title :
Ka-band high efficiency asymmetric MMIC power combiner for space communications
Author :
Wintucky, Edwin G. ; Simons, Rainee N. ; Chevalier, C.T. ; Freeman, J.C.
Author_Institution :
NASA Glenn Res. Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
Abstract :
A novel Ka-band (32.05 + 0.25 GHz) high efficiency asymmetric waveguide four-port combiner for coherent combining of two monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) power amplifiers having unequal outputs has been successfully designed, fabricated and characterised. The measured combiner efficiency is greater than 90%, the return loss greater than 18 dB and isolation greater than 22 dB. Applications considered are NASA´s space communications systems needing 8-15 W of RF power.
Keywords :
MMIC power amplifiers; power combiners; space communication links; Ka-band; NASA space communications; asymmetric MMIC power combiner; asymmetric waveguide; monolithic microwave integrated circuit; power amplifiers;
Journal_Title :
Electronics Letters
DOI :
10.1049/el.2010.2742
