The Superplanar Combiner: A Novel Parallel Combiner and Divider

We present a novel idea to implement a planar power combiner/divider with potentially arbitrary large combiner/divider ratios that is suitable for printed circuits. We demonstrate the idea with a single input microstrip to parallel plate waveguide to N output microstrips. We present experimental and simulation data for several combiners/dividers including a 1times8 power divider. Our idea avoids the exponential power loss and size increase in serial and corporate power combiners as N increases.