Parallel transmission line matching network for connecting together a plurality of r.f. amplifier transistors

Claim 2

A matching network for operation at a predetermined radio frequency for connecting a predetermined number of first circuits each having a first particular impedance to a second circuit having a second impedance and for transforming said particular impedances to a predetermined impedance matching said second impedance, including in combination: a plurality of first transmission line sections, the number of said first transmission line sections being equal to the number of said first circuits, each of said transmission line sections having a first end connected to a different one of said first circuits, said first transmission line sections each having a second end, said second ends being connected together, each of said transmission line sections having a first characteristic impedance equal to the square root of the product of the number of said transmission line sections, said first particular impedance and said predetermined impedance; and a common transmission line section having one end connected to the second ends of said first sections and another end connected to said second circuit, said common transmission line section having a second characteristic impedance equal to said first characteristic impedance divided by the number of first transmission line sections connected thereto, the length of said first and second transmission line sections being chosen to provide a quarter wave path length at said predetermined radio frequency between said second circuit and each of said first circuits.

Claim 3

A matching network as recited in claim 1 including a second common transmission line section having a pair of ends, one end being connected to said second circuit, and a second plurality of first transmission line sections each having an end connected to the other end of said common transmission line section, each of said second plurality of first transmission line sections having another end connected to an individual one of a second plurality of first circuits.

Claim 4

A matching network for operation at a predetermined radio frequency for connecting a predetermined number, greater than one, of radio frequency amplifiers to a second circuit having a second impedanCe, each radio frequency amplifier having at least first and second terminals with a particular impedance having resistive and reactive components therebetween, and for matching the particular impedances of the radio frequency amplifiers to said second impedance, said network comprising: a plurality of reactive circuits, the number of reactive circuits being equal to said predetermined number of radio frequency amplifiers, each one of said reactive circuits being connected to both the first and second terminals of only a predetermined different one of the radio frequency amplifiers, each of said reactive circuits having a reactance value chosen to effectively cancel the reactive component of one of said particular impedances to make the resulting combined impedance between each of said first and second terminals substantially equal to said resistive component; a plurality of first transmission line sections, the number of first transmission line sections being equal to the number of said reactive circuits, each of said first transmission line sections having a first characteristic impedance substantially equal to the square root of the product of the number of said first transmission line sections, said predetermined impedance and said resulting combined impedance, each of said first transmission line sections having a first conductor having a first predetermined length equal to less than one quarter wavelength at said predetermined radio frequency, each first conductor having a first end connected to the first terminal of a different one of said amplifiers and a second end connected to the second end of the first conductor of each of the other of said first transmission lines; and a common transmission line having a second characteristic impedance equal to said first characteristic impedance divided by said number of first transmission line sections connected thereto, said common transmission line having a common conductor having a second length equal to one quarter wavelength at said predetermined radio frequency less than first predetermined length, said common conductor being connected to the junction of said second ends of said first conductors.

Claim 5

A matching network for operation at a predetermined radio frequency for connecting a predetermined number, greater than one, of radio frequency amplifiers to a second circuit having a second impedanCe, each radio frequency amplifier having at least first and second terminals with a particular impedance having resistive and reactive components therebetween, and for matching the particular impedances of the radio frequency amplifiers to said second impedance, said network comprising: a plurality of reactive circuits, the number of reactive circuits being equal to said predetermined number of radio frequency amplifiers, each one of said reactive circuits being connected to both the first and second terminals of only a predetermined different one of the radio frequency amplifiers, each of said reactive circuits having a reactance value chosen to effectively cancel the reactive component of one of said particular impedances to make the resulting combined impedance between each of said first and second terminals substantially equal to said resistive component; a plurality of first transmission line sections, the number of first transmission line sections being equal to the number of said reactive circuits, each of said first transmission line sections having a first characteristic impedance substantially equal to the square root of the product of the number of said first transmission line sections, said predetermined impedance and said resulting combined impedance, each of said first transmission line sections having a first conductor having a first predetermined length equal to less than one quarter wavelength at said predetermined radio frequency, each first conductor having a first end connected to the first terminal of a different one of said amplifiers and a second end connected to the second end of the first conductor of each of the other of said first transmission lines; and a common transmission line having a second characteristic impedance equal to said first characteristic impedance divided by said number of first transmission line sections connected thereto, said common transmission line having a common conductor having a second length equal to one quarter wavelength at said predetermined radio frequency less than first predetermined length, said common conductor being connected to the junction of said second ends of said first conductors.

Claim 6

A matching network as recited in claim 3 including a second common transmission line section having a second common conductor, said second common conductor being connected to said common conductor, and a second plurality of first transmission line sections each connected to said second common conductors.

Claim 7

A matching network as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said first predetermined lengths is selected for transforming the reactance of the reactive circuit connected thereto to substantially zero ohms.

Claim 8

A matching network as recited in claim 5 wherein said first and common transmission line sections are strip line sections.

Claim 9

A matching network as recited in claim 6 wherein the number of first transmission line sections is equal to two.

Claim 10

A radio frequency amplifier matching network for operation at a predetermined radio frequency for connection to a circuit having a predetermined impedance, including in combination: a plurality of transistors each having first and second terminals with a particular impedance including resistive and reactive components therebetween; a plurality of reactive circuits equal in number to the number of said transistors, each one of said reactive circuits being connected between the first and second terminals of only a predetermined different one of said transistors, each reactive circuit having a reactance value chosen to effectively cancel the reactive component of the transistor connected thereto to provide a substantially resistive resulting combined impedance between said first and second terminals; a plurality of first transmission line sections equal in number to the number of said reactive circuits, each of said first transmission line sections having a characteristic impedance substantially equal to the square root of the product of the number of firsT trans-mission line sections, said predetermined impedance and said resulting impedance, each of said first transmission line sections having a first conductor having a first predetermined length less than one quarter wavelength at the predetermined radio frequency, each first conductor having a first end connected to the first terminal of a single one of said tran-sistors and a second end connected to the second end of the first conductor of each of the other first transmission line sections; and a second transmission line section having a second characteristic impedance equal to said first characteristic impedance divided by the number of said first transmission line sections, said second transmission line section having a second conductor having a second length equal to one quarter wavelength at said predetermined radio frequency less said first predetermined length, said second conductor being connected to the second end of the first conductor of each of said first transmission line sections.

Claim 11

A radio frequency amplifier matching network for operation at a predetermined radio frequency for connection to a circuit having a predetermined impedance, including in combination: a plurality of transistors each having first and second terminals with a particular impedance including resistive and reactive components therebetween; a plurality of reactive circuits equal in number to the number of said transistors, each one of said reactive circuits being connected between the first and second terminals of only a predetermined different one of said transistors, each reactive circuit having a reactance value chosen to effectively cancel the reactive component of the transistor connected thereto to provide a substantially resistive resulting combined impedance between said first and second terminals; a plurality of first transmission line sections equal in number to the number of said reactive circuits, each of said first transmission line sections having a characteristic impedance substantially equal to the square root of the product of the number of firsT trans-mission line sections, said predetermined impedance and said resulting impedance, each of said first transmission line sections having a first conductor having a first predetermined length less than one quarter wavelength at the predetermined radio frequency, each first conductor having a first end connected to the first terminal of a single one of said tran-sistors and a second end connected to the second end of the first conductor of each of the other first transmission line sections; and a second transmission line section having a second characteristic impedance equal to said first characteristic impedance divided by the number of said first transmission line sections, said second transmission line section having a second conductor having a second length equal to one quarter wavelength at said predetermined radio frequency less said first predetermined length, said second conductor being connected to the second end of the first conductor of each of said first transmission line sections.

Claim 12

A radio frequency amplifier matching network as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said first predetermined lengths is selected for transforming the reactance value of the reactive circuit connected thereto to substantially zero ohms.

Claim 13

A radio frequency amplifier matching network as recited in claim 9 wherein said transmission line sections are strip line sections.

Claim 14

A radio frequency amplifier matching network as recited in claim 10 including a plurality of second transmission line sections each of said second transmission line sections having a second conductor, said second conductors being connected together at one end, and a second plurality of first transmission line sections each connected to the other end of one of said second conductors.