Large scale low-loss combiner and divider

Claim 1

A radio-frequency power divider and combiner comprising: a fixed structure including first and second parallel plates; branching means comprising a plurality of conductive loops symmetrically spaced, extending radially outward from a first circle within a central area between said plates, and outwardly abutting a second circle; a feed electrically symmetrical in planes parallel to said first and second plates for coupling to the volume within said central area between said first and second plates to produce a relatively uniform dominant E mode therein, said feed connecting through one of said plates substantially at the center of said first circle; means comprising a branch port connected to each of said loops at the open end thereof within and adjacent said second circle, said loops otherwise providing closed current paths in planes generally normal to said plates; a common port connected to said feed; and spurious waveguide mode suppression means comprising a plurality of resistors, one of said resistors being between each adjacent pair of said loops inside and adjacent to said second circle.