Multiport radio frequency signal combiner

Claim 2

Apparatus for combining at least three radio frequency signals, having different predetermined frequencies and being generated by separate signal sources, to provide a composite output signal, comprising: a plurality of input transmission line means each having a signal conductor and a predetermined characteristic impedance, disposed in the same plane with one another and coupled to a corresponding one of the radio frequency signals; output transmission line means having a signal conductor and a predetermined characteristic impedance and providing the composite output signal; a terminating element for commonly interconnecting at substantially a single point the signal conductors of the input transmission line means and the signal conductor of the output transmission line means and combining the radio frequency signals on the signal conductors of the input transmission line means to provide the composite output signal on the signal conductor of the output transmission line means, each of the signal conductors of the input transmission line means radially connected to the terminating element, and the signal conductor of the output transmission line means disposed perpendicular to the plane of the signal conductors of the input transmission line means; and tuning transmission line means having a signal conductor and a predetermined characteristic impedance and being terminated by a predetermined impedance, the signal conductor of the tuning transmission line means connected to the terminating element substantially at the single interconnection point for substantially eliminating the effects of the capacitive discontinuity created at the interconnection point.

Claim 3

The combining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tuning transmission line means is terminated by a short-circuit impedance.

Claim 4

The combining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tuning transmission line means is terminated by an open-circuit impedance.

Claim 5

The combining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tuning transmission line means is disposed in the same plane as the input transmission line means.

Claim 6

The combining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tuning transmission line means is disposed perpendicular to the plane of the input transmission line means.

Claim 7

The combining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the terminating element has a cylindrical shape and is comprised of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 8

The combining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the terminating element has a circular shape and is comprised of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 9

The combining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the terminating element has a cylindrical shape and is comprised of an electrically conductive material, the cylindrically shaped terminating element having parallel top and bottom surfaces and a radial surface, the plurality of input and the tuning transmission line means connected to the radial surface of the cylindrical terminating element, and the output transmission line means coupled to one of the top and bottom surfaces.

Claim 10

The combining apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the terminating element has a cylindrical shape and is comprised of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 11

The combining apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrically shaped terminating element has parallel top and bottom surfaces and a radial surface, the plurality of input transmission line means each connected to the radial surface, the output transmission line means connected to one of the top and bottom surfaces, and the tuning transmission line means connected to the surface opposite said one of the top and bottom surfaces.

Claim 12

The combining apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the output transmission line means, tuning transmission line means and terminating element are integrally comprised of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 13

Apparatus for combining at least three radio frequency signals, having different predetermined frequencies, to provide a composite output signal, comprising: a plurality of transmitting means each for generating a radio frequency signal having a predetermined frequency; a plurality of filtering means each coupled to one of the transmitting means for filtering the radio frequency signal therefrom; a plurality of input transmission line means each having a signal conductor and a predetermined characteristic impedance, disposed in the same plane with one another and coupled to one of the filtered radio frequency signals from the filtering means; output transmission line means having a signal conductor and a predetermined characteristic impedance and providing the composite output signal; PG,15 a terminating element for commonly terminating at substantially a single point the signal conductors of the input transmission line means and the signal conductor of the output transmission line means and combining the radio frequency signals on the signal conductors of the input transmission line means to provide the composite output signal on the signal conductor of the output transmission line means, each of the signal conductors of the input transmission line means radially connected to the terminating element, and the signal conductor of the output transmission line means disposed perpendicular to the plane of the signal conductors of the input transmission line means; and tuning transmission line means having a signal conductor and a predetermined characteristic impedance and being terminated by a predetermined impedance, the signal conductor of the tuning transmission line means connected to the terminating element substantially at the single interconnection point for substantially eliminating the effects of the capacitive discontinuity created at the interconnection point.

Claim 14

Apparatus for combining at least three radio frequency signals, having different predetermined frequencies, to provide a composite output signal, comprising: a plurality of transmitting means each for generating a radio frequency signal having a predetermined frequency; a plurality of filtering means each coupled to one of the transmitting means for filtering the radio frequency signal therefrom; a plurality of input transmission line means each having a signal conductor and a predetermined characteristic impedance, disposed in the same plane with one another and coupled to one of the filtered radio frequency signals from the filtering means; output transmission line means having a signal conductor and a predetermined characteristic impedance and providing the composite output signal; PG,15 a terminating element for commonly terminating at substantially a single point the signal conductors of the input transmission line means and the signal conductor of the output transmission line means and combining the radio frequency signals on the signal conductors of the input transmission line means to provide the composite output signal on the signal conductor of the output transmission line means, each of the signal conductors of the input transmission line means radially connected to the terminating element, and the signal conductor of the output transmission line means disposed perpendicular to the plane of the signal conductors of the input transmission line means; and tuning transmission line means having a signal conductor and a predetermined characteristic impedance and being terminated by a predetermined impedance, the signal conductor of the tuning transmission line means connected to the terminating element substantially at the single interconnection point for substantially eliminating the effects of the capacitive discontinuity created at the interconnection point.

Claim 15

The combining apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the tuning transmission line means is terminated by a short-circuit impedance.

Claim 16

The combining apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the tuning transmission line means is terminated by an open-circuit impedance.

Claim 17

The combining appartus according to claim 12, wherein said tuning transmission line means is disposed in the same plane as the input transmission line means.

Claim 18

The combining apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the tuning transmission line means is disposed perpendicular to the plane of the input transmission line means.

Claim 19

The combining apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the terminating element has a cylindrical shape and is comprised of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 20

The combining apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the terminating element has a circular shape and is comprised of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 21

The combining apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the terminating element has a cylindrical shape and is comprised of an electrically conductive material, the cylindrically shaped terminating element having parallel top and bottom surfaces and a radial surface, the plurality of input and the tuning tranmission line means connected to the radial surface of the cylindrical terminating element, and the output transmission line means coupled to one of the top and bottom surfaces.

Claim 22

The combining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the terminating element has a cylindrical shape and is comprised of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 23

The combining apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the cylindrically shaped terminating element has parallel top and bottom surface and a radial surface, the plurality of input transmission line means each connected to the radial surface, the output transmission line means connected to one of the top and bottom surfaces, and the tuning transmission line means connected to the surface opposite said one of the top and bottom surfaces.

Claim 24

The combining apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the output transmission line means, tuning transmission line means and terminating element are integrally comprised of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 25

The combining apparatus according to claim 12, further including antenna means coupled to the output transmission line means for radiating the composite signal.