Parallel distributed signal amplifiers

Claim 1

An amplifier for alternating electrical signals, comprising: first distributed signal amplifying means including an input port, an output port, and an electrical delay between said input and output ports which is greater than the duration of one signal alternation cycle at a frequency within the operating frequency range; second distributed signal amplifying means including an input port, an output port, and an electrical delay between said input and output ports which is greater than the duration of one signal alternation cycle at a frequency within the operating frequency range, but which delay may differ from said delay of said first distributed amplifying means by a delay difference corresponding to a phase shift greater than 360°; input signal splitting means adapted to be coupled to a source of signals to be amplified for dividing said signals to be amplified into first and second signal portions; input coupling means coupled to said input signal splitting means, and to said input ports of said first and second distributed signal amplifying means for coupling said first signal portion of said signals to be amplified to said input port of said first distributed signal amplifying means and for coupling said second signal portion of said signals to be amplified to said input port of said second distributed signal amplifying means, whereby first and second amplified signals appear at said output ports of said first and second distributed signal amplifying means, respectively; output coupling means coupled to said output ports of said first and second distributed signal amplifying means for combining said first and second amplified signals at a summed signal output port, whereby phase coincidence of said first and second amplified signals is necessary to obtain maximum summed signal output at said frequency, but the instantaneous bandwidth may be less than desired due to the excess of said delay difference; and path delay correction means coupled to one of said input port and said output port of that one of said first and second signal amplifying means which has electrical delay which is shorter by said delay difference than said electrical delay of the other one of said first and second amplifying means for adding an electrical delay for compensating for said delay difference, whereby said instantaneous bandwidth is increased.