Frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said separating step (a) includes a preceding exciting step of amplifying said first input signal and said separating step (b) includes a preceding exciting step of amplifying said second input signal.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said combining step (e) includes a preceding power amplifier step of amplifying said composite component signal at f 1 , composite component signal at f 2 , . . . , composite component signal at f n .

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said combining steps (c) and (d) are performed by using a plurality (n) of isolating-type power combining devices.

Claim 6

The method of claim 2 wherein said combining step (e) includes a following power amplifier step of amplifying said signal combiner output.

Claim 7

A frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner including means for combining a first input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) and a second input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at said predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) to form a frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner output signal, said means comprising: means for separating said first input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) into individual first input signal component signals at respective predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) and for separating said second input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) into individual second input signal component signals at respective predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ); means for combining said individual first input signal component signal at f 1 with said individual second input signal component signal at f 1 to form a composite component signal at f 1 , and for combining every other individual first input signal component signal of said group of signals at predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) with corresponding ones of the individual second input signal component signal at like frequency, thereby forming composite component signal at f 2 , . . . , composite component signal at f n ; means for combining said composite component signal at f 1 , said composite component signal at f 2 , . . . , and said composite component signal at f n and for forming said frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner output signal responsive thereto.

Claim 8

A frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner including means for combining a first input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) and a second input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at said predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) to form a frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner output signal, said means comprising: means for separating said first input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) into individual first input signal component signals at respective predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) and for separating said second input signal comprising a plurality of signal components at predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) into individual second input signal component signals at respective predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ); means for combining said individual first input signal component signal at f 1 with said individual second input signal component signal at f 1 to form a composite component signal at f 1 , and for combining every other individual first input signal component signal of said group of signals at predetermined frequencies (f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f n ) with corresponding ones of the individual second input signal component signal at like frequency, thereby forming composite component signal at f 2 , . . . , composite component signal at f n ; means for combining said composite component signal at f 1 , said composite component signal at f 2 , . . . , and said composite component signal at f n and for forming said frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner output signal responsive thereto.

Claim 9

The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 6 wherein said separating means includes exciter means for amplifying said first input signal and for amplifying said second input signal.

Claim 10

The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 7 wherein said combining means includes power amplifier means for amplifying said composite component signal at f 1 , composite component signal at f 2 , . . . , composite component signal at f n .

Claim 11

The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 8 wherein said combining means includes a plurality (n) of isolating-type power combining devices.

Claim 12

The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 9 wherein said combining means includes at least one multiport radio frequency signal combiner.

Claim 13

The frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner of claim 7 wherein said combining means further includes power amplifier means for amplifying said frequency agile transmitter antenna combiner output.

Claim 14

A signal combiner, comprising: means for receiving a predetermined number of input signals, each input signal at any of a predetermined group of frequencies, means for separating each input signal into its frequency components; means for combining all components of like frequencies, thereby forming a composite component at each frequency; means for combining all composite components for all frequencies to form a common output signal responsive thereto.

Claim 15

A signal combiner, comprising: means for receiving a predetermined number of input signals, each input signal at any of a predetermined group of frequencies, means for separating each input signal into its frequency components; means for combining all components of like frequencies, thereby forming a composite component at each frequency; means for combining all composite components for all frequencies to form a common output signal responsive thereto.

Claim 16

A signal combiner, comprising: k frequency selective splitters, each splitter designated as splitter x , each splitter x having means for receiving input signals at any of n predetermined frequencies, each frequency designated f w , where w varies from 1 to n, and n splitter outputs designated splitter x output Y , where Y varies from 1 to n, and having means for selectively coupling said f w to said splitter x output y , where w=Y, and means for isolating said frequency f w from any other splitter output, n combiners, each combiner designated combiner z , where z varies from 1 to n, each combiner z having k combiner inputs, each designated combiner z input p , a combiner output, and means for coupling said k inputs to said combiner output, a frequency selective combiner having n inputs, each input designated frequency selective combiner input q where q varies from 1 to n, a frequency selective combiner output, and means for coupling said n frequency selective combiner inputs to respective said frequency selective combiner output, said combiner z input p where z varies from 1 to n, coupled to splitter x output Y where Y=z, said frequency selective combiner input q where q varies from 1 to n coupled to said combiner z output where z=q, where x varies from 1 to k, and where p varies from 1 to k.

Claim 17

A signal combiner, comprising: k frequency selective splitters, each splitter designated as splitter x , each splitter x having means for receiving input signals at any of n predetermined frequencies, each frequency designated f w , where w varies from 1 to n, and n splitter outputs designated splitter x output Y , where Y varies from 1 to n, and having means for selectively coupling said f w to said splitter x output y , where w=Y, and means for isolating said frequency f w from any other splitter output, n combiners, each combiner designated combiner z , where z varies from 1 to n, each combiner z having k combiner inputs, each designated combiner z input p , a combiner output, and means for coupling said k inputs to said combiner output, a frequency selective combiner having n inputs, each input designated frequency selective combiner input q where q varies from 1 to n, a frequency selective combiner output, and means for coupling said n frequency selective combiner inputs to respective said frequency selective combiner output, said combiner z input p where z varies from 1 to n, coupled to splitter x output Y where Y=z, said frequency selective combiner input q where q varies from 1 to n coupled to said combiner z output where z=q, where x varies from 1 to k, and where p varies from 1 to k.

Claim 18

The signal combiner of claim 13 wherein said combiner z has means for frequency isolating said combiner z input p from all other combiner z input p s, where z varies from 1 to n.

Claim 19

The signal combiner of claim 14 wherein said splitter x includes exciter means for amplifying said input signal, where x varies from 1 to k.

Claim 20

The signal combiner of claim 15 wherein said combiner z includes power amplifier means coupled in series with said combiner z output, where z varies from 1 to n.

Claim 21

The signal combiner of claim 16 wherein said combiner z comprises an isolating-type power combining device, where z varies from 1 to n.

Claim 22

The signal combiner of claim 15 wherein said frequency selective combiner includes power amplifier means coupled in series with said frequency selective combiner output.