A novel phase-balance technique for corpaorate structure power combining of high power amplifiers

The corporate structures are frequently used for combining power from two or more 2^N (N is an even number) devices. The combiner output power and efficiency degrades due to input signals imbalance. We have discussed a novel phase-balance technique to minimize phase imbalance and increase of combining efficiency. The technique makes use of microstrip meander lines “a zig-zag trace of conductor on substrate” at input ports of combiners. The branches of the meander lines called meanders are physically shorted with solder to minimize phase imbalance. In this way we have been able to combine power from two 10W power devices with 90% combining efficiency at S-band.