On the Graceful Degradation Performance of Multiple-Device Oscillators (Short Papers)

Kurokawa's theory of multiple-device oscillators is extended to an analysis of the graceful degradation performance (GD) of the power-combined oscillators. The analysis shows that the failure of some of the constituent devices of a multiple-device oscillator results in a load-pull effect on the operating devices along with a degradation of power-combining efficiency of the oscillator circuit. A tradeoff exists between power output and circuit improvement of the GD.