High-Efficiency, Single-Ridged, 16-Way Radial Power Combiner

A new single-ridged, 16-way, high-efficiency radial power combiner for C-band has been developed. The design uses ridged waveguide theory to calculate bandwidth and impedance, as well as a new end-launch waveguide-to-coaxial transition. This power combiner has an average insertion loss across the 3.7- to 4.2-GHz band of 0.1 dB (a combining efficiency of 98 percent); a standing-wave ratio of less than 1.35:1; ±0.2-dB amplitude tracking; and ±2.5° phase tracking. The amplitude flatness is ±0.1 dB, and the port-to-port isolation is better than 8 dB across the band.