Reconfigurable Filtering Power Divider With Arbitrary Operating Channels Based on External Quality Factor Control

In this paper, we propose a scheme to design the reconfigurable filtering power divider with arbitrary operating channels based on external quality factor (
$Q_{\mathbf {e}}$
) control. By using an input feeding line,
${n}$
resonators, and
$m$
output feeding lines, the
$n^{\mathbf {th}}$
-order
$m$
-way filtering power divider topology can be obtained with a simple configuration. A coupled-line output feeding structure loading with multiple PIN diodes is proposed to adjust the output
$Q_{\mathbf {e}}$
values. Design theories for obtaining the desired
$Q_{\mathbf {e}}$
values are provided. Then, the filtering power divider can be fully reconfigured in the states with one to
$m$
operating channels. Good input matching can be achieved without using an additional reconfigurable impedance matching network in all these states, resulting in a size and loss reduction. For verification, a 2nd-order 4-way reconfigurable filtering power divider is designed, fabricated, and measured. As compared to the reported reconfigurable power dividers, the proposed design shows the merits of fully reconfigurable operating channels, favorable filtering responses, low insertion losses, high isolation, and a simple structure.