Qorvo Us, Inc.

Soack Dae Yoon

Ankush Mohan

Dan Denninghoff

John Kitt

Dana Jay Sturzebecher

Patrick Courtney

Yongjie Cui

Eric Jackson

Yu Cao

Spatial power-combining devices with reduced dimensions are disclosed. Spatial power-combining devices are provided that employ a hybrid structure including both a planar splitter/combiner and an antipodal antenna array. Planar splitters may be arranged to divide an input signal while antipodal antenna arrays may be arranged to combine amplified signals. In other applications, the order may be reversed such that antipodal antenna arrays are arranged to divide an input signal while a planar combiner is arranged to combine amplified signals. Advantages of such spatial power-combining devices include reduced size and weight while maintaining suitable performance for operation in desired frequency bands.

Spatial power-combining devices with reduced size

A double-disc structure for self-biased circulators monolithically integrated on semiconductors is provided. A self-based circulator is attractive due to the great reduction in its size and weight compared to conventional circulators which have bulk permanent magnets. The development of miniaturized self-biased circulators enables monolithic integration of such circulators directly into monolithic integrated circuits (e.g., monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs)) on a single chip and opens the door to full-duplex communication in radio frequency (RF) bands higher than Ka band, without suffering from the additional losses through connectors. This disclosure demonstrates a new double-disc structure by using two self-biased discs in a circulator device, which greatly improve its insertion loss, isolation, bandwidth, and power handling capability.

Double-disc structure for self-biased circulators monolithically integrated on semiconductors

Antenna waveguide transitions for solid state power amplifiers (SSPAs) are disclosed. An SSPA includes a waveguide channel that is configured to propagate an input signal, such as an electromagnetic signal, from an input port to a solid state amplifier for amplification. The waveguide channel is further configured to propagate an amplified signal from the solid state amplifier to an output port. Waveguide transitions to and from the solid state amplifier are bandwidth matched to the waveguide channel. Additionally, the waveguide transitions may be thermally coupled to the waveguide channel. The waveguide transitions may include antenna structures that have a signal conductor and a ground conductor. In this manner, the SSPA may have improved broadband coupling as well as improved thermal dissipation for heat generated by the solid state amplifier.

Antenna waveguide transitions for solid state power amplifiers

Spatial power-combining devices and, more particularly, spatial power-combining devices with improved isolation are disclosed. Spatial power-combining devices are disclosed that include a thin film resistor that is configured to provide improved signal isolation. The thin film resistor may be arranged within one or more amplifier assemblies of the spatial power-combining device to reduce signal leakage between the amplifier assemblies. The thin film resistor may be formed on a carrier substrate or the thin film resistor may supported by a surface of an amplifier assembly without a carrier substrate. Spatial power-combining devices are disclosed that include a radial arrangement of amplifier assemblies, and each amplifier assembly includes an antenna structure and a thin film resistor.

Spatial power-combining devices with thin film resistors

Antenna structures for spatial power-combining devices are disclosed. A spatial power-combining device includes a plurality of amplifier assemblies, and each amplifier assembly includes an amplifier coupled between an input antenna and an output antenna. At least one of the input antenna or the output antenna comprises a nonlinear shape that is configured to propagate a signal along a nonlinear path to or from the amplifier with reduced signal loss. Accordingly, each amplifier may be configured on a corresponding amplifier assembly in a position such that each amplifier is spaced farther apart from other amplifiers in the spatial power-combining device. In this manner, heat generated by the amplifiers may be more evenly dissipated by the spatial power-combining device.

Antenna structures for spatial power-combining devices

Monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) with phase tuning are disclosed. A MMIC structure may include a MMIC amplifier with electrically coupled input and output lines. The MMIC structure may further include an adjustable cover over the MMIC amplifier that includes at least one portion that can be adjusted closer to or farther away from either the input or output lines. In this manner, a signal capacitance between the adjustable cover and the input or output lines is adjustable, and accordingly, a signal phase of the MMIC structure may be tuned. A spatial power-combining device may include a plurality of amplifier assemblies, wherein each amplifier assembly includes a MMIC amplifier with an adjustable cover. In this manner, the plurality of amplifier assemblies may be phase-tuned to a target value.

Phase tuning for monolithic microwave integrated circuits

Spatial power-combining devices for higher frequency operation and increased bandwidth applications are disclosed. The spatial power-combining device includes a center waveguide section with a plurality of amplifier assemblies. The plurality of amplifier assemblies forms an input end and an output end, and an input inner conductor is mechanically attached to the input end, and an output inner conductor is mechanically attached to the output end. A method for joining a plurality of amplifier assemblies together to provide a center waveguide with an input end including an input connector receptacle and an output end including an output connector receptacle is also disclosed.

Spatial combining devices for high-frequency operation

A spatial power-combining device and an antenna structure designed for high efficiency, high frequency, and ultra-wide bandwidth operation. The antenna structure may include a signal conductor and a ground conductor that are entirely separated by air. A spatial power-combining device may include a plurality of amplifier assemblies including multiple output antenna structures and an output coaxial waveguide section configured to concurrently combine signals received from each output antenna structure of the plurality of amplifier assemblies. The plurality of amplifier assemblies may also include multiple input antenna structures and an input coaxial waveguide configured to provide an input signal concurrently to each input antenna structure of the plurality of amplifier assemblies.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Soack Dae Yoon