PRINCIPLES OF POWER COUPLING Power coupling at RF level may be achiaved ether vith the help of Wiknson couplers or with hybrid networks. Both the davies are reciprocal, in sense they are used as combiners and dividers 2 al In general, Wikinson combine cviders aro used for low power, where as hybrid are used for high pover coupling WILKINSON COMBINER/DIVIDER There are several forms of Wikinzon poner dvidercomeine:. At low frequency It ean be designed with LC network, at RF level with the help of cosial cables anc at microwave ‘Hequency It's achieved wih miczo stips. AB the three versions are shown in figure 1. The baste principe involvad remains tha same for al Ihe tee {ypes. From input to OWpUt proper Impedanes matching is ensured for smooth powar couping cor2er707 a Fig. 1 Wikinson Power Divider Let us escuss coaxial cable Wikinson dlvcer which is frequenty used in VHF/UHF region The ansmission ine prneple of quarer-wavelength Is Ulzed to match the afferent souree and load impedances, Itthe source impedance is Z: and load impedance is 2. then the characteristic impedance Zo ofthe quarenvava transmission Ine is given by Zo = Beh ‘The dvidericombiner may be of 2 way, 4 way, 8 way te. as por requirement. A 4avay divider hasbeen shown in Figure 2.Reet. = 1000 Fig. 2: 4 way Wikingon Dwvider The above circuit is reciprocal. When four inputs are fed to this, they wil combine into one output HYBRID NETWORK Itis a tinear passive cireult with four ports. Ven two equal inputs are applied at two ports, the combined output appears at the thrd port , the fourth port being Isolated. This arrangement works ab combiner. As dhider, when ona port ie applied with input dives equally betvaan to ofthe remaining ports, the fourth port being Isolated « a a vines / D 1" xp / 8B Re 8 e et (b) Schematic agra B veer ok oe c a NSD A (@) Senemate Diagram en c (e) symbo Fig. dB Quadrature HybridIts possible to design hybrids of any phase ference. Hence, hybrids are classified onthe basis of phase difference between two mputs(outputs 1, 3.68 quacraturs Hybrid ~ it dudes the Input signal nto two equal ampliuds output signal with a phase diference of 90°. Conversely, t combines two equal arnlituce input signals with a phase diflerence of 90° into one output signal. The schematic diagram and symbo of quadrature hyord are shovnin Fig. 3. 2, 3.48 in phase (0")180" Hybra.~ For ths hybrid, the pnase ctfrence between the two inputsioutputs is ether 0° (inphase) or 180 (aut of phase). Wikinson combines vider may be called as in phase hybrid. The schematic diagram and symbol of 07180" hybrid re shown nig. 4 Tum sto NA2N sa (@) Schematic Diagram (©) Symbol Fig. 4:98 (in phase) 0°/180° hybric MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF POWER COMBINING Let two powers P. & Pe are Being fea at two input ports A anc B respectively. The combined output povrer appaars at summation port C. ‘The tiflrance of te fvo input powers (i any, bacause of mismatch) appears at difference post D A.B = tnputports © = Summation port D2 Diterence pot Fig, 5 Hybria Power Combiner. IP, power is fed only at port A and nothing at B, then hybrid wil work as divider. Half power ‘will appear at port C and hal st port D. That is Pay(atponcy= Py2 Rp Ra Where Vou and Vy are peak amplitudes of output and input voltages respectively. Th Hence, if V's the peak voltage of power P, and Vs is the peak voltage of power Py and bc are fed simultaneously at port A and 8 respectively then the vector sum of Vs and Ve \ ‘appear as combined voltage at port C. This has been shown in Fig. 6 PR+RM=PM= Combined voltage at por © Fig. 6 Phaser diagram In APNM Pye = Pvt eo ihoess] MM v,ycoso Vou? = PVE-VE +2v,\eCo88) Vv. aM + +2V,VqCose) Pp = as 2 aR PaaPo. Be ( SP. Rc This isthe combined powar output at summation port C.SSnlay, ne power at aterence prt willbe = Bethe econ oy From () and) tis car na fr proper pover combing, he phase sterence 0 shou be Fev ap both nous shoul hve Saline caren pees wile svetoed by arenes Port. Inather wards equal power love and proper phase difrence depending onthe type Et combiner should be maintaned aetween tvo mputs for perfect combining. EXCESS INSERTION LOSS (XIL) Mev svg +2v, geese) mR Power ouput Paw vie Power input m Pa Now excess insertion los Is cetned es the oss Sue to phase end empitude imbslence batvean the to input signals tL ‘eg. F = tor} Fane] were Pe ‘iso the phase angle # of the combiner output votage Vs. ‘ine | Prv@63/20 = Cosa | Power dissipated in he absoroing resistor because of his loss is panera ccarenentans os Ten ‘The excess Inserton Joss an! the different powers ofthe combiner wt phase anc ampitude Imoalance are as potied in Figs 7(a) and 7(). mae He 19) ith respect to Amps Vanition 2) Wah rospoctto input phase vanation Fig 7 Grophof Oulpt Rome and Absorber PowerPRACTICAL REALISATION OF COMBINERS AND SPLITTERS IN FM ‘TRANSMITTER, |) inphase 50 W input coupler (2 way and 4 way) ‘The broadband couple cistbutes the excter output power of 10 W to the pover ampiiers each of 1800 W, (2) 2way coupler () 4 Way Spitter Fig, Inphase 50 Input Couper4 transmission Ines are used to match the impedances of source and lead. Unequal termination of the two outputs give ise to power in the absorbing resistor of 100 ohms. Trimming capactrs and inks are used for proper matching to be achieved ‘The 4 way coupler feeds four equal outputs tothe driver stage ofthe power amplfirs. It's basically an extension of the 2 way coupler. Since there are four outputs the number of absorbing resistors are tres of 100 ohms each, (See Ngure 8) ‘The coupler adds the RF power of two 1.5 kW amplifer modules, It is 2 0° coupler withthe two input powers of equal amoltudes and chases. If there Is unequal festing at the Inputs, par of tne power Is routed tothe balanced absorber of 2 x 50 ohms resistors Via i/4 co-axial {ables WS and WS Is varied In order to achieve an open-circuit at inputs of L2 and L1 so that fo power enters the absorbing restore under satisfactory Input conitons, Refer igure 8 ee oe vy /™ _ f i\ Fig. 9 2x 1.5 KW Combiner (Inphase) li) 4x 1.25 combiner ‘The comsiner is @ co-sxlal transmission line with a characteristic Impedance of 70 ohms and of 4 electrical length. It isan extension ofthe 2 x 1.5 KW combiner. Tw signals of 1.28 KV facn are combined In Ci to give 2.5 KW signal, In case of falures of one amplifier 8 100 ohms balanced absorber resistor isolates the intact amplifer. Two of 2.5 KIN signals are further comained in C2 to give a signal of 5 KW with an absorber of 100 ohms taking care of amplitude and phase Imbalance. [Refer figure 10(a) I) Quadrature High Power Combiner ‘The two input powers of 3 KW each which are 90° out of phase Wt, each other are combined Inthe above combiner to give an output paver of 6 KW. Refer igure 10(0)) ‘The bridging resistor absores any power due to phase and or ampituda imbalance betwen the two input signals, AAs can be seen tn the diagram 3.4 It consists of tve parallel plates so that the coupling between them is adjusted to ~3 a8 by adjusting the clstance between the two plates. PPaallelssm is maintained in order to achieve the required ret loss and isolation,poe a — Fig.10(a) 4x 1.28 KW Combiner Se “ ll eee) ~ee Fig. 10(2) : 348 Quadrature High Power Combiner PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SPLITTERS AND COMBINERS IN THE 1500 W POWER AMPLIFIER 1) 1500 W VU.015 Power Amplifier (87.5-108 MHz) “The output power is produced in eight push-pull broadband amplifier stages of 200 W each via coupling networks. Each group of four amplifies is driven by a 120 W push-pull preamplifier {his in turn driven by a 30 W ever stage. Input eve to power amplifir Is 2-3 W. ‘The push-pull amplifiers are connected in groups of to via couplet and the two 400 W output power are also combined in coupler. The two halves with a rated power of 750 W each ‘combined via a 0° couple to obtain 1500 W final input Basically the power amplifier works under a closed loop where the total output power Is regulated by controling collector vottage of the 30 W driver stage. Controling on to reduce {he output power during adverse conditions ike VSWR, over temperature are bull nto the PA ‘by comparing with set values, Malfunctions ara signalled to the switeh on control unit of the transmitter. The power amplifiers presented in fgure 11Fg. 1: 22009 Stage Power Ampier i) Splitter Combiner for 2x 400 W stage The spliter divides the output powers of the 120 W pre-ampliier to 2 x 400 W stages. Simlarly the combiner combines cufput powers trom 2 x 400 W stages, It forms = 180" coupler. Fig. 12. Spters & Combiners of158W PA Absorbing resistors are provided at both the 2 x 400 W and 400 W stages to take care of the Imbalance betvaen the stages. The unitis shown in igure 12, iil) 50Winphase 2 way coupler ‘Ths function ofthis coupler isto distribute the driving power of the 30 W drver stags fo the two 120 W pre-ampifirs couplers the same as tne one described in Fig. 8(a),DESIGN PRINCIPLES OF POWER AMPLIFIER STAGES i) 30WVHF Driver Amplifier ‘Since maximum power transter takes place if source and load impedances are matches, the ‘source impedance $0 ohms of he input tothe amplifier is maiched tothe low power transistor input impedance of 1 2+ 0.25 ohms by making Use of to 4:1 line transformers in sees anc UC matching cieul. Simlery on the output side, the transistor output impedance of 62+] 1 ‘ohms is matched to load Impecance with the help of 3 LC matching L sections in series In Order to achieve the requires bandwietn which otherwise would have rested In a narowand anpite a sngle secon nas ised fr matching, 4:1 ine tanstomer fs shown fr Fgure 1 (a) Schematic agra 0) Transtormation Fig. 13 4:1 Transformer » ‘The ampilfer operates under push-pull broadband class C mode, The unbalanced RF etving power ftom ta 50 W couplr Is transformed to balanced input tothe ample. By using 4:1 transformation with coaxial Ines of length 7/12, loaded with capactance, impedance Is down ‘convertede 12.8 ohms balanced. LC matching networks futher reduee the 6.5 ohms unbalanced Impedance to match the transistor put Impedance of 1+)0.6 onms thus achieving the ertera for maximum power transfer. The to inputs otha transistors are 180° outof phase 71. each other. ‘After ampitication the output impedance of 41.6 ohms is converted to 60 ohms via an LC rmatening circuit and 1:4 capactance loaded line transformer of lengin 2/17. Finaly the balanced voltage is converted to unbalanced form to dive the 2 x 400 W stage. Refer igure 14 ii) 2x20 W Amplifier The amplfer consists of two 120.W ampliter stage el connected push-pull sages ofthe similar design as the In this stage the RF criving power is taken via @ 25 ohms impedance matching line, The 180° over spliter with 1:2 transformation with co-lal nas of 2/10 electrical length distributes ower tothe two amplifiers. LC circus provi forthe frequency compensation,“The output power ofthe two 200 W stages are again combined ina 180° power coupler with a 2:1, 1/10 transformation line. The final output fo the 2 x 400 W combiner is at 25 ohms impedance. If one of the 200 W stages oy ls the 25 ohms resistor prevents mismatch of the operative re Fig. 14: Spiter Combiner for 2x 400 W Stage