Novel N-way reconfigurable power divider with switchable paths and adjustable frequency
-
Wen Tao Li
,
Suiteng Zhang
Abstract
A new N-way reconfigurable power divider with path switching and frequency tuning functions is proposed. The divider successfully realizes flexible path switching and frequency adjustment by using the innovative design of PIN diodes, reconfigurable parallel coupling lines and reconfigurable short-circuit branches. By dynamically adjusting the state of the PIN diode, the port connection and disconnection functions can be realized, and an advanced isolation network is introduced to ensure excellent port isolation performance during port switching. In addition, by embedding a varactor diode (Cv2) between the coupling lines of the input port, the impedance matching during port switching is effectively guaranteed. Furthermore, by loading a reconfigurable short-circuit branch containing a varactor diode (Cv1) on one side of the input port coupling line, the frequency adjustment function is realized. Finally, N transmission modes with 2 N − 1 operating states can be realized. For verification, a four-way reconfigurable power divider is designed and fabricated, and 15 states of four transmission modes of the power divider are realized, each state enabling frequency tuning capability. The results facilitate the potential application of the proposed power divider in wireless communication systems.
Funding source: Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2023-JC-YB-505
-
Research ethics: Not applicable.
-
Informed consent: Not applicable.
-
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
-
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
-
Conflict of interest: The authors states no conflict of interest.
-
Research funding: This work was supported in part by the National Nature Science Foundation under Grant 62476207, 62271407, and 62376204, and in part by the Aeronautical Science Foundation of China under Grant 20240001081001.
-
Data availability: Not applicable.
References
[1] Y. Ji, W. Ruan, X. Xu, and X. Xing, “A highly integrated n-line monitoring system for RF applications,” in 2022 IEEE MTT-S International Wireless Symposium (IWS), Harbin, China, 2022, pp. 1–3.10.1109/IWS55252.2022.9977640Search in Google Scholar
[2] R. Bowrothu, H.-I. Kim, W. Lee, T. Clingenpeel, and Y. K. Yoon, “Highly energy-efficient metaconductor-based integrated RF passives: metaconductor-based RF passives,” IEEE Microw. Mag., vol. 23, no. 8, pp. 83–93, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1109/mmm.2022.3173468.Search in Google Scholar
[3] G. Stantchev, S. Cooke, K. Elliott, and J. Petillo, “High performance uncertainty quantification analysis of RF devices,” in 2017 Eighteenth International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC), London, UK, 2017, pp. 1–2.10.1109/IVEC.2017.8289670Search in Google Scholar
[4] J. Ellis-Monaghan, et al.., “High performance LNA devices for integrated switch technology,” in 2018 IEEE SOI-3D-Subthreshold Microelectronics Technology Unified Conference (S3S), Burlingame, CA, USA, 2018, pp. 1–2.10.1109/S3S.2018.8640205Search in Google Scholar
[5] E. Hager and H. Pretl, “Considerations on high-performance frequency synthesizers and high-Q oscillators,” in 2021 Austrochip Workshop on Microelectronics (Austrochip), Linz, Austria, 2021, pp. 1–4.10.1109/Austrochip53290.2021.9576873Search in Google Scholar
[6] G. Zhang, Z. Qian, X. Zhang, and J. Yang, “A general and effective design method of multi-way filtering power dividers on a new multi-port topology for industrial application,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 68, no. 6, pp. 5436–5447, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2020.2992009.Search in Google Scholar
[7] H. Fan, X. Liang, J. Geng, R. Jin, and X. Zhou, “Reconfigurable unequal power divider with a high dividing ratio,” IEEE Microw. Wireless Compon. Lett., vol. 25, no. 8, pp. 514–516, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1109/lmwc.2015.2440774.Search in Google Scholar
[8] H. Chen, W. Che, Y. Cao, W. Feng, and K. Sarabandi, “Function-reconfigurable between SPDT switch and power divider based on switchable HMSIW unit,” IEEE Microw. Wireless Compon. Lett., vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 275–277, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1109/lmwc.2017.2662320.Search in Google Scholar
[9] Y.-S. Liu and J.-S. Row, “Back-to-back microstrip antenna fed with tunable power divider,” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., vol. 63, no. 5, pp. 2348–2353, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1109/tap.2015.2407377.Search in Google Scholar
[10] Y. Liu, S. Sun, and L. Zhu, “Design of N-way wideband filtering power dividers with good port–port isolation,” IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Techn., vol. 69, no. 7, pp. 3298–3306, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1109/tmtt.2021.3072365.Search in Google Scholar
[11] C. Zhu, J. Xu, and W. Wu, “Microstrip four-way reconfigurable single/dual/wideband filtering power divider with tunable frequency, bandwidth, and PDR,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 65, no. 11, pp. 8840–8850, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2017.2787577.Search in Google Scholar
[12] B. Lee, G. Lee, and J. Lee, “Topology and design formulas for four-way filtering power divider with wide isolation range,” IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 18298–18306, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2021.3053570.Search in Google Scholar
[13] T. Zhang and W. Che, “A compact tunable power divider with wide tuning frequency range and good reconfigurable responses,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst., II, Exp. Briefs, vol. 63, no. 11, pp. 1054–1058, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsii.2016.2548118.Search in Google Scholar
[14] B. Wu, Z. Sun, X. Wang, Z. Ma, and C.-P. Chen, “A reconfigurable Wilkinson power divider with flexible tuning range configuration,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II Exp. Briefs, vol. 67, no. 7, pp. 1219–1223, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsii.2019.2935261.Search in Google Scholar
[15] H.-S. Tae, K.-S. Oh, H.-L. Lee, W.-I. Son, and J.-W. Yu, “Reconfigurable 1×4 power divider with switched impedance matching circuits,” IEEE Microw. Wireless Compon. Lett., vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 64–66, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1109/lmwc.2011.2181830.Search in Google Scholar
[16] H. Fan, X. Liang, J. Geng, L. Liu, and R. Jin, “An N-way reconfigurable power divider,” IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Techn., vol. 65, no. 11, pp. 4122–4137, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1109/tmtt.2017.2702115.Search in Google Scholar
[17] J.-X. Xu, M. Huang, W.-L. Zhan, and X. Y. Zhang, “Reconfigurable filtering power divider with arbitrary operating channels based on external quality factor control,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I, Reg. Papers, vol. 69, no. 11, pp. 4395–4403, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsi.2022.3198653.Search in Google Scholar
[18] W.-L. Zhan, J.-X. Xu, and X. Y. Zhang, “Low-loss reconfigurable power divider with arbitrary operating channels using switchable K inverters for antenna feeding network applications,” IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Techn., vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 1789–1796, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1109/tmtt.2022.3142171.Search in Google Scholar
© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
