Wilkinson Power Dividers
A Wilkinson Power Divider is a passive electronic device that splits an input signal into two or more equal or unequal output signals. These dividers are commonly used in RF and microwave applications to divide signals into multiple paths while maintaining good impedance matching and isolation between the output ports.
The design of the Wilkinson power splitter/combiner typically uses the transmission line (microstrip or stripline) at microwave frequencies. It is also possible to make this divider by using coaxial cable or other forms of the transmission line, even by using lumped circuit elements. This divider can be designed in 2-way, 3-way… N-way power divider.
Wilkinson power divider can be used as a power combiner to combine multiple input signals into a single output by interchanging input and output ports (i.e., applying input power in opposite directions). This divider provides better isolation between the output ports when compared to the T-Junction power divider.
The Wilkinson power divider is ideal for use in narrow and broad bandwidth applications that include test & measurement, commercial communications, SATCOM, military communications, antenna array feed networks, and wireless communication.
Key Parameters of Wilkinson Power Dividers:
- Operating Frequency: This is the frequency range at which a power divider is fully functional or performs best.
- Insertion Loss (dB): It is the loss in the transmitted signal power due to the insertion of a device in a transmission line.
- Configuration: The number of ways the input signal is split by the power divider (2 Way, 3 Way, 4 Way....N Way).
- Power Handling (W): The level of input RF power that the device can handle while maintaining its electrical characteristics.
- Isolation (dB): This is the output port-to-port isolation. The higher the isolation, the better.
- Amplitude and Phase Balance: Amplitude balance is a measure of how evenly the power is split between the outputs of an n-way power divider. Phase balance is a measure of the differential phase shift between the output signals of the power divider.
- Impedance: Power Dividers are usually available in 50 Ohm and 75 Ohm configurations.
- Package Type: Power Dividers are available in several packaging options. Some package types include - Modules with Connectors, Surface Mounts, Plug-In, Flat Packs, and Drop-In. Modules with connectors have multiple options like SMA, N-Type, K-Type, BNC, TNC, etc.
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