Essential Guide to RF and Wireless, The

DIVIDERS AND COMBINERS

Block Diagram

Figure 4-11. Block diagram of a two-way power divider.

The Divider's and Combiner's Function

Dividers divide. Visually, a signal goes cruising down path N (see Figure 4-11) and half the signal's power goes down path A, while the other half goes down path B. The signal gets divided in half. Its shape stays the same, but the power is reduced. Dividers are also referred to as power dividers.

Dividers can divide by numbers other than two. A four-way power divider has paths C and D and one quarter of the original signal's power goes down each path. Dividers always divide the input signal equally among all of ...