# Combining Radio Signals Efficiently with Special Wires > MIT's 2015 patent describes a clever way to combine multiple radio signals using specific lengths of transmission lines to boost power efficiently and linearly. - **Patent:** US 9141832 - **Original title:** Multiway lossless power combining and outphasing incorporating transmission lines - **Owner:** Massachusetts Institute of Technology - **Granted:** 2015 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 11 - **Field:** telecommunications, consumer_electronics, semiconductors ## What it does This patent details a system for combining radio frequency (RF) signals from multiple input ports into a single output port. It uses specially designed transmission lines, which are like wires that carry electrical signals. The key is that these transmission lines have precise lengths, specifically a quarter wavelength plus or minus a small, non-zero length (ΔL), or a half wavelength plus or minus a delta length. These lengths are arranged in a specific configuration, often a binary tree, to combine the signals. This method aims to amplify the combined signal linearly (without distortion) over a wide range of power levels and frequencies, while maintaining high efficiency. For example, Claim 7 describes a four-way combiner with two stages, where each signal path uses transmission lines with lengths of one-half wavelength plus or minus a specific delta length. ## What it does NOT cover - Combining systems that use transmission lines with lengths that are exact multiples of a quarter or half wavelength without any delta length. - Power combining systems that are not designed for radio frequencies. - Systems that do not use a binary tree configuration for combining signals (as specified in Claim 2). - Combiners where the transmission line segments are not coupled to at least one other transmission line segment. - Methods that do not achieve both wide-bandwidth linear amplification and high average efficiency simultaneously. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in using transmission lines with precisely controlled, non-integer lengths (quarter or half wavelength plus/minus a delta) in a specific network structure. This precise tuning allows for efficient power combination while maintaining signal linearity and high efficiency across varying power outputs, something difficult to achieve with simpler combining methods. ## Real-world examples 1. High-power radio transmitters 2. Radar systems 3. Advanced wireless communication base stations 4. RF power amplifier modules ## Why it matters Efficiently combining radio signals is crucial for many modern communication systems, especially those requiring high power and wide bandwidth, like radar and advanced wireless transmitters. This patent offers a specific architectural approach to achieve this, aiming to improve both performance and energy usage in RF power amplifiers. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Combining Radio Signals Efficiently with Special Wires cover? MIT's 2015 patent describes a clever way to combine multiple radio signals using specific lengths of transmission lines to boost power efficiently and linearly. ### Who owns patent US 9141832? Massachusetts Institute of Technology owns this patent, granted in 2015. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on March 15, 2033, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 9141832 cited by? This patent has been cited by 11 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? Efficiently combining radio signals is crucial for many modern communication systems, especially those requiring high power and wide bandwidth, like radar and advanced wireless transmitters. This patent offers a specific architectural approach to achieve this, aiming to improve both performance and energy usage in RF power amplifiers. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Combining systems that use transmission lines with lengths that are exact multiples of a quarter or half wavelength without any delta length. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9141832/multiway-lossless-power-combining-and-outphasing-incorporating-transmission-line **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US9141832 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Make Radio Amplifiers More Efficient](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8269555/efficient-linear-linc-power-amplifier) — This patent describes a method for tuning radio frequency power amplifiers to boost their efficiency and maintain a stable signal phase, especially when handling signals with changing loudness and direction. - [Designing Electronic Networks for Efficient Power Amplification](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6552634/wideband-minimum-rating-filters-and-multicouplers-for-power-amplifiers) — This patent describes how to design electronic networks that allow power amplifiers to work efficiently over a wide range of frequencies without overheating or failing. - [How Wireless Radios Automatically Adjust to Avoid Signal Overload](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12255678/falcon-1) — A method for wireless devices to automatically rearrange their internal signal-processing components when incoming radio signals are too strong and threaten to overwhelm the hardware. - [How Smartphones Calibrate Their Radio Power Across Different Temperatures](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8831529/airplay-wireless-streaming) — A method for testing and calibrating a phone's wireless radio performance in a temperature-controlled chamber to ensure it stays accurate as the device heats up or cools down. - [How Marconi Patented Early Wireless Telegraphy Signals](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/586193/radio-wireless-marconi) — Guglielmo Marconi's 1897 patent for sending electrical signals through the air to enable early wireless communication.