Novel Magnitude and Phase Reconfigurable 1x4 RF Power Distribution Network

This article presents a new circuit topology for a highly reconfigurable 1 × 4 radio frequency network that, for a given input, is able to modify magnitude and phase relations among its output signals with great flexibility while preserving matching at all ports. The circuit, based on a four-way power divider, four hybrid couplers, and eight variable phase shifters, is first theoretically analyzed. It is shown that magnitude and phase relations among signals at the output ports can be modified just by changing the state of the variable phase shifters, while the sum of the squared magnitude of the transmission coefficients of the network is always equal to one. For the specific purpose of the experimental validation of the developed theory, a particular version of the network, working at 3.6 GHz, is then designed and tested. All configurations are affected by the same insertion loss, depending on the adopted phase-shifting technology. The obtained results show the potential of the conceived circuit and testify its unprecedented degree of reconfigurability.