Radio frequency splitter

1. A multichannel splitter comprising a plurality of 1 to 2 splitters, wherein:

an input terminal of a first 1 to 2 splitter defines an input of the multichannel splitter;

the 1 to 2 splitters are electrically series-connected;

first respective outputs of the 1 to 2 splitters define output terminals of the multichannel splitter; and

wherein each 1 to 2 splitter comprises:

a first λ/4 line having a first end and a second end;

a second λ/4 line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first λ/4 line and the first end of the second λ/4 line are connected together and form an input of the 1 to 2 splitter; and

an impedance connected between the second end of the first λ/4 line and the second end of the second λ/4 line, wherein the second end of the first λ/4 line forms a first output of the 1 to 2 splitter and wherein the second end of the second λ/4 line forms a second output of the 2 to 1 splitter.

2. The splitter of claim 1 , wherein an amplifier of fixed gain is interposed between a second output of each 1 to 2 splitter and an input terminal of the 1 to 2 splitter of next rank.

3. The splitter of claim 2 , wherein the fixed gain is about 3 dB.

4. The splitter of claim 2 , wherein the number of 1 to 2 splitters and of amplifiers is equal to the number of channels minus one, the output of the amplifier of the penultimate channel defining a last output terminal.

5. The splitter of claim 1 , wherein the number of 1 to 2 splitters is equal to the number of channels.

6. A radio frequency system comprising:

an input circuit configured to receive a baseband signal and to provide a signal to be transmitted;

a multichannel splitter coupled to receive the signal to be transmitted, the multichannel splitter comprising a plurality of output terminals; and

a transmit circuit having a plurality of input terminals coupled to the output terminals of the multichannel splitter and also having a plurality of output terminals coupled a plurality of antenna nodes;

wherein the multichannel splitter comprises a plurality of 1 to 2 splitters;

wherein an input terminal of a first 1 to 2 splitter defines an input of the multichannel splitter and is coupled to receive the signal to be transmitted;

wherein the 1 to 2 splitters are electrically series-connected;

wherein first respective outputs of the 1 to 2 splitters define the output terminals of the multichannel splitter;

wherein each 1 to 2 splitter comprises:

a first λ/4 line having a first end and a second end;

a second λ/4 line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first λ/4 line and the first end of the second λ/4 line are connected together and form an input of the 1 to 2 splitter; and

an impedance connected between the second end of the first λ/4 line and the second end of the second λ/4 line, wherein the second end of the first λ/4 line forms a first output of the 1 to 2 splitter and wherein the second end of the second λ/4 line forms a second output of the 2 to 1 splitter.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein, the radio frequency system includes at least three channels, each channel comprising one of the 1 to 2 splitters and each channel coupled to a corresponding antenna node.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein each channel further comprises a 2 to 1 combiner, combiners of different channels being electrically series-connected.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the series-connected 2 to 1 combiners form a multichannel combiner, wherein:

an output terminal of a last 2 to 1 combiner defines an output of the multichannel combiner; and

first respective inputs of the 2 to 1 combiners define input terminals of the multichannel combiner.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

an output terminal of a first 2 to 1 combiner defines an input of the next 2 to 1 combiner in the series; and

an output terminal of a second next 2 to 1 combiner defines an input of the last 2 to 1 combiner in the series.

11. The system of claim 6 , further comprising at least three antennas, the at least three antenna forming an antenna array, each antenna being coupled to a corresponding antenna node.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the input circuit comprises:

a digital to analog converter coupled to receive baseband signal; and

a modulator with an input coupled to an output of the digital to analog converter and an output coupled to the multichannel splitter.

13. The system of claim 6 , wherein the transmit circuit comprises:

a plurality of phase shift amplifiers, each phase shift amplifier having an input terminal coupled to a corresponding one of the output terminals of the multichannel splitter; and

a plurality of power amplifiers, each power amplifier having an input coupled to an output of a corresponding phase shift amplifier and also having an output coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of antenna nodes.

14. A system comprising:

an electronic transmit circuit having a receive input and a transmit output;

a digital to analog converter with an input coupled to the transmit output of the electronic transmit circuit;

an analog to digital converter with an output coupled to the received input of the electronic transmit circuit;

a first modulation circuit with an input coupled to an output of the digital to analog converter;

a second modulation circuit with an output coupled to an input of the analog to digital converter;

a multichannel splitter with an input coupled to an output of the first modulation circuit, the multichannel splitter also having a plurality of outputs;

a first plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier having an input coupled to a corresponding output of the multichannel splitter;

a multichannel combiner with an output coupled to an input of the second modulation circuit, the multichannel combiner also having a plurality of inputs; and

a second plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier having an output coupled to a corresponding input of the multichannel combiner;

wherein the multichannel splitter comprises a plurality of 1 to 2 splitters;

wherein an input terminal of a first 1 to 2 splitter defines an input of the multichannel splitter and is coupled to the output of the first modulation circuit;

wherein the 1 to 2 splitters are electrically series-connected;

wherein first respective outputs of the 1 to 2 splitters define the outputs of the multichannel splitter;

wherein each 1 to 2 splitter comprises:

a first λ/4 line having a first end and a second end;

a second λ/4 line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first λ/4 line and the first end of the second λ/4 line are connected together and form an input of the 1 to 2 splitter; and

an impedance connected between the second end of the first λ/4 line and the second end of the second λ/4 line; and

wherein the second end of the first λ/4 line forms a first output of the 1 to 2 splitter and wherein the second end of the second λ/4 line forms a second output of the 2 to 1 splitter.

15. The system of claim 14 ,

wherein the multichannel combiner comprises a plurality of 1 to 2 combiners;

wherein an input terminal of a first 1 to 2 combiner defines an input of the multichannel combiner and is coupled to the input of the second modulation circuit;

wherein the 1 to 2 combiners are electrically series-connected;

wherein first respective inputs of the 1 to 2 combiners define the inputs of the multichannel combiner;

wherein each 1 to 2 combiner comprises:

a first λ/4 line having a first end and a second end;

a second λ/4 line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first λ/4 line and the first end of the second λ/ 4 line are connected together and form an input of the 1 to 2 combiner; and

an impedance connected between the second end of the first λ/4 line and the second end of the second λ/4 line, wherein the second end of the first λ/4 line forms a first output of the 1 to 2 combiner and wherein the second end of the second λ/4 line forms a second output of the 2 to 1 combiner.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein each amplifier of the first plurality of amplifiers comprises a power amplifier.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of phase shifters, each phase shifter coupled between an output of the multichannel splitter and an input of a power amplifier.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein each amplifier of the second plurality of amplifiers comprises a low noise amplifier.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of phase shifters, each phase shifter coupled between an input of the multichannel combiner and an output of a low noise amplifier.

20. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of antennas, each antenna coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the first plurality of amplifiers and to an input of a corresponding one of the second plurality of amplifiers.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the is configured to process a baseband signal.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the baseband signal is a differential signal.

23. A multichannel combiner comprising:

a plurality of 1 to 2 combiners;

wherein an output terminal of a first 1 to 2 combiner defines an output of the combiner;

wherein each 1 to 2 combiner is electrically series-connected with another 1 to 2 combiner;

wherein first respective inputs of the 1 to 2 combiners define the inputs of the combiner;

wherein each 1 to 2 combiner comprises:

a first λ/4 line having a first end and a second end;

a second λ/4 line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first λ/4 line and the first end of the second λ/4 line are connected together and form an input of the 1 to 2 combiner;

an impedance connected between the second end of the first λ/4 line and the second end of the second λ/4 line; and

wherein the second end of the first λ/4 line forms a first output of the 1 to 2 combiner and wherein the second end of the second λ/4 line forms a second output of the 2 to 1 combiner.

24. The multichannel combiner of claim 23 , wherein an amplifier of fixed gain is interposed between an output terminal of each 1 to 2 combiner and a second input terminal of the 1 to 2 combiner of next rank.

25. The multichannel combiner of claim 24 , wherein the fixed gain is about 3 dB.

26. The multichannel combiner of claim 23 , wherein the number of 1 to 2 splitters is equal to a number of channels of the multichannel combiner.

27. The multichannel combiner of claim 23 , wherein the number of 1 to 2 splitters and of amplifiers is equal to a number of channels of the multichannel combiner minus one.