Abstract: An embodiment of a plasma ignition system for an internal combustion engine having up to N cylinders includes a power splitter, N phase shifters, N amplifiers, a power combiner network, and up to N radiation devices. The power splitter divides an input RF signal into N divided RF signals. Each phase shifter applies one of multiple pre-determined phase shifts to one of the N divided RF signals to produce N phase shifted RF signals. The N amplifiers amplify the N phase shifted RF signals to produce N amplified, phase shifted RF signals. The power combiner network combines the N amplified, phase shifted RF signals to produce N output RF signals. Each of the radiation devices receives one of the N output RF signals, and produces a plasma discharge when a power level of the output RF signal is sufficiently high.

Abstract: An embodiment of a microwave power generation module includes an amplifier arrangement, an impedance matching element, and a resonant element. The amplifier arrangement includes a transistor with a transistor input and a transistor output. The impedance matching element is formed from a planar conductive structure. The planar conductive structure has a proximal end and a distal end, and the proximal end is electrically coupled to the transistor output. The resonant element has a proximal end electrically coupled to the distal end of the planar conductive structure, and the resonant element is configured to radiate electromagnetic energy having a microwave frequency in a range of 800 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). A combination of the impedance matching element and the resonant element is configured to perform an impedance transformation between an impedance of the transistor and an impedance of an air cavity.

Abstract: An embodiment of a plasma ignition system for an internal combustion engine having up to N cylinders includes a power splitter, N phase shifters, N amplifiers, a power combiner network, and up to N radiation devices. The power splitter divides an input RF signal into N divided RF signals. Each phase shifter applies one of multiple pre-determined phase shifts to one of the N divided RF signals to produce N phase shifted RF signals. The N amplifiers amplify the N phase shifted RF signals to produce N amplified, phase shifted RF signals. The power combiner network combines the N amplified, phase shifted RF signals to produce N output RF signals. Each of the radiation devices receives one of the N output RF signals, and produces a plasma discharge when a power level of the output RF signal is sufficiently high.

Abstract: A test unit for testing the frequency characteristics of one or more components of a transmitter of modulated signals. The test unit includes a data source for generating a test pattern of data. A test unit output is connected to the data source and connectable to an input of one or more of the components, for inputting the test pattern of data to the one or more components. The test unit includes a memory in which a first predetermined data sequence and a second predetermined data sequence are stored. The data source is connected with an data input to the memory, and the data source is arranged to generating the test pattern of data including the predetermined data sequences.

Abstract: A test unit for testing the frequency characteristics of one or more components of a transmitter of modulated signals. The test unit includes a data source for generating a test pattern of data. A test unit output is connected to the data source and connectable to an input of one or more of the components, for inputting the test pattern of data to the one or more components. The test unit includes a memory in which a first predetermined data sequence and a second predetermined data sequence are stored. The data source is connected with an data input to the memory, and the data source is arranged to generating the test pattern of data including the predetermined data sequences.