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A Practical Approach to a
Compact, Wide-Band SMT
Directional Coupler
By Robert Torsiello and Kham Sanvoravong
Florida RF Labs/EMC Technology
T
o date, directional
Here is a useful approach couplers operating
to improving the bandwidth below 100 MHz are
of directional couplers that most easily implemented
use the coupled-line using a lumped-element
method of construction approach. While the
lumped element imple-
mentation has appeal for specific applications,
there are some drawbacks. The most notable
drawbacks are reduced power handling and
temperature sensitivity. As future require- Figure 1 · The basic coupled-line direction-
ments evolve, these drawbacks can leave the al coupler
lumped element coupler a step behind.
If designed properly, coupled line direction-
al couplers can address these shortcomings. A method to “right-size” a low-frequency (<1
traditional coupled line directional coupler GHz) coupler in a pick and place, surface
requires two transmission lines in close prox- mount package. Although not discussed in this
imity to one another to achieve desired cou- paper, this method can also be used at higher
pling at the center frequency. The transmis- frequencies to increase the usable coupler
sion line length is typically a quarter wave- bandwidth. It is assumed the reader has basic
length. Figure 1 is a common schematic repre- understanding of coupled line theory. For more
sentation of a coupled line directional coupler. information on coupler theory, the reader is
The coupling factor is a function of the line encouraged to study a reference text such as
impedances, separation “s” and transmission Microwave Engineering by David Pozar.
line length “L.” In the 100 MHz to 500 MHz band, Figure 2
The single drawback of a distributed back- and Figure 3 describe the effect of coupling
ward wave directional coupler is the “quarter- section length on coupler performance. This
wave syndrome.” This occurs when the operat- specific example is a thick-film, symmetrical,
ing frequency is low, causing the physical edge-coupled directional coupler printed on
component size to approach the size of a fin- 0.025" Alumina. The line lengths in the legend
ished PCB. For example, a 30 MHz quarter are referenced to a fraction of a wavelength at
wavelength microstrip transmission line on the center frequency of 300 MHz (λ ~38 cm).
Alumina is roughly 1 meter! Not only is this Predictably, as the line length increases, the
quite large (and not surface mountable), but mean coupling increases and wide-band direc-
this transmission line section would introduce tivity degrades. As the line length increases,
approximately 1.0 dB of insertion loss. With the coupling response becomes more flat until
an input of 100 W, more than 20 W would be the length approaches a quarter wavelength
dissipated in the coupler! at center frequency where the coupling
The intent of this paper is to describe a response is optimized (see Fig. 2). This family
Figure 2 · Coupling vs. coupled line length. Figure 3 · Directivity vs. coupled line length.
of curves was generated by simulat- The equalizing network can take ity and insertion loss <0.5 dB.
ing a parametric sweep of the cou- on many shapes. The goal of the Refer to the set of curves in Figure
pling section length “L” using a 2- equalizer is to provide the inverse 2. The λ/4 and λ/6 coupling sections
1/2D EM solver. This simulation data frequency response to that of the cou- have a stand alone directivity that is
correlates well with measured data. pler frequency response. To synthe- below the design requirements, so
For narrow-band applications, the size the equalizing network, H(f), the these line lengths will not meet the
family of curves in Figure 2 may not coupled response must be character- goals. The remaining lengths are λ/8
pose a problem; however, applications ized and deterministic. This is best and λ/10. In order to minimize space,
utilizing wider bandwidths will accomplished through characterizing we must choose the shortest section
require a flatter coupling response. the stand-alone coupler using a VNA, possible. Therefore, this example will
however, this may not be the most continue using the λ/10 section. PCB
Design Method practical approach. With some care, space is a critical requirement for
To compensated the undesirable the coupler frequency response can this design, so a first order response
coupling flatness of the coupled port, be can be characterized with EM will be synthesized to minimize com-
a frequency selective circuit, such as modeling. ponent count. Practically speaking a
a filter or equalizer, can be cascaded To demonstrate this method, let’s higher order equalizer (n > 1) to rep-
with both the coupled port and isolat- set realistic coupler design targets for resent an inverse function may be
ed port. Figure 4 below is a block dia- the 100 to 500 MHz band. Assume required which will require a slightly
gram of the concept. For this case, the PCB layout constraints require more complex equalizer synthesis.
both equalizer frequency responses the solution to occupy as little board The exact equalizer requirement is
are identical to maintain coupler space as possible, including peripher- dictated by the maximum allowable
symmetry. This permits the compen- al components. Also, the circuit error and board space to accommo-
sated coupler to be used in a bi-direc- design requires the coupling to be date supporting components.
tional application. –32 ±2.5dB, at least 13 dB of directiv- Figure 5 is a plot of a 1/10 wave-
Figure 4 · Coupler diagram showing the additional Figure 5 · The λ/10 line coupling response and nearest
equalizer sections. straight line.
Figure 7 · Calculation of final response by addition of Figure 8 · Insertion loss and directivity performance of
coupler and compensation circuit responses. the final compensated design.