IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES, VOL. MTT-14, NO.

7, JULY, 1966 337

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[16] R. D. Gallagher, “A microwave tunnel diode amplifier, ” .lficro..
[1] A. C. LIacpherson, ‘[The center-frequency properties of negative- wave ~., vol. 8, pp. 62–68, February 1965.
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CT-11, pp. 136-145, Llarch 1964. 1961 IRE Intemat’1 Cont. Rec., pt. .3, vol. 9, pp. 64–74, l\Iarch
[2] R. D, Hall, '' NIicrowave tunnel diode devices, ''Sylvania Electric 1961
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[3] R. M. Aron, “Bandwidth limitations and synthesis procedures [19] J. Halmasaki, “A low-noise and wide-band Esaki chode amplifier
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Rept. 15, August 1960. vol. MTT-13, pp. 213–223, March 1965.
[+] L. I. Smilen, “Atheoryf orbroadbandt unnel diode amplifiers,” [20] 1. W. Bandler, “Stabilitv and gain Prediction of micr(jl~,ave
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[5] E. S. Kuh and J. D. Patterson, “Design theory of optimum 1965.
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Calif., Tech. Rept. 213-2, August 1962. January 1964.
[7] tV. J. Getsinger, “Prototypesf oruseinb roadbanding reflection [23] C. E. Fay and R. L. Comstock, “Operation of the ferrite juz)ction
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[8] J. O. Scaukm and J. T. Lim, “A design theory for optimum [24] L. ~. Anderson, “Broadband circulators for negative resistance
broadband reflection amplifiers, ” IEEE Tram. on Microwave amplifiers, ” presented at Internat’1 Conf. at the Microwave Be-
Theory and Techniques, vol. MTT-12, pp. 50&511, September havior of Ferrimagnetics and Plasmas, London, England,
1961. September 1965.
[9] R. L. Kyhl, R. A.h’fcFarlane, and M.tl’, P. Strandberg, “Nega- [25] H. W. Bode, Network Analysis and Feedback A iilpli$er Desizn.
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[10] Itr. H. Ku, ‘[.L broad-banding theory for varactor parametric of arbitrary impedances, ” J. Franklin Inst., vol. 249, pp. 57-8$
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CT-11, pp. 50-66, March 1964. [27] B. K. Kiuariwala, “Realizatiozl of broadband matching net-
[11] J. O. Scanlanand J. T. Lim, “Thee ffectofpa rasiticelementson works for arbitrary impedances, ” Electronic Research Labora-
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[j’2] E. W. Sard, “Analysis of a negative conductance amplifier June 1961.
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LT. K., Tech. Note 2322, May 1962. matching networks, filters and interstages, ” P~oc. IEE
[14]D. W. MacGlashan, “New tunnel diode preamplifier improves (Lzwrdon), vol. 111, pp. 1099-1106, June 1964.
phased array radar,” Electronics, vol. 35, pp. 57–.59, September [31] G. L. Matthaei, L. Young, and E. M. T. Jones, Micvowaue
--,
?8 1967., --- Filters, Impedance Matchin~ Networks and Coupling Stractares.
[15] J. H. Lepoff, “Howtod esignstable,b roadbandt damplifiers,” New York: McGraw-Hill, 1964.

Coupled~Transmission~Line Directional Couplers with

Coupled Lines of Unequal Characteristic Impedances

ED WARD G. CRISTAL, SENIOR MEMBER, IEEE

Absfracf—A new class of coupled-transmission-line directional ante level of the coupled waves, which may be changed to higher or
couplers, called “nonsymmetrical directional couplers, ” is described. lower impedance levels than that of the incident wave. These direc-
Unlike conventional directional couplers, nonsymmetrical directional tional couplers may be designed to have infinite directivity an(i to be
couplers use coupled lines of unequal characteristic impedances. The matched at all frequencies, or they may be designed to have infinite
principal difference between the performance of nonsymmetrical directivity at all frequencies and a specified maximum VSWR.
directional couplers and that of conventional designs is the imped- Coupling relationships and design equations for lboth cases are
presented, and the relative properties of both cases are discussed.
The theoretical limitation on the maximum coupling and the maxi-
Manrrscript received hIarch 1, 1966; revised April 3, 1966. The mum impedance transformation that can be obtained simultaneously
work reported in this paper was supported in part by the U. S. Army are derived. Techniques for broadbanding by cascading additional
Electronics Command Laboratories, Fort LIonmouth, N. J., under
sections of coupled limes are described. Experimental results of a
Contract DA 28-043 AM C-01271 (E).
The author is with Stanford Research Institute, Menlo Park, trial — 10-dB coupler with coupled lines of 50 and 75 ohms are
Calif. presented.
338 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES JULY

lNTRODUCTION to-end geometrical symmetry, the conclusions and de-

sign equations presented herein only require that the
N THE PAST, coupled-transmission-line direc-
structure have end-to-end electrical symmetry. While
tional couplers have been designed with coupled
I nonsymmetrical directional couplers may be realized
lines of equal characteristic impedances [1]- [6].
These couplers are used in many applications: power in many configurations that satisfy these conditions, the

samplers, reflectorneters, directional detectors, direc- electrical characteristics are independent of the physical

tional filters, and multiplexer are several. In this paper configuration. The admittance matrix corresponding to
a new class of coupled-transmission-line directional the voltage and current coordinates of Fig. 1 is [8 ]1

Y..” + JToe” 1 Y..” – Y..” 1 Yoo” – Y..” 41 – St Yoo” + Y..” til – S2

I’.ob –
2
Voeb
.—

1
s
.

Yoob +
2
Yo.b
.—

1
s

Yoob +
2“s–

Y.eb dl – S2 Yoob –
2“s

Y.eb 41 – S2
1

1
.— .— —
2 s 2 s 2“s 2 s
(1)
Y*ob – Y.eb <1 – S2 Y.ob + Y.eb /1 – S2 Yoob + Y.eb 1 YOO~_ yOeb 1
— .— —
2 .s 2“s 2 s 2 s

Y..” + Yoe” <1 – S2 Y..” – Y.,” <1 – S2 Y..” – Y..” 1 Yoo” + Y.,” 1
— . .—
2 s 2“s 2 s 2 s

couplers, called nonsymmetrical directional couplers, where s = tanh yL, y being the complex propagation
is described. In contrast to conventional directional constant and L the length of the coupled section. In the
couplers, nonsymrnetrical directional couplers use cou- important case of lossless lines, s =j tan 0, where 6 is the
pled lines of unequal characteristic impedances. The electrical length of the coupled sections, and j = <– 1.
principal difference between the performance of non-
Y.,” is the admittance measured at Port 1 for an in-
symmetrical directional couplers and that of conven-
finite section of coupled lines excited in the even
tional directional couplers is the impedance level of the
mode with voltage sources at Ports 1 and 2.
coupled waves, which may be changed to higher or
Y.o” is the admittance measured at Port 1 for an
lower impedance levels than that of the incident wave.
infinite section of coupled lines excited in the odd
Nonsymmetrical directional couplers, therefore, act as mode with voltage sources at Ports 1 and 2.
conventional directional couplers combined with im- yo> is the admittance measured at Port 2 for an in-
pedance transformers at the two ports of one of the
finite section of coupled lines excited in the even
transmission lines. Thus, nonsymmetrical directional
mode with voltage sources at Ports 1 and 2.
couplers should prove useful in applications calling for yOob is the admittance measured at Port 2 for an in-
directional coupling and impedance transforming in
finite section of coupled lines excited in the odd
combination, since these functions can be accomplished
mode with voltage sources at Ports 1 and 2.
in a single device. For example, a practical application
for which the new device may prove useful is in direc- The following notation simplifies the design equations
tional detectors [7], wherein the diode detector might presented later and is therefore adopted:

be better matched in a line of different impedance from

Yoo” + Y.,”
that of the main line. A= (2)
The nomenclature nonsymmetrical directional coupler 2
pertains to the side-by-side asymmetry of the direc- yOOb + yOeb
tional coupler. It should not be confused with cascaded B= (3)
2
asymmetrical [4] or cascaded symmetrical [5], [6]
directional couplers, which use coupled lines of equal yOOb _ yOeb
~ = Y..” – Ye,”
characteristic impedances and have end-to-end asym- (4)
2= 2“
metry or symmetry, respectively.
Figure 1 shows the nonsymmetrical coupled-trans- G. and G6 are the terminating admittances of lines a
mission-line directional coupler in diagrammatical form, and b, respectively.
and it also specifies voltage and current coordinates In the derivations and equations that follow, excita-
used throughout this paper for such couplers. The tion at Port 1 has been assumed. However, had excita-
structure in the figure is to be regarded as two uniformly tion at Port 2 been assumed, the results could be made
coupled transmission lines of unequal characteristic
impedances that have equal propagation constants in
balanced (odd-mode) and unbalanced (even-mode) i B. M. Schiffman pointed out that the Y-matrix given in C)zaki
and Ishii [8] is incorrect with respect to the signs of its entries;
excitation [1 ]. Although the structure shown has end- the correct matrix is given by (l).
1966 CRISTAL: COUPLED-TRANSMISSION-LINE DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS 339

nonsymmetrical directional coupler may halve infi nite

directivity without being matched. (This conclusion
may also be established using the scattering matrix for
a directional coupler [9].)
Additional consequences of these conditions are de-
scribed later in the section in which design equations for
mismatched directional couplers having infinite d irec-
tivity are presented.
Fig. 1. NonsYmmetrical couPled . transmission - line directional Equations (7) and (8) may be solved for G. ancl (%,
coupler with coupled lines of unequal characteristic impedances.
giving

to carry over directly by an interchange of G. and Gb (9)

and an interchange of A and B. All formulas presented
in the following sections were obtained by operating on
the admittance matrix of (I) directly. The resulting (lo)
formulas are thus exact for all values (of coupling.

CONDITION FOR INFINITE DIItECTIVITY Note that the right sides of (9) and (10) are real
positive numbers for all physically realizable values of
The directivity of a directional coupler may be de-
A, B, and D. Therefore, the right side of (9) and (10)
fined as follows. Let each transmission line of the cou-
may be interpreted as the characteristic admittances of
pler be terminated in its respective load admittance at
lines a and b in the presence of each other.
Ports 2, 3, and 4. Let a signal be incident at Port 1. The
directivity in decibels is given by
VOLTAGE AND POWER COUPLING RELATIONSHIP!;

(5) By procedures similar to those discussed in Ap-

IV31
pendixes I and II, the transfer ratio vz/il in the lomless
Thus the condition for infinite directivity is that Va be case is found to be
equal to zero.
V2 jk tan O 1
A method of solving for the directivity is given in — —_ (11)
Appendix 1. In the interest of shortening the presenta- i, = VI – k2+jtan0 4GaGi’

tion, only the final result is given here. The condition for
and the coupled power ratio is found to be
infinite directivity is found to be~

P2 kz tan2 8
f&fh = AB – D2. (6) (12)
F. = (1 – k’) + tan’ O‘
There is no other constraint. Note that G. and G~ need
not be real to satisfy (6), although in the remainder of where
this section they are so assumed.

k=~ (13)
CONDITIONS FOR IMPEDANCE IMATCHING
‘/AB
.4 method of determining the conditions for im-
is the square root of the power coupling coe Fficient, and
pedance matching is given in Appendix II; again, only
P. is the available power at Port 1 from a current source
the final results are presented here. There are two condi-
tions for impedance matching. They are of strength I with internal conductance G..
Similarly, it is found that
G. A ,k.
(“/)
n4 1 v’T – k’~1 + tan’ O
—.. — (14)
il G. til-k’+jtanfl ‘
GaGh = AB – D2. (8]
P, (1 – k’)(1 i- tanz 0)
hTotice that the condition for infinite directivity is in- (15)
cluded in the conditions for impedance matching. F. = (1 – k’) -1- tan’ O “
Thus a matched directional coupler must have infinite
From (I 1) and (14) it is seen that m and u, are 90 de-
directivity. The converse, however, need not be so. A
grees out of phase at all frequencies. Comparisons of
z Using a low frequency approximation, Firestone [9] showed that (12) and (15) with the results given in Jones and Boll-
the condition for infinite directivity for coupled open-wire lines is jahn [1] show that the coupled power and bandwidth of
(in our notation) GGG* = Cm/Lm, where Cm and L~ are the mutual
capacitance and inductance per unit length of the coupled lines. nonsymmetrical directional couplers are identical to
It can be shown that this equation and (6) are equivalent, so that in those of conventional directional couplers, pr-ovidecl that
fact the expression originally derived by Firestone for electrically
short couplers is true in general. the coefficients of couplinq in the two cases are the same,
340 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES JULY

DESIGN EQUATIONS

Recall that the coefficient of coupling and the charac-

teristic admittance of the coupled lines are given by

Fig. 2. A type of geometry frequently used in constructing shielded

coupled-transmission-line directional couplers. (The lines a and b
may be of any useful geometrical form, )

It is evident from Fig. 2 and (22) that the electrical

(16)
characteristics of a coupled-transmission-line direc-
tional coupler of the type shown in Fig. 2 are completely
Equation (16) may be solved in conjunction ~vith (2)–
specified when the capacitances C., Cb, and C.b are
(4) to yield
known. The capacitances are related to the even- and
odd-mode admittances by the following relationships:

Yoe” = Vca (23)

G. -+ kdGaGb Y.,b = VC6 (24)

yoo. = (18)
<1 – k’ Yoo” = V(C. + 2Cab) (25)

Gb – kdGaGb Yoob = V(cb + Zcab), (26)

yOeb = (19)
v’I – k’ where v is the velocity of propagation in the medium in
which the waves travel.
(20) Equations (17)–(20) may be solved in conjunction
with (23)–(26) to yield the following convenient dimen-
Equations (17)–(20) are the fundamental equations sionless expressions:
from which nonsymmetrical (or conventional) direc-
tional couplers may be designed from specifications that
c. —
_—
376. ~ G. – k4G.Gb
(27)
give the coupling and terminating admittances. e d -{er <1 – k’ }
The theoretical limitation on the amount of imped- Cb 376. ~ Gb – kv’G@b
— —— (28)
ance transformation and coupling that can be accom-
c ~ -{e, <l – k’ )
plished simultaneously is readily derived from (17) and
(19). In order for YO@aand YO.’ to be positive, it is neces- cab 376.7 k~GmGb
—
— (29)
sarv that e ~ev v’1 –k”

(21) where c is the dielectric constant of the medium in which

the ~~’aves propagate, c, is the relative dielectric con-
Equation (21) may be stated in words: Let the impedance stant of the medium, and 376.7 is the impedance of free
(or admittance) transformation ratio of the di~ectional space, calculated from ~po)eo.
couple~ be taken as larger than 1, Then, the reciprocal of By means of various available data [10]– [12], the
the Power coupling coefficient must be greater than or normalized capacitances given in (2 7)–(29) can be re-
equal to the impedance (OV admittance) transformation lated to physical dimensions of structures, thus per-
ratio. mitting several possible realizations of the couplers to
Thus, for example, a single-section –3.01-d B coupler be made.
has a theoretical limit of impedance transformation
BROADBANDIATG MATCHED NONSYMMETRICAL
ratio of 2 to 1; a single-section — 10-d B coupler has a
DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS
theoretical limit of impedance transformation ratio of
Iotol. Matched nonsymmetrical directional couplers may be
Figure 2 shows in diagrammatical forma general type broad banded, just as conventional directional couplers,
of geometry frequently used in constructing shielded by cascading two or more single-section couplers.
coupled-transmission-line directional couplers. Also Moreover, the existing tables of designs for asymmetri-
shown are the several capacitances associated with the cal and symmetrical multisection couplers [4]– [6] may
coupled lines when operated in the TENI mode. be applied directly to designs for multisection non-
The capacitance matrix associated with Fig. 2 is symmetrical directional couplers by interpreting the

C. + cub – cab
tables of designs in the proper way.

c==
( ‘cab Cb + (& )“ (22) It
couplers
is readily
are
proved
mathematically
that nonsymmetrical
equivalent
directional
to conventional
1966 CRISTAL: COUPLED-TRANSMISSION-LINE DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS 341

directional couplers with transformers connected at ~(l) a 064243 (31)

both ports of one of the coupled lines. To show this, first ~(z) = 0.1450. (32)
rep~ace B by A in (1) so that the matrix now represents
a conventional directional coupler. Next, multiply rows Finally, from (27)–(29), it is determined that the nor-

2 and 3 and columns 2 and 3 by N= ylB/A. This opera- malized capacitances for the two sections are

tion returns the matrix to its original form with D Section 1 Cat’)/c = 5. 438/~~
replaced by ND. Since the preceding mathematical
cb(l)/, = 2. fjfj4/4;
operation is physically equivalent to connecting trans-
formers [14 ] of turns ratio I: ~B/A to Ports 2 and 3 C~~(l)/e = 2. 882/~~ (33)
of the conventional directional coupler, the equivalence
Section 2 Ca(’1/C = 6. 713/d c,
A =A’, N= ~B’/A’, and D = D’/N is established, and
cb(2)/, = 4. 174/4;
the proof is complete. In the immediately preceding
equations the primed symbols refer to the parameters of Cab(2j/E = O. 9018/~-~. (34)
the nonsymmetrical directional coupler, and the un-
primed symbols to those of the conventional directional h’miSmatChed DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS HAVING
coupler. Substitution of the primed and unprimed pa- INFINITE DIRECTIVITY
rameters into (13) shows that the coupling is invariant
The equations presented in previous sections shc,wed
under these operations.
that nonsymmetrical directional couplers may be mis-
On the basis of this result, it can be concluded that the
matched and still have infinite directivity. 1 t has been
mathematical equivalence between stepped impedance
found that there are certain advantages to be obtained
lines and conventional directional couplers [15 ] carries
by purposely designing nonsymmetrical directional
over to nonsymmetrical directional couplers as well. By
couplers to be mismatched: for a given coupling cc)effi-
the same argument, the tables of designs for multisec-
cient, both greater bandwidth and larger maximum
tion conventional directional couplers [4 ]– [6 ] may be
impedance transformation ratio are obtained. These ad-
taken over for designs of rnultisection nonsymmetrical
vantages must, of course, be weighed against the dis-
directional couplers.
advantages of the mismatch. The exact relationships
For multisection nonsymmetrical di rectional couplers
are presented in this section, along with cou]pling equa-
the design method is to cascade nonsymmetrical direc-
tions, design equations, and other data.
tional couplers which, when considered individually,
The condition for infinite directivity as given by (6)
have coupling coefficients corresponding to those in the
was
tables. Because the data of Levy [4], Toulios and Todd
[5], and Cristal and Young [6] are given in terms of GUG6 = AB – D2.
normalized even-mode impedances, the coefficients of
If only this constraint is used, it is found that
coupling may be obtained from the tables by the rela-
tionship V4 Gb~~ -+ tanz 6
— —
— (35)
2002 _ 1
il GaGb + jAGb tan 0
k= (30)
z.., + 1 “ 112 jD tan 6’
—. (36)
In practice, the design procedure is as follows: 1j il GaG6 + iAGb tan O
Choose a suitable design from one of the tables for
By applying the principle of conservation of energy,
multisection couplers; 2) calculate the coupling coeff-
we obtain
icient for each section by means of (30) ; and 3) obtain
the even- and odd-mode admittances by (17)–(20), or I ~~1’ Re (Z;fi) = \ w\2Gb+ I VZI’G(Z. (37)
the capacitances by means of (2 7)–(29). An example
Substituting (35) and (36) and solving for the Re (.Z,n)
will be given to illustrate this procedure.
gives
It is desired to design a – 10-dB directional coupler
to have less than 0.55-dB ripple and to have a 4 to 1 (1 – k’) + tan’ O
G. Re (.Z,n) = (38)
equal-ripple bandwidth. Let it also be assumed that an
(1–k2)+Rtan20’
impedance transformation of 50 to 75 ohms is required.
From Levy’s design tables [4] it is found that a two- where R = A Gb/BG. is the normalized input admittance
section asymmetrical directional coupler meets the re- at Port 1 at O =90 degrees.
quirements. The design obtained from the tables calls From (38), we can readily reconstruct [13] Z,,,(s) as
for one section to haveZO.(lJ/ZO=1.57;!9, and the second follows :
section to have ZO,,fzJ/ZO = 1.1573, where the superscript
indicates the section number. The coefficient of coupling
v’1 – kz + (1/v’R)s
GaZ,n(s) = — (39)
of each section is then computed from (30), giving ~1–k’+~~s ‘
342 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES JULY

Lastly, from (35), (36), and (39), the power coupling P’/Pa will be 3 dB down from its maximum value when
ratios and reflected power ratio are obtained:
6W2 1
k2 tan’
(50)
P2 0
1+(3M’= Z-”
(40)
x=
(1 – k’) + ‘R:R1)2 tanz e Solving (50) gives

~’ = &l/2 (51)
P4 (1 – k’) (1 + tan’0)
(41) Therefore,
F. =
(, - k,)+ ‘R+ 1)2 ,an,~
4R
24Ymm
R–~2 os d, = tan-’ <l – ka (52)
tanz O { ?’max+ 1} ‘
P. () 24E
(42) where 93 dE is the angle satisfying (50).
T. = Note that for a given k, & dB is a monotonic decreas-
(1 – k’) + ‘R ~R1)2 tan’ ~
ing function of r~.., and is a maximum for r~sx = 1.
Since the 3-dB bandwidths are given by formula
From (42) it is found that

r~a. = (vswr)~.. (53)

= R or ~ (whichever is greater than 1) (43) it is readily demonstrated that the 3-d B bandwidths of
nonsym metrical directional couplers are always in-
creased by designing the couplers to be mismatched.
and that r~~~ occurs at O = 90 degrees.
However, for weak coupling (kz <0. 1) and rm,x <2, the
It is worth pointing out several conclusions that may
increase in 3-d B bandwidth is Iess than 3.8 percent;
be drawn from the previous expressions. First, dividing
and for larger values of k, the percentage increase in
(36) by (35) gives
bandwidth is less. For k =0.707 ( –3.01-dB coupling for
v’ jD sin O matched couplers) and r~ax = 2, the increase in band-
—. (44)
V4 (% width is onlv 2.9 percent. The fractional bandwidth3
versus r~.X for several values of coupling is shown in
Thus v, and V4 are 90 degrees out of phase for all fre- Fig. 3.
quencies.
Second, the ratio of Pt to Pd is

(45)

which shows that the ratio of the power split between

Ports 2 and 4 is independent of the amount of mismatch.
Third, from (39) it can be shown that

Yin(s)
{G.Z,.(S)}W I = ~ . (46) VSWR
{} Port 2
Fig. 3. Fractional bandwidth vs. maximum VSWR
for nonsymmetrical directional couplers.
Thus the reflection coefficients at Ports 1 and 2 are
negatives of each other.
Fourth, the ratio of PJP. to (PJPJ~~~ is given by DESIGN EQUATIONS FOR IVIISMATCHED
NONSYMMETRICAL DIRECTIONAL
(P2/Pa) = m’ COUPLERS
(47)
(p2/pa)m.x 1 + (%4’ Recall that R as defined by (38) is the normalized
input admittance at Port 1 when 0 = 90°, and is also the
where
maximum VSWR or its reciprocal of the directional
tan O coupler. Therefore, in the design equations below, R
~= (48)
<1 – h’
3 The fractional-bandwidth w, is defined as
(rmax+ 1)’
~. (49)
4Ym.x “ “=’{%+[
 1966 CRISTAL: COUPLED-TRANSMISSION-LINE DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS 343

should be chosen equal to the maximum VSWR (or its tively, was constructed and tested. From (27)–(29) it
reciprocal) permitted by the design specifications. was determined that
Either of the choices for the value of R will result in the
CJE = 5.891 (62)
same power relationships for the directional coupler.
However, it generally will be easier to :realize the coupler CJe = 3.244 (63)

physically for one of the two choices. The design equa- CJt = 2.050, (64)
tions for mismatched nonsymmetrica.1 directional cou-
where the subscripts 1 and 2 refer to the 50- a,nd 75-ohm
plers are as follows:
lines, respectively.
~ ~ _ ~R Ga – k4GaGb It was decided to construct the coupler using shielded
0, (54)
~1 – k’i coupled rectangular bars. Using the data of Getsinger
[10], the following dimensions were determined.
~ ~ _ ~~ G. + k~GaGb
00 — (55) t/b = 0.400 (chosen arbitrarily) (65)
v’1 – k’
(w/b), = 0.508 (66)
Gb/4R – k4G.Gb
yoeb = (56) (w/b), = 0.111 (67)
<1 – k’
s/b = 0.233. (68)
Gb/~R + kV’GmGrj
yoab = (57)
~~–k’ ‘“ Here b is the ground plane spacing, t is the thickness of
the rectangular bars, w is the width of a coupled
For directional coupler geometries such as that shown rectangular bar, and s is the spacing between coupled
in Fig. 2, the following equations apply: bars. The trial coupler was constructed with ~-inch
ground plane spacing in air dielectric. The nc)minal cen-
c.
—
376.7 ~R G. – k~GaGb ter frequency was 1.5 Gc/s. A drawing of tlhe coupler,
— (58)
~1 – ji showing important dimensions, is given in Fig. 4, and a
e V’;
photograph of the constructed coupler is given in Fig. 5.
Clj 376.7 G,/4R – k~G.Gb
—
_— (59)
e de, ~~ _ ~~ ‘-

cab 376.7 k~GaGrj

—
— (60)
e 4E, ~1 – k2 “

The theoretical limit on the amount of impedance

transformation and coupling is now determined by (54)
and (56). For YO,” and YO,b to be positive, it is necessary
that PORT 2 ‘0.125 th’k REXOLITE 1422 BEAD
(50i-1) INNER DIA. = 0,090 (3 PLACES)
RGa Gh
L>— and — (61) Fig. 4. Drawing of a trial nonsymmetrical – 10-dB directional
k2 (Jb RG. ‘ coupler with coupled lines of 50 and 75 ohms.

whichever is greater.
If R is chosen advantageously (61) may be stated in
words: Let the impedance (or admittance) transforma-
tion ratio of the directional coupler be taken as greater
than one. Then, the reciprocal of the power coupling co-
efficient must be greater than or equal to the impedance (or
admittance) transformation ratio divided by the maximum
VSWR of the coupler. Thus another result of designing Fig. 5. Photograph of a trial nonsymmetrical – 10-dB directional
coupler with coupled lines of 50 and 75 ohms.
nonsymmetrical directional couplers to be mismatched
is that, for a given impedance transformation ratio, a
larger coupling coefficient is theoretically possible; sim- Type N connectors of 50 ohms were used at Ports 1,
ilarly, for a given coupling coefficient., a larger imped- 2, and 3, while Port 4 was terminated internally in a
ance transformation ratio is theoretically possible. sliding load. The 50-ohm connector at Port 1 (the 75-
ohm port) was chosen for convenience. It was antici-
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS pated beforehand that the required measurements could
To substantiate the analytical results for nonsym- be performed without being substantially adfected. by
metrical matched directional couplers, a trial — 10-d B the mismatch.
coupler having coupled lines of 50 and 75 ohms, respec- The VSWR at Port 3 was measured with Port 2
344 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES JULY

terminated in a well-matched load. Since Port 1 is Originally it was intended to make directivity mea-
decoupled from Port 3, the discontinuity at Port 1 was surements using a double-sliding-load method. How-
not seen. The load at Port 4 had a sufficiently low ever, during the measurements it was found that the
VSWR when seen at Port 1 so that it also did not affect VSWR of the connector of the sliding load itself was too
the measurements. large to make the measurements meaningful. It was
The VSWR at Port 1 was measured with Port 2 ter- then decided to use a single sliding load (the load at
minated in a well-matched load. The sliding load at Port Port 4) and to terminate Port 2 in a matched load.
4 was adjusted to give first a maximum VSWR and next Basically, the measurement procedure using a single
a minimum VSWR. During these measurements it was sliding load is as follows. Power is made incident to Port
also noted whether the standing-wave minimum shifted 1. A reference level (denoted as R-dB) is established by
90 degrees or not. If there was a 90-degree phase shift, measuring the power available at Port 2. Next, Port 2
the VSWR at Port 1 was determined by is terminated in a matched load (by using a good load
and a double stub tuner to give unity VSWR), and the
7 = drmd’rmi..
power available at Port 3 is monitored. The sliding load
If there was no phase shift, the VSWR was deter- at Port 4 is adjusted to give maximum power out of
mined by Port 3; let this value be lLlax-dB. Next, the sliding load
is adjusted to give a minimum of power at Port 3; let
?’ = ~Tm.x’i’min.
this value be hIin-d B. Also, let A equal the difference

In Fig. 6 the results of these measurements are shown. of Max-d B and IMin-dB. Then it can be shown that the

The VSWR at Port 3 is seen to be quite low. It is less intrinsic directivity is as follows:

than 1.08 over most of the frequency band, 0.8 to 2.3

S122
Gc/s. At Port 1, the VSWR varies about 1.5 (it should Directivity = 10 logl~ ~
be exactly 1.5 in theory, as measured on a 50-ohm
slotted line) without departing much from this value 1 f lo–lA/2ol 2
except at 0.8 and 0.9 Gc/s, where an unexplained reso- = (R –Max) – 10log10 2 dB.
{ }
nance appears to occur. It should be pointed out that
only a small effort was made to perfect the transition The ambiguity in the above formula can be resolved by
from the coaxial connector to the 75-ohm strip line, and making an appropriate phase measurement. However,
that, undoubtedly, a portion of the VSWR at Port 1 is this was not done in the present case; instead, the mini-
due to the transition itself. The power coupling from mum value of the above formula was taken as the direc-
Port 2 to Port 1 was measured without compensating
tivit y.
the discontinuity at Port 1. The VSWR of 1.5 at Port 1 Initially, directivity measurements were made with-
corresponds to slightly less than 0.2-d B mismatch loss. out compensating the junctions of the coupled and un-
The results of the measurements are given in Table I.
coupled lines. The measured directivities at 1 and 1.5
Gc/s were approximately 18 dB. Next, compensating
2.0 blocks similar to those used in the 3-dB coupler of
Shimizu-Jones (see Fig. 5 of their paper) were located
1.8
to maximize the directivit y at 2.3 Gc/s and were fixed
K
3 1.6 in that location for the remaining measurements. The
9 1.4 results of the directivity measurements are given in
1.2 Table II.

1.0
0 1.0 1.2 1.4 [,6 1.8 2.02.2 TABLE II
FREQUENCY—GC DIRECTIVITY MEASUREMENTS

Fig. 6. VSWR at Ports 1 and 3 of trial nonsymmetrical – 10-dB

directional
50-ohm line.)
coupler. (The VSWR at Port 1 is with respect to a
Frequency
(Gc/s)

1.0
I Directivity
(dB)

1,25
TABLE I
1.50
POWER-COUPLING FROM PORT 2 TO PORT 1 1.75 26.5
2,00
2.30 ;:.5
Frequency
(Gc/s) I Calculated
(dB)
1
Measured
(dB)

0.800 –12.4 –12.5 CONCLtTSIONS

1.000 –11.1 –11.7
1.200 –10.4 –11.2 Nonsymmetrical directional couplers are equivalent
1.500 –10.0 –10.3
1.800 –10.4 –10.9 to conventional directional couplers with impedance
2.2,50 –12.8 –12.5 transformers at the two ports of one of the transmission
2.700 –19.8 –19.2
lines, They may be designed to have infinite directivity
 1966 CRiSTAL: COUPLED-TRANSMISSION-LINE DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS 345

and to be matched at all frequencies; or they may be where

designed to have infinite directivity at all frequencies,
G~ O 0)
and a specified maximum mismatch. Mismatched non- I
symmetrical directional couplers were shown to have G=10 G, 01. (7’2)

greater bandwidth than matched nonsymmetrical direc-

I OOG. J
tional couplers, although in most practical cases the
Equations (69) and (71) are easily combined, and upon
increased bandwidth will be less than four percent. Both
the elimination of 12 and VI yield
mismatched and matched nonsymmetrical directional
couplers have theoretical limits on[ the amount of YJ’ YJ” Y12
coupling
be obtained
and impedance
simultaneously.
transformation
The rule is that
ratio
the
that
recipro-
can
—~1=
yll { yll
– (G -1- Y’22)
1 V2. (73)

cal of the power coupling coefficient must be greater Solving for Vz gives
than or equal to the impedance transformation ratio,
v, = HY#Il, (74)
taken greater than one, divided b,y the maximum
VSWR of the coupler. Matched nonsymmetrical direc- w-here ~ is a 3 X 3 matrix having entries hij given bIy

tional couplers may be broadbanded by cascading addi-

H = { Y1,~ Y12 – yll(G + F,,) ~-l. (75)
tional nonsymmetrical couplers. Existing tables of de-
signs for multisection asymmetrical and symmetrical The voltages at Ports 2, 3, and 4 are given by
couplers may be taken over directly by interpreting the
V2 100
design data as described in this paper.
Several possible applications for nonsymmetrical V3 = o 1 0 H17#11. (76)

directional couplers are as directional detectors, power V4

1)[1 001
samplers, and reflectometers; they may be applied ad-
Thus the directivity is given by
vantageously to the design of directicmal filters by per-
mitting a change of impedance level of the resonant
lines. A novel application is the construction of im- (77)

pedance transformers having dc isolation by properly

cascading several nonsymmetrical directional couplers and the condition for infinite directivity is
to make a O-dB coupler.
hlzylz + lLzzy13 + h23yld = O. (78)
APPENDIX I
Substituting in the values for h,j and y,, results in
DERIVATION OF THE CONDITION FOR INFINITE
AB – D2 = GuGb. (79)
DIRECTIVITY

The Y-matrix of the nonsymmetrical coupled-trans-

APPENDIX II
mission-line directional coupler was given in (1). For the
following derivation let us write the deiining equations as DERIVATION OF THE CONDITION FOR AN
IMPEDANCE MATCH

(69) The Y-matrix of the nonsymmetrical coupled-trans-

mission-line directional coupler was given in (1). For
where the following derivation let us write the defining eq ua-
tions as
yij = the i,.j entry of the matrix of (1)

11 = il
II Y-11 – Yll(tc) VI
. (80)
)( \
12 = Col (iz, ;3, ‘ii) ()(Iz – (K) Y,, c Y,,c v,) ‘

VI = VI where

V2 = Col (ZJ2, ‘U3, Z4) 11 = Col (ii, ;2,)

F12 = row (ylz, y13, YIJ Iz = CO] (i3, ;4)

Y12T = transpose of Y12 v, = Col (Vi, v,)

y22 y23 y24 V2= Col (V3, v,)

l’”2z = y23 yz2 y12 . (70) t=dl–s~ (81)

()10
[1J’13 ylz yll
c=
By terminating Ports 2, 3, and 4 in their respective
loads, the following constraint is applied: A –D
Y,,=;(l )/
1> = – GVZ, (71) –D B
346 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES JULY

By terminating Ports 3 and 4 in their respective loads, Substituting the appropriate values for M,i into (91),
the following constraint is applied: and equating coefficients of the variables si equal to
zero, yields
12 = – (CGC)VZ, (82)
G. .1
—
where Gb– B \ . (92)

G. O GaGb = AB - D’j
G=
() oGb”
(83)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Equations (82) and (80) may be combined, and upon

The author wishes to thank R. Pierce who constructed
elimination of IZ and V.2, yield
the trial nonsymmetrical directional coupler, and

(84) E. Fernandes who made the laboratory tests. Acknowl-

II = ~11{ .gz – t2(G + ~11)–1 Vu} ~1,
edgments are due also to L. Robinson who suggested
where 92 is a 2 X 2 identity matrix. Equation (84) may several possible techniques for measuring the direc-
be simplified by noting that tivity of the trial directional coupler, and to Dr. L.
Young and B. M. Schiffman with whom the author had
T(G + Y1l) T
(85) several discussions which helped to clarify several points
– (G + Y,,)-’ =
I (G + y,,)] in the paper.

where REFERENCES

[1] E. M. T. Jones and J. T. BoIljahn, “Coupled-strip-tran emission-

01 line filters and directional couplers, ” IRE Trans. on Microwave
T= (86) Theo?y and Techniques, vol. MTT-4, pp. 75-81, April 1956.
() –lo’ [2] J. K. Shimizu and E. M. T. Jones, “Coupled-transmission-line
directional couplers, ” IRE Trans. on Microwave Theory and
Techniques, vol. MTT-6, pp. 403–410, October 1958.
and I (G+ YIJ I is the determinant of the matrix G+ Y1l. [3] H. Seidel and J. Rosen, “Multiplicity in cascade transmission-
Thus, line synthesis—part 2,” IEEE Trans. on Mzcrowave Theory and
Techniques, vol. MTT-13, pp. 398-407, July 1965.
[4] R. Levy, “Tables for asymmetric multi-element coupled-
T(G + YIJ TYn transmission-line directional couplers, ” IEEE Tran$. on Mic?o-
II = Yll ‘9’2 + i? —— (87) wave Theory and Techniques, vol. MTT-12, pp. 275–2 79,
{ lG+ Y,,\ } ‘1” May 1964.
[5] P. P. Toulios and A. C. Todd, “Synthesis of symmetrical TEM-
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[6] E. G. Cristal and L. Younz. “Theorv and tables of oDtimum
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M=Y1l 92+t’ (88)
couplers, ” IEEE Trans. on Micyowave Theory and Techniques,
{ IG+Y,, I } o vol. MTT-13, pp. 544–558, September 1965.
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[8] H. Ozalii and J. Ishii, “Synthesis of a class of strip-line filters, ”
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I
Mll M12 1958.
[9] W. L. Firestone, “Analysis of transmission line directional

Gb
+
ikt12 Gb + M22
couplers, ” Proc. IRE, vol. 42, pp. 1529-1538, October 1954.
; = (Y,n)a = (See also W. L. Firestone, “Transmission-line directional
~22
couplers, ” Ph. D. dissertation, Northwestern Universit y, Evans-
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M122 [10] W. J. Getsinger, “Coupled rectangular bars between parallel
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[11] E, G, Cristal, “Coupled circular cylindrical rods between parallel
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[12] W. J. Getsinger, “Fringing capacitances for offset coupled strips
G. – Y,. = O, (90) in shielded strip lines, ” Lincoln Lab. Rept., Cambridge, Mass.,
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[14] E. A. Guillemin, Cowu&nication Networks, Vol. II, New York:
Wiley, 1935, ch. 6.
Numerator of { GaGb + G~Mn — G6M11 [15] L. Young, “The analytical equivalence of TEM-mode directional
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