25

Optimum Design of A Modified 3-Way Bagley

Rectangular Power Divider
Homayoon Oraizi and Seyyed-Amir Ayati
Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, 16846-13114, Iran
Email: h_oraizi@iust.ac.ir and amir_ayati@elec.iust.ac.ir

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Index terms- Power dividers, Method of least squares.

I. INTRODUCTION
The N-way polygon power divider was first introduced by
Bagley [1], which can divide the input power among its output Fig.1.Modified 3 way Bagley rectangular power divider
ports. Although it has a relatively good transmission
bandwidth from the input to output ports, but the isolation
among its outputs may not perform equally well. Several
configurations have been proposed to improve its performance
in the literature, such as application of transmission lines with (a)
different characteristic impedances to reduce its dimensions
and geometrical configuration [2], use of open circuited lines
to reduce its size [3] and use of right-handed materials and
left- handed metamaterials to miniaturize it and obtain a dual
band power division response [4].
In this paper, we present a design and optimization procedure
based on the method of least squares, which realizes the
optimum performance for the best impedance matching at the
input, the best realization of specified power division ratios
and isolation among the output ports. An accurate equivalent
circuit is obtained for the proposed modified rectangular 3- (b)
way power divider and its admittance matrix among its
terminal ports is derived. Then, its scattering matrix is
obtained, which is used for the construction of an error
function in terms of its geometrical dimensions. The
minimization of the error function leads to the optimum design
of the divider. Consequently, the ideal performance realizable Fig.2 (a) Bagley rectangular power divider is divided to line sections, T
by the proposed Bagley rectangular power divider is achieved junctions and 90° bends. (b) Combined appropriate blocks
as specified by the desired performance at its ports. The
may be divided into several line sections [5], T junctions [6]
appropriate frequency dispersion models for the microstrip
and 90° bends [7]. Its circuit diagram is drawn in detail in
lines are also used in the design procedure.
Fig.2 (a), by including the equivalent circuits of its various
I. NUMERICAL DESIGN PROCEDURE parts. Then, a new equivalent circuit is obtained by combining
appropriate blocks as shown in Fig.2 (b), which may be used
The circuit configuration of the proposed modified 3-way to determine the ABCD transmission matrix of each section
Bagley rectangular power divider is shown in Fig.1, which

978-1-4244-7243-7/10/$26.00 ©2010 IEEE

 26

Fig.3. Equivalent circuit diagram among the ports 1’, 2’, 3’, 4’

and then transform them to their equivalent admittance

Fig.4. incident and scattered voltage waves on each block
matrices(Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4). The resultant equivalent circuit
diagram among the ports denoted by 1’, 2’, 3’ and 4’ ሺଶሻ ଵ ሺଵሻ
ሺ೔ሻ
ௌభభ ሺଵሻ
ܾ௜ᇱ ൌ ܽ௜ ൌ ሺ೔ሻ ‫ܾ כ‬௜ െ ሺ೔ሻ ‫ܽ כ‬௜ , i=1, 2, 3, 4
(excluding the blocks at each port) is drawn in Fig.3, where ௌమభ ௌమభ
ሺ೔ሻ
each section is represented by its equivalent admittance ሺଶሻ ο೔ሺଵሻା ௌమమ ሺଵሻ
ܽ௜ᇱ ൌ ܾ௜ ൌ െ ሺ೔ሻ ܽ௜ ሺ೔ሻ ‫כ‬ ܾ௜ , i=1, 2, 3, 4
ௌ ௌమభ
matrix. ሺ௜ሻ ሺ௜ሻ
మభ
ሺ௜ሻ ሺ௜ሻ
ο௜ ൌ ܵଵଵ ‫כ‬ ܵଶଶ െ ܵଵଶ ‫כ‬ ܵଶଵ , i=1, 2, 3, 4 (6)
We now use the Kirchhoff current law and the relations
among the port currents and voltages in the admittance matrix
of each section to obtain the equivalent admittance matrix of and substitute them in eq. (4) to obtain
divider among its four terminals. For example, the entries of ሺଵሻ ሺଵሻ
ൣܾ௜ ൧ ൌ ሾܵሿሾܽ௜ ሿ (7)
its first line may be obtained by combining the following
ሺଵሻ ሺଵሻ ሺଵሻ ሺଵሻ ሺଵሻ
relations: where ൣܽ௜ ൧ ൌ ൣܽଵ ǡ ܽଶ ǡ ܽଷ ǡ ܽସ ൧ and ൣܾ௜ሺଵሻ൧ ൌ ൣܾଵሺଵሻ ǡ ܾଶሺଵሻǡ ܾଷሺଵሻǡ ܾସሺଵሻ ൧.
ሺଵሻ ሺଶሻ ሾܵሿ ൌ ሺሾ‫ܣ‬ሿ െ ሾܵ ᇱ ሿ ‫ כ‬ሾ‫ܥ‬ሿሻିଵ ‫ כ‬ሺሾ‫ܤ‬ሿ െ ሾܵ ᇱ ሿ ‫ כ‬ሾ‫ܦ‬ሿሻ
‫ܫ‬ଵ ൌ ‫ܫ‬ଶ ൅ ‫ܫ‬ଶ (8)
ሺଵሻ ሺଵሻ ሺଵሻ
‫ܫ‬ଶ ൌ ‫ݕ‬ଵଶ ‫ܸ כ‬ଶ ൅ ‫ݕ‬ଶଶ ‫ܸ כ‬ଵ
ሺଶሻ ሺଶሻ ሺଶሻ
‫ܫ‬ଶ ൌ ‫ݕ‬ଵଶ ‫ܸ כ‬ସ ൅ ‫ݕ‬ଶଶ ‫ܸ כ‬ଵ where
ሺଵሻ ሺଶሻ ሺଵሻ ሺଶሻ
‫ܫ‬ଵ ൌ ൫‫ݕ‬ଶଶ ൅ ‫ݕ‬ଶଶ ൯ ‫ܸ כ‬ଵ ൅ ‫ݕ‬ଵଶ ‫ܸ כ‬ଶ ൅ ‫ݕ‬ଵଶ ‫ܸ כ‬ସ (1) ሺଵሻ Ͳ
ͳ Ͳ Ͳ Ͳ‫ې‬ ‫ܵۍ‬ଵଵ ሺଶሻ Ͳ Ͳ‫ې‬
‫ ۍ‬ሺଵሻ ͳ ሺଵሻ ܵଵଵ
ܵ
‫ ێ‬ଶଵ ‫ۑ‬ ‫ܵێ‬ଶଵ ‫ۑ‬
then, the admittance matrix of the core network in Fig.3 is ܵଶଵ
ሺଶሻ
Ͳ Ͳ‫ۑ‬ ‫Ͳ ێ‬
ሺଶሻ
ܵଶଵ Ͳ Ͳ‫ۑ‬
‫Ͳ ێ‬
‫ێ‬ ͳ ‫ۑ‬ ‫ێ‬ ሺଷሻ ‫ۑ‬
ሾ‫ܣ‬ሿ ൌ ‫ێ‬ ܵଵଵ
ሺଵሻ ሺଶሻ ሺଵሻ ሺଶሻ
Ͳ Ͳ Ͳ‫ ۑ‬ǡሾ‫ܤ‬ሿ ൌ ‫Ͳ ێ‬ Ͳ Ͳ‫ۑ‬
‫ݕۍ‬ଶଶ ൅ ‫ݕ‬ଶଶ ‫ݕ‬ଵଶ Ͳ ‫ݕ‬ଵଶ ‫ې‬ ‫ێ‬
ሺଷሻ
ܵଶଵ ‫ۑ‬ ‫ێ‬
ሺଷሻ
ܵଶଵ ‫ۑ‬
‫ ݕ ێ‬ሺଵሻ ‫ݕ‬
ሺଵሻ ሺଷሻ ሺଷሻ ‫ۑ‬
ଵଵ ൅ ‫ݕ‬ଵଵ ‫ݕ‬ଶଵ  Ͳ ‫ێ‬ ͳ ‫ۑ‬ ‫ێ‬ ܵଵଵ ‫ۑ‬
ଶଵ ሺସሻ
ሾ‫ݕ‬ሿ ൌ ‫ێ‬ ‫ۑ‬ (2) ‫Ͳ ێ‬ Ͳ ‫ۑ‬
‫ێ‬ Ͳ ‫ݕ‬ଵଶ
ሺଷሻ ሺଷሻ
‫ݕ‬ଶଶ ൅ ‫ݕ‬ଶଶ
ሺସሻ ሺସሻ
‫ݕ‬ଵଶ ‫ۑ‬ Ͳ ሺସሻ ‫Ͳ ێ‬ Ͳ Ͳ ‫ۑ‬
‫ێ‬ ‫ۏ‬ ܵଶଵ ‫ے‬ ሺସሻ
ሺଶሻ ሺସሻ ሺଶሻ ሺସሻ ‫ۑ‬ ‫ۏ‬ ܵଶଵ ‫ے‬
‫ۏ‬ ‫ݕ‬ଶଵ  Ͳ ‫ݕ‬ଶଵ ‫ݕ‬ଵଵ ൅ ‫ݕ‬ଵଵ ‫ے‬
ௌ
ሺభሻ
Ͳ Ͳ Ͳ Ͳ
‫ ۍ‬మమ ሺమሻ ‫ې‬ οభ Ͳ Ͳ
ௌ
ሺభሻ ௌమమ ‫ۍ‬ௌమభ
ሺభሻ οమ ‫ې‬
‫ ێ‬మభ ‫ۑ‬ ‫Ͳێ‬ Ͳ Ͳ ‫ۑۑ‬
its scattering matrix is then determind, Ͳ
ሺమሻ
ௌమభ Ͳ Ͳ ሺమሻ
ௌమభ
‫ێ‬ ሺయሻ
‫ۑ‬ ‫ێ‬
ሾ‫ܥ‬ሿ ൌ ‫ێ‬ ௌమమ
‫ ۑ‬ǡ ሾ‫ܦ‬ሿ ൌ ‫Ͳ ێ‬
οయ
Ͳ‫ۑ‬ (9)
ሾܵԢሿ ൌ ሺሾܷሿ ൅ ሾܻሿܼ଴ ሻିଵ ሺሾܷሿ െ ሾܻሿܼ଴ ሻ (3) Ͳ Ͳ ሺయሻ Ͳ Ͳ ሺయሻ
ௌమభ
‫ێ‬ ௌమభ ‫ۑ‬ ‫ێ‬ ‫ۑ‬
‫Ͳێ‬
ሺరሻ
ௌమమ ‫ۑ‬ ‫ێ‬ Ͳ ሺరሻ
οర ‫ۑ‬
which relates the incident and scattered voltage waves as ‫ۏ‬
Ͳ Ͳ ሺరሻ
ௌమభ ‫ے‬
‫Ͳۏ‬ Ͳ ௌమభ ‫ے‬

ሾܾ௜ᇱ ሿ ൌ ሾܵ ᇱ ሿሾܽ௜ᇱ ሿ (4)

We then develop an algorithm based on the method of least
where ൌ ሾܽ௜ᇱ ሿ ሾܽଵᇱ ǡ ܽଶᇱ ǡ ܽଷᇱ ǡ ܽସᇱ ሿ
and ൌ On the ሾܾ௜ᇱ ሿ ሾܾଵᇱ ǡ ܾଶᇱ ǡ ܾଷᇱ ǡ ܾସᇱ ሿ. squares for the optimum design of the Bagley 3-way
other hand, the scattering matrix of the blocks at the four rectangular power divider, by first constructing an error
terminals of the divider relate the incident and scattered function as
voltage waves on each block as (see Fig.4)
݁‫ ݎ݋ݎݎ‬ൌ σ௄ σସ௠ୀଵ σସ௡ୀ௠ାଵ ܹ௧௠௡ ሺܵ௠௡ െ ‫ܩ‬௠௡ ሻଶ ൅ σ௄ ܹ௧ଵ ሺܵଵଵ െ ‫ܩ‬ଵଵ ሻଶ (10)
ሺଵሻ ሺ௜ሻ ሺ௜ሻ ሺଵሻ
ܾ ܵ ܵଶଵ ܽ where Smn are the scattering parameters from eq. (8), Gmn are
൥ ୧ሺଶሻ ൩ ൌ ቈ ଵଵ
ሺ௜ሻ ሺ௜ሻ
቉ ‫כ‬ ൥ ௜ሺଶሻ ൩ , i=1, 2, 3, 4 (5)
„୧ ܵଵଶ ܵଶଶ ܽ௜ the specified parameters for the desired performance of the
divider, Wt mn are the weighting functions and k is the index of
then, we obtain discrete frequencies in the specified frequency bandwidth
(which is divided into K frequencies). The error is a function
 27

of the width (W1 and W2) and lengths (l1 and l2) of the line TABLE.2. OPTIMUM DESIGN VALUES FOR THE WIDTHS AND LENGTHS OF
LINE SECTIONS OF EXAMPLE
section in Fig.1.
We use the combination of genetic algorithm (GA) and W1(mm) W2(mm) L1(mm) L2(mm)

conjugate gradient method (CG) for the minimization of the 0.983 1.75 2.678 3.171
error function, to benefit from the advantages of each one and
avoid their shortcomings. The GA is a global extremum
seeking algorithm, which does not depend on the initial values
of the variables but it takes a long CPU time to converge to an
extremum point. On the other hand, the CG method is a local
extremum seeking algorithm, which depends heavily on the
initial values of variables but it is quite fast. Consequently, we
start the minimization of the error by GA, but abort it after a
few iterations and then let CG method to take over and
approach the minimum point. This procedure is repeated until
an optimum design is obtained.
II. EXAMPLE
For the example we selected substrate RO4003 with dielectric Fig.5. Return loss from port 1 in C band (b). In X band
constant r=3.55, thickness h=20mil and loss tangent
tan=0.0027. The frequency interval is 10-14GHz, which is
divided into K=10 discrete frequencies. The design
specifications of the 3-way Bagley rectangular power divider
are given in Table 1.It is tried to obtain the best isolation
among the output ports. The optimum values for line section
widths (W) and lengths (l) are given in Table 2.

TABLE.1. DESIGN SPECIFICATION OF EXAMPLE

G11 G12 G13 G14 G23 G24 G34
(dB) (dB) (dB) (dB) (dB) (dB) (dB)

-25 -4.7 -4.7 -4.7 -11 -11 -11 (a)

The numerical results obtained by the proposed design

algorithm for the 3-way rectangular divider are compared by
the full-wave simulation softwares, namely HFSS and AWR.
The close agreements among them verify the accuracy of the
proposed optimum design procedure for the specified S, C and
X bands.
The return loss as S11 versus frequency is drawn in Fig.5. The
transmission coefficients to ports 2, 3 and 4 (as S12, S13 and
S14) are drawn in Fig.6. The 1-dB bandwidth of transmission
coefficients at port 2 and 4 are about 50% which are 10%
greater than that of the reflection coefficient at the input port1. (b)
The bandwidth of S13 is about 43%. The isolation among ports
(2, 3), (3, 4) and (2, 4) as S23, S34 and S24 are drawn in Figs 7.
The isolation among ports is the phase difference among the
signals passing through different path length. The signal phase Fig.6 (a). Transmission coefficients to ports 2 and 4 (b). Transmission
differences between the input port and output ports are drawn coefficients to ports 3
in Fig8 (a).The group delays between the input port and the
output ports are drawn in Fig.8(b). Observe that the group
delays are almost constant in the specified frequency band.
CONCLUSION
A modified version of the 3-way Bagley power divider and its
optimum design procedure based on the method of least
squares are presented, which actually improve the isolation
 28

among the output ports (as a short coming of the original type
of divider). There are the possibilities of incorporating into the
design procedure, the impedance matching functions among
the input and output port, besides the realization of any power
division ratios and even high-frequency designs in the higher
microwave frequency band. The design procedure provides for
an arbitrary variation among the desired specifications on the
divider. The power handling capability of the proposed
configuration is also quite noteworthy.
(a)
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[3]. T. Wuren, K. Taniya, I. Sakagami, M.Tahara,
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(b) power dividers". Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference
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[4]. D. S. Elles, Y. K. Yoon “Compact dual band three
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[5]. K. C. Gupta, R. Garg, I. Bahl, P. Bhartia, Microstrip
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[7]. R. J. P. Douville, D. S. James, “Experimental Study
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(b)

Fig.8 (a). Signal phase differences between the input port and
output ports (b). Group delays between the input port and the
output ports