Sept. S. O.

Park, KAIST
1 EE542 Microwave Engineering,
Metal for Shield
Ground
Microstrip line
Er=4.6
Er=4.6
T=1.6mm
T=1.6mm
24.64
1.22
20.5
11.16
2.29
49.84
Microstrip line width: about .29mm
Gap width between Microstrip line: about 1.22mm
Directional Coupler (800MHz to 2.4GHz)
Directional Coupler
Sept. S. O. Park, KAIST
2
Figure 8.4 Two commonly used symbols for directional couplers,
and power flow conventions
EE542 Microwave Engineering,

Input
Isolated
Input
Isolated
Through
Coupled
Through
Coupled
Two commonly used symbols for directional couplers
Sept. S. O. Park, KAIST
3
The following three quantities are generally used to characterize a directional
coupler.
EE542 Microwave Engineering,
1
3
Coupling 10log 20log dB,
P
C
P
| = = =
3
4 14
Directivity 10log 20log dB,
P
D
P S
|
= = =
1
14
4
Isolation 10log 20log dB.
P
I S
P
= = =
The coupling factor indicates the fraction of the input power which is coupled to
the output port. The directivity is a measure of the couplers ability to isolate
forward and backward waves, as us the isolation. These quantities are
then related as
dB. I D C = +
Sept. S. O. Park, KAIST
4
The directivity of a directional coupler is a measure of the couplers ability to separate
forward and reverse wave components, so applications of directional couplers often require
high (35 dB or greater) directivity. Poor directivity will limit the accuracy of a reflectometer,
and can cause variations in the coupled power level from a coupler when there is even a
small mismatch on the through line.
EE542 Microwave Engineering,
POINT OF INTEREST: Measuring Coupler Directivity
The directivity of a coupler generally cannot be measured directly because it involves a low
level signal that can be masked by coupled power from a reflected wave on the through arm.
For example, if a coupler has C =20 dB and D =35 dB, with a load having RL = 30 dB, the
signal level through the directivity path will be D+C = 55 dB below the input power, but the
reflected power through the coupled arm will only be RL+C = 50 dB below the input power.
Sept. S. O. Park, KAIST
5 EE542 Microwave Engineering,
POINT OF INTEREST: Measuring Coupler Directivity
One way of measuring coupler directivity uses a sliding matched load, as follows. First, the
coupler is connected to a source and matched load, as shown in the left-hand figure below,
and the coupled output power is measured. Of we assume an input power , this power will
be where is the numerical voltage coupling factor of the coupler.
Now reverse the position of the coupler as shown in the right-hand figure below and
terminate the through line with a sliding load.
1
P
2
,
c i
P C P =
( ) dB 20
10
C
C

=
c
P
C
,
i i
V P
Load
0
V ( )
max min
, P P
C
D
,
i i
V P
C
Sliding load
I
Sept. S. O. Park, KAIST
6
EE542 Microwave Engineering,
Changing the position of the sliding load introduces a variable phase shift in the signal
reflected from the load and coupled to the output port. Thus the voltage at the output port can
be written as
0
.
j
i
C
V V C e
D
u
| |
= + I
|
\ .
where is the input voltage, is the numerical value if the directivity,
is the reflection coefficient magnitude of the load, and is the path length difference
between the directivity and reflected signals. Moving the sliding load changes . So the two
signals will combine to trace out a circular locus. As shown in the following figure.
i
V
( ) dB 20
10 1
D
D= > I
u
u
0
ImV
0
0
V
min
V
i
C
V
D
u
i
C V I
max
V
0
ReV
Sept. S. O. Park, KAIST
7
EE542 Microwave Engineering,
The minimum and maximum output powers are given by
2 2
min max
, .
i i
C C
P P C P P C
D D
| | | |
= I = + I
| |
\ . \ .
Now let M and m be defined in terms of these powers as follows:
2 2
max
max min
1
, .
1 1
c
D
P D P
M m
P D P D
| | | |
+ I
= = = =
| |
| |
+ I I
\ . \ .
These ratios can be accurately measured directly by using a variable attenuator
between the source and coupler. The directivity (numerical) can then be found as
2
.
1
m
D M
m
| |
=
|
+
\ .
This method requires that
1 or,in dB, . D RL D I < >
Sept. S. O. Park, KAIST
8
EE542 Microwave Engineering,
REFERENCE
- M. Sucher and J. Fox, editors, Handbook of Microwave Measurements, third edition,
volume ll, Polytechnic Press, New Yurk, 1963.