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A Coupled Microstripline Directional Coupler Simulated Using CST-MWS

Article  in  International Journal Of Engineering Research and General Science · November 2015

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International Journal of Engineering Research and General Science Volume 3, Issue 5, September-October, 2015
ISSN 2091-2730

A Coupled Microstripline Directional Coupler Simulated Using CST-MWS

Prachi Choubey, Vandana Roy

Electronics and Communication Department, Gyan Ganga Institute of Technology & Sciences, Jabalpur, India

[email protected]

Abstract— Directional Coupler (DC) is a passive device which is primarily employed for monitoring purposes. It is also used in wide
range of applications such as antenna feeds, balanced mixers, modulators, phase shifters, as power combiners, as reflectometers. The
paper discusses the designing issues of a coupled line-microstripline directional coupler and designs a directional coupler yielding
directivity of ~21 dB for the frequency 505.8 MHz. The effects of strip thickness, and substrate thickness have been studied while
optimizing the design parameters in order to enhance the directivity of the coupler.

Keywords— Directional Coupler, Microstripline, 505.8MHz, CST-MWS, Coupled Lines, RF designing, Coupled lines

INTRODUCTION

Directional Coupler (DC) is essentially a four port device whose function is to tap a small portion of incident power and use it
according to the application. The proportion of the amount of power extracted to incident power depends upon a factor called coupling
ratio.
A directional coupler can be configured with the help of lumped elements and transmission lines. But its waveguide and coaxial
versions are discussed more often. These variants are very large in size, costly to construct, and introducing changes in design of these
at higher frequencies is difficult. A microstripline coupled directional coupler is made by sandwiching a dielectric slab between a
conducting ground plate on one side and two conducting strips on other side. The coupling action takes place by virtue of
electromagnetic interaction between the two strips placed in proximity to each other for a particular distance called coupling length.
Because of these interactions coupled microstrip supports two modes of propagation viz. even mode and odd mode [2]. The
configuration enjoys all the pros associated with microstripline structure and gets hampered by its cons as well. The structure enables
the directional coupler to be easily integrated with other devices and allows easy troubleshooting. But because of inhomogenity of the
medium, the phase velocities of the two modes differ and degrade the performance of directional coupler.
Along with coupling, characterization of devices like directional coupler is done with respect to few more parameters like isolation of
undesired port; directivity, which is the difference between coupling and isolation; reflection, measure of amount of incident power
reflected from input port itself; insertion loss, the measure of loss incurred when device is inserted in a transmission path.
Mathematically, the ratios viz. Directivity, Coupling, Isolation can be expressed as follows (Figure 1) [11]:

= Coupling (in dB) +Directivity (in dB)

Figure 1. 4-Port Directional Coupler

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Extensive research has been conducted on the design of microstrip directional couplers due to their widespread application. Akhtarzad
et. al. reports design equations for the coupled microstripline in the paper [4]. Krisching and Jasen [5] also presents closed form
expressions that can be implemented with the help of computers. J. H. Hinton [3] reports updated wheelers formula to yield more
accurate results for wide range of width of striplines to height of substrate ratio. Erogulu [6] incorporates modifications introduced by
Hinton in the design equations reported by Akhtarzad. Gupta et al [2] have given detailed analysis of microstripline structure. T.
Vijayan [8] formulates the modified equations to design a directional coupler for the frequency 300 MHz using IE3D, a planar
electromagnetic simulation tool.
MICROWAVE STUDIO (MWS), a Computer Simulation Technology (CST) software tool is used for three dimensional
electromagnetic simulation of high frequency devices for antennas, filters and couplers etc.. Features like easy-to-use interface,
parameterization and optimization capabilities, including post-processing options to increase the speed of development process.

The paper studies the considerations involved in designing a directional coupler and designs a directional coupler utilizing the various
features of CST-MWS.

DESIGN EQUATIONS:

Figure 2. Schematic of Coupled microstripline directional coupler

The figure 2 introduces the various design parameters related to microstripline structure. It also shows their symbols which have been
used in the text. Microstripline consists of a metallic ground plane and two strips of width ‟w‟, separated laterally by„s‟. A dielectric
substrate of height „h‟ and relative permittivity „Er‟ is sandwiched between ground and strips.
The design procedure adopted in this paper implements closed formulas given in [2, 4] which give a complete design of symmetrical
two-line microstrip directional couplers, for MHz frequency range.

The coupling ratio of a directional coupler is usually given in terms of decibel. To convert it into its antilogrithmic form following
equation can be used.

Cr
c  10 20

Where,

Cr = coupling ratio in dB

c = coupling ratio

The above ratio is then used to determine even mode and odd mode impedances Zoo and Zoe. These relations have been derived from
the relation of Cr: [6, 7, 9 ]

1 c
Z oo  Z o
1 c

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1 c
Z oo  Z o
1 c
Where,

Zo = Characteristic Impedance in Ohms

Z oo = Odd mode characteristic impedance in Ohms

Z oe = Even mode characteristic impedance in Ohms

Halves of the above derived odd and even mode impedances give their counterparts for single microstriplines as: [6, 7, 9, 12]

The ratio of width of strips to height of substrate for single line is given by [1, 2]:

( )
{
[ ( ) ( )] ( )

Where,

√ ( )

To determine even and odd mode single line w/h ratios Zo is replaced by Zoso and Zose in equation for single line w/h ratio. That is:

Where,

= Even mode w/ h ratio for single line

= Odd mode w/h ratio for single line

Now, the above calculated even and odd mode single line w/h ratios are used to find out spacing between lines „ s‟ as [4,9]:

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 w  w
cosh(( )( ) se )  cosh(( )( ) so )  2
 cosh  1[
s 2 2 h 2 h ]
h   w  w
cosh(( )( ) so )  cosh(( )( ) se )
2 h 2 h

As already stated the strips are placed parallel to each other for a particular distance called coupling length „L‟. This factor plays a
major role in Directional couplers performance. For better coupling, L should be in accordance with the operating frequency so that it
gives maximum coupling at desired frequency. For a quarter wave coupler the relation [9,6] used for L is:

( )
( ) √

It is clear from the above relation that to determine the coupling length, effective permittivity is needed which, for coupled
microstriplines structure, is derived in terms of even-odd mode capacitances as [9]:

c  Ce  Z oe  c  Co  Z oo
Eff 
2

Where [2, 9, 6,7],

Ce  C p  C f  C ' f

Where,

Ce = Even mode capacitance

C p = Parallel plate capacitance

C f = Fringe capacitance

√
= ( )

Where,

The effective dielectric constant for single line directional coupler is given by [2]:

( )

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Where,

( ) ( )
√
( )
( )
√( )

Now,

√
( ) ( )

Where,

A= exp(-0.1exp(2.333-2.53w/h))

C p is the parallel plate capacitance between the strip and the ground plane. Fringe capacitance depends on single microstrip geometry
and parallel plate capacitance. C 'f corresponds to the effect of second line on single line fringe capacitance.

Also, the odd mode capacitance ( ) is sum of four capacitances [2, 9, 6,7]:

CO  C p  C f  Cga  Cgd

Where,

K (k ' )
Cga  E0
K (k )

Where,

s/h
k ,
s / h  2w / h
k '  1 k 2 ,

 '
 1 ln( 2 1  k ), for0  k 2  0.5
K (k ' )
  1 k
K (k )  
, for0.5  k 2  1
 ln( 2(1  k ) /(1  k ))


E0 Er   s   0.02 
Cgd  ln coth( )  0.65C f  Er  1  E 2 r 
  4h   s/h 

is the capacitance through air gap. Its value is obtained from capacitance of a slot line of width „w‟ with air as dielectric. K (k) and
K (k`) represents elliptic function and its complement. is capacitance due to air dielectric interface. The first term corresponds to
coupled stripline and next to it stands the relation for the coupled microstrip.

SIMULATION & RESULTS:

From the above described design equations it is clear that before starting with designing process, the designer should assign initial
values to few factors like height of subsrate, thickness of metal strips, thickness of ground plane, operating frequency, coupling ,

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permittivity of substrate used, and characteristic impedance. Since, usually type of substrate, characteristic impedance, coupling,
operating frequency are system defined constraints, therefore the designer has only height of substrate and thickness of strips and
ground plane in its hands, for any kind of manipulation.
The substrate here was Teflon whose permittivity is 2.1. The characteristic impedance was taken to be 50 ohms which is a very
general value. Rests of the parameters were chosen arbitrarily.
The design created in CST-MWS is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. 3-D View of Directional Coupler in CST-MWS Design Environment

The design was created in CST-MWS design environment, implementing the equations using its wide parameterization capabilities.
The results obtained after running transient solver are shown in the plot in figure 4. From the plot it is clear that the insertion loss is -
1.17 dB, isolation is -19.769 dB, coupling is 11.27 dB, and directivity is 13.79 dB. Here the input port was numbered port 1, isolated
port was port 2, output port was port 3, and coupled port was port 4

Figure 4. 1-D Plot showing S Parameters in dB

The aim was to design a 20 dB coupler but the results show that the design gave coupling of -8.15 dB and 11.61 dB directivity.
Therefore, to improve directivity and achieve required coupling, further optimizations of the geometrical design parameters were
done. The value of coupling came out to be -12.14 dB and directivity improved to 20.967 dB. The reflection and isolation obtained
were -20.98 dB and -33.107 dB respectively. The S-Parameters chart in decibel form and the derived design parameters are shown in
the figure 5 and table 1 respectively.

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Figure 5. 1-D Plot showing final values of S Parameters in dB

The final values of parameters after optimizations, along with their symbols and description, as well as units considered, are given in
table 1.

Table 1. Values of parameters

S.No. Parameter Description Value

1. Zo Characteristic impedance of ports 50ohms

2. Er Relative permittivity of substrate 2.1

3. f Operating frequency 505.8 MHz

4. s/h Spacing to height of substrate ratio 0.27

5. m Thickness of conductor 0.2 mm

6. Cr Coupling ratio in dB 20 dB

7. w/h Width to height of substrate ratio 1.13

Now, while optimization the variations in directivity and other characterization parameters were studied with respect to changes in m
and h. The associated observation tables are as follows:
Effect of strip thickness:
The values of characterization parameters of directional coupler with respect to change in strip thickness is given in table 2.
Table 2. Observation table for Strip thickness (in mm) and Directivity, coupling, isolation, reflection, insertion loss (in dB)

m(mm) Directivity (dB) Coupling (dB) Isolation (dB) Insertion loss (dB) Reflection (dB)

0.4 -9.637 -7.365 -17 -1.56 -10.64

0.3 -10.19 -7.412 -17.6 -1.373 -11.76
0.2 -9.94 -7.449 -17.39 -1.492 -10.821
0.16 -17.04 -11.558 -28.606 -0.398 -19.47

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0.15 -17.10 -11.577 -28.681 -0.395 -19.548

The best directivity and coupling, though not equal to the design value, was obtained for m= 0.15 mm therefore this value was
selected.
Effect of substrate height:
After varying m, h was also varied and Directivity, coupling, isolation, reflection, insertion loss were recorded in the table 3:
Table 3. Observation table for Substrate Height (in mm) and Directivity, coupling, isolation, reflection, insertion loss (in dB).

h(mm) Directivity (dB) Coupling (dB) Isolation (dB) Insertion loss (dB) Reflection (dB)
5 -20.566 -12.148 -32.714 -0.333 -20.923
4.5 -20.993 -12.143 -33.136 -0.331 -21.019
4.22 -21.005 -12.140 -33.145 -0.332 -20.989
4 -20.795 -12.057 -32.852 -0.337 -20.847
3 -19.506 -11.984 -31.49 -0.344 -20.619
2 -17.706 -11.663 -29.369 -0.381 -19.857

The most optimum value of h was chosen to be 4.5 mm because at this value insertion loss was the least though the difference
between that obtained at 4mm, 4.5 mm and 4 mm is very minimal.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Mr. Manjeet Ahlawat, Scientific Officer/D, & Mr. R. S. Shinde, Scientific Officer/ H+, Head,
Accelerator Magnet Technology Division, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, India, for their motivation, guidance and
support throughout the observation process carried out at Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, India.

CONCLUSION & FUTURE SCOPE

The designed directional coupler gives a coupling of -12.14 dB, improved directivity of -20.967 dB, -20.98 dB reflection and isolation
of -33.107 dB, for the frequency of 505.8 MHz. Also effect of changes in parameters like substrate height and strip thickness was
observed. It was observed that the as the strip thickness is reduced and substrate height is increased, the directivity improves.

The next attempt of the author is to study the power handling capacity of the device. There are certain modifications discussed by
various researchers [3, 8, and 6]. The author is attempting to implement them to achieve better coupling and directivity with
reasonable values of other characterization parameters. The directivity is a factor which is very important for applications requiring
accurate impedance matching. But it is equally difficult get a satisfactory value for it. Therefore, further modifications like using
dielectric overlay techniques and adding delays, could be done to improve the directivity.

REFERENCES:
[1] Pozar, David M., “Microwave engineering”, second edition, Wiley, New York 1998.
[2] Gupta, K.C., Garg, Ramesh , Bahal, I.J., “Microstriplines and slot line”, Artech house EDHAM, Mass. 1979
[3] Hinton, J.H., "On Design of Coupled Microstrip Lines (Letters)," Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on ,
vol.28, no.3, pp.272,272, Mar 1980
[4] Akhtarzad, S.; Rowbotham, T.R.; Johns, Peter B., "The Design of Coupled Microstrip Lines," Microwave Theory and
Techniques, IEEE Transactions on , vol.23, no.6, pp.486,492, Jun 1975

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[5] Kirschning, M.; Jansen, R.H., "Accurate Wide-Range Design Equations for the Frequency-Dependent Characteristic of Parallel
Coupled Microstrip Lines," Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on , vol.32, no.1, pp.83,90, Jan 1984.
[6] Erogulu, Abdullah “RF Circuit Design Techniques for MF-UHF Applications”, CRC press, ©2013 by Taylor & Frances group.
[7] Matzner, Dr. Haim , L., Shimshon, “Basic RF Technic and Laboratory Manual“, April 2002
[8] T., Vijayan, “Performance of Microstrip Directional Coupler Using Synthesis Technique”, IJAREEIE, Vol. 2, Issue 3, March
2013.
[9] http://kilyos.ee.bilkent.edu.tr/~microwave/programs/magnetic/dcoupler/theory.html
[10] Gardiol, Fred “E. Microstrip circuits”, Wiley, New York 1994.
[11] Kulkarni, M., “Microwave and radar engineering”, Umesh Publications, 2002
[12] S. Maheswari and T. Jayanthy,” Microstrip Coupler with High Isolation”, International Journal of Electronics and
Communication Engineering, Volume 7, Number 2 (2014), pp. 105-110

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