Microwave Engineering

EC 401
DoECE
Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute Of
Technplogy

Module 4
Quadrature (90o) Coupler
Quadrature (90o) Coupler
 Quadrature (90o) Coupler
 A quadrature coupler is one in which the input is split into
two signals (usually with a goal of equal magnitudes) that
are 90 degrees apart in phase.
 Types of quadrature couplers include branchline couplers
(also known as quadrature hybrid* couplers), Lange
couplers and overlay couplers.

This coupler is very useful for obtaining circular polarization:

There is a 90o phase difference between ports 2 and 3.

Note:
The term “hybrid” denotes
the fact that there is an
equal (3 dB) power split
to the output ports.
2
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
1 2 0 j 1 0
 j 0 0 1
90o 1 
Coupler S   
2 1 0 0 j 
4 3  
0 1 j 0
The quadrature hybrid is a lossless 4-port (the S
matrix is unitary ).
All four ports are matched.
 The device is reciprocal (the S matrix is symmetric.)
Port 4 is isolated from port 1, and ports 2 and 3 are
isolated from each other. 3
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
The quadrature coupler is usually used as a splitter:
1 2

90o +90o out of phase -90o out of phase

Coupler 2- 3 = 90o 2- 3 = -90o
4 3

 The signal from port 1 splits evenly between ports 2 and 3,

with a 90o phase difference.
S21  jS31 Can be used to produce right-handed circular polarization.

 The signal from port 4 splits evenly between ports 2 and 3,

with a -90o phase difference.
S24   jS34 Can be used to produce left-handed circular polarization.

Note: A matched load is usually placed on port 4. 4

 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Branch-Line Coupler
A microstrip realization of a quadrature hybrid (branch-line
coupler) is shown here.
Z0 1 2 Z0
Z0 2

g
Z0 Z0
4
g 4

Z0 4 Z0 2 3 Z0

Notes:
 We only need to study what happens when we excite port 1,
since the structure is physically symmetric.
 We use even/odd mode analysis (exciting ports 1 and 4) to
figure out what happens when we excite port 1.
5
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Summary
Z0
Z0 1 Z0 2 2 0 j 1 0
 j 0 0 1
1 
g S   
4
Z0 Z0 2 1 0 0 j 
g 4  
0 1 j 0
Z0 4 Z0 2 3 Z0

The input power to port 1 divides evenly

between ports 2 and 3, with ports 2 and 3 being
90o out of phase.

Note: A matched load is usually placed on port 4.

 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
A coupled-line coupler is one that uses coupled lines
(microstrip, stripline) with no direct connection
between all of the ports.
Port 1 Port 2

Port 3 g / 4 Port 4

This coupler has a 90o phase difference between the

output ports (ports 2 and 3), and can be used to obtain
an equal (-3 dB) power split or another split ratio.
7
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Circularly-polarized microstrip antennas can
be fed with a 90o coupler.

 One feed port

produces RHCP,
 The other feed
port produced
LHCP.

Note: This is a better way (higher bandwidth) to get

CP than with a simple 90o delay line.
8
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Here we analyze the quadrature coupler.

Port 1 Excitation V Z V Z 2 V Z 0 1
e
0 2
e
0

“even” analysis jY
 4
jY
g
0 0

V V1e V2e
Y0  1/ Z 0
Z0 Z0 2 Z0

Z0 Z0
l s  g 8

OC OC
OC OC
OC Input admittance of
V g 4 open-circuited stub:
Z0 V4e Z0 2 V3e Z0
Ys  jY0 tan   s ls 
V3e  V2 e  jY0 tan  / 4 
V4 e  V1e  jY0
9
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
V  Z0 V1o Z0 V2o
Port 1 Excitation 2 Z0
g 4
“odd” problem - jY0 - jY0

V
Z0 V1o Z0 2 V2o Z0
Y0  1/ Z 0
Z0 Z0
ls  g 8
Input admittance of
SC SC
SC SC
SC short-circuited stub:
Ys   jY0 cot   s ls 
V  g 4

o
Z0 V o
Z0 2 V Z0

  jY0 cot  / 4 
4 3

V  V
3
o
2
o
  jY0
V  V
4
o
1
o

10
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Consider the general case: Z0 Z0
Z0 2

g 4
 + for even  Y Y

Ys   jY0  
.  - for odd  2-port

 jZ 0  In general:
 0 2  cos    jZ 0line sin    
 1 0 
 ABCD Y    ABCD  
j 2 

 ABCD line   


Y 1  4
 j / Z line sin 
 0   0    cos    
 Z0 
Shunt load on line Here : Z 0line  Z 0 / 2
Quarter-wave line
  /2

  ABCD   ABCDY  ABCD   ABCD Y

4 11
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Hence we have:  jZ 0 
 0 2   1 0 
 1 0 
 ABCD      Y 1 
Y 1  j 2
 0 
 Z0 

 jZ 0Y jZ 0   jZ 0Y jZ 0 
   
 1 0  2 2  2 2 
  
Y 1  j 2   jZ 0Y 2 j 2 jZ 0Y 
 0    
 Z0   2 Z0 2 
j  + for even 
Y   jY0  
Z 0  - for odd 
12
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Continuing with the algebra, we have:
  j  
 jZ 0    jZ 0 
1   Z0  
 ABCD e0   2 
2  j  j2  j 
jZ 0     jZ 0   
  Z0  Z0  Z 0  


 j  j jZ 0   1 jZ 0 
1   1  
  j  1   j 2  ABCD even    1 
 1
2   j   j  2  
j

   Z0  
  Z0  Z0 
 1 jZ 0 
1  
 1 jZ 0   ABCD 0 dd    1 
 1
1   2  
j

   1    Z0  
2  j  1

  Z0   13
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Convert ABCD to S parameters
 1 j 
 1 jZ 0  0
1    2 
 ABCD 0e    1 
1
 S 0e  
2 j 
  Z 0    1 j 0 
 2 
A B  Z oC  D
Zo
S11 
A B  Z oC  D
Zo

S12 
2  AD  BC  Note: We are describing a two-
A  B  Z oC  D port device here, in the even
Zo

S 21 
A B
2
 Z oC  D
and odd mode cases.
Zo
A B  Z oC  D This is a 22 matrix, not a 44 matrix.
Zo
S 22 
A B  Z oC  D
Zo
14
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Adding even and odd mode cases together:
V1  V   V  Z0 V1 Z0 2 V2 Z0
V1 V2 -

V1- g Z0 Z0
-
4 g 4 V3-
V4

V4
Z0 Z0 2 V3 Z0


V1 V1- e  V1-o V1- e  V1-o 1  V1- e V1-o 
S11  
V1  S11  
V V 

2V 
    
2V V 
a2  a3  a4  0


2

1 e
S 11  S11   0  0
o

Hence S11  0 By symmetry: S11  S22  S33  S44  0

15
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Z0 V1 Z0 2 V2 Z0
   V1
V  V V
V2 -
1
V1- g Z0 Z0
-
4 g 4 V3-
V4

V4
Z0 Z0 2 V3 Z0

V2  e  V2  o V2  e  V2  o 1 e
 21 
 S21     
 S S o
V2 V V  2V 
21
S21   2
V1 1  1  j   1  j  
a2  a3  a4 0   
2  2   2  


j

2
j
By symmetry and reciprocity: S21  S12  S43  S34 
2 16
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
   Z0 Z0
V  V V
V1 Z0 2 V2
1
V1 V2 -

V1- g Z0 Z0
4 g 4 V3-
V4 -

V4
Z0 Z0 2 V3 Z0

V3 e  V3o V3 e  V3o V2  e  V2 o 1 e

V3  21 

S31      S  S o

S31   V V  2V  2V 
21
2
V1 1  1  j   1  j  
a2  a3  a4 0   
2  2   2  


1

2

1
By symmetry and reciprocity: S31  S13  S24  S42 
2
17
 Quadrature Coupler (cont.)
Z0 V1 Z0 2 V2 Z0
  
V  V V
1 V1 V2 -

V1- g Z0 Z0
-
4 g 4 V3-
V4

V4
Z0 Z0 2 V3 Z0

V4  e  V4  o V4  e  V4  o V1 e  V1 o
S 41   
V4  

V V 
2V 
2V 
S41  
  S11  S11o   0
V1 a2  a3  a4 0
1 e
2

By symmetry and reciprocity: S41  S14  S23  S32  0

18
THE QUADRATURE(90°) HYBRID
 Quadrature hybrids are 3 dB directional couplers
with a 90° phase difference in the outputs of the
through and coupled arms.
 This type of hybrid is also known as a branch-line
hybrid.
 Other 3 dB couplers, such as coupled line couplers
or Lange couplers, can also be used as quadrature
couplers.
 Here we will analyze the operation of the
quadrature hybrid using an even-odd mode
decomposition technique similar to that used for
the Wilkinson power divider.
 Disadvantages
 In practice, due to the quarter-wave length requirement,
the bandwidth of a branch-line hybrid is limited to 10-
20%.
 But as with multi section matching transformers and
multihole directional couplers, the bandwidth of a
branch-line hybrid can be increased to a decade or more
by using multiple sections in cascade.
 In addition, the basic design can be modified for
unequal power division and/or different characteristic
impedances at the output ports.
Photograph of a microstrip quadrature
hybrid prototype.