Broad-band uniplanar hybrid-ring and branch-line couplers

Novel uniplanar 180 degrees and 190 degrees hybrids suitable for MIC and MMIC applications are described. The uniplanar crossover hybrid-ring coupler using a coplanar waveguide (CPW) and slotline provides substantially improved amplitude and phase characteristics over a broad bandwidth compared to conventional microstrip hybrid-ring couplers. Experimental results show that the new coupler has a bandwidth of more than one octave from 2 GHz to 4 GHz with a +or-0.4-dB power dividing balance and a +or-1 degrees phase balance. A uniplanar two-branch directional coupler using a coupled rectangular slotline ring has also been developed. CPW-to-slotline transitions using uniform and nonuniform CPWs or slotlines are also discussed. These transitions are uniplanar and simple to fabricate. No via-holes are needed for ground connections, and integration with solid-state devices is easy. A pair of broadband transitions using CPW shorts and slotline radial stubs is demonstrated with a 1-dB bandwidth of more than 5.2:1.<
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