Compact Wilkinson power divider based on novel via-less composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission lines

We present the design and development of a compact Wilkinson power divider based on novel via-less composite righ/left-handed (CRLH) transmission lines. The power divider is designed by replacing all conventional right-handed quarter-wavelength transmission lines by CRLH transmission lines. The experimental results demonstrate that the power divider operates at center frequency of 1.75 GHz with occurred area 89.8% smaller than that of the conventional design at the same frequency. Based on 15 dB input return-loss criteria, the power divider has measured bandwidth from 1.4 to 2.1 GHz or 40% fractional bandwidth. Within this operating band, the measured insertion loss of the divider is better than 0.7 dB; the measured isolation is better than 15 dB up to 1.85 GHz and better than 12.7 dB up to 2.1 GHz.