High performance dual directional couplers for near-mm wavelengths

A low loss, high directivity dual directional coupler has been developed suitable for fabrication in waveguide bands up to WR3 (220-325 GHz). The design uses waveguide split on the E plane centerline with three waveguides running side by side and coupling holes made by drilling through all three guides. Construction is relatively simple and the resulting structure is very robust mechanically. Typical coupling is 15 dB, directivity is 25-30 dB, and the insertion loss of the WR3 coupler is 0.5 dB.