A PIN diode controlled variable attenuator using a 0-dB branch-line coupler

We describe a simple PIN diode controlled variable attenuator that employs a 0-dB branch line directional coupler. The response of the attenuator was measured between 1.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz. At the center frequency, the attenuation monotonically varied from 0.7 dB to 23 dB with the control voltage, and the distributed branch-line coupler structure resulted in low input reflection. Our attenuator is easier to design, smaller in area than a double hybrid coupled attenuator, and has comparable or better reflection and attenuation performance characteristics.