Analytical Design Procedure for Forward Wave Couplers in RGW Technology Based on Hybrid PEC/PMC Waveguide Model

In this paper, a systematic design methodology of a 0dB and a 3dB forward couplers based on the ridge gap waveguide (RGW) technology is presented. This methodology is based on exact theoretical formulations rather than any approximate or empirical equations. The procedure of the proposed design methodology is mainly to build a virtual equivalent waveguide model. This waveguide has two horizontal upper and lower perfect electric conductor (PEC) walls, while the left and the right walls are made of perfect magnetic conductors (PMC). A detailed analysis for this hybrid PEC/PMC waveguide, a common waveguide for coupling, is introduced as the starting phase for designing the RGW couplers. The equivalent RGW coupler that assures the same operation of the hybrid PEC/PMC waveguide at a specific frequency range is deduced based on detailed theoretical aspects. Moreover, a simple analyzing of transitional bends and phase shifters with accurate calculations is presented in this paper, which are the fundamental building blocks of several mmW components such as the six-port junction and the butler matrix. The possibility of tuning the coupler center frequency is introduced without the need of using any nonlinear elements. The resulting RGW couplers are implemented through well-known full wave simulator (Ansoft HFSS), with verification through prototype measurements in order to confirm the validity of the proposed methodology. A good agreement is achieved between measurement and simulation results.