A Compact Wideband Branch Line Coupler for Lower 5G Applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13052/2024.ACES.J.390407Keywords:
5G, branch line coupler, compact size, direct coupling, waveguideAbstract
This paper presents a new design approach of a compact wideband branch line coupler based on waveguide technique at 3.5 GHz. At the lower band of 5G technology, microwave devices such as hybrid couplers tend to be narrower in bandwidth and big in size, in addition to the phase difference error produced by using common planar technology. Therefore, waveguide technology aims to solve those challenges. This work aims to design a compact wideband coupler by implementing a direct coupling aperture between two waveguides with a cutting in the narrow wall of the structure. This technique helps in obtaining a wide bandwidth and reduces the size of the whole structure. The coupler is simulated using computer software technology and fabricated using CNC machining. The measured S-parameters of the coupler are observed to have low loss properties with return loss and isolation less than −10 dB. The coupling factor at the outputs are −3.21 dB with low loss of −0.2 dB. The measured phase error is about 2∘ at 3.5 GHz. A size reduction of 70% is observed compared to conventional waveguides and planar couplers. Overall, this coupler shows great performance that could be used for 5G beamforming applications.
Downloads
References
M. Almeshehe, N. Murad, M. Rahim, O. Ayop, N. Samsuri, M. Aziz, and M. Osman, “Surface roughness impact on the performance of the 3D metal printed waveguide coupler at millimeterwave band,” Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal, vol. 35, pp. 129-139,2022.
R. Dehdasht-Heydari, K. Forooraghi, and M. Naser-Moghadasi, “Efficient and accurate analysis of a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) rat-race coupler excited by four U-shape slot-coupled transitions,” Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 42-49, 2015.
N. Shukor, N. Seman, and T. Abd Rahman, “Wideband multi-port network integrated by 3-dB branch-line couplers,” Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 764-771, 2018.
A. Bekasiewicz, “Miniaturized dual-band branch-line coupler with enhanced bandwidth,” Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, vol. 61, no. 6, pp. 1441-1444, 2019.
A. K. Vallappil, M. K. A. Rahim, B. A. Khawaja, and M. Aminu-Baba, “Metamaterial based compact branch-line coupler with enhanced bandwidth for use in 5G applications,” Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 700-708, 2020.
Z. Mansouri, M. Kishihara, F. B. Zarrabi, and F. Geran, “Modified broadband half mode substrate integrated waveguide cruciform coupler,” Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, vol. 29, no. 11, pp. 881-886, Aug.2021.
T. Yasui, J.-I. Sugisaka, and K. Hirayama, “Structural optimization of an optical 90 degree hybrid based on a weakly guided 4x4 multimode interference coupler using a parallelized real-coded micro-genetic algorithm,” Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, vol. 36, no. 05, pp. 526-532, July 2021.
A. A. Abbas and B. S. Samet, “A compact high gain wideband metamaterial antenna for sub-6 GHz applications,” Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, vol. 37, no. 08, pp. 886-892, Jan. 2023.
Z. Mousavirazi, M. M. M. Ali, H. N. Gheisanab, and T. A. Denidni, “Analysis and design of ultra-wideband PRGW hybrid coupler using PEC/PMC waveguide model,” Scientific Reports, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 2-15, 2022.
G. Simoncini, R. Rossi, F. Alimenti, and R. Vincenti Gatti, “Single-ridge waveguide compact and wideband hybrid couplers for X/Ku-band applications,” Electronics, vol. 11, no. 10, pp. 1538-1550, 2022.
D. Sun and J. Xu, “Rectangular waveguide coupler with adjustable coupling coefficient using gap waveguide technology,” Electronics Letters, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 167-169, Feb. 2017.
J. Ma, “A highly directional eight-hole coupling circular waveguide coupler,” International Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering, vol. 32, no. 8, 2022.
Z. Zhang, Y. Fan, and Y. Zhang, “Multilayer half-mode substrate integrated waveguide wideband coupler with high selectivity,” Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, vol. 34, no. 9, pp. 1418-1425, 2019.
