Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s

Sardar Patel Institute of Technology

Department of Electronics and Telecommunication

A. Y: 2022-23 Class: T. Y. B. Tech Sem: VI

Course: Microwave Communication (EC312)

EXPERIMENT 5
Name UID Class Batch Date
Vineet Mankani 2020200040 TE EXTC A5 27/03/2023

Aim:
Design of Directional Coupler using CAD and testing Using VNA

Theory:
Working of branch line directional coupler

Software:
Ansys Electronics Desktop (HFSS Software)

Procedure:
Design and simulation of branch line (90 degree) coupler using HFSS by Dr. Niraj Kumar VIT Chennai -
YouTube

Calculation:

Insertion Loss (IL) = 10*log(P1/P2) = -20*log(|S21|)

Isolation (I) = 10*log(P1/P4) = -20*log(|S41|)
Coupling (C) = 10*log(P1/P3) = -20*log(|S31|)
Directivity (D) = 10*log(P3/P4) = 20*log(|S31|/|S41|)

Insertion Loss (IL) = -10*log(P2/P1)

Isolation (I) = -10*log(P4/P1)
Coupling (C) = -10*log(P3/P1)

Directivity
Coupling
Isolation
S matrix comparison

Objective:

Design and simulation of branch line (90 degree) coupler using HFSS
Observe modes and their corresponding cut-off frequencies
Observe S-parameters, E-field simulation, VNA image and reading and comment

Results:
S-parameters
E-field simulation
VNA image and reading
 Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s
Sardar Patel Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication

A. Y: 2022-23 Class: T. Y. B. Tech Sem: VI

Course: Microwave Communication (EC312)

Theory:

HFSS Software

HFSS, or High-Frequency Structure Simulator, is a commercial electromagnetic simulation software

developed by Ansys. It is primarily used for simulating electromagnetic fields in high-frequency and
high-speed electronic components and devices. HFSS is widely used for designing and analyzing
antennas, microwave circuits, radar systems, and other electromagnetic devices. HFSS also provides a
user-friendly interface for designing and optimizing electromagnetic structures, making it a popular
choice among engineers and researchers in the field of electromagnetics.

Branch line (90 degree) coupler

A branch line coupler is a passive device used in RF and microwave systems to split or combine
signals. It consists of four ports, with two of them being connected to a main transmission line and the
other two to branch lines that are 90 degrees apart. Signals applied to one port are split evenly between
the two output ports, while signals entering one output port are combined and delivered to the other
output port.

Working of Branch Line Directional Coupler

• A Directional coupler is an electronic device that samples a small amount of Microwave

power for measurement purposes. The power measurements include incident power,
reflected power, VSWR values, etc.

• Directional Coupler is a 4-port waveguide junction consisting of a primary main waveguide

anda secondary auxiliary waveguide.

• The coupler splits or combines signals with high isolation and minimal loss.

• It consists of four ports - input, output, and two coupled ports - and the input signal is split
equally between the two coupled ports with a 90-degree phase difference.

• At the output, the signal from one coupled port is combined with the original signal with a
90-degree phase shift, while the signal from the other coupled port is combined with the
original signal with no phase shift.

• This results in a 90-degree phase difference between the two output signals, hence the name
"90-degree hybrid."

• The coupling factor or ratio of the coupler determines the amount of signal power transferred
from the input port to the output port.
 Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s
Sardar Patel Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication

A. Y: 2022-23 Class: T. Y. B. Tech Sem: VI

Course: Microwave Communication (EC312)

Procedure:

1) Calculate the necessary dimensions for the Directional Coupler using microstrip line calculator.

2) Open HFSS and insert a new design.

3) Draw a rectangle of necessary dimensions on the 3D workspace for the ground plane.

4) Similarly draw a cube above the rectangle which is the FR4 epoxy substrate.

5) Draw another rectangle over the substrate with the outer dimensions.

6) Create an inner rectangle as well and click on the “Subtract” tab.

7) Now draw a rectangle – which are the arms/connecting lines, of the outer rectangle.

8) Repeat the above step four times for the four arms.

9) Draw four more rectangles which are the input and output ports of the arms.

10) Finally unite the entire structure.

11) Right click on each of the four ports and click "Assign Excitation", followed by "lumped port".

12) Right-click on the surrounding structures of the coupler and select "Assign Boundary",
followed by"Perfect E".

13) Create a cube surrounding the structure and right click on the box to click on "Assign
Boundary",followed by "Radiation".

14) Go to the HFSS tab, select "Analysis Setup", and add a new solution setup. Enter a frequency and
click"OK".

15) Add a frequency sweep by clicking on the "+" sign next to "Analysis Setup", right-clicking on
"Setup",and entering the frequency range over which you want to see the graph.

16) Check for any errors by going to the HFSS tab and selecting "Validation Check". If everything is
OK,analyze all.

17) To view the results, create a modal solution data report by right-clicking on "Results", select
"Rectangular Plot", and choose the S-parameter you want to display.

18) Plot the magnitude of E field and observe its different modes.
 Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s
Sardar Patel Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication

A. Y: 2022-23 Class: T. Y. B. Tech Sem: VI

Course: Microwave Communication (EC312)

Branch Line Coupler Model

Fig.: Branch line coupler model in HFSS

Observation:
1. Output S parameters:
 Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s
Sardar Patel Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication

A. Y: 2022-23 Class: T. Y. B. Tech Sem: VI

Course: Microwave Communication (EC312)

2. E-field simulations:

Remarks:

• Branch Line Directional Coupler are used to transmit electromagnetic waves, via a main
waveguideand an auxiliary wave guide, their behaviour can be described using S-parameters.

• The S parameter graph of Mode 1 indicates that maximum power is transmitted through port 2,
whilenext largest amount of power transfer is through port 3, while no power or negligible power
is transmitted through the decoupled port – port 4.

• Similarly, the E field magnitude animation indicates the voltage transmission when input is applied
toall the different ports of the directional coupler.
 Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s
Sardar Patel Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication

A. Y: 2022-23 Class: T. Y. B. Tech Sem: VI

Course: Microwave Communication (EC312)

Testing Branch Line Directional Coupler using VNA

Note: All readings are taken at 2.4 GHz

S11 S21

S31 S41
 Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s
Sardar Patel Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication

A. Y: 2022-23 Class: T. Y. B. Tech Sem: VI

Course: Microwave Communication (EC312)

Conclusion:

• Generated graphs of the S-parameters for the branch line coupler using the ANSYS HFSS design
software.
• Theoretical calculations of directivity, coupling, and isolation for the branch line coupler were
validated by comparing them with simulation results.
• Successfully generated E-field patterns using simulation tools.
• Made practical observations using a vector network analyser (VNA) on a real branch linedirectional
coupler to verify our simulated observations for the S parameters – S11, S21, S31 & S41.

END OF DOCUMENT