FOUR PORT COUPLERS

1) THE BRANCH-LINE COUPLER

2) THE RAT-RACE COUPLER

 THE BRANCH-LINE COUPLER

λ/4
4 3
Z1
λ/4
Z2
1 2
Z1

The branch-line coupler is a four port network consisting of two main lines coupled
by two quarter- wave length lines spaced by λ/4. Since the structure is reciprocal and
simmetrical the following conditions can be imposed on the scattering parameters:

S11 = S22 = S33 = S44 , S21 = S12 = S34 = S43

S31 = S13 = S42 = S24 , S41 = S14 = S23 = S32

Therefore the branch line is characterized by four parameters: S11, S21, S31, S41.
These parameters can be computed as function of Z1 and Z2.
The matching condition S11 = 0 gives:

1
2
1 1
= 2− 2 (1)
Z 0 Z1 Z 2

It can be demonstrated that if equation (1) is fulfilled the following expressions

for S21, S31 and S41 can be obtained:

S 21 = − j
Z1
(2) , S 31 = −
Z1
(3) , S 41 = 0 (4)
Z0 Z2

Therefore the input signal at port 1 is divided at the output ports 2 and 3
with port 4 isolated. Moreover, there is a 90° phase difference between the
waves appearing at ports 2 and 3.
 POWER CONSIDERATION

For an input wave a1 on port 1 we have two output waves b2 , b3 on ports 2 and 3

2 2
b2 2 a1 2
b2 = S 21a1  = S 21  Pout 2 = S 21 Pin
2 2
2 2
b3 a1
b3 = S 31a1  = S 31
2
 Pout 3 = S 31 Pin
2

2 2

where Pout 2 is the power of the output wave on port 2, Pout 3 is the power of the
output wave on port 3, and Pin is the power of the input wave on port 1.
Thus we obtain :
2 2
Pout 2 S 21 Pin S 21
= =
Pout 3 S 31 Pin S 31 2
2
 The 3-dB configuration

If the input power must be equally divided at ports 2 and 3 we have:

S 21 =
Z1
= S 31 =
Z1
 Z2 = Z0 (5)
Z0 Z2

The characteristic impedance Z1 can be obtained introducing (5) in (1):

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 Z0
= − = −  =  Z1 = ( 6)
Z 02 Z12 Z 22 Z12 Z 02 Z12 Z 02 2

Equations (2), (3), (5) and (6) provide for the scattering parameters S21 and S31 :

Z1 j Z1 1
S21 = − j =− , S31 = − =−
Z0 2 Z2 2
The 3-dB configuration
The amplitude of the scattering parameter Smn is expressed in decibels (dB) as:

20 log10 |Smn| dB
NUMERICAL SIMULATION BY MICROWAVE OFFICE
 THE RAT-RACE COUPLER

b
The rat-race coupler is a ring
structure with four ports
connected to external Z0
lines. This component is
reciprocal and has the
symmetry plane bc.
Therefore the following
conditions hold true:

S11 = S44 , S33 = S22 , S21 = S12 = S34 = S43

S31 = S13 = S42 = S24 , S41 = S14 , S23 = S32

 b
When a wave is fed into
port 1, it will not appear
at port 3 because the
difference of phase shifts
for the waves traveling in
the clockwise and in the
counterclockwise directions
is 180°. Thus the waves
are canceled at port 3.
c

In conclusion for such a device we have can find:

S31 = S13 = S42 = S24 = 0

 Furthermore, if the following condition is fulfilled :

a
2 1
Y +Y = 2 b
2
(7 )
Z0
the remaining scattering parameters are given by:

S11 = S 44 = S33 = S 22 = 0 , S 21 = S12 = S34 = S 43 = − jYb Z 0 (8)

S 41 = S14 = jYa Z 0 (9) , S 23 = S32 = − jYa Z 0 (10)

In conclusion an input signal at port 1 is divided at the output ports 2 and 4 with
port 3 isolated. Moreover, there is a 180° phase difference between the output
waves at ports 2 and 4. An input signal at port 2 is divided at ports 1 and 3 with
port 4 isolated.
 The 3-dB configuration

If the input power at port 1 must be equally divided at ports 2 and 4 we have:

S21 = Yb Z 0 = S41 = Ya Z 0  Yb = Ya (11)

Equations (7) and (11) provide:

a
2
b
21
Y + Y = 2Y = 2 a
2
 Ya =
1
(12)
Z0 Z0 2

Therefore the characteristic impedance Za of the annular line is:

Z a = Z 0 2 = 70.7  (13)
 For the scattering parameters the following expressions are obtained:

j j j
S21 = − jYa Z 0 = − , S41 = jYa Z 0 = , S23 = − jYa Z 0 = −
2 2 2
2 3
a1 = incident wave at port 1
1 4
a3 = incident wave at port 3

b2 = S 21a1 + S 23 a3 = −
j
a1 −
j
a3 = −
j
(a1 + a3 )
2 2 2

b4 = S 41a1 + S 43 a3 =
j
a1 −
j
a3 = −
j
(a3 − a1 )
2 2 2
NUMERICAL SIMULATION BY MICROWAVE OFFICE
APPENDIX
 POWER CONSIDERATION FOR THE RAT-RACE DIVIDER

For an input wave a1 on port 1 we have two output waves b2 , b4 at ports 2 and 4

2 2
b2 2 a1 2
b2 = S 21a1  = S 21  Pout 2 = S 21 Pin
2 2
2 2
b4 a1
b4 = S 41a1  = S 41
2
 Pout 4 = S 41 Pin
2

2 2

where Pout 2 is the power of the output wave at port 2, Pout 4 is the power of the
output wave at port 4, and Pin is the power of the input wave at port 1.
Thus we obtain :
2 2
Pout 2 S 21 Pin S 21
= =
Pout 4 S 41 Pin S 41 2
2