UNIT – IV

POWER DIVIDERS AND

COUPLERS
Introduction
Power Dividers
In power division, an input signal is
divided into two (or more) output
signals of lesser power.
Three-port networks take the form of
T-junctions and other power dividers
Power dividers usually provide in-
phase output signals with an equal
power division ratio (3 dB), but
unequal power division ratios are
also possible.
Couplers
power coupler accepts two or more
input signals and combines them at
an output port.
Four-port networks take the form of
directional couplers and hybrids
Directional couplers can be designed
for arbitrary power division, while
hybrid junctions usually have equal
power division. Hybrid junctions have
either a 90◦ or a 180◦ phase shift
between the output ports.
Circulator
Three-Port Networks (T-Junctions)
• The simplest type of power divider is a T-junction, which is a three-port network with two inputs and one
output. The scattering matrix of an arbitrary three-port network has nine independent elements:

If the device is passive and contains no anisotropic materials, then it must be reciprocal and its scattering matrix will be
symmetric (Si j = Sji ).
If all ports are matched, then Sii = 0, and if the network is reciprocal, the scattering matrix reduces to

• If the network is also lossless, then energy conservation requires that

the scattering matrix satisfy these conditions:
Power Division (3-port network)
 Four-Port Networks (Directional
Couplers)
The s- matrix for a 4-port network is given by Satisfying the unitary condition for a lossless network

It is customary to choose S12, S34, S13, S24 as

• Further application of unitary condition yields:       2n

• Letting n = 0, there are 2 choices that is commonly
used in practice.
•  =  = /2:  = 0,  = :

1. Asymmetric Coupler:  =  = π/2

2. Antisymmetric Coupler:  = 0,  = π
Few Problems
•A 20dBm power source is connected to the input of a directional coupler having a coupling factor of 20dB, a directivity of
35dB and an insertion loss of 0.5dB. If all ports are matched, find the output power (in dBm) at the through, coupled and
isolated ports.

•A directional coupler has the scattering matrix given below. Find the return loss, coupling factor, directivity and
insertion loss. Assume that the ports are terminated in matched loads.
Wilkinson power divider – even and odd mode analysis

Microstrip Wilkinson power divider and its equivalent circuit for analysis