Rigorous Approach for Design of Differential Coupled-Line Directional Couplers Applicable in Integrated Circuits and Substrate-Embedded Networks

We report rigorous approach for the design of differential coupled-line directional couplers in multilayer dielectric structures. In the proposed procedure numerically calculated per-unit-length parameters of coupled transmission lines are utilized for derivation of differential couplers’ properties. The known description technique with multimode scattering parameters has been extended to the eight-ports considered in the paper and the properties resulting from symmetry of the considered networks have been shown. Exemplary 3-dB and 8-dB coupled-line directional couplers have been designed and experimentally evaluated. Nodal to mixed-mode conversion of scattering parameters has been applied to allow for measurements of the physically realized models. Results of measurements are shown to confirm the presented theoretical considerations.