Directional Coupler

Directional Couplers
Four-Port
Networks

Consider a reciprocal 4-port network with

matched ports:

0
S
S 12
S13

S14

S12

S13

0
S23
S24

S23
0
S34

S14
S24

S34

There are 6 degrees of

freedom (independent S
parameters).

If lossless [S] is
unitary.
The device is called a directional coupler if:

S14 S23 0
2

Directional Couplers
Directional coupler:
0
S
S 12
S13

S12

S13

0
0

0
0

S24

S34

S24

S34

There are now 4

degrees of
freedom.

ports are matched.

power flows to port 4 from in the input port 1 (i.e., port 4 is isolated).

s 2 and 3 are isolated (power incident on port 2 does not get to port 3 and vice v

Directional Couplers
Directional coupler
symbol:

ports are matched.

power flows to port 4 from in the input port 1 (i.e., port 4 is isolated).

s 2 and 3 are isolated (power incident on port 2 does not get to port 3 and vice v

Directional Couplers
S12

S13

S13

S24

S34

0
S
12

S24

S34

From the unitary property of the matrix, we have the

following results:
2

S12 S13 1

(Dot column 1 with its conjugate)

*
S12 S13* S24 S34
0

(Dot column 2 with the conjugate of column 3)

S13 S24

(Dot column 1 dotted with its conjugate, subtract from column 2 dotted with its conjugate)

S12 S34

(Dot column 2 dotted with its conjugate, subtract from column 3 dotted with its conjugate,
and use the with previous result above)
5

Directional Couplers
(cont.)

Choose

S12 S34
S13 e j , S24 e j
The first equation is really just a choice of reference planes on
ports 2 and 3, which makes these parameters real.
2

S12 S13 1 2 2 1
*
S12 S13* S24 S34
0 e j e j 0

e j 1 e

2 n

(usually, n = 0)

Directional Couplers
(cont.)
Two possible choices:

1) Symmetrical coupler( / 2)
0

S
j

0
0
j

j
0
0

0
j

o
Example: 90 quadrature hybrid coupler

2) Anti-symmetrical coupler
0;

0
S
0

0 -
0

0
0 -

Example: 180o rat-race hybrid coupler

Directional Couplers
Assume a signal into (cont.)
port 1
Return

P1-
lossRL -10log P -20log S11
1

P1

P2

P4

P3

P1

dB

Ideally +
dB

DirectivityD

dB

P3
S

10log 20log 31 20log

S41
S41
P4

Ideally +
dB

Isolation

dB

P1
1
10log 20log
S41
P4

Ideally +
dB

Assume ports 2-4 are matched.

A hybrid coupler is one
for which the coupling is
3 dB (equal power split
at the output ports 2
and 3):
S31

Coupling C

dB

P1
1
10log 20log
-20log
P
S
31
3

1
;
2

C dB 3 dB

Note : I dB D dB C dB