International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882

Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2016

Optimum Design of 4X4 Symmetrically Structured Butler Matrix

Snehal Vijaykumar Kalam1, Anirudh Bhagwandas Rathi2
Department of ENTC, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune, India-411038
2
Department of EXTC, Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, Mumbai, India-400050
1

Abstract

II.

The field of high speed communication has been

developing on a fast pace in the recent years. Multiple
signals get affected by delay, multipath fading and
interface which occurs by means of refraction, scattering
and diffraction. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a
system that increase efficiency, performance of the
wireless system and focuses the signal only in desired
direction to obtain maximum benefits. Smart antennas
use switched beam system to overcome the difficulties.
This paper presents optimum design of 4X4 Butler
Matrix array, operating at 2.45GHz to be used in
wireless systems with FR4 substrate. Compactness of the
system depends on the symmetrical design of the matrix.
Every individual component is designed and lain
together on single substrate with commercial software
HFSS. Simulated and fabricated results are compared
and presented.
Keywords: Beam-forming network; micro-strip antenna
array; switched beam system; symmetrical structure;
Wireless system

I.

INTRODUCTION

Smart antenna system allows improved wireless

performance and higher capacity in wireless networks.
This can be attained by efficiently minimizing multipath
components that create interference during signal
transmission and spatial filtering which separate
overlapping signals from multiple users [5]. The system
can focus the radiation in single desired direction and
can adjust itself according to varying environment and
traffic conditions [2]. The technology utilizes multiple
beam forming network (M-BFN) which is a set of
radiating elements in the form of an array. The signals
from these elements are combined to form a switchable
or movable beam pattern to facilitate user [6].
Smart antenna is most often utilized with either switched
beam system or adaptive array antennas [5]. Switched
beam system is often implemented for its simplicity in
design over adaptive array antenna. The system forms
multiple fixed beams with enhanced sensitivity in
specific area. It works on the principal of selecting a
beam among several predetermined fixed phase shifts in
the array feed and switching from one phase shift to
another to follow the desired user [2].This paper
introduces 4X4 planar Butler Matrix array as a key
component of switched beam system.

BUTLER MATRIX

Butler Matrix was first introduced by Jesse Butler and

Ralph Lowe in [1]. It is a beam-forming network
which creates multiple fixed overlapping beams to cover
the designated angular area. It is a NXN passive
reciprocal network, hence it can be used for both
reception as well transmission [3][2]. The basic
properties of a butler matrix are isolation between input
and output, linearity in phase with respect to the position
of output and the increment in phase depending upon the
selection of input. Power fed at input port of Butler
Matrix Is equally divided and is present at all output
ports which are given to antenna array. Butler Matrix is
known for its easy implementation consisting of few
components. Butler Matrix is associated with insertion
and power loss due to the present components and
irregularities in copper lines but beam angle and beamwidth are inclined to differ with frequency.
Major components of Butler Matrix are 90 Degree
Hybrid coupler, Crossover and Phase shifter [1]. It is
implemented with micro-strip line technique because of
the advantages of easy production methods i.e. simple
fabrication and minimal cost [2][7]. System can provide
narrow beams in different directions with higher gain
since it is fabricated together on the same substrate. This
paper presents the optimum design and the simulation
results of all its individual components &symmetrical
structured 4x4 Butler matrix array operating in ISM
band with center frequency of 2.45GHz.

III.

EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

The Butler matrix is formed using four 90-degree

hybrids, one zero dB crossover, two 45-degree phase
shifters and two zero-degree phase shifters to design a
symmetrical structure. The final design is fabricated on
FR4 board, with substrate height of 1.6mm, r = 4.4.
1] 90 Degree Hybrid

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Fig.1 Geometry of 90degree hybrid

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2016

The 90-degree Hybrid is a 4-port circuit which generates

signals 90 degree out of phase at its outputs [7]. From
the above figure it is apparent that the hybrid has four
ports, port 1 is the input port, port 2 is the output port,
port 3 is the coupled port and port 4 is the isolated port.
When power is applied at the port 1 it gets equally
distributed to port 2 and port 3, wherein port 4 is isolated
as power does not reach that port. Signals at port 2 and
port 3 are equal in amplitude and has 90-degree phase
difference. Perimeter of inside square is equivalent to
one wavelength with two 50 and two 35 transmission
lines with /4 length [6].
2] Crossover

Since the phase shift is implemented using simple

transmission line, dielectric constant of microstrip line is
linearly frequency dependent [6]

IV.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Initially all necessary mathematical calculations for

finding the precise dimensions of all the individual
components is done and then each component is
individually implemented and simulated using HFSS.
After receiving satisfying results all the individual
components are laid together on single substrate to
design Butler Matrix on HFSS. Finally, the Testing of
the hardware fabricated was done by using Vector
Network Analyzer to measure S-parameters.
1]90 Degree Hybrid
90 hybrid is made by two main transmission lines shunt
connected by two secondary branch lines [7].
Mathematical equations used to design hybrid are given
below, for Z0 44- 2r,

Where

Fig.2 Geometry of crossover

A microwave crossover is a circuit which allows the
crossing of two microwave transmission lines while
maintaining a proper isolation between them [7]. It is
used to transmit information from one hybrid coupler to
another without loss of information. Signal occurs only
at diagonal port with theoretically no insertion loss and
small power emerges from the remaining two ports.
High isolation can be attained between two crossing
signal [8] [9]. Various techniques are involved with
design of crossover but the major disadvantage is it
becomes very complex to implement and needs
professional help for fabrication process. Therefore, in
this paper crossover is designed by cascading two 90
degree hybrids with minor line width alteration.
3] Phase Shifter
The Phase Shifters are the devices that allow the antenna
beam to be steered in the desired direction without
physically repositioning the antenna [2]. In this paper,
two separate 0 degree and 45-degree phase shifters are
implemented. The length difference corresponding to
desired phase shift is given by following formulas
= /
The phase constant () is given by,
= 2 / eff
Effective wavelength in material is given as,
eff =air * Vp
Phase velocity is,
Vp = 1/

W is width of microstrip lines and h is height of FR4

substrate. Length of microstrip line is calculated by the
following formula

Where, f = operating frequency , c = speed of light, r =

effective dielectric constant [2].

Fig.3 Optimum design of 90degree hybrid at 2.45GHz

Fig.4 90 phase shift between 2 output ports at 2.44GHz

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2016

2] Crossover
The crossover is implemented by cascade of the two
90degree hybrids with slight modification on line
widths. Design calculation of all the arms is similar to
Hybrid design. The Impedance of central joining arm is
25 [7]. Optimum design is given below.

are 130.67x176.60mm. Optimum design is shown

below.

Fig.8 Optimum design of Butler Matrix at 2.45GHz

Fig.5 Optimum design of crossover in HFSS
3] Phase Shifter
In this paper 0 and 45 degree phase shifters are used.
The phase shifter is implemented using the microstrip
lines and the length of the microstrip lines are calculated
by standard equations.

Fig.9 Return Loss S22=-45.5dB at 2.4GHz

Fig. 6 Phase shifting: 46 at 2.5GHz

Fig.10 Measured phase shift at output ports at 2.45GHz

when port 1 is excited
Fig.7 Phase Shifting: -0.9 at 2.4GHz
4] Butler Matrix
From the previous discussion it is apparent that all the
individual components are designed and simulated. The
simulation results of the components are suitable. Now
all the individual components are combined on a single
substrate FR4 to implement the butler matrix array.
Butler Matrix is designed with a Symmetrical structure
to optimize a size of the patch. Dimensions of the patch
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Fig.11 Fabricated Butler Matrix feed network

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2016

Table 1: Summary of Practical results for Butler Matrix

Parameters

Simulated
Results

Measured
Results

Coupling Loss(S15)

-10.21

-15.10

Coupling Loss(S16)

-13.90

-10.42

Coupling Loss(S17)

-15.67

-16.40

Coupling Loss(S18)

-12.34

-14.82

Phase Shift (S15)

0.98

1.28

Phase Shift (S16)

90.78

90.48

Phase Shift (S17)

138.97

136.40

Phase Shift (S18)

46.92

45.82

Return Loss(S22)

-45.58

-31.22

Isolation (S13)

-25.61

-20.12

Isolation (S34)

-20.26

-23.65

V.

CONCLUSION

This paper presents implementation of beam forming

network using micro-strip technique operating in ISM
band for wireless applications. Elements of butler matrix
like crossover, phase shifter and hybrid coupler are
designed individually through modeling and simulation
procedures. Some losses occur in simulation results of
individual elements and complete structure. To minimize
them, symmetrical patterned network has been
implemented for the optimum Butler Matrix design. The
use of such symmetry made the design more compact
and less sensitive to high power losses which results in
better performance. The reflection, coupling, isolation
effects of design are simulated and measured.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to thank Prof. Raghunath Bhadade for his
guidance for the entire project and Prof. Shriniwas
Metan, who gave me the idea to write a research paper
on this topic Hearty thanks to Mr. Pratik Puppal, my
colleague, who reviewed the content and gave a valuable
input.

REFERENCES
[1] Jesse Butler, Ralph Lowe, Beam-Forming Matrix
Simplifies Design of Electronically Scanned Antennas,
Electronic Design, volume 9, PP. 170-173, April 12,
1961
[2] Wriddhi Bhowmik, Shweta Shrivastava, Optimum
design of 4x4 planar butler matrix array for WLAN
Application, journal of telecommunications, volume
2,Issue 1,PP. 68-74,April 2010
[3] Balram Sahu,Design and implementation of 4x4
Butler Matrix Indian institute of science, Bangalore
[4] Mr. Sanjay Bansidhar Akhade, Prof. F I Shaikh,
Application of Butler Matrix in Switched Beam Smart
Antenna,International Journal of Engineering Research
& Technology (IJERT),Vol. 3 Issue 5, May 2014
[5] Kshirsagar, Malge, PlanerImplementation of
switched beam antenna using Butler Matrix feed
network, International journal of pure and applied
research in engineering and technology, Vol 3,
November 2014
[6] Ajay kumar yadav, Vishal Upmanu, Satyendra kr.
Yadav, Design and Analysis of a Beam Forming
Network for WLAN Application, International Journal
of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology
(IJSRET), Volume 1,Issue 6,PP 004-009 September
2012
[7] Henrik Nord, Implementation of 8x8 Butler Matrix
in Microstrip, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.
[8] Tomader Mazri, Fatima Riouch and Najiba El
Amrani El Idrissi, Application of Butler Matrix to a Tree
Structure of Microstrip Antenna array, IJCSI
International Journal of Computer science issues, Vol
8,issue 4,No 2,PP. 274-279,July 2011.
[9] Joel Barry, Amanda Kristoff, Mia Mujezinovic,
Michael Pecoraro 4X4 X-Band Butler Matrices as
antenna beam formers, Rochester Institute of
Technology, New York, January 2009.

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