ELEctromagnetic DIAgnostics Lab.

DIT Universit di Trento DIT - Universit di Trento

Via Sommarive 14, I-38050 Trento Italia
E-mail: massimo.donelli@disi.unitn.it E mail: massimo.donelli@disi.unitn.it
Microwave Microwave Microwave Devices Devices Devices
Power Power Power splitters splitters splitters///combiners combiners combiners
Master Master Degree Degree Electronic and Telecommunication Electronic and Telecommunication
A.A. A.A. 2012 2012--2013 2013
Power Splitters/Combiners
Lossless, T-junction (waveguide/microstrip).
Lossy Three resistors junction (microstrip). y j ( p)
Wilkinson power splitter (microstrip) Wilkinson power splitter (microstrip).
Lumped element splitters (microstrip, also for low
frequencies)
Lossless J unction The T-J unction power splitter
The T-junction power divider is a simple Three port network
that can be used for power division or power combining that can be used for power division or power combining.
You can develop a power splitter combiner with any kind of You can develop a power splitter combiner with any kind of
transmission line ( e. g. microstrip, waveguide).
Lossless dividers cannot be matched simultaneously at all
ports ports.
T junction T-junction
Waveguide
Lossless J unction The T-J unction power splitter
Z
0
Z
1
jB V
0
+
Z
Y
i
-
Z
2
Y
in
The T-junction power divider as all dividers, can be modeled as a junction
of three transmission lines as shown above.
In general at the junction there are fringing fields associated with the
discontinuity that can be accounted for by a lumped susceptance B.
In practical applications (especially with waveguide) when B is not In practical applications, (especially with waveguide) when B is not
negligible some types of reactive elements are added at the dividers to
keep B=0.
Lossless J unction The T-J unction power splitter
Z
0
Z
1
jB V
0
+
Z
Y
i
-
Z
2
Y
in
In order to keep the characteristic impedance of T-junction ports the
following relation should be considered:
1 1 1
Z Z Z
jB Y
in
= + + =
0 2 1
Z Z Z
j
in
Lossless J unction The T-J unction power splitter
If lossless lines are considered and if we also assume the termB=0 the
previous relation reduces to: p
1 1 1
= +
0 2 1
Z Z Z
+
The above relation tell us that the microwave device cannot be matched
on all ports.
The output line impedances Z
1
and Z
2
can be chosen to provide various e output e peda ces
1
a d
2
ca be c ose to p o de a ous
power division ratios.
To obtain the matching on all device ports quarter-waves transformers
can be used to bring the output line impedances back to the desired can be used to bring the output line impedances back to the desired
levels.
It is worth noticed that in such kind of device the output ports are not
isolated!
Example 1: 3dB T-J unction power splitter design
Design a T-J unction 3dB power splitter. A device able to equally split the
power on the two ports. Design the splitter with microstrip technology.
Th d i t b t d ith t d d 50 Oh d i t th The device must be connected with standard 50 Ohm devices at the
input and output ports.
If we consider a 50 Ohminput line a 3 dB (equal split) power divider can
be made by using two output line of 100 Ohm
Z
0
=50Ohm line
Z
1
=100 line
Z
0
=50 line
0
Lambda/4 matching
transformers
Input port
Z
0
=50Ohm line
Z
2
=100 line
Example 2: T-J unction power splitter design
Design a T-J unction power splitter. Adevice able to split the power on the
two ports with a ratio 2:1. Moreover compute the refection coefficients
l ki i t th t t t seen looking into the output ports.
V 1 1
2
0
2
0
1
V
in
P
Z
V
P
3
1
2
1
1
0
1
= =
0 1
3Z Z =
0
0
2
1
Z
V
P
in
=
in
P
Z
V
P
3
2
2
1
2
0
2
= =
0 2
2
3
Z Z =
in
Z 3 2
2
2
0 2
2
Example 2: T-J unction power splitter design
Layout of the T-J unction power splitter with a ratio 2:1 no the output ports.
Z
1
=75 line
Output port 1
Z
0
=50 line
0
Unmatched
Ports
Z
2
=150 line
Input port
Output port 2
Here we see an impedance of
Output port 2
Z
1
//Z
2
=50 line
Example 2: T-J unction power splitter design
Scattering matrix of the T-J unction power splitter with a ratio 2:1 no the
output ports.
3
2
3
1
13 12 11
0 S S S
23 22
3
1
3 3
23 22 21
13 12 11
0
S S S S S
S S S
S = =
33 32
3
2
33 32 31
S S S S S
In a good device these
In a good matched device the
diagonal should be
zero
In a good device these
Terms should be
zero
zero
Example 2: T-J unction power splitter design
Fromthe scattering matrix of the T-J unction power splitter with a ratio 2:1
we observe two main problems:
1) The output ports are coupled together so if you insert a signal in port 2
you can measure an amount of power at port 3.
2) M th di l i t th S d th S t 2) Moreover the diagonal is not zero the S
22
and the S
33
parameters are
not equal to zero, this means no matching conditions.
2 1
0 S S S
23 22
3
1
3
2
3
1
23 22 21
13 12 11
0
S S S S S
S S S
S = =
33 32
3
2
33 32 31
S S S S S
Example 2: T-J unction power splitter design
Estimation of the reflection coefficients at the three ports. Layout of the T-
J unction power splitter with a ratio 2:1 no the output ports.
Z
1
=75 line
Here we see an impedance of
Z
2
//Z
0
=37.5 line
Z
0
=50 line
2 0
0
Input port
Here we see an impedance of
Z //Z 30 li
Z
2
=150 line
Z
1
//Z
0
=30 line
Example 2: T-J unction power splitter design
Estimation of the reflection coefficients at the three ports. Layout of the
T-J unction power splitter with a ratio 2:1 no the output ports.
0 50 50
) // (
0 2 1
0
=

=
Z Z Z
100 50 50 ) // (
0 2 1
0
+ + Z Z Z
66 . 0
150 30
150 30
) // (
) // (
1 2 0
1
=
+

=
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
150 30 ) // (
1 2 0
+ Z Z Z
75 5 37 ) // ( Z Z Z
33 . 0
75 5 . 37
75 5 . 37
) // (
) // (
2 1 0
2 1 0
2
=
+

=
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
Lossy J unction The Three resistors power splitter
If a three ports divider contains lossy components it can be made to be
matched at all ports, although the two output ports may not be isolated.
The circuit of this device is shown below
R R
Port 2
R
1
R
2
R
1
R
3
Port 1
R
3
Port 3
Th i ti litt b l d id i th i it th The resistive splitter can be analyzed considering the circuit theory.
Lossy J unction The Three resistors power splitter
If we want to design a 3bB divider this means that at the two output ports
thwpower must be equally splitted.
Let us consider the different arms of the device considering an
R
Let us consider the different arms of the device considering an
impedance of Z
0
on the ports. R
2
R
1
Port 2
Port 1
Z
0
Z
t
R
3
Z
0
Z
t
Port 3
Z
0
Z
0
4
Z Z
Z
Z
If h R R R Z /3 b i t i d t th
Z
t
0 0
0
3
4
3
Z Z Z
t
= + + =
If we choose R
1
=R
2
=R
3
=Z
0
/3 we can observe an input impedance at the
center of the junction equal to Z
t
Lossy J unction The Three resistors power splitter
Z
0
/3
4/3Z
0
Z
i
Z
in
4/3Z
0
Port 1 result matched and since the device is completely symmetrical
also the other ports result matched.
0 0 0
1 2
Z Z Z Z
in
= + =
0 0 0
3 3
in
Lossy J unction The Three resistors power splitter
If the voltage at Port 1 is V
1
, then the voltage V
t
at the center of the
junction is given by:
3
2
2
0
V V V
Z
= =
1 1
0 0
3
3
2
3
V V
Z Z
V
t
=
+
=
The voltages at Port 1 and two is half of the voltage V
1
at Port 1,
remember this is a 3dB power splitter
1
0
3 2
2
1
4
3
V V V
Z
Z
V V
t t
= = = =
remember this is a 3dB power splitter.
1
0
0
3 2
2 4
3
Z
Z
t t
+
Lossy J unction The Three resistors power splitter
The scattering matrix of the three resistors 3dB power splitter is reported
in the following:
1) The output ports are still coupled together so if you insert a signal in
port 2 you can measure an amount of power at port 3.
2) Nowsince this is a lossy device the diagonal of the scattering matrix is 2) Nowsince this is a lossy device the diagonal of the scattering matrix is
zero, this means that all the ports are matched.
0
0
1 1
2
1
2
1
13 12 11
= = S S S
S S S
S
0
0
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
33 32 31
23 22 21
= =
S S S
S S S S
Since S
21
=S
31
=S
23
=1/2 at Port 1, this means that we have -6dB below
the input power level at port 1 since half of the input power is lost the input power level at port 1, since half of the input power is lost
(dissipated) in the resistors.
Lossy J unction The Three resistors power splitter
Concerning the power at the ports we can consider the following relations:
0
2
1
1
2
1
Z
V
P P
in
= =
This is the power at Port 1
0
( )
2
( )
in
P
Z
V
Z
V
P P
4
1
8
1
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
2
1
3 2
= = = =
This is the power at Port 2
and Port 3
8
0 0
Th l t ti h th t h lf f th l i di i t d i th The last equation shows that half of the supply power is dissipated in the
resistors.
Lossy J unction The Wilkinson power splitter
T-junction splitter cannot be matched at all ports moreover the output
ports are not isolated.
The three resistors splitters is a lossy device you can match all ports but
the two output ports are still coupled the two output ports are still coupled.
We can use a lossy device with the output ports uncoupled this device is
the Wilkinson device, fromthe name of his inventor.
The Wilkinson device can be made to gives an arbitrary power division The Wilkinson device can be made to gives an arbitrary power division
but at first we analyze the classical 3dB case.
The Wilkinson device can be realized with waveguide or microstrip, the
most used is the microstrip splitter composed with two segments of
lambda/4 transmission lines and a resistor lambda/4 transmission lines and a resistor.
Lossy J unction The Wilkinson power splitter
The structure of the device is reported below:
0
2Z
0
Z
0
Z
0
2Z
0
Z
To analyze this device we must normalize
4 /
0
To analyze this device we must normalize
considering Z
0
the impedance of the
transmission lines and considering the
different simmetry of the device different simmetry of the device
This device could be analyzed consideringan anlogy with electronic circuits
Even/Odd analysis of the Wilkinson power splitter
This device could be analyzed consideringan anlogy with electronic circuits
If we want to know the response of the devices at Port 2, we could insert a generator V
g2
=4V with p g
g2
Port 3 (V
g3
) closedon a short. We used a similar techniques for the estimation of the [Y] matrix.
Or we can use more efficient analysis is considering V
g2
=V
g3
=2V and then V
g2
=-V
g3
=2V: the
sumof the two different effects produce the deired result.
The technique that considers these two different excitations (symmetric and anti-
symmetric) is more simple if the device is symmetrical. The device simmetry permits to
consider the two output port as isolated and to study the device as a simple two ports p p y p p
device.
This kind of analisys is called even/odd analisys and we will use it for other
If the two generators Vg2 and Vg3 presents the same voltages V2 = V3 The current
Even/Odd analysis of the Wilkinson power splitter
If the two generators Vg2, and Vg3 presents the same voltages V2 = V3. The current
cant flow through the resistor. The resistor could be removed, and also the junction at
the input node could be seen like an open circuit
2V
2V
2V
2V
2V
Along the horizontal axis the current cant flow because the two generators
impose the same potential: there is a so called magnetic wall
Even/Odd analysis of the Wilkinson power splitter
2V
2V
2V 2V
The upper/lower segment of the device are simple quarter wave lenght lines
closed on a resistor (R=2). The impedance at Port 2 is given by:
2
Z
2
Z
Z
e
in
=
This lead to a matching condition on port 2, and thanks to the simmetry also
0 0
11 22
= =
e
e
S S
on port 3.
Even/Odd analysis of the Wilkinson power splitter
2V
2V
2V 2V
The upper/lower segment of the device are simple quarter wave lenght lines
closed on a resistor (R=2). The impedance at Port 2 is given by:
) ( ) (
z j z j z j z j
e e V e V e V x V

+ +
+ +
) ( ) (
j j j j
e e V e V e V x V

+ = + =
Now we need V
1
and V
2
and we know that the impedance at node 2 is 1, so
we obtain a resistive divider and V
2
is given by:
V jV V V
e
= + = =
+
) 1 ( ) (
4
2

we obtain a resistive divider and V
2
is given by:
1
1
) 1 ( ) 0 (
1

+
= + = =
+
jV V V V
e
Even/Odd analysis of the Wilkinson power splitter
2V
2V
2V 2V
2 2
1 V
S
e
2
2 2
2 2
1
jV V
e
=
+
=
2
1
2
21
j
jV
V
S
e
=

=
Even/Odd analysis of the Wilkinson power splitter
If the two generators Vg2, and Vg3 presents the same voltages but V2 = -V3. we are in g g g g
the odd mode. There is a voltage null in the middle of the circuit. Thus we can bisect the
circuit by grounding it at two points on its midplane and obtain:
2V
-2V
This is an electric wall
Even/Odd analysis of the Wilkinson power splitter
L ki i t P t 2 i d f /2 i th ll l Looking into Port 2, we seen an impedance of r/2, since the parallel
connected transmission line is quarter wave long shorted at port 1 so it
looks like an open circuit at port 2
Thus port 2 will be matched only if we choose r equal to at this point we
obtain that the return loss for the odd mode is given by: g y
0 0
11 22
= =
o
o
S S
Concerning the insertion loss parameters we have short all power is
delivered toward the resistor place in the middle so the contribute delivered toward the resistor place in the middle so the contribute
0 0
13 12
= =
o
o
S S
13 12
Fi ll i t fi d th i t i d t t 1 f th Wilki di id
Even/Odd analysis of the Wilkinson power splitter
Finally, we muist find the input impedance at port 1 of the Wilkinson divider
when ports 2 and 3 are terminated with matched load. It is similar to the
previous even mode we can remove the central resistor
The input impedance is given by this simple formula since it is the parallel
between two quarter wave transformers:
( ) 1 2
2
1
2
= =
in
Z
Even/Odd analysis of the Wilkinson power splitter
Summarizing the scattering matrix of the 3dB Wilkinson power splitter is Summarizing the scattering matrix of the 3dB Wilkinson power splitter is
reported in the following:
0 0
0
2
2 2
23 22 21
13 12 11
j
j j
S S S
S S S
S


= =
0 0
0 0
2
2
33 32 31
23 22 21
j
S S S
S S S S

Note that when the divider is driven at port 1 and the output ports are
t h d Th d i i l l l fl t d f t 2 3 i matched. The device is lossless, only reflected power fromports 2 or 3 is
dissipated in the resistor. Moreover the two output ports are isolated.
Wilkinson power splitter with lumped elements
The wilkinson is realized with two quarter wave transformers but if you The wilkinson is realized with two quarter wave transformers but if you
need compactness you can simply remove the two quarterwave lines
and simulate they with a Pi-Greca network realized with two capacitors
and one inductor: and one inductor:
1
C
0
Z
L
0 0
2 Z f
C
eq

=
0
0
2 f
L
eq

=
This technique could be used also for lowfrequencies and high power.