Microstrip Branch-Line Couplers for Crossover Application

The branch-line coupler may be redesigned for crossover application. The bandwidth of such a coupler can be extended by suitably incorporating additional sections into the composite design. Laboratory tests on microstrip prototypes have shown the return loss and isolation of the three- and four-section couplers to be better than 20 dB over bandwidths of 22% and 33%, respectively. The insertion losses and group delays vary by less than +/- 0.05 dB and +/- 1 ns, respectively, for both prototypes.