Analysis of Microstrip Branchline Coupler using Sonnetlite
Parul Dawar Dept. of ECE, GGSIPU University, Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India
Abstract compatible with circuit construction techniques to provide guided
This paper deals with analysis of S-parameters for microstip waves over limited distances. This was realized with a planar branchline coupler for frequency ranging from 4 to 6 GHz . Several form of single wire transmission line over a ground plane, called types of microwave quadrature hybrids have been reported for microstrip as shown in fig. 1. the realization of balanced circuits, matched attenuators, and phase shifters. The branch-line coupler is one of the most popular hybrids for the convenience of design and implementation. But, it offers limited bandwidth and requires a large circuit area. Thus, in this paper, a study and investigation of the simulation performance of microstrip branchline coupler is to be carried out using SONNET.
Keywords Broadband Branchline Hybrid, 90 0 Hybrid, Multisection Fig. 1: Microstripline Branchline Coupler, SONNET PLANAR TOOLS Microstrip employs a flat strip conductor suspended above a I. Planar Tools ground plane by a low-loss dielectric material. The size of the All of today’s commercial planar tools can be divided into two circuit can be reduced through judicious use of a dielectric constant groups: shielded and open. Shielded environment tools analyze some 2-10 times that of free space (or air), with a penalty that the planar circuits in an enclosing rectangular box.These tools include existence of two different dielectric constants (below and above the Sonnet, AWR EMSight, and Eagleware EMPOWER. Open strip) makes the circuit difficult to analyze in closed form (and also environment tools have dielectric substrates going to infinity in introduces a variability of propagation velocity with frequency all horizontal directions. These tools include Agilent Momentum, that can be a limitation on some applications). The advantages Zeland IE3D, and Ansoft Ensemble. Both approaches involve of microstrip have been well established, and it is a convenient trade offs. The informed designer can select the appropriate tool form of transmission line structure for probe measurements of based on design requirements. voltage, current and waves. Microstrip structures are also used in integrated semiconductor form, directly interconnected in II. 3-D Planar High Frequency EM Software microwave integrated circuits. Sonnet’s suites of high-frequency electromagnetic (EM) Software are aimed at today’s demanding design challenges involving B. Microstrip Branchline Coupler predominantly planar (3D planar) circuits and antennas. Generally branch-line couplers are 3dB, four ports directional Predominantly planar circuits include microstrip, stripline, couplers having a 90° phase difference between its two output coplanar waveguide, PCB (single and multiple layers) and ports named through and coupled arms. Branch-line couplers (also combinations with vias, vertical metal sheets (z-directed strips), named as Quadrature Hybrid) are often made in microstrip or and any number of layers of metal traces embedded in stratified stripline form. Fig 2, shows branchline coupler in microstripline dielectric material. form. The Sonnet® Suites™ develop precise RF models (S-, Y-, Z-parameters or extracted SPICE model) for planar circuits and antennas. The software requires a physical description of your circuit (arbitrary layout and material properties for metal and dielectrics), and employs a rigorous Method-of-Moments EM analysis based on Maxwell’s equations that includes all parasitic, cross-coupling, enclosure and package resonance effects. Sonnet maintains a single, dedicated focus on providing the industry’s most accurate and reliable high frequency planar EM software. Our aim is to make it easy for our customers to either develop and analyze designs within our software, or to incorporate Fig. 2: Microstrip Branchline Coupler our tools into their existing design processes and frameworks. Customers need never commit to a proprietary framework in order It has a high degree of symmetry since any port can be used as to get the best in planar EM analysis. the input port, with output ports always being on the opposite side of the junction from the input port, and the isolated port III. Structures remaining on the same side as the input port. The 900 phase I have analysed microstrip branchline coupler. difference alters over ±50 for a 10% change in frequency around the center frequency . A. Microstripline A coupled line configuration can be used instead to achieve a As circuits have been reduced in size with integrated semiconductor higher bandwidth over a multi section branchline hybrid, but these electron devices, a transmission structure was required that was are difficult to be actualized if Microwave Monolithic Integrated
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Circuit (MMIC) implementation is used since branchline couplers
offer the advantage of being realized using slot lines in the ground plane of a microstrip circuit.
C. Design and Simulation
Considering the dimensions of the coupler the length of the branch line and series line is generally chosen as the one fourth of the design wavelength . As it is shown in fig. 2, if we name the length of series and stub transmission lines as L then L can be find as following:
(1) According to the impedance choice of the series and stub microstrip Fig. 5: transmission lines we can calculate the w/d ratios of the those lines in microstrip form by using the following formulas:
1. Given εr and Z0
(2)
(3)
(4) 50 ohm characteristic impedance Fig. 6: 90 degree phase shift at 2.5 GHz Substrate thickness d =0.127 cm Dielectric constant =2.20 Using formulas w=0.391cm L=2.19cm
Fig. 7:
Fig. 3: From Fig. 5, it can be clearly observed that the input coefficient reflection is at -5 dB in the beginning where the frequency is 8 Ghz and it decreases to -20 dB at approximately 10.5 Ghz and again becomes better by rising to -17 dB at frequency of 12 GHz. At 10.5 GHz, -4 dB of coupling is achieved and the through port is almost -2.6 dB at this frequency. The isolation port follows the pattern of input port with some significant changes near 10.5 GHz.
Fig. 4:
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The broadband branchline coupler is designed in stripline
technology which has two conductors and a homogeneous dielectric and supports TEM wave as its usual mode of operation Fig. 11: D View of Microstripline [2]. The dielectric layers are selected to be ROGERS RO3003 with a dielectric constant of 3 and a thickness of 60 mils. As a choice of metal, copper is used and the frequency band of the broadband branchline coupler is centered to operate at 10 GHz. All these specifications are integrated into the geometrical design of the two-section branchline coupler and simulated in SONNET® [5]. SONNET® provides the capability to take a large circuit and split it into any number of smaller projects, then connect the results in a netlist project to produce a response for the whole circuit. This method can significantly reduce the required processing time and memory necessary to analyze the circuit while still obtaining an accurate answer
2. Microstrip Analysis I have designed Microstripline on SONNETLITE with specified parameters as shown in fig. 10. EM structure i.e. 3D view of fig. 10 Fig. 12: Current Response is shown in fig. 4. The structure has been analysed over frequency range of 2 GHz to 3 GHz. Current response has been shown in fig. 12. S parameter response has been shown in fig. 13.
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Fig. 13: S Parameters Response Fig. 16: S parameter Response
D. Stripline Analysis IV. Conclusions
I have designed stripline on SONNETLITE with same parameters It proves that current as well as EM fields are much more as for microstrip as shown in fig. 14. The only difference lies is confined in stripline as compared to microstripline.Also , perfect in the top layer of the structure. For microstrip the top layer has matching and zer insertion loss is seen in stripline as compared air and is wider than bottom layer. For stripline the top layer has to microstripline. dielectric same as that for bottom layer and has same width as that of bottom layer. EM structure i.e. 3D view is shown in fig. References 14. The structure has been analysed over frequency range of 2 [1] R. Horton, B. Easter, A. Gopinath,“Variation of microstrip GHz to 3 GHz. Current response has been shown in fig. 15. S losses with thickness of strip”, Electron. Lett., Vol. 7, No. parameter response has been shown in fig. 16. 17, pp. 490–491, 1971. [2] J. C. Rautio,“An investigation of microstrip conductor loss”, IEEE Microwave Mag., pp. 60–67, 2000. [3] A. E. Kennelly, F. A. Laws, P. H. Pierce,“Experimental researches on skin effect in conductors”, Trans. AIEE, Vol. 34, pp. 1953–2018, 1915. [4] E. Tuncer, B.T. Lee, M. S. Islam, D. P. Neikirk, “Quasistatic conductorloss calculations in transmission lines using a new conformal mapping technique”, IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., Vol. 42, pp. 1807–1815, 1994. [5] M. Konno,“Conductor loss in thin-film transmission lines”, Electronics and Communications in Japan, pt. 2, Vol. 82, No. 10, pp. 83–91, 1999. Fig. 14: Stripline 3D View in Sonnet [6] Translated from Denshi Joho Tsushin Gakkai Ronbunshi, Vol. J81-C-1, No. 8, pp. 466–473, 1998. [7] Sonnet User’s Manual, Version 8.0, Sonnet Software, Liverpool, NY, 2002. [8] Y. H. Chun, J. S. Hong,“Compact Wide-Band Branch-Line Hybrids”, IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 0018-9480, 2006. [9] D. M. Pozar,“Microwave Engineering”, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., USA, 2005. [10] I. Bahl, P. Bhartia,“Microwave Solid State Circuit Design”, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, 2003. [11] S. Kumar, C. Tannous, T. Danshin,“A Multisection Broadband Impedance Transforming Branch-line Hybrid”, IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 43, No. 11, 1995. [12] Sonnet User Guide, Release 12. Sonnet Software, Inc. North Syracuse, NY 13212, USA, 2009.
Fig. 15: Current Response
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