This paper presents a design procedure of a directional coupler consisting of a twofold symmetric four-port circuit with four identical matching networks at each port. The intrinsic power-split ratio and the equivalent admittance of the directional coupler are formularized in terms of the eigenadmittances of the original four-port without the matching networks. These formulas are useful for judgment on the realizability of a directional coupler in a given circuit structure and for design of the matching networks. Actually, the present procedure is applied to designing various quadrature hybrids and directional couplers, and its practical usefulness as well as several new circuit structures are demonstrated.

A low-loss serial power combiner using suspended stripline is described. It consists of novel broadside-coupled directional couplers which have shunt capacitances at the edges of the coupled sections. These additional shunt capacitances compensate for poor directivities of the couplers because of inhomogeneous dielectric in suspended stripline structure. The fabricated three-way power combiner has achieved good performance with insertion loss less than 0.23 dB over a bandwidth of 10% in 2 GHz band.

This paper treats multi-way microstrip power dividers composed of multi-step, multi-furcation, and corners. Since the design procedure is founded on the planar circuit approach in combination with the segmentation method, optimization of the circuit configuration can be performed in a reasonable short computation time when applying the Powell's optimization algorithm. Actually, broadband 3- and 4-way power dividers with mitered bends are designed, and fractional bandwidths of about 90% and 100% are realized for the power-split imbalance less than 0.2 dB and the return loss better than -20 dB, respectively. The validity of the design results is confirmed by an EM-simulator (HFSS) and experiments.

A new design concept for a common-mode signal suppression circuit for a balanced-type filter has been investigated. The degradation mechanism of the balance characteristics was studied. The degradation is caused by the common-mode signals combined with the differential-mode signals in the balanced terminals. The concept employed is the reduction of the common-mode signal using a common-mode signal suppression circuit, connected to the balanced terminals. A serial resonance circuit is formed, in which the common-mode signals are shorted to ground. The circuit was applied to the balanced-type Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filter. The improvement in balance characteristics, without increasing in the insertion loss, was confirmed by experiments for Global System Mobile (GSM) applications.

Unloaded Q of a dielectric image resonator is discussed based on the electromagnetic field distribution. It is shown that a partial air gap and a dielectric sheet with low permittivity between the dielectric resonator and the shield case reduce both the dielectric loss and the conductor loss. Especially, reduction of the conductor loss is significant, since the magnetic field distribution moves from the conductor to the upper part of resonator. A half-cut image resonator with an air gap and dielectric spacer is simulated and measured. The unloaded Q of the dielectric resonator with low dielectric loss is improved by about two times from that of original image resonator.

A miniaturized rectangular resonator made of a novel anisotropic artificial dielectric material is investigated which has advantages of small size and big separation of the higher-modes. To obtain a property of anisotropic permittivity, artificial dielectric material is fabricated by lamination of rectangular metal strips etched on a printed circuit board. Artificial dielectric rectangular resonators are designed to excite TE_10δ mode selectively, aligning the rectangular metal patterns along the direction of the mode electric field line. The resonant frequencies and coupling coefficient of artificial dielectric rectangular resonators encapsulated in a metal waveguide are analyzed theoretically, and compared with the experimental result. As a microwave application, a high selectivity TE_10δ mode bandpass filter (BPF) using two artificial dielectric rectangular resonators is demonstrated. A two-stage BPF with the center frequency of 1.718 GHz, bandwidth of 78 MHz, and insertion loss of 1.3 dB is successfully realized in a rectangular waveguide.

This paper presents a computer-aided design procedure of simulated annealing algorithm to optimize dual-wideband microstrip line filters with symmetrical at least 500 MHz bandwidths respectively. This method demonstrates the superiority of designing microstrip line dual-band filters. The value of characteristic impedances and electrical lengths of transmission lines synthesizing 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz dualband filters with a single input and a single output are adjusted to the annealing process by the optimization algorithm. The fabricated dual-wideband spectral transmittance and reflectance curves of these filters applying this method all effectively achieved desired high performances and resulted in a lower cost dual-band filters and open the way to commercial mass production. The method is applicable not only in 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz, but can be applied to any other multi-frequency bands.

At frequencies currently used by mobile communications, many of the microstrip half-wavelength resonators are too large to realize miniaturized filters. For this reason, very small-sized microstrip spiral resonators and filters, using high-temperature superconductors (HTS), have been studied recently. In this paper, the resonant and coupling characteristics of microstrip G-type and S-type spiral resonators are investigated first by using an electromagnetic simulator. Then small-sized 4-pole, 8-pole, and 16-pole Chebyshev bandpass filters using S-type spirals are designed, respectively, with a midband frequency f₀ = 1.93 GHz. The frequency responses of the filters satisfy well the desired specifications, and the measured frequency response of the 8-pole HTS filter agrees well with the theoretical prediction.

Novel microstrip lowpass filters are developed with reduced size and significantly improved stopband characteristics. After introducing quarter-wavelength open stubs, we get one or two transmission zeros in the stopband. By folding the high impedance microstrip lines, we reduce the size of the filter. Three-pole and five-pole lowpass filters are designed, and their measured frequency responses agree well with theoretical predictions.

This paper focuses on the characteristics of tunable half-wavelength resonators and their applications to bandpass filters (BPFs). First, the resonance characteristics of various tunable half-wavelength resonators are examined for the tunabilities of transmission zeros and the center frequency of the proposed BPFs. We examine four types of tunable half-wavelength resonators, namely, an end-coupling resonator and three types of tap-coupling resonators. Secondly, the proposition and design of two types of BPFs using acquired resonators are carried out. The fabrication and experimental application of the resonators and designed BPFs are also performed based on coplanar waveguide (CPW) technologies. Their calculated and measured results are compared with each other. The results show that tunabilities of the transmission zero and the center frequency of the proposed BPF are obtained as expected.

A detailed investigation of the electromagnetic field distributions in high frequency printed circuits and high-speed interconnects is very useful for physical understanding, studies of electromagnetic coupling effects for EMC and EMI and for optimization of electromagnetic circuit designs. The aim of this paper is to show how to measure the electric field distributions in electromagnetic circuits. An electromagnetic analysis for microstrip-line circuits is carried out by using a finite-difference time domain technique and its measurement is carried out by using a small probe antenna. The measurement results are in fairly good agreement with those of the numerical analysis using the FDTD method. Thus, the measurement system offers a valid means for predictions in the theoretical analysis of more complicated discontinuity problems.

Microwave circuits embedded in a multi-layer resin PCB are demonstrated using low loss resin materials. Resin materials for microwave frequencies were compared with conventional FR-4 with respect to dielectric and conductor loss factors, which proved that losses could be reduced drastically with the low loss material and design optimizations. Baluns, switches and BPFs were designed and fabricated to estimate microwave performances. Measured and simulated insertion losses of the circuits for 2.5 GHz band, were 0.3 dB for a switch, 0.4 dB for a balun and 2.0 dB for a 3-stage Chebyshev BPF. An integration of a switch, a BPF and two baluns was successfully implemented in a multi-layer PCB. Insertion losses of the fabricated integrated circuit were less than 3 dB with 0.1 dB additional loss compared with a sum of individual circuit losses. With estimated results of temperature characteristics and reliability as well as low loss performances, microwave circuits in resin PCBs can be considered as a viable candidate for microwave equipments.

Nonlinear distortions in an anti-series varactor pair (ASVP) are analyzed by a perturbation method. To the authors' knowledge, this paper presents the first derivation of an analytical expression that explicitly shows intermodulation and harmonic distortions of the ASVP. In addition to canceling the expected even-order distortion, the third-order distortion can be suppressed simultaneously when a certain condition is satisfied. We also find that the second- and third-order distortions can be greatly suppressed without dependence on dc bias voltage if the varactors in the ASVP have an ideal abrupt p-n junction. These theoretical predictions are verified by measuring the second- and third-order harmonic distortions of an ASVP. The experimental results show that the second-order harmonic distortion is suppressed by approximately 20 dB. The third-order harmonic distortion is suppressed to the same extent in the theoretically predicted dc bias voltage range.

In the microwave band, Optical Electric Field Sensors (OEFS) provide an attractive method to measure electromagnetic fields precisely. It is difficult however, to develop an OEFS that operates with both wide bandwidth and high sensitivity. In this paper, we propose a Log-Periodic Dipole antenna Array (LPDA)-type OEFS that achieves high sensitivity over a wide bandwidth. The LPDA-type OEFS has a large number of electrodes that are attached to each of the antenna elements. Not only the lengths of the antenna elements but also the lengths of electrodes vary log-periodically. The OEFS responds to microwaves by synchronizing the propagation direction of light with the propagation direction of the microwave. An OEFS constructed of y-cut z-propagation Lithium Niobate (LN) demonstrates good stability against temperature variation. Theoretical analysis with respect to the refractive index variation and optical modulator with the crystal orientation will be provided in this paper. In addition, the characteristics of the proposed LPDA-type OEFS will be shown over wide bandwidth in the microwave band.

A mode transformer between the NRD guide and the vertical strip line was developed and applied to the right angle corner, T-junction, and 3-port junction at 60 GHz. Emphasis was placed on a fully CAD-based design procedure by using an electromagnetic field simulator. Agreement between the simulated and measured performances of the junction circuit was obtained, and thus the validity of the design procedure was confirmed. A well-balanced transmission coefficient of the 3-port junction, found to be 4 0.5 dB, was observed in the bandwidth of 2 GHz around a center frequency of 60 GHz.

It is known that a high permittivity NRD guide suffers from irregular transmission phenomena. In this study, we clarified that this problem is caused by a mode coupling phenomenon between the operating and parasitic modes due to a small remaining asymmetrically air gap between the metal plates and high permittivity dielectric materials.

Transient scattering from parallel plate waveguide cavities is studied by using the combination of a point matching technique and numerical inversion of Laplace transform. We thoroughly investigate the scattering mechanism for a half-sine pulse and modulated-sine pulse incidence. The advantages and disadvantages on the target recognition are clarified in terms of the internal objects, incident waveforms, and polarizations.

The comparative analysis of the well known Double Drift Region (DDR) IMPATT diode structure and the n⁺pvnp⁺ structure for the avalanche diode has been realized on the basis of the drift-diffusion nonlinear model. The last type of the diode was named as Double Avalanche Region (DAR) IMPATT diode. This structure includes two avalanche regions inside the diode. The phase delay which was produced by means of the two avalanche zones and the drift zone v is sufficient for the negative resistance obtained for the wide frequency region. The numerical model that is used for the analysis of the various diode structures includes all principal features of the physical phenomena inside the semiconductor structure. The admittance characteristics of both types of the diodes were analyzed in very wide frequency region.

This paper compares a stub and a decoupling capacitor for power supply noise reduction. A quarter-length stub attached to the power supply line of an LSI chip works as a band-eliminate filter, and suppresses the power supply bounce of the designed frequency. The conditions where the stub is more effective than the same-area decoupling capacitor are clarified. The stub will work more efficiently and on-chip integration will be possible on high frequency operation LSIs.

A compact wideband patch antenna with bent Y-probe is proposed and studied. With the bent Y-probe and substrate thickness of about 0.14λ₀, a bandwidth (VSWR below 2) of 54.6% has been achieved. The size of the antenna is decreased due to the shorting wall and Y-probe. The radiation patterns and the gains across the band are also studied.

In this Letter, a dumbbell-shaped patch loaded slotline(PLS) is proposed. Like the conventional defected ground structure(DGS) for a microstrip line, we show that the proposed PLS can provide a wide bandstop characteristic in some frequency bands with only one or small number of unit cells. Also, the equivalent circuit model for a unit section is derived from the analysis of the field distributions in the structure and its circuit parameters are determined by means of full wave numerical simulations. This equivalent circuit is shown to be dual to that of the typical DGS in a microstrip line. A broadband microstrip to slotline transition is incorporated in the PLS in order to measure the characteristics of the structure. The experimental results agree well with the simulations and show the validity of the modeling for the proposed PLS.

In this letter, we discuss the measurement error due to the exclusion of the higher modes when a waveguide with a flange is inserted with lossy dielectric material. The reflection coefficient is calculated by a spectrum-domain approach (SDA), which uses only the dominant (TE₁₀) mode to realize a simplified nondestructive measurement of complex permittivity of lossy dielectric sheets. The analysis shows that the error due to the exclusion of the higher modes decreases as complex permittivity increases. Consequently, we have confirmed that a simplified measurement of complex permittivity is possible by a coverage limitation with the SDA, which excludes the higher modes.

The investigation presents a low cost and low insertion loss X-band dual mode bandpass filter (BPF) based on inexpensive commercial FR4 substrate. The proposed filter at a central frequency f₀ of 11.3 GHz has high filter performance filter with a fractional bandwidth of 14%, the insertion loss of -2.7 dB, and two transmission zeros. The designed procedures are presented in this letter and the fabricated filter verifies the proposed designed concept.

The paper reports a compact and high performance dual-band bandpass filter (BPF) using two types of dual-mode resonators. The dual mode cross shaped resonator and the three dual mode ring resonators in the designed dual-band BPF are excited to control the first and second passband, respectively. It is shown that the designed and fabricated dual-band BPF has narrow bandwidths and very sharp attenuation rate due to the existence of the transmission zeros. The frequency response of the designed dual-band BPF shows good agreement between the simulations and experiments.

This work describes a 2.4 GHz frequency synthesizer based on a delay-locked loop (DLL). Because the proposed frequency synthesizer is basically developed from a DLL, it has no jitter accumulation thereby resulting in a low close-in phase noise of -105 dBc/Hz. Although only 9 delay cells are used, the proposed delay cell reusing scheme realizes frequency multiplication factors greater than 240 and provides multiple frequency output with the resolution of phase detector (PD) comparison frequency. This architecture has been verified by implementing the synthesizer in a 0.18 µm CMOS technology.