Microstrip directional coupler

• US 5,373,266 A
• Filed: 11/09/1993
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Cadotte, Roland Jr., Cummings, Michael, Lenzing, Erik H.
• Primary Examiner(s): GENSLER, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US08/149,254
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 333/116, 333/238, 333/246
• US Class Current: 333/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/185 Edge coupled lines

Abstract

A directional coupler is formed with adjacent edges of its microstrips following curved paths having reversals in curvature such as a series of sine waves or half circles.

Claims

1. A microstrip directional coupler including:

a substrate of electrically insulating material;

a first conductive area on one surface of said substrate;

second and third patterned conductive areas on the other side of said substrate; and

adjacent edges of said second and third conductive areas being spaced from each other and lying along respective parallel curved lines having a plurality of reversals in curvature, wherein said curved lines follow paths including successive half circles joined together.

2. A microstrip directional coupler as set forth in claim 1, further including:

terminals at opposite ends of each of said second and third conductive areas.

3. A microstrip directional coupler comprising:

a substrate of electrically insulating material;

a first conductive area on one side of said substrate;

second and third patterned conductive areas on the other side of said substrate;

the remote edges of said second and third conductive areas being parallel straight lines;

the adjacent edges of said second and third conductive areas lying along spaced curved lines having a plurality of reversals of curvature; and

terminals located at opposite ends of said second and third areas.

4. A microstrip directional coupler as set forth in claim 3, wherein said curved lines follow a sinusoidal path.

5. A microstrip directional coupler as set forth in claim 3, wherein said curved lines follow paths including successive half circles joined together.