volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

This paper presents the analysis and design of in-phase/out-of-phase power dividers with compact-size and ultra-wideband characteristics. The proposed designs are composed of a T-junction microstrip (MS)-to-slotline power divider with a shorting via and two slotline-to-MS transitions. The phase response at the outputs can be controlled by arranging the MS-line direction of the transition, i.e., the same direction results in the in-phase, whereas the opposite MS-line directions reverse the electrical field, thus resulting in the out-of-phase. Thanks to utilizing the MS-to-slotline power divider and circular slots and circular stubs at the transitions, the proposed structures achieve ultra-wide bandwidth and compact size simultaneously. The dividers are theoretically analyzed using transmission-line equivalent circuit, and then verified computationally and experimentally. Simulation and measurement indicate that the proposed power dividers yield ultra-wideband performance across 1.2-11.0 GHz (~160%) with magnitude difference ±0.5 dB and phase difference ±5° at the outputs. As an example of application, a differential-fed Vivaldi antenna fed by the proposed out-of-phase power divider is implemented. The antenna yields a 160% bandwidth (1.2-11.0 GHz) for 10-dB return loss and a stable end-fire radiation within the whole impedance bandwidth.

1. Wu, Y., L. Jiao, Z. Zhuang, and Y. Liu, "The art of power dividing: A review for state-of-the-art planar power dividers," China Communications, Vol. 14, No. 5, 1-16, May 2017.

2. Federal Communications Commission "Revision of part 15 of the commission's rules regarding UWB transmission systems," First Report, FCC 02-48, 2002.

3. Wilkinson, E. J., "An N-way hybrid power divider," IRE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 8, No. 1, 116-118, Jan. 1960.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.1960.1124668

4. Ju, I., M. Cho, I. Song, and J. D. Cressler, "A compact, wideband lumped-element Wilkinson power divider/combiner using symmetric inductors with embedded capacitors," IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Vol. 26, No. 8, 595-597, Aug. 2016.
doi:10.1109/LMWC.2016.2585548

5. Oraizi, H. and A. R. Sharifi, "Design and optimization of broadband asymmetrical multisection Wilkinson power divider," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 54, No. 5, 2220-2231, May 2006.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2006.872786

6. Honari, M. M., L. Mirzavand, R. Mirzavand, A. Abdipour, and P. Mousavi, "Theoretical design of broadband multisection wilkinson power dividers with arbitrary power split ratio," IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 6, No. 4, 605-612, Apr. 2016.
doi:10.1109/TCPMT.2016.2518581

7. Ahmed, U. T. and A. M. Abbosh, "Wideband out-of-phase power divider using tightly coupled lines and microstrip to slotline transitions," Electronics Letters, Vol. 52, No. 2, 126-128, 2016.
doi:10.1049/el.2015.3255

8. Henin, B. and A. Abbosh, "Wideband hybrid using three-line coupled structure and microstrip-slot transitions," IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Vol. 23, No. 7, 335-337, Jul. 2013.
doi:10.1109/LMWC.2013.2262930

9. Shen, X., Y. Liu, S. Zhou, and Y. Wu, "A novel compact tunable coupled-line power divider using varactors," 2015 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference (APMC), 1-3, 2015.

10. Shuppert, B., "Microstrip/slotline transitions: Modeling and experimental investigation," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 36, No. 8, 1272-1282, Aug. 1988.
doi:10.1109/22.3669

11. Ahmed, U. T. and A. M. Abbosh, "Compact single-layer in-phase power divider employing microstrip to slotline transitions," 2014 1st Australian Microwave Symposium (AMS), 13-14, 2014.
doi:10.1109/AUSMS.2014.7017342

12. Bialkowski, M. E. and A. M. Abbosh, "Design of a compact UWB out-of-phase power divider," IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Vol. 17, No. 4, 289-291, Apr. 2007.
doi:10.1109/LMWC.2007.892979

13. Zhu, H., Z. Cheng, and Y. J. Guo, "Design of wideband in-phase and out-of-phase power dividers using microstrip-to-slotline transitions and slotline resonators," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 67, No. 4, 1412-1424, Apr. 2019.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2019.2897928

14. Xiao, B., H. Yao, M. Li, J. -S. Hong, and K. L. Yeung, "Flexible wideband microstrip-slotline-microstrip power divider and its application to antenna array," IEEE Access, Vol. 7, 143973-143979, 2019.
doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2944462

15. Horestani, A. K. and Z. Shaterian, "Ultra-wideband balun and power divider using coplanar waveguide to microstrip transitions," International Journal of Electronics and Communications, Vol. 95, 297-303, 2018.
doi:10.1016/j.aeue.2018.08.024

16. Xu, H.-T., et al. "A wideband out-of-phase power divider based on odd-mode spoof surface plasmon polaritons," 2020 International Conference on Microwave and Millimeter Wave Technology (ICMMT), 1-3, 2020.

17. Ghimire, J. and D.-Y Choi, "Ultra-wide band double-slot podal and anti-podal Vivaldi antennas feed by compact out-of-phase power divider slot for uid properties determination," Sensors, 454, 2022.

18. Kumari, G. and R. K. Barik, "Compact out-of-phase wideband substrate integrated waveguide based power divider loaded by slots for Ku and K band applications," 2019 International Conference on Communication and Signal Processing (ICCSP), 0396-0399, 2019.
doi:10.1109/ICCSP.2019.8698084

19. Ahmed, U. T. and A. M. Abbosh, "Compact single-layer in-phase power divider employing microstrip to slotline transitions," 2014 1st Australian Microwave Symposium (AMS), 13-14, 2014.
doi:10.1109/AUSMS.2014.7017342

20. Xiao, L., H. Peng, and T. Yang, "Compact ultra-wideband in-phase multilayer power divider," Progress In Electromagnetics Research Letters, Vol. 48, 33-37, 2014.
doi:10.2528/PIERL14061901

21. Miller, G., "TF3 (3-Port Transformer),", Sep. 10, 2008, [Online]. Available [Last accessed: Aug. 26, 2022]: https://edadocs.software.keysight.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=5924503.

22. Janaswamy, R. and D. H. Schaubert, "Characteristic impedance of a wide slotline on low-permittivity substrates (short paper)," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 34, No. 8, 900-902, Aug. 1986.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.1986.1133465

23. Azim, R., M. T. Islam, and N. Misran, "Compact tapered-shape slot antenna for UWB applications," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 10, 1190-1193, 2011.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2011.2172181

24. Amiri, M., F. Tofigh, A. Ghafoorzadeh-Yazdi, and M. Abolhasan, "Exponential antipodal Vivaldi antenna with exponential dielectric lens," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 16, 1792-1795, 2017.

25. Dai, L. H., T. Zhou, Z. R. Liang, and Y. Jin Zhou, "Miniaturized broadband antipodal Vivaldi antenna with high gain and its array," 2019 International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (ISAP), 1-3, 2019.

26. Guo, J., T. Djerafi, and K. Wu, "Balanced corrugated antipodal linear tapered slot antenna with integrated feeding for cross-polarization suppression," 18th International Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics (ANTEM), 1-4, 2018.

27. Eichenberger, J., E. Yetisir, and N. Ghalichechian, "High-gain antipodal Vivaldi antenna with pseudo element and notched tapered slot operating at (2.5 to 57) GHz," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 67, No. 7, 4357-4366, Jul. 2019.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2019.2906008

Mr. Ho-Sy-Nhat Huy

Dr. Nguyen Khac Kiem

Dr. Son Xuat Ta