Design of Quadrature Directional Couplers with Continuously Variable Coupling Ratios

This paper presents a systematic approach for the design of directional couplers with tunable coupling strength, which maintain the properties of perfect impedance match and isolation over the whole tuning range. The devised method is based on eigenreflections and requires the synthesis of one-ports. This can be carried out with the help of graphical presentations in the Smith chart, thus fostering intuition in finding new circuit structures. The method is theoretically demonstrated by the development of a novel tunable LC-coupler or Maxwell bridge and a tunable proximity coupler. An experimental realization of the Maxwell bridge yields a tunable coupling ratio between 2 dB and 20 dB while maintaining excellent return loss and isolation.