Interdigitated Microstrip Coupler Design

A design procedure for four-line interdigitated couplers is presented which provides excellent agreement between performance and actual coupler dimensions. The inclusion of a correction term for the finite metal thickness of the microstriplines is significant. Using existing odd-and-even mode impedance data of only two coupled lines in the array actual coupling coefficients in the 2.5-6.5-dB range are predictable to within ±0.05 dB. Graphs are shown which relate fabrication tolerances of dielectric constant and physicaf fine dimensions to deviations in coupling and characteristic coupler impedance. The design was verified on 3-, 5-, and 6-dB couplers in the 1-5-GHz frequency range.