Design and implementation of compact microwave components with artificial transmission lines

Abstract

In this paper, designs and implementations of a compact diplexer, a broadband balun, and a tight-coupling directional coupler based on artificial transmission lines are presented. Techniques of applying artificial transmission lines to microwave component designs are explored and discussed. All designs show good performance in their respective groups and particularly small circuit sizes at lower microwave frequencies. Those microwave components are successfully implemented using artificial transmission lines based on conventional design topology. Moreover, feasibility and advantages of artificial transmission lines over conventional microstrip lines in designs of various microwave components at lower frequencies are verified such as diplexers, baluns, and directional couplers. Artificial transmission lines have a bright future in the miniaturization of microwave components.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the NFSC 60971051, the Sichuan Youth Foundation 09ZQ026-016 and the Key Laboratory of Cognitive Radio (GUET), Ministry of Education, China.