Directional Coupler

1.
Directional Coupler
2. What Do U Mean By Directional
3. Properties Of Directional Coupler
4. Parameters Of Directional Coupler
5. Two Hole Directional Coupler
6. Applications Of Directional
Couplers
7. ASSIGNMENT
1. Directional Coupler
A Directional coupler is a device
that samples a small amount of
Microwave power for measurement
purposes.
The power measurements include
incident power, reflected power,
VSWR values, etc.
Directional Coupler is a 4-port
waveguide junction consisting of a
primary main waveguide and a
secondary auxiliary waveguide.
The following figure shows the

image of a directional coupler.
What do we mean by
"directional"?
A directional coupler has four
ports, where one is regarded as the
input, one is regarded as the
"through" port (where most of the
incident signal exits), one is
regarded as the "coupled" port
(where a fixed fraction of the input
signal appears, usually expressed in
dB), and one is regarded as the
"isolated" port, which is usually
terminated.
Properties of Directional
Couplers
The properties of an ideal
directional coupler are as follows.
 All the terminations are matched to
the ports.
 When the power travels from Port
1 to Port 2, some portion of it gets
coupled to Port 4 but not to Port 3.
 As it is also a bi-directional
coupler, when the power travels
from Port 2 to Port 1, some portion
of it gets coupled to Port 3 but not
to Port 4.
 If the power is incident through
Port 3, a portion of it is coupled to
Port 2, but not to Port 1.
 If the power is incident through
Port 4, a portion of it is coupled to
Port 1, but not to Port 2.
 Port 1 and 3 are decoupled AND
Port 2 and Port 4 are decoupled.
Ideally, the output of Port 3 should
be zero.
However, practically, a small
amount of power called back
power is observed at Port 3.
The following figure indicates the

power flow in a directional coupler.
Where
 Pi = Incident power at Port 1
 Pr = Received power at Port 2
 Pf = Forward coupled power at
Port4
 Pb = Back power at Port 3
Following are the

parameters used to define
the performance of a
directional coupler.
 Coupling factor
 Directivity
 Isolation
Coupling Factor C
The Coupling factor of a
directional coupler is the ratio of
incident power to the forward
power, measured in dB.
The coupling factor is a measure of

how much of the incident power is
being sampled.
Directivity D
The Directivity of a directional
coupler is the ratio of forward
power to the back power, measured
in dB.
THE directivity is a measure of

how well the directional coupler
distinguishes between the forward
and reverse traveling powers.
Isolation
It is the ratio of incident power to
the back power, measured in dB.
It defines the directive properties of

a directional coupler.
Isolation in dB = Coupling factor

+ Directivity
Two-Hole Directional
Coupler
This is a directional coupler with
same main and auxiliary
waveguides, but with two small
holes that are common between
them.
These holes are λg/4λg/4 distance
apart where λg is the guide
wavelength.
The following figure shows the
image of a two-hole directional
coupler.
A two-hole directional coupler is

designed to meet the ideal
requirement of directional coupler,
which is to avoid back power.
Some of the power while travelling
between Port 1 and Port 2, escapes
through the holes 1 and 2.
The magnitude of the power
depends upon the dimensions of the
holes.
This leakage power at both the
holes are in phase at hole 2, adding
up the power contributing to the
forward power Pf.
However, it is out of phase at hole
1, cancelling each other and
preventing the back power to
occur.
Hence, the directivity of a
directional coupler improves.
Applications of Directional
Couplers
Directional couplers are
extensively used in systems that
measure the amplitude and phase of
traveling waves. The major
applications are as follows:
1. Power monitoring and source

leveling
2. SWR measurements
3. In unidirectional power
measurements
4. In reflectometers
5. Unidirectional wave launching
6. Isolation of signal sources.
ASSIGNMENT
1. Define Directional Coupler
2. Explain Properties Of
Directional Coupler
3. Explain Parameters Of
Directional Coupler
4. Explain Two Hole Directional
Coupler
5. List Applications Of
Directional Coupler

Directional Coupler

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1.

The following figure shows the

The following figure indicates the

Following are the

The coupling factor is a measure of

THE directivity is a measure of

It defines the directive properties of

Isolation in dB = Coupling factor

A two-hole directional coupler is

1. Power monitoring and source

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