HIGH PERFORMANCE 1.8-18GHZ 10-DB LOW TEMPERATURE CO-FIRED CERAMIC DIRECTIONAL COUPLER

This paper presents a six-section multi-layer asymmetric 10 dB directional coupler based on offset broadside coupled striplines, using Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) technology, which operates over a decade bandwidth from 1.8 to 18 GHz. It features high performance transitions between the external signal layer and the buried signal layers, as well as a novel mixed first section to solve the limitations of the coupler access bends. A prototype was manufactured that exhibits a return loss of better than 15 dB, isolation of better than 23 dB and a high coupling accuracy of 10.3±0.6 dB over the 1.8-18 GHz band. This design outperforms previously reported results in terms of bandwidth and shows excellent potential for microwave measurement applications.