A Balanced-to-Balanced Power Divider With Arbitrary Power Division

In this paper, a balanced-to-balanced power divider is proposed, for the first time, with arbitrary power division, which can be regarded as the balanced form of a Gysel power divider. The constraint rules are provided for its mixed-mode and single-ended S-parameters. The six-port network is analyzed by simplifying it to two-port networks with other ports matched at the central frequency. Its critical characteristic impedances are then calculated analytically by our derived equations according to the desired differential-mode power division ratio. The maximum achievable power division ratio is 1:4.69² when the characteristic impedances are limited within the realizable range of 20-120 Ω. The impacts of several freely selected design parameters on the operating bandwidth are explored numerically. A prototype is realized by microstrip lines and lumped resistors with the power division ratio of 1:3². The balanced-to-balanced performances of unequal power division, low differential-mode insertion loss, good suppression of common-mode noises, and mode conventions have been demonstrated by the simulated and measured results of the balanced-to-balanced power divider prototype.