Characterization of asymmetric coplanar waveguide discontinuities

A general technique to characterize asymmetric coplanar waveguide (CPW) discontinuities with airbridges where both the fundamental coplanar and slotline modes may be excited together is presented. First, the CPW discontinuity without airbridges is analyzed using the space-domain integral equation (SDIE) approach. Second, the parameters (phase, amplitude, and wavelength) of the coplanar and slotline modes are extracted from an amplitude modulated-like standing wave existing in the CPW feeding lines. Then a 2n×2n generalized scattering matrix of the n-port discontinuity without airbridges is derived which includes the occurring mode conversion. Finally, this generalized scattering matrix is reduced to an n×n matrix by enforcing suitable conditions at the ports which correspond to the excited slotline mode. For the purpose of illustration, the method is applied to a shielded asymmetric short-end CPW shunt stub, the scattering parameters of which are compared with those of a symmetric one. Experiments are performed on both discontinuities and the results are in good agreement with theoretical data. The advantages of using airbridges in CPW circuits as opposed to bond wires are also discussed