Using a single-ended TRL calibration pattern to de-embed coupled transmission lines

Transmission line port de-embedding is critical in characterization and modeling for high-speed digital systems. De-embedding technique for single-ended transmission lines has been developed and widely used. However, few de-embedding techniques for coupled transmission lines have been reported in the literature. In this paper, a de-embedding technique for coupled transmission lines using a single-ended TRL (Thru-Reflect-Line) calibration pattern is proposed. It is based on directly obtaining VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) error correction data from measurement and post data processing. As accurate de-embedding is related to the equipments used in the measurement, the proposed technique is verified on two different VNAs with different architectures including a three-sampler VNA and a four-sampler VNA. Good agreement of de-embedded mixed-mode S-parameters has been achieved on both VNAs.