0.5 – 1GHz Hybrid Coupler

AWG Tech supplies hybrid coupler to many countries worldwide. An example of a hybrid coupler is our 0.5 – 1GHz hybrid coupler.

This device has an insertion loss of less than 0.3 dB. The output ports have an amplitude and phase balance of less than ±0.5dB and ±2° respectively. The isolation between ports is better than 22 dB and the device is able to handle an average power of 50W. The detailed specification is found below:

Understanding the Fundamentals of a Hybrid Coupler

Couplers are passive RF and microwave components whose main functionality is to test out high frequency signals. It takes a single signal and classifies it as the input and produces two outputs as the by-product. The first output is commonly known as the normal output, the other is known as the paired output. Couplers are used in a lot of applications, a couple would be in signal injection and it’s also utilized to measure the incident/reflected power to identify VSWR.

Other than its many uses, there are also a couple of different types of RF and microwave couplers. One example of such is the hybrid coupler. This is a special kind of a four-port directional coupler that is manufactured for a 3-dB (equal) power split. Hybrids are often utilized to generate reflection phase shifters.

What are Reflection Phase Shifters?

Reflection phase shifters can either be digital (secret states) or analog (unlimited variable). There are (at least) two known methods on how to implement the reflection network. One of which is by utilizing a circulator (a single variable termination is required) or utilizing hybrid couplers, and they come in two types, the 90 degree and the 180 degree couplers.

The Two Types of Hybrid Couplers

To further understand the two types, listed below are some of the basics:

• 90⁰ Hybrid Couplers

This is a four-port device that is utilized to either equally divide an input signal with a resultant 90⁰ phase shift between the output ports or to fuse two signals while managing a high isolation level between the ports.

The configuration of the 90⁰ hybrid couplers has two sets of cross-over transmission lines each having over a length of one-quarter wavelength, harmonizing with the core frequency of operation. Also, the 90⁰ hybrids are also referred to as the quadrature hybrids due to a signal being applied to any input and will result in two equal amplitude signals that are both quadrant (90⁰ separated from one another).

It also makes no difference which port is the input due to the connection at the output that always stays the same as these components are mechanically and electrically balanced on both sides. This configuration makes sure that a high degree of isolation is in place between the two output ports and the two input ports to avoid unwanted interaction.

• 180⁰ Hybrid Couplers

The 180 hybrids (also referred to as the “rat race” couplers) are four-part devices that are utilized to either equally divide an input signal or to add-up two fused signals. One extra benefit of this coupler is to alternately offer an equally-divided 180 phase-shifted output signals.

The core conductor ring in its configuration is 1 and a half wavelength in circumference (or a six-quarter wavelength) and every port is separated 90⁰ from each other. The configuration on this hybrid coupler generates a lossless device with a low VSWR, a good phase-shifting and amplitude symmetry, high output isolation and match output blockages. Also, the low loss, airline construction makes the device the ideal choice for fusing high power mixed signals.