Designing Directional Couplers
Step-by-step design guide for three essential RF hybrid couplers — the directional coupler, branch-line 90° hybrid and rat-race 180° hybrid. Enter your frequency and substrate, follow the steps, and get exact PCB trace widths and lengths. Beginners welcome — every concept explained from first principles.
Three types are covered here:
✦ Directional Coupler — samples a small fraction of power (e.g. −10 dB, −20 dB) from a transmission line without disturbing it. Used for power monitoring, levelling loops and antenna VSWR sensing.
✦ Branch-Line Coupler (90° Hybrid) — splits power equally (−3 dB) with a 90° phase difference between the two output ports. Used in balanced amplifiers, IQ mixers, phased array antenna feeds and QPSK modulators.
✦ Rat-Race Coupler (180° Hybrid) — splits power equally (−3 dB) with either 0° or 180° phase difference. Used in balanced mixers, push-pull amplifiers, antenna feeds requiring sum/difference (Σ/Δ) ports and Butler matrices.
All three work on the same principle: quarter-wavelength transmission line sections create controlled interference between signal paths. The dimensions determine how much power exits each port and with what phase.
Uses the Hammerstad-Jensen closed-form model — same as the Microstrip Calculator. Accuracy within 1–2% of full-wave EM simulation.
| Port | Name | Power | Phase vs Port 1 | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port 1 | Input | 0 dB ref | 0° | Signal source |
| Port 2 | Through | ≈ 0 dB (−0.1 to −0.5 dB) | 0° | Main signal continues |
| Port 3 | Coupled | −C dB (e.g. −10, −20 dB) | −90° | Sampled signal for monitoring |
| Port 4 | Isolated | ≈ −∞ dB (terminated) | — | 50 Ω termination |
C = 3 dB → 50% of power coupled (this is a 3 dB hybrid — same as branch-line)
C = 10 dB → 10% coupled, 90% through — common for power monitoring
C = 20 dB → 1% coupled, 99% through — common for directional power meters
C = 30 dB → 0.1% coupled — used in high-power transmitters to sample signal safely
C_linear = 10^(−|C|/20) (convert dB coupling to linear)
Z₀e = Z₀ × √((1 + C_linear) / (1 − C_linear))
Z₀o = Z₀ × √((1 − C_linear) / (1 + C_linear))
Note: Z₀e × Z₀o = Z₀² always (geometric mean equals system impedance squared).
A narrower gap → stronger coupling (lower C dB, more power transferred)
A wider gap → weaker coupling (higher C dB, less power transferred)
The Microstrip Calculator does not directly compute coupled-line parameters, but you can use it to find the single-line widths as a starting point, then adjust the gap in your EM simulator.
• Through port insertion loss: 0.1–0.5 dB (depends on substrate, copper roughness)
• Coupling: C ± 0.5 dB at f₀, degrades ≈1–2 dB at band edges
• Directivity: typically 15–25 dB for microstrip (better with stripline)
• Isolation (Port 1 to Port 4): ≈ Coupling + Directivity dB
• Bandwidth: typically 20–30% around f₀ for <1 dB coupling ripple
Layout rules:
① Both coupled traces must be identical in length. Any length asymmetry reduces directivity and introduces phase error at the coupled port.
② Keep the gap s uniform along the entire coupled length. Any taper or variation in gap changes the coupling continuously and distorts the frequency response.
③ Terminate Port 4 with a precision 50 Ω chip resistor (0402 or 0201) directly at the port pad. A poor termination on Port 4 dramatically reduces directivity — the coupler relies on Port 4 being matched.
④ Avoid bends inside the coupled region. The coupling is defined by the straight parallel section. If you must bend, do it outside the coupled region, with both lines bending identically.
⑤ Use ground vias alongside both traces at intervals of λ/20 to suppress parallel-plate modes on multi-layer boards.
| Element | Dimension | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Ω port traces | Width | — | All 4 port feed lines |
| Coupled region traces | Width W | — | Both traces identical |
| Trace gap | Gap s | — | Uniform along full length |
| Coupled section | Length ℓ = λ/4 | — | Electrical: 90° at f₀ |
| Port 4 termination | Resistor | 50 Ω | 0402 chip, at port pad |
| Port | Name | Power (from Port 1) | Phase | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port 1 | Input | 0 dB ref | 0° | Signal in |
| Port 2 | Through | −3 dB | −90° | Main output |
| Port 3 | Coupled | −3 dB | −180° | Quadrature output |
| Port 4 | Isolated | ≈ −30 dB | — | 50 Ω termination |
Z₁ (horizontal, shunt arms) = Z₀ / √2
Z₂ (vertical, series arms) = Z₀
For Z₀ = 50 Ω: Z₁ = 50/√2 = 35.36 Ω and Z₂ = 50 Ω
Physical meaning:
Z₁ = Z₀/√2 — the horizontal (shunt) arms are lower impedance, meaning wider traces than the 50 Ω port lines.
Z₂ = Z₀ — the vertical (series) arms are exactly 50 Ω — same width as the port lines, making layout simpler.
① The ring must be a perfect square electrically. All four arms must be λ/4 at f₀. The horizontal arms are shorter physically than the vertical arms (because Z₁ < Z₂, so the microstrip is wider and εeff is slightly different).
② The four corner junctions must be clean T-junctions. Use right-angle bends (mitered at 45°) or curved bends at the corners. Sharp right angles add parasitic inductance that shifts the operating frequency.
③ Terminate Port 4 with a precision 50 Ω chip resistor. In a balanced amplifier, Port 4 feeds one amplifier input and Port 1 feeds the other — neither port has a physical termination resistor. In a simple power splitter application, Port 4 must be terminated.
④ The coupler is inherently narrowband (20–30% BW). For wider bandwidth, use a multi-section branch-line coupler with 3 or more sections — doubles the bandwidth at the cost of physical size.
⑤ Keep the ring away from ground vias and copper pours — especially the inner area of the ring. Copper fill inside the ring changes the effective permittivity and shifts the resonant frequency.
| Element | Width | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Ω port traces | — | As needed | All 4 port feed lines |
| Z₁ horizontal arms (×2) | — | — | Z₀/√2 — wider than 50 Ω |
| Z₂ vertical arms (×2) | — | — | Z₀ — same as port traces |
| Overall ring size (est.) | — | Square footprint approx. | |
Expected: −3 dB at both output ports ± 0.5 dB, isolation >20 dB at f₀, bandwidth 20–30%.
The unequal spacing creates a 180° phase difference between the two output ports. Unlike the branch-line coupler (which can only produce 90° split), the rat-race gives you a choice of 0° or 180° phase depending on which input port you use.
| Input Port | Port 2 output | Port 3 output | Port 4 | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port 1 (Σ) | −3 dB, 0° | −3 dB, 180° | Isolated | Sum-difference network |
| Port 4 (Δ) | −3 dB, 0° | −3 dB, 0° | Isolated | In-phase combiner |
Z_ring = Z₀ × √2
For Z₀ = 50 Ω: Z_ring = 50 × 1.414 = 70.71 Ω
Ring dimensions:
Total circumference = 3λ/2 at f₀
Port 1 → Port 2: λ/4 clockwise
Port 2 → Port 3: λ/4 clockwise
Port 3 → Port 4: λ/4 clockwise
Port 4 → Port 1: 3λ/4 clockwise (the long way around — this is what gives 180° phase shift)
② Port positions must be accurately placed. Ports 1, 2, 3 are spaced λ/4 apart around the ring (90° arc each). Port 4 is λ/4 from Port 3 going the short way (or equivalently 3λ/4 from Port 1 going the long way). Any error in port position causes amplitude or phase imbalance.
③ Use curved bends — avoid sharp corners. The ring is naturally circular. If you use rectangular segments (a square ring), miter the corners. Sharp bends add parasitic reactance and shift the resonant frequency.
④ The long section (3λ/4) makes the layout large. The rat-race ring is physically bigger than a branch-line coupler of the same frequency because of the 3λ/2 circumference. At 2.4 GHz on FR4, the ring radius is approximately 15–18 mm, making it a 30–36 mm diameter component.
⑤ Bandwidth is inherently limited (20–25%). The 3λ/4 section disperses more than the λ/4 sections at off-centre frequencies. For wider bandwidth, use a modified Gysel coupler or multi-section design.
| Element | Width | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Ω port traces | — | As needed | All 4 port feed lines |
| Ring trace (entire ring) | — | — | Constant width = Z₀√2 |
| λ/4 arc sections (×3) | — | — | Port 1↔2, 2↔3, 3↔4 |
| 3λ/4 arc section (×1) | — | — | Port 4↔1 (long section) |
| Ring radius (circular) | — | Circumference / 2π | |
Expected: −3 dB at Ports 2 & 3, isolation >20 dB at f₀, bandwidth 20–25%.
About Directional Couplers
Directional couplers are four-port passive networks used throughout RF and microwave engineering to sample, split, or combine signals in a controlled, direction-dependent manner. All three types covered here — the directional coupler, branch-line coupler and rat-race coupler — are based on quarter-wavelength transmission line sections implemented as microstrip traces on PCB.
Directional Coupler
The directional coupler uses two parallel coupled transmission lines to extract a small fraction of power from a main line. The coupling factor C determines how much power is sampled — 10 dB takes 10% of power, 20 dB takes only 1%. The even and odd mode impedances Z0e and Z0o set the physical dimensions of the coupled region. Directional couplers are used in power detectors, levelling loops, reflectometers and automatic gain control circuits.
Branch-Line Coupler (90° Hybrid)
The branch-line coupler is a square ring of four quarter-wavelength lines with two impedance values: Z0/√2 for the horizontal shunt arms and Z0 for the vertical series arms. It splits power equally between two output ports with a 90° phase difference. This 90° quadrature relationship is essential for IQ modulators and demodulators, balanced amplifiers, and phased array antenna feeds.
Rat-Race Coupler (180° Hybrid)
The rat-race coupler is a ring with circumference 3λ/2 and uniform impedance Z0√2. The unequal port spacing creates a 180° phase difference between outputs. It can function as either a power splitter (0° or 180° output phase depending on which port is driven) or as a sum/difference network. Rat-race couplers are widely used in balanced mixers, push-pull amplifiers, and monopulse radar antenna feeds.