EP0489632A1 - Microwave hybrid coupler with 3xN inputs and 3xM outputs, especially 3x3 coupler - Google Patents

Microwave hybrid coupler with 3xN inputs and 3xM outputs, especially 3x3 coupler Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0489632A1
EP0489632A1 EP91403242A EP91403242A EP0489632A1 EP 0489632 A1 EP0489632 A1 EP 0489632A1 EP 91403242 A EP91403242 A EP 91403242A EP 91403242 A EP91403242 A EP 91403242A EP 0489632 A1 EP0489632 A1 EP 0489632A1
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Prior art keywords
coupler
inputs
outputs
segments
characteristic impedance
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EP91403242A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0489632B1 (en
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Antoine Roederer
Carlos Maximo Martin Pascual
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Agence Spatiale Europeenne
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Agence Spatiale Europeenne
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01PWAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P5/00Coupling devices of the waveguide type
    • H01P5/12Coupling devices having more than two ports
    • H01P5/16Conjugate devices, i.e. devices having at least one port decoupled from one other port
    • H01P5/19Conjugate devices, i.e. devices having at least one port decoupled from one other port of the junction type
    • H01P5/22Hybrid ring junctions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to hybrid couplers for microwave frequencies.
  • these couplers are components with four ports or ports, namely two inputs and two outputs, in which a signal applied to one of the inputs sees its power divided by two and restored to the two outputs, the input not powered being isolated.
  • the vectors representative of the complex voltages are orthogonal, that is to say that the complex voltages, which are of the same amplitude, are presented in quadrature or in opposition as for their phase relation.
  • hybrid couplers which, while retaining the above isolation properties between the inputs and orthogonality of the complex voltage vectors at output, have a number of inputs and outputs greater than two.
  • Butler matrices and so-called generalized couplers are examples of such multiple access couplers.
  • These multiple access couplers generally consist of elementary hybrid couplers with four ports combined together by transmission lines. In principle, they have a number of inputs and a number of outputs which are always powers of two, and furthermore comprise transmission lines which intersect, which complicates their manufacture.
  • Such components would make it possible to extend the production of generalized couplers by greatly simplifying the production of matrices whose number of inputs or outputs is a multiple of three, for example square matrices 3x3, 6x6, 9x9, etc. or rectangular 3x6, 6x3, 3x9, etc.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide such a microwave coupler with three isolated and adapted inputs each producing at the three outputs a uniform distribution in amplitude and orthogonal to those corresponding to the other inputs, as well as generalized couplers using such elementary 3x3 couplers. .
  • This coupler which is illustrated schematically in Figure 1, has three inputs, 1, 3 and 5 and three outputs 2, 4 and 6 connected essentially by the elements referenced 20, namely three transmission lines 21 arranged symmetrically and connected transversely by two series sleepers 22, 23; this configuration realizes, in the area between elements 21, 22 and 23, square coupling regions realizing the power distribution between the three lines 21. So that the phases of the signals on the three outputs 2, 4 and 6 are uniformly out of phase between them by 120 °, a phase shifting circuit 24 is introduced into one of the lines. This circuit 24, which adds a phase shift of 120 ° thus makes it possible to obtain the desired phase relationship between the outputs.
  • the present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a 3 ⁇ 3 coupler of the aforementioned type but produced in an essentially planar configuration, therefore suitable for being produced in a wide variety of technologies such as microstrip line, triplate line, coaxial line. square, in so - called bar-line technology , etc.
  • the coupler of the invention which is of the hybrid microwave coupler type with six ports comprising three inputs and three isolated and adapted outputs, where a signal applied to any one of these inputs produces distributed signals at the three outputs.
  • orthogonally in phase and uniformly in amplitude is characterized by a planar configuration of transmission lines comprising: an internal ring formed of three similar segments, the junction points of these segments constituting the first three accesses, inputs or outputs, of the coupler; an outer ring formed of three similar segments, the junction points of these segments constituting three second ports, respectively outputs or inputs, of the coupler; and three radial branches, connecting together the junction points of the segments of the inner crown to the homologous junction points of the outer crown.
  • being the guided wavelength
  • the values of the lengths being considered modulo ⁇ and Zo being the characteristic impedance of the input and output lines
  • the segments of the inner ring are of length ⁇ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo
  • the segments of the external crown are of length ⁇ / 3 or 4 ⁇ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo
  • the radial branches are of length ⁇ / 12 and of characteristic impedance Zo.
  • the segments of the inner ring are of length ⁇ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo / 2
  • the segments of the outer ring are of length ⁇ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo / 2
  • the radial branches are of length 5 ⁇ / 12 and of characteristic impedance Zo.
  • the invention also covers the generalized hybrid microwave couplers with 3 ⁇ N inputs and 3 ⁇ M outputs isolated and adapted, N and M being natural integers, where a signal applied to any one of the 3 ⁇ N inputs produces a uniform distribution of signals at the 3 ⁇ M outputs, in which, N and M being greater than 1, the generalized coupler is formed by combination of a plurality of elementary couplers 3x3 of the type indicated above as well as, optionally, 2x2 couplers of conventional type.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows a 3x3 coupler of the prior art.
  • Figure 2 shows the 3x3 coupler of the invention, seen in plan.
  • Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of the coupler of Figure 2, produced respectively in microstrip line and in triplate line.
  • FIG. 5 is a homologous plan view of FIG. 2, for an alternative embodiment more particularly suited to an on-line microstrip embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 shows an example of a 9x9 coupler produced by combining a plurality of 3x3 couplers according to the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a variant of FIG. 6, in which the coupling of the various inputs and outputs of the elementary couplers has been carried out without crossing lines.
  • FIG. 8 is an example of a 6x6 coupler produced by combining 3x3 couplers according to the invention and 2x2 couplers of the type classic.
  • references 1 to 18 designate the different ports of the coupler entirely independently of the various embodiments; by convention, even numbers refer to inputs and odd numbers to outputs.
  • the coupler 30 according to the invention.
  • This essentially comprises three radial branches 31 equiangularly arranged, connecting the inputs 1, 3 or 5 to the homologous outputs 2, 4 or 6, respectively, of the coupler.
  • the inputs 1, 3 and 5 are connected to each other by an internal crown formed by three similar segments 33
  • the outputs 2, 4 and 6 are connected to each other by an external crown formed by three similar segments 33.
  • additional radial branches 31 ′ connecting the internal crown to the external crown at points thereof situated in intermediate regions between the respective junction points.
  • a microwave signal applied to any of the inputs 1, 3 or 5 is restored to the three outputs 2, 4 and 6 with nominally equal amplitudes.
  • Two of the output phases are equal, the third being nominally at 120 ° relative to the other two.
  • the other two unused inputs are nominally decoupled. From the point of view of impedances, the entire component is nominally adapted.
  • this component can be produced in a wide variety of technologies, for example in microstrip line, in triplate line, in coaxial line of circular, rectangular or square section, in coaxial square line, in so-called bar technology. line , etc.
  • FIG. 3 there is thus shown, in section, in FIG. 3 an embodiment in microstrip line, with a metallization 34 deposited on a substrate 35 or, in FIG. 4, an embodiment in triplate line with a central conductor 36 disposed between two ground planes 37 and 38.
  • all the segments 31, 32 or 33 have the same characteristic impedance Zo as the input and output lines.
  • the radial segments 31 have a length equal to ⁇ / 12
  • the segments 32 have a length ⁇ / 3
  • the segments 33 have a length 3 ⁇ / 4.
  • modulo ⁇ is given modulo ⁇ .
  • the radial segments 31 have a characteristic impedance Zo equal to that of the input and output lines, while the segments 32 and 33 of the inner and outer rings have a characteristic impedance equal to Zo / 2.
  • the length of the radial segments 31 is 5 ⁇ / 12 and that of the segments 32 and 33 of the inner and outer rings, of ⁇ / 3. It will be noted that, for the segments 33 of the outer ring, it may be advantageous, as illustrated in FIG.
  • Figures 6 to 8 illustrate embodiments of generalized couplers having a number of inputs and outputs greater than three, obtained by combination of 3x3 couplers of the type just described ( Figure 4).
  • the manner of combining couplers with each other is in itself well known in the art, and explained in detail for example in the article by Shelton and Kelleher mentioned above. These generalized couplers will therefore only be described very succinctly.
  • FIG. 6 a 9x9 coupler has been described, with eighteen access referenced 1 to 18, made by combining six elementary 3x3 couplers, referenced 30.
  • FIG. 7 If one wishes to avoid crossing the lines connecting the inputs and outputs of the various elementary couplers 30 to one another, one can choose the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, which lends itself particularly well to an entirely planar embodiment (for example in microstrip line). : to avoid crossing the lines, there are two additional 3x3 couplers 30′ and 30 dos placed back to back, so that the signal applied to access 1 ′ is found on access 1 ⁇ , that applied to l 'access 3 ′, on access 3 ", etc., and vice versa.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a 6x6 coupler produced by combining two elementary 3x3 couplers according to the invention, referenced 30, with three 2x2 elementary couplers of conventional type, referenced 40; the latter make it possible to combine two by two the different inputs 1 and 3, 5 and 7, 9 and 11, respectively, the signals obtained then being applied to the respective inputs of the two 3x3 couplers to be restored to the six outputs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12.

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Abstract

This hybrid microwave coupler (30) with six pathways (1-6), comprising three inputs (1, 3, 5) and three outputs (2, 4, 6) which are isolated and matched, in which a signal applied to any one of these inputs produces signals distributed orthogonally in phase and uniformly in amplitude at the three outputs, is characterised by a flat configuration of transmission lines comprising:   - an internal crown formed of three similar segments (32), the junction points (1, 3, 5) of these segments constituting three first pathways, inputs or outputs, of the coupler,   - an external crown formed of three similar segments (33), the junction points (2, 4, 6) of these segments constituting three second pathways, respectively outputs or inputs, of the coupler, and   - three radial branches (31), connecting together the junction points (1, 3, 5) of the segments of the internal crown and the corresponding junction points (2, 4, 6) of the external crown. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne les coupleurs hybrides pour hyperfréquences.The present invention relates to hybrid couplers for microwave frequencies.

Le plus souvent, ces coupleurs sont des composants à quatre accès ou ports, à savoir deux entrées et deux sorties, dans lesquels un signal appliqué sur l'une des entrées voit sa puissance divisée par deux et restituée aux deux sorties, l'entrée non alimentée étant isolée. Sur les deux sorties, les vecteurs représentatifs des tensions complexes sont orthogonaux, c'est-à-dire que les tensions complexes, qui sont de même amplitude, se présentent en quadrature ou en opposition quant à leur relation de phase.Most often, these couplers are components with four ports or ports, namely two inputs and two outputs, in which a signal applied to one of the inputs sees its power divided by two and restored to the two outputs, the input not powered being isolated. On the two outputs, the vectors representative of the complex voltages are orthogonal, that is to say that the complex voltages, which are of the same amplitude, are presented in quadrature or in opposition as for their phase relation.

Dans de nombreuses applications, comme par exemple les réseaux de formation de faisceaux multiples d'antennes ou les amplificateurs à accès multiples, il est souhaitable de disposer de coupleurs hybrides, qui, tout en conservant les propriétés ci-dessus d'isolation entre les entrées et d'orthogonalité des vecteurs tensions complexes en sortie, possèdent un nombre d'entrées et de sorties supérieur à deux.In many applications, such as multiple antenna beamforming networks or multiple access amplifiers, it is desirable to have hybrid couplers, which, while retaining the above isolation properties between the inputs and orthogonality of the complex voltage vectors at output, have a number of inputs and outputs greater than two.

Les matrices de Butler et les coupleurs dits généralisés sont des exemples de tels coupleurs à accès multiples.Butler matrices and so-called generalized couplers are examples of such multiple access couplers.

Ces coupleurs à accès multiples sont généralement constitués de coupleurs hybrides élémentaires à quatre accès combinés entre eux par des lignes de transmission. Par principe, ils ont un nombre d'entrées et un nombre de sorties qui sont toujours des puissances de deux, et comportent en outre des lignes de transmission qui se croisent, ce qui en complique la fabrication.These multiple access couplers generally consist of elementary hybrid couplers with four ports combined together by transmission lines. In principle, they have a number of inputs and a number of outputs which are always powers of two, and furthermore comprise transmission lines which intersect, which complicates their manufacture.

Pour étendre les possibilités de combinaison, il serait souhaitable de disposer de coupleurs compacts à trois entrées et trois sorties, à entrées adaptées et isolées, chacune de ces entrées pouvant fournir aux trois sorties une distribution uniforme de puissance orthogonale à celle des deux autres.To extend the combination possibilities, it would be desirable to have compact couplers with three inputs and three outputs, with adapted and isolated inputs, each of these inputs being able to provide the three outputs with a uniform distribution of power orthogonal to that of the other two.

De tels composants permettraient d'étendre la réalisation des coupleurs généralisés en simplifiant grandement la réalisation de matrices dont le nombre d'entrées ou de sorties serait un multiple de trois, par exemple des matrices carrées 3x3, 6x6, 9x9, etc. ou rectangulaires 3x6, 6x3, 3x9, etc.Such components would make it possible to extend the production of generalized couplers by greatly simplifying the production of matrices whose number of inputs or outputs is a multiple of three, for example square matrices 3x3, 6x6, 9x9, etc. or rectangular 3x6, 6x3, 3x9, etc.

L'objet de la présente invention est de proposer un tel coupleur hyperfréquence à trois entrées isolées et adaptées produisant chacune aux trois sorties une distribution uniforme en amplitude et orthogonale à celles correspondant aux autres entrées, ainsi que des coupleurs généralisés utilisant de tels coupleurs 3x3 élémentaires.The object of the present invention is to provide such a microwave coupler with three isolated and adapted inputs each producing at the three outputs a uniform distribution in amplitude and orthogonal to those corresponding to the other inputs, as well as generalized couplers using such elementary 3x3 couplers. .

Le seul coupleur 3x3 présentant ces propriétés qui ait été proposé dans la littérature est un composant décrit dans un article de J. P. Shelton et K. S. Kelleher intitulé Multiple Beams from Linear Arrays, paru dans les IRE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation de mars 1961, pages 154 à 161, notamment l'annexe I, pages 158 à 160, intitulée Six-Port Junction for MuItiple-Feed Arrays.The only 3x3 coupler with these properties that has been proposed in the literature is a component described in an article by JP Shelton and KS Kelleher entitled Multiple Beams from Linear Arrays , published in IRE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation of March 1961, pages 154 to 161, in particular Annex I, pages 158 to 160, entitled Six-Port Junction for MuItiple-Feed Arrays .

Ce coupleur, qui est illustré schématiquement figure 1, comporte trois entrées, 1, 3 et 5 et trois sorties 2, 4 et 6 reliées essentiellement par les éléments référencés 20, à savoir trois lignes de transmission 21 disposées symétriquement et reliées transversalement par deux séries de traverses 22, 23 ; cette configuration réalise, dans la zone comprise entre les éléments 21, 22 et 23 des régions de couplage carrées réalisant la répartition de puissance entre les trois lignes 21. Pour que les phases des signaux sur les trois sorties 2, 4 et 6 soient uniformément déphasées entre elles de 120°, on introduit un circuit déphaseur 24 dans l'une des lignes. Ce circuit 24, qui rajoute un déphasage de 120° permet ainsi d'obtenir la relation de phase recherchée entre les sorties.This coupler, which is illustrated schematically in Figure 1, has three inputs, 1, 3 and 5 and three outputs 2, 4 and 6 connected essentially by the elements referenced 20, namely three transmission lines 21 arranged symmetrically and connected transversely by two series sleepers 22, 23; this configuration realizes, in the area between elements 21, 22 and 23, square coupling regions realizing the power distribution between the three lines 21. So that the phases of the signals on the three outputs 2, 4 and 6 are uniformly out of phase between them by 120 °, a phase shifting circuit 24 is introduced into one of the lines. This circuit 24, which adds a phase shift of 120 ° thus makes it possible to obtain the desired phase relationship between the outputs.

Ce type de coupleur, qui en pratique n'a guère fait l'objet de réalisations effectives, présente un certain nombre d'inconvénients, notamment un encombrement excessif et des difficultés de fabrication en raison du dimensionnement délicat des différents éléments (sur lequel l'article précité ne donne aucune indication), avec un coût corrélativement élevé.This type of coupler, which in practice has hardly been the subject of effective embodiments, has a certain number of drawbacks, in particular excessive bulk and manufacturing difficulties due to the delicate dimensioning of the different elements (on which the above article gives no indication), with a correspondingly high cost.

En outre, un tel coupleur, du fait de sa configuration tridimensionnelle, impose le recours à une technologie en ligne coaxiale ou en guide d'onde, ce qui limite ses possibilités d'utilisation, ou impose un interfaçage avec des lignes réalisées dans une autre technologie, accroissant ainsi la difficulté de réalisation et de mise au point.In addition, such a coupler, because of its three-dimensional configuration, requires the use of a coaxial line or waveguide technology, which limits its possibilities of use, or imposes a interfacing with lines produced in another technology, thus increasing the difficulty of production and development.

La présente invention se propose de remédier à ces inconvénients, en proposant un coupleur 3x3 du type précité mais réalisé suivant une configuration essentiellement plane, se prêtant donc à une réalisation dans des technologies très variées telles qu'en ligne microruban, ligne triplaque, ligne coaxiale carrée, en technologie dite bar-line, etc.The present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a 3 × 3 coupler of the aforementioned type but produced in an essentially planar configuration, therefore suitable for being produced in a wide variety of technologies such as microstrip line, triplate line, coaxial line. square, in so - called bar-line technology , etc.

A cet effet, le coupleur de l'invention, qui est du type coupleur hyperfréquence hybride à six accès comprenant trois entrées et trois sorties isolées et adaptées, où un signal appliqué à l'une quelconque de ces entrées produit aux trois sorties des signaux distribués orthogonalement en phase et uniformément en amplitude, est caractérisé par un configuration plane de lignes de transmission comprenant : une couronne interne formée de trois segments semblables, les points de jonction de ces segments constituant trois premiers accès, entrées ou sorties, du coupleur ; une couronne externe formée de trois segments semblables, les points de jonction de ces segments constituant trois seconds accès, respectivement sorties ou entrées, du coupleur ; et trois branches radiales, reliant entre eux les points de jonction des segments de la couronne interne aux points de jonction homologues de la couronne externe.To this end, the coupler of the invention, which is of the hybrid microwave coupler type with six ports comprising three inputs and three isolated and adapted outputs, where a signal applied to any one of these inputs produces distributed signals at the three outputs. orthogonally in phase and uniformly in amplitude, is characterized by a planar configuration of transmission lines comprising: an internal ring formed of three similar segments, the junction points of these segments constituting the first three accesses, inputs or outputs, of the coupler; an outer ring formed of three similar segments, the junction points of these segments constituting three second ports, respectively outputs or inputs, of the coupler; and three radial branches, connecting together the junction points of the segments of the inner crown to the homologous junction points of the outer crown.

Dans une première forme de réalisation, λ étant la longueur d'onde guidée, les valeurs des longueurs étant considérées modulo λ et Zo étant l'impédance caractéristique des lignes d'entrée et de sortie, les segments de la couronne interne sont de longueur λ/3 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo, les segments de la couronne externe sont de longueur λ/3 ou 4λ/3 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo et les branches radiales sont de longueur λ/12 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo.In a first embodiment, λ being the guided wavelength, the values of the lengths being considered modulo λ and Zo being the characteristic impedance of the input and output lines, the segments of the inner ring are of length λ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo, the segments of the external crown are of length λ / 3 or 4λ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo and the radial branches are of length λ / 12 and of characteristic impedance Zo.

Dans une seconde forme de réalisation, avec les mêmes conventions, les segments de la couronne interne sont de longueur λ/3 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo/2, les segments de la couronne externe sont de longueur λ/3 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo/2 et les branches radiales sont de longueur 5λ/12 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo.In a second embodiment, with the same conventions, the segments of the inner ring are of length λ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo / 2, the segments of the outer ring are of length λ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo / 2 and the radial branches are of length 5λ / 12 and of characteristic impedance Zo.

Il peut être en outre avantageusement prévu, pour élargir la bande passante du coupleur, des branches radiales additionnelles reliant la couronne interne à la couronne externe en des points de celles-ci situés dans des régions intermédiaires entre lesdits points de jonction respectifs.It may also be advantageously provided, to widen the bandwidth of the coupler, additional radial branches connecting the inner ring to the outer ring at points thereof located in intermediate regions between said respective junction points.

L'invention couvre également les coupleurs hyperfréquence hybrides généralisés à 3xN entrées et 3xM sorties isolées et adaptées, N et M étant des entiers naturels, où un signal appliqué à l'une quelconque des 3xN entrées produit une distribution uniforme de signaux aux 3xM sorties, dans lesquels, N et M étant supérieurs à 1, le coupleur généralisé est formé par combinaison d'une pluralité de coupleurs élémentaires 3x3 du type indiqué plus haut ainsi que, éventuellement, de coupleurs 2x2 de type classique.The invention also covers the generalized hybrid microwave couplers with 3 × N inputs and 3 × M outputs isolated and adapted, N and M being natural integers, where a signal applied to any one of the 3 × N inputs produces a uniform distribution of signals at the 3 × M outputs, in which, N and M being greater than 1, the generalized coupler is formed by combination of a plurality of elementary couplers 3x3 of the type indicated above as well as, optionally, 2x2 couplers of conventional type.

D'autre caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description détaillée ci-dessous, faite en référence aux dessins annexés.Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description below, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

La figure 1, précitée, montre schématiquement un coupleur 3x3 de l'art antérieur.Figure 1, above, schematically shows a 3x3 coupler of the prior art.

La figure 2 montre le coupleur 3x3 de l'invention, vu en plan.Figure 2 shows the 3x3 coupler of the invention, seen in plan.

Les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues en coupe du coupleur de la figure 2, réalisé respectivement en ligne microruban et en ligne triplaque.Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of the coupler of Figure 2, produced respectively in microstrip line and in triplate line.

La figure 5 est une vue en plan homologue de la figure 2, pour une variante de réalisation plus particulièrement adaptée à une réalisation en ligne microruban.FIG. 5 is a homologous plan view of FIG. 2, for an alternative embodiment more particularly suited to an on-line microstrip embodiment.

La figure 6 montre un exemple de coupleur 9x9 réalisé par combinaison d'une pluralité de coupleurs 3x3 selon l'invention.FIG. 6 shows an example of a 9x9 coupler produced by combining a plurality of 3x3 couplers according to the invention.

La figure 7 est une variante de la figure 6, dans lequel le couplage des différentes entrées et sorties des coupleurs élémentaires a été réalisé sans croisement de lignes.FIG. 7 is a variant of FIG. 6, in which the coupling of the various inputs and outputs of the elementary couplers has been carried out without crossing lines.

La figure 8 est un exemple de coupleur 6x6 réalisé par combinaison de coupleurs 3x3 selon l'invention et de coupleurs 2x2 de type classique.FIG. 8 is an example of a 6x6 coupler produced by combining 3x3 couplers according to the invention and 2x2 couplers of the type classic.

A titre liminaire, on indiquera que, sur toutes les figures, les références 1 à 18 désignent les différents accès du coupleur de façon entièrement indépendante des divers modes de réalisation ; par convention, les nombres pairs désignent les entrées et les nombres impairs, les sorties.By way of introduction, it will be indicated that, in all the figures, the references 1 to 18 designate the different ports of the coupler entirely independently of the various embodiments; by convention, even numbers refer to inputs and odd numbers to outputs.

En revanche, les autres références numériques désignent, d'une figure à l'autre, des éléments fonctionnellement semblables.On the other hand, the other numerical references designate, from one figure to another, functionally similar elements.

Sur la figure 2, on a représenté schématiquement, en plan, le coupleur 30 selon l'invention. Celui-ci comporte essentiellement trois branches radiales 31 équiangulairement disposées, reliant les entrées 1, 3 ou 5 aux sorties homologues 2, 4 ou 6, respectivement, du coupleur. Par ailleurs, les entrées 1, 3 et 5 sont reliées entre elles par une couronne interne formée de trois segments semblables 33, tandis que les sorties 2, 4 et 6 sont reliées entre elles par une couronne externe formée de trois segments semblables 33. Pour élargir la bande passante du coupleur, il est en outre possible d'ajouter des branches radiales additionnelles 31′ reliant la couronne interne à la couronne externe en des points de celles-ci situés dans des régions intermédiaires entre les points de jonction respectifs.In Figure 2, there is shown schematically, in plan, the coupler 30 according to the invention. This essentially comprises three radial branches 31 equiangularly arranged, connecting the inputs 1, 3 or 5 to the homologous outputs 2, 4 or 6, respectively, of the coupler. Furthermore, the inputs 1, 3 and 5 are connected to each other by an internal crown formed by three similar segments 33, while the outputs 2, 4 and 6 are connected to each other by an external crown formed by three similar segments 33. For widening the bandwidth of the coupler, it is also possible to add additional radial branches 31 ′ connecting the internal crown to the external crown at points thereof situated in intermediate regions between the respective junction points.

Avec une telle configuration, un signal hyperfréquence appliqué à l'une quelconque des entrées 1, 3 ou 5 est restitué aux trois sorties 2, 4 et 6 avec des amplitudes nominalement égales. Deux des phases de sortie sont égales, la troisième étant nominalement à 120° par rapport aux deux autres. Les deux autres entrées non utilisées sont nominalement découplées. Du point de vue des impédances, l'ensemble du composant est nominalement adapté.With such a configuration, a microwave signal applied to any of the inputs 1, 3 or 5 is restored to the three outputs 2, 4 and 6 with nominally equal amplitudes. Two of the output phases are equal, the third being nominally at 120 ° relative to the other two. The other two unused inputs are nominally decoupled. From the point of view of impedances, the entire component is nominally adapted.

Du fait de sa configuration essentiellement plane, ce composant peut être réalisé dans des technologies très variées, par exemple en ligne microruban, en ligne triplaque, en ligne coaxiale de section circulaire, rectangulaire ou carrée, en ligne coaxiale carrée, en technologie dite bar-line, etc.Due to its essentially flat configuration, this component can be produced in a wide variety of technologies, for example in microstrip line, in triplate line, in coaxial line of circular, rectangular or square section, in coaxial square line, in so-called bar technology. line , etc.

On a ainsi représenté, en coupe, sur la figure 3 une réalisation en ligne microruban, avec une métallisation 34 déposée sur un substrat 35 ou, sur la figure 4, une réalisation en ligne triplaque avec un conducteur central 36 disposé entre deux plans de masse 37 et 38.There is thus shown, in section, in FIG. 3 an embodiment in microstrip line, with a metallization 34 deposited on a substrate 35 or, in FIG. 4, an embodiment in triplate line with a central conductor 36 disposed between two ground planes 37 and 38.

En ce qui concerne le dimensionnement et la détermination des impédances caractéristiques des différents segments de lignes du dispositif, on proposera deux configurations typiques.With regard to the dimensioning and the determination of the characteristic impedances of the different line segments of the device, two typical configurations will be proposed.

Dans la première réalisation, correspondant à la géométrie de la figure 2, tous les segments 31, 32 ou 33 ont la même impédance caractéristique Zo que les lignes d'entrée et de sortie. Les segments radiaux 31 ont une longueur égale à λ/12, les segments 32 ont une longueur λ/3 et les segments 33, une longueur 3λ/4. Bien entendu, toutes ces dimensions sont données modulo λ.In the first embodiment, corresponding to the geometry of FIG. 2, all the segments 31, 32 or 33 have the same characteristic impedance Zo as the input and output lines. The radial segments 31 have a length equal to λ / 12, the segments 32 have a length λ / 3 and the segments 33, a length 3λ / 4. Of course, all these dimensions are given modulo λ.

Dans une seconde réalisation, correspondant à l'illustration de la figure 5, les segments radiaux 31 ont une impédance caractéristique Zo égale à celle des lignes d'entrée et de sortie, tandis que les segments 32 et 33 des couronnes interne et externe ont une impédance caractéristique égale à Zo/2. La longueur des segments radiaux 31 est de 5λ/12 et celle des segments 32 et 33 des couronnes interne et externe, de λ/3. On notera que, pour les segments 33 de la couronne externe, il peut être avantageux, comme illustré sur la figure 5, d'allonger ceux-ci d'une ou plusieurs longueurs d'onde afin d'éviter un couplage entre les couronnes interne et externe, notamment dans le cas d'une réalisation en ligne microruban (avec une configuration de type coaxiale carrée ou bar-line, cette contrainte est absente, du fait que les lignes sont fermées et découplées).In a second embodiment, corresponding to the illustration in FIG. 5, the radial segments 31 have a characteristic impedance Zo equal to that of the input and output lines, while the segments 32 and 33 of the inner and outer rings have a characteristic impedance equal to Zo / 2. The length of the radial segments 31 is 5λ / 12 and that of the segments 32 and 33 of the inner and outer rings, of λ / 3. It will be noted that, for the segments 33 of the outer ring, it may be advantageous, as illustrated in FIG. 5, to lengthen these by one or more wavelengths in order to avoid coupling between the inner rings and external, in particular in the case of a microstrip line production (with a configuration of the square coaxial or bar-line type , this constraint is absent, because the lines are closed and decoupled).

Les figures 6 à 8 illustrent des réalisations de coupleurs généralisés présentant un nombre d'entrées et de sorties supérieur à trois, obtenus par combinaison de coupleurs 3x3 du type que l'on vient de décrire (figure 4). La manière de combiner entre eux des coupleurs est en elle-même bien connue de la technique, et exposée en détail par exemple dans l'article de Shelton et Kelleher mentionné plus haut. On ne décrira donc ces coupleurs généralisés que de façon très succinte.Figures 6 to 8 illustrate embodiments of generalized couplers having a number of inputs and outputs greater than three, obtained by combination of 3x3 couplers of the type just described (Figure 4). The manner of combining couplers with each other is in itself well known in the art, and explained in detail for example in the article by Shelton and Kelleher mentioned above. These generalized couplers will therefore only be described very succinctly.

Ainsi, sur la figure 6, on a décrit un coupleur 9x9, avec dix-huit accès référencés 1 à 18, réalisé par combinaison de six coupleurs élémentaires 3x3, référencés 30.Thus, in FIG. 6, a 9x9 coupler has been described, with eighteen access referenced 1 to 18, made by combining six elementary 3x3 couplers, referenced 30.

Si l'on veut éviter le croisement des lignes reliant entre elles les entrées et les sorties des divers coupleurs élémentaires 30, on peut choisir la configuration illustrée figure 7, qui se prête particulièrement bien à une réalisation entièrement plane (par exemple en ligne microruban): pour éviter le croisement des lignes, on y prévoit deux coupleurs 3x3 supplémentaires 30′et 30˝ placés dos à dos, de sorte que le signal appliqué à l'accès 1′ se retrouve sur l'accès 1˝, celui appliqué à l'accès 3′, sur l'accès 3", etc., et vice versa.If one wishes to avoid crossing the lines connecting the inputs and outputs of the various elementary couplers 30 to one another, one can choose the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, which lends itself particularly well to an entirely planar embodiment (for example in microstrip line). : to avoid crossing the lines, there are two additional 3x3 couplers 30′ and 30 dos placed back to back, so that the signal applied to access 1 ′ is found on access 1˝, that applied to l 'access 3 ′, on access 3 ", etc., and vice versa.

Avec une telle configuration de coupleur généralisé selon la figure 6 ou 7, un signal appliqué à l'une quelconque des entrées (c'est-à-dire à l'un quelconque des accès de rang impair) se retrouve identiquement sur toutes les sorties (c'est-à-dire sur tous les accès de rang pair) et vice versa.With such a generalized coupler configuration according to FIG. 6 or 7, a signal applied to any one of the inputs (that is to say to any one of the accesses of odd rank) is found identically on all the outputs (i.e. on all accesses of even rank) and vice versa.

Sur la figure 8, on a illustré un coupleur 6x6 réalisé en combinant deux coupleurs élémentaires 3x3 selon l'invention, référencés 30, avec trois coupleurs élémentaires 2x2 de type classique, référencés 40 ; ces derniers permettent de combiner deux par deux les différentes entrées 1 et 3, 5 et 7, 9 et 11, respectivement, les signaux obtenus étant ensuite appliqués aux entrées respectives des deux coupleurs 3x3 pour être restitués aux six sorties 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 et 12.FIG. 8 illustrates a 6x6 coupler produced by combining two elementary 3x3 couplers according to the invention, referenced 30, with three 2x2 elementary couplers of conventional type, referenced 40; the latter make it possible to combine two by two the different inputs 1 and 3, 5 and 7, 9 and 11, respectively, the signals obtained then being applied to the respective inputs of the two 3x3 couplers to be restored to the six outputs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12.

Il est clair que d'autres configurations comportant un nombre plus important d'accès (coupleurs 6x12, 9x18, 27x27, etc.) sont réalisables par diverses combinaisons de coupleurs 2x2, 3x3 et 4x4, comme cela est exposé dans l'article précité de Shelton et Kelleher.It is clear that other configurations with a larger number of accesses (6x12, 9x18, 27x27 couplers, etc.) can be achieved by various combinations of 2x2, 3x3 and 4x4 couplers, as explained in the aforementioned article of Shelton and Kelleher.

Parmi les diverses applications envisageables pour de tels coupleurs élémentaires ou généralisés, on peut citer:

  • les réseaux de formation de faisceaux pour antennes multi-faisceaux contourées ou non, pour satellites de télécommunications ou d'observation, ou pour radars ;
  • les réseaux de formation de faisceaux d'écartométrie pour antennes de satellites, pour stations terriennes mobiles ou non, ou pour radars ;
  • les systèmes à redondances multiples, par exemple pour les antennes de télémétrie/télécommande à plusieurs éléments (typiquement trois ou quatre) pouvant être reliés à plusieurs blocs émetteurs/récepteurs par les coupleurs de l'invention;
  • les systèmes amplificateurs à accès multiples, permettant de répartir la puissance d'émission sur plusieurs amplificateurs et de la distribuer efficacement et avec une certaine souplesse à plusieurs sorties ou faisceaux d'antennes ;
  • ainsi que, plus généralement, tous les circuits de distribution hyperfréquence, notamment (mais sans caractère limitatif, pour les applications spatiales.
Among the various possible applications for such elementary or generalized couplers, there may be mentioned:
  • beam forming networks for multi-beam antennas, whether or not contoured, for telecommunications or observation satellites, or for radars;
  • deviation beam forming networks for satellite antennas, for mobile and non-mobile earth stations, or for radars;
  • multiple redundancy systems, for example for telemetry / remote control antennas with several elements (typically three or four) which can be connected to several transmitter / receiver blocks by the couplers of the invention;
  • multiple access amplifier systems, making it possible to distribute the transmission power over several amplifiers and to distribute it efficiently and with a certain flexibility to several outputs or antenna beams;
  • as well as, more generally, all microwave distribution circuits, in particular (but without limitation, for space applications.

Claims (5)

Un coupleur hyperfréquence hybride (30) à six accès (1-6), comprenant trois entrées (1, 3, 5) et trois sorties (2, 4, 6) isolées et adaptées, où un signal appliqué à l'une quelconque de ces entrées produit aux trois sorties des signaux distribués orthogonalement en phase et uniformément en amplitude,
   caractérisé par un configuration plane de lignes de transmission comprenant : - une couronne interne formée de trois segments (32) semblables, les points de jonction (1, 3, 5) de ces segments constituant trois premiers accès, entrées ou sorties, du coupleur, - une couronne externe formée de trois segments (33) semblables, les points de jonction (2, 4, 6) de ces segments constituant trois seconds accès, respectivement sorties ou entrées, du coupleur, et - trois branches radiales (31), reliant entre eux les points de jonction (1, 3, 5) des segments de la couronne interne aux points dejonction homologues (2, 4, 6) de la couronne externe.
A hybrid microwave coupler (30) with six ports (1-6), comprising three inputs (1, 3, 5) and three outputs (2, 4, 6) isolated and adapted, where a signal applied to any one of these inputs produce signals distributed orthogonally in phase and uniformly in amplitude at the three outputs,
characterized by a flat configuration of transmission lines comprising: an internal ring formed of three similar segments (32), the junction points (1, 3, 5) of these segments constituting the first three accesses, inputs or outputs, of the coupler, an outer ring formed of three similar segments (33), the junction points (2, 4, 6) of these segments constituting three second ports, respectively outputs or inputs, of the coupler, and - Three radial branches (31), connecting together the junction points (1, 3, 5) of the segments of the internal crown to the homologous junction points (2, 4, 6) of the external crown.
Le coupleur de la revendication 1, dans lequel, λ étant la longueur d'onde guidée, les valeurs des longueurs étant considérées modulo λ et Zo étant l'impédance caractéristique des lignes d'entrée et de sortie : - les segments de la couronne interne (32) sont de longueur λ/3 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo, - les segments de la couronne externe (33) sont de longueur λ/3 ou 4λ/3 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo, et - les branches radiales (31) sont de longueur λ/12 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo. The coupler of claim 1, in which, λ being the guided wavelength, the values of the lengths being considered modulo λ and Zo being the characteristic impedance of the input and output lines: the segments of the internal crown (32) are of length λ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo, the segments of the outer ring (33) are of length λ / 3 or 4λ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo, and - The radial branches (31) are of length λ / 12 and of characteristic impedance Zo. Le coupleur de la revendication 1, dans lequel, λ étant la longueur d'onde guidée, les valeurs des longueurs étant considérées modulo λ et Zo étant l'impédance caractéristique des lignes d'entrée et de sortie : - les segments de la couronne interne (32) sont de longueur λ/3 ou 4λ/3 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo/2, - les segments de la couronne externe (33) sont de longueur λ/3 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo/2, et - les branches radiales (31) sont de longueur 5λ/12 et d'impédance caractéristique Zo. The coupler of claim 1, in which, λ being the guided wavelength, the values of the lengths being considered modulo λ and Zo being the characteristic impedance of the input and output lines: the segments of the internal crown (32) are of length λ / 3 or 4λ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo / 2, the segments of the outer ring (33) are of length λ / 3 and of characteristic impedance Zo / 2, and - The radial branches (31) are of length 5λ / 12 and of characteristic impedance Zo. Le coupleur de la revendication 1, dans lequel il est prévu des branches radiales additionnelles (31′) reliant la couronne interne à la couronne externe en des points de celles-ci situés dans des régions intermédiaires entre lesdits points de jonction respectifs (1, 3, 5; 2, 4, 6).The coupler of claim 1, in which there are provided additional radial branches (31 ′) connecting the inner ring to the outer ring at points thereof situated in intermediate regions between said respective junction points (1, 3 , 5; 2, 4, 6). Un coupleur hyperfréquence hybride généralisé à 3xN entrées et 3xM sorties isolées et adaptées, N et M étant des entiers naturels, où un signal appliqué à l'une quelconque des 3xN entrées produit une distribution uniforme de signaux aux 3xM sorties, caractérisé en ce que, N et M étant supérieurs à 1, il est formé par combinaison d'une pluralité de coupleurs (30) selon la revendication 1 ainsi que, éventuellement, de coupleurs 2x2 de type classique.A generalized hybrid microwave coupler with 3xN inputs and 3xM isolated and adapted outputs, N and M being natural integers, where a signal applied to any one of the 3xN inputs produces a uniform distribution of signals to the 3xM outputs, characterized in that, N and M being greater than 1, it is formed by combination of a plurality of couplers (30) according to claim 1 as well as, optionally, 2x2 couplers of conventional type.
EP91403242A 1990-12-06 1991-11-29 Microwave hybrid coupler with 3xN inputs and 3xM outputs, especially 3x3 coupler Expired - Lifetime EP0489632B1 (en)

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FR9015315 1990-12-06
FR9015315A FR2670327A1 (en) 1990-12-06 1990-12-06 HYPERFREQUENCY HYBRID COUPLER WITH 3XN INPUTS AND 3XM OUTPUTS, IN PARTICULAR COUPLER 3X3.

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US5903827A (en) * 1995-07-07 1999-05-11 Fujitsu Compound Semiconductor, Inc. Single balanced frequency downconverter for direct broadcast satellite transmissions and hybrid ring signal combiner
US5760741A (en) * 1996-04-09 1998-06-02 Trw Inc. Beam forming network for multiple-beam-feed sharing antenna system
US5883552A (en) * 1997-11-04 1999-03-16 Hughes Electronics Corporation Microwave power divider/combiner structures
US6822531B2 (en) * 2002-07-31 2004-11-23 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Switched-frequency power dividers/combiners
US7026885B2 (en) * 2003-05-30 2006-04-11 Lucent Technologies Inc. Low-loss coupler

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FR2670327B1 (en) 1993-02-26
JPH04302201A (en) 1992-10-26
DE69107424D1 (en) 1995-03-23
CA2056344C (en) 1995-06-13
FR2670327A1 (en) 1992-06-12
DE69107424T2 (en) 1995-06-29
ES2071265T3 (en) 1995-06-16
US5237294A (en) 1993-08-17
EP0489632B1 (en) 1995-02-15

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