Hybrid Coupler Harmonic Trap Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid couplers used in RF circuits often have limited quality factors, leading to the passage of undesired harmonics into quadrature hybrid signals, which requires additional RF filters that introduce insertion losses.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid coupler design incorporating inductive and capacitive elements that form harmonic traps, allowing for the filtering of undesired harmonics and improving the quality factor by splitting RF signals into quadrature hybrid signals while minimizing insertion losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If additional RF filters are used to filter undesired harmonics, then harmonic filtering is improved, but insertion losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the harmonic filtering function with the hybrid coupler structure by integrating LC resonant circuits (harmonic traps) directly into the coupler's inductive and capacitive elements. This combination eliminates the need for separate external RF filters, achieving harmonic rejection while maintaining low insertion losses through the unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid coupler is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: signal splitting into quadrature components and harmonic filtering. The inductive and capacitive elements serve dual purposes as both coupling components and resonant filtering elements, reducing overall system complexity and component count.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hybrid coupler quality factor is increased to filter harmonics, then harmonic rejection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering function is merged into the existing hybrid coupler structure rather than adding separate filtering components. The LC resonant circuits are integrated with the coupler's inductive and capacitive elements, achieving high Q-factor harmonic rejection without increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the parameters of the inductive and capacitive elements to create resonant circuits with specific Q-factors tailored for harmonic filtering. By optimizing the L and C values, the design achieves effective harmonic rejection while maintaining a relatively simple structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed hybrid coupler effectively filters out undesired harmonics, enhancing the quality factor and reducing insertion losses, thereby improving the performance of RF circuits.
Implementation Method 1
The first capacitive element and a portion of the first inductive element and the second capacitive element and a portion of the second inductive element each form a harmonic trap
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to hybrid couplers for radio frequency (RF) signals. The hybrid coupler includes a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port, a first inductive element connected from the first port to the third port, and a second inductive element connected from the second port to the fourth port. The hybrid coupler further includes a first capacitive element and a second capacitive element. The first capacitive element is connected between an intermediary node of the first inductive element and either the first port or the third port, while the second capacitive element is coupled between an intermediary node of the second inductive element and either the second port or the fourth port. Accordingly, the first capacitive element and a portion of the first inductive element and the second capacitive element and a portion of the second capacitive element each form a harmonic trap.