US7667555B2
Active / In Force
US
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Composite right/left handed (CRLH) branch-line couplers
Assignee: University of California
•
Filing: 2008-05-16
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Granted: 2010-02-23
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Expires: 2028-05-16
Abstract
Abstract High-frequency couplers and coupling techniques are described utilizing artificial composite right/left-handed transmission line (CRLH-TL). Three specific forms of couplers are described; (1) a coupled-line backward coupler is described with arbitrary tight/loose coupling and broad bandwidth; (2) a compact enhanced-bandwidth hybrid ring coupler is described with increased bandwidth and decreased size; and (3) a dual-band branch-line coupler that is not limited to a harmonic relation between the bands. These variations are preferably implemented in a microstrip fabrication process and may use lumped-element components. The couplers and coupling techniques are directed at increasing the utility while decreasing the size of high-frequency couplers, and are suitable for use with separate coupler or couplers integrated within integrated devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsuo Itoh
- 👤 Christophe Caloz
- 👤 I-Hsiang Lin
- 👤 Hiroshi Okabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P5/00; H01P5/12; H01P5/16; H01P5/19; H01P5/22; H01P5/227
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A branch-line coupler apparatus for generating separate signal channels from a radio-frequency (RF) connection, comprising: a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) connections configured for receiving an input signal; a plurality of branch lines interconnecting said plurality of RF connections; wherein each said branch line comprises a transmission line (TL) segment; wherein at least a portion of said branch lines comprises a composite right/left handed (CRLH) TL; and wherein capacitance and inductance contributions of a left-handed (LH) TL section and a right-handed (RH) TL section of said CRLH TL are chosen so that a phase response of said CRLH TL is dominated by a LH contribution at below a center frequency, while the phase response is dominated by a RH contribution at above the center frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A branch-line coupler apparatus for generating separate signal channels from a radio-frequency (RF) connection, comprising: a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) connections configured for receiving an input signal; a plurality of branch lines interconnecting said plurality of RF connections; wherein each said branch line comprises a transmission line (TL) segment; wherein at least a portion of said branch lines comprises a composite right/left handed (CRLH) TL; and wherein capacitance and inductance contributions of a left-handed (LH) TL section and a right-handed (RH) TL section of said CRLH TL are chosen so that a phase response of said CRLH TL is dominated by a LH contribution at below a center frequency, while the phase response is dominated by a RH contribution at above the center frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of branch lines comprise four microstrip branch lines connected in a non-overlapping pattern between four RF connections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said CRLH TL comprises a RH-TL section on either end of a LH-TL section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 : wherein said CRLH TL comprises a RH-TL section on either end of a LH-TL section; wherein said LH-TL section comprises alternating series capacitors of value C and shunt inductors of value L; and wherein said LH-TL section is coupled to said RH-TL section with a capacitor of value 2C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said LH-TL section comprises a unit cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 : wherein said LH-TL section comprises a unit cell; and wherein said unit cell comprises a series capacitor coupled with a shunt inductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said LH-TL section comprises a lumped element capacitor in series with a lumped element shunt-inductor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 : wherein said branch-line coupler is configured with two pass-bands; wherein each of said pass-bands has a frequency relationship; and wherein the frequency relationship of said two pass-bands can be set to desired frequencies which need not be harmonics of one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said CRLH TL comprises a unit cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 : wherein said CRLH TL comprises a unit cell; wherein said unit cell comprises a series combination of a right-handed inductor and a left-handed capacitor; and wherein said series combination of said right-handed inductor and said left-handed capacitor is coupled to a paralleled combination of a right-handed shunt capacitor and a left-handed shunt inductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
A branch-line coupler apparatus for generating separate signal channels from a radio-frequency (RF) connection, comprising: a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) connections configured for receiving an input signal; a plurality of branch lines interconnecting said plurality of RF connections; wherein each said branch line comprises a transmission line (TL) segment; wherein at least a portion of said branch lines comprises a composite right/left handed (CRLH) TL.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A branch-line coupler apparatus for generating separate signal channels from a radio-frequency (RF) connection, comprising: a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) connections configured for receiving an input signal; a plurality of branch lines interconnecting said plurality of RF connections; wherein each said branch line comprises a transmission line (TL) segment; wherein at least a portion of said branch lines comprises a composite right/left handed (CRLH) TL.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein said CRLH TL comprises a right-handed transmission line (RH-TL) section on either end of a left-handed transmission line (LH-TL) section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11 : wherein said CRLH TL comprises a right-handed transmission line (RH-TL) section on either end of a left-handed transmission line (LH-TL) section; wherein said LH-TL section comprises alternating series capacitors of value C and shunt inductors of value L; and wherein said LH-TL section is coupled to said RH-TL section with a capacitor of value 2C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein said CRLH TL comprises a unit cell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11 : wherein said CRLH TL comprises a unit cell; wherein said unit cell comprises a series combination of a right-handed inductor and a left-handed capacitor; and wherein said series combination of said right-handed inductor and said left-handed capacitor is coupled to a paralleled combination of a right-handed shunt capacitor and a left-handed shunt inductor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
A branch-line coupler apparatus for generating separate signal channels from a radio-frequency (RF) connection, comprising: a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) connections configured for receiving an input signal; a plurality of branch lines interconnecting said plurality of RF connections; wherein each said branch line comprises a transmission line (TL) segment; wherein at least a portion of said branch lines comprise one or more unit cells; wherein at least one said unit cell comprises a series combination of a right-handed inductor and a left-handed capacitor; and wherein said series combination of said right-handed inductor and said left-handed capacitor is coupled to a paralleled combination of a right-handed shunt capacitor and a left-handed shunt inductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
A branch-line coupler apparatus for generating separate signal channels from a radio-frequency (RF) connection, comprising: a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) connections configured for receiving an input signal; a plurality of branch lines interconnecting said plurality of RF connections; wherein each said branch line comprises a transmission line (TL) segment; wherein at least a portion of said branch lines comprise one or more unit cells; wherein at least one said unit cell comprises a series combination of a right-handed inductor and a left-handed capacitor; and wherein said series combination of said right-handed inductor and said left-handed capacitor is coupled to a paralleled combination of a right-handed shunt capacitor and a left-handed shunt inductor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2013-02-22 | 2013-08-24 | 2014-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2017-02-22 | 2017-08-24 | 2018-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2021-02-22 | 2021-08-24 | 2022-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |