3D-Printed Broadband Power Divider Based on Helical-Microstrip Transmission Line Segments
This paper presents the design and electromagnetic characterization of a 3D-printed 2-way broadband power divider intended to work in the RF band from several hundred MHz up to a few GHz. The design of the power divider is based on the use of helical-microstrip transmission line segments. Two differ...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IEEE
2022-01-01
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| Series: | IEEE Access |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9795029/ |
| _version_ | 1818253589239300096 |
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| author | Josep Maria Lopez-Villegas Neus Vidal Arnau Salas Barenys |
| author_facet | Josep Maria Lopez-Villegas Neus Vidal Arnau Salas Barenys |
| author_sort | Josep Maria Lopez-Villegas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents the design and electromagnetic characterization of a 3D-printed 2-way broadband power divider intended to work in the RF band from several hundred MHz up to a few GHz. The design of the power divider is based on the use of helical-microstrip transmission line segments. Two different topologies of tapered helical-microstrip segments are considered prior to deciding on the final design of the power divider. The characteristic impedance profiles of both topologies are analyzed by means of electromagnetic simulation using the finite element method. After checking the performance of the segments in comparison with an ideal exponential profile, we propose an optimized design for the tapered impedance transformer. Two such optimized transformers are connected to configure the power divider as a compact 3-port device. We then fabricate and test a demonstrator prototype of this proposed broadband power divider design. Our experimental results show a good agreement with the performance predicted by electromagnetic simulations. These results demonstrate the potential of helical-microstrip technology to reduce the length of the transmission line segments required to implement such a power divider. A compaction factor of 4–5 was achieved, compared to an ideal design operating in the same frequency range. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T16:42:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c4dbcb9ceceb4aab919225162caf7ac8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2169-3536 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T16:42:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IEEE Access |
| spelling | doaj.art-c4dbcb9ceceb4aab919225162caf7ac82022-12-22T00:18:32ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362022-01-0110633756338210.1109/ACCESS.2022.318270797950293D-Printed Broadband Power Divider Based on Helical-Microstrip Transmission Line SegmentsJosep Maria Lopez-Villegas0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1333-7142Neus Vidal1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9445-7447Arnau Salas Barenys2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5589-4660Department of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, SpainThis paper presents the design and electromagnetic characterization of a 3D-printed 2-way broadband power divider intended to work in the RF band from several hundred MHz up to a few GHz. The design of the power divider is based on the use of helical-microstrip transmission line segments. Two different topologies of tapered helical-microstrip segments are considered prior to deciding on the final design of the power divider. The characteristic impedance profiles of both topologies are analyzed by means of electromagnetic simulation using the finite element method. After checking the performance of the segments in comparison with an ideal exponential profile, we propose an optimized design for the tapered impedance transformer. Two such optimized transformers are connected to configure the power divider as a compact 3-port device. We then fabricate and test a demonstrator prototype of this proposed broadband power divider design. Our experimental results show a good agreement with the performance predicted by electromagnetic simulations. These results demonstrate the potential of helical-microstrip technology to reduce the length of the transmission line segments required to implement such a power divider. A compaction factor of 4–5 was achieved, compared to an ideal design operating in the same frequency range.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9795029/3D printingbroadband impedance transformerbroadband power dividercopper electroplatinghelical-microstrip transmission linestapered transformer |
| spellingShingle | Josep Maria Lopez-Villegas Neus Vidal Arnau Salas Barenys 3D-Printed Broadband Power Divider Based on Helical-Microstrip Transmission Line Segments IEEE Access 3D printing broadband impedance transformer broadband power divider copper electroplating helical-microstrip transmission lines tapered transformer |
| title | 3D-Printed Broadband Power Divider Based on Helical-Microstrip Transmission Line Segments |
| title_full | 3D-Printed Broadband Power Divider Based on Helical-Microstrip Transmission Line Segments |
| title_fullStr | 3D-Printed Broadband Power Divider Based on Helical-Microstrip Transmission Line Segments |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D-Printed Broadband Power Divider Based on Helical-Microstrip Transmission Line Segments |
| title_short | 3D-Printed Broadband Power Divider Based on Helical-Microstrip Transmission Line Segments |
| title_sort | 3d printed broadband power divider based on helical microstrip transmission line segments |
| topic | 3D printing broadband impedance transformer broadband power divider copper electroplating helical-microstrip transmission lines tapered transformer |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9795029/ |
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