Branch-line coupler using PDMS and shieldit super fabric conductor

• Main Authors: Suleiman, Aliyu Babale, Abdul Rahim, Sharul Kamal, Jusoh, M., Zahid, Liyana
• Format: Article
• Published: Springer 2017
• Subjects: TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/66126/; http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00339-016-0617-3
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

In this paper, a new 3-dB branch-line coupler using PDMS substrate and Shieldit Super fabric conductive material is presented. The Shieldit Super fabric has low resistance less than 0.1/sq. and resulting in good conductivity. Both the simulated and fabricated coupler circuits demonstrated a 3 ± 1 dB fractional bandwidth (FBW) for the coupling as a result of the microstrip-slot created at the ground is in the range of 4.69–7.22 GHz which stands for 42.2%; while the FBW for 90° ± 5°, phase balance is in the range of 5.10–6.94 GHz or 30.70%. Within this range, both the return loss and the isolation are kept below −10 dB.