Compact C-band Wilkinson Power Divider in Empty Substrate Integrated Coaxial Line

This work presents the design and manufacture process of a compact Wilkinson power divider for C-band applications, in Empty Substrate Integrated Coaxial Line (ESICL) technology. The manufactured components in this novel hybrid technology have great bandwidth performance, as well as excellent integrability and power management, in addition to low weight, volume and loss. Due to the particular topology of the Wilkinson power divider, its implementation in coaxial technology presents some practical issues to be addressed. Moreover, in order to achieve reliable measurements, a TRL calibration kit has been developed to compensate the spurious effects of connectors and feeding lines. In this way, a Wilkinson power divider in ESICL technology and its corresponding TRL calibration kit, have been designed and manufactured. Experimental results of the prototype are in good agreement with full-wave simulations.

I. Introduction

One of the main research areas in the RF communications industry is the development of passive devices operating at increasingly higher working frequencies. However, the study and development of components for the low-microwave frequency range should not be left out, at the risk of neglecting relevant technological applications.