An apparatus for processing radio frequency (RF) signals includes a housing with a cavity. In the cavity, a stripline is configured to carry the RF signal. The stripline is on a substrate and suspended in the cavity. One or more coupled lines, which can be forward and reverse directional microstrip couplers, are electromagnetically coupled to the stripline and receive an attenuated version of the RF signal. The couplers can have a stair step design or asymmetric design to enhance directivity.

A bi-directional coupler architecture that allows an entire radio frequency coupler to be fully integrated with other circuitry on a single IC substrate. Embodiments of the invention use a lumped component architecture instead of quarter-wave transmission lines to reduce area and limit loss on the primary signal line. In some embodiments, two directional couplers of opposite polarities are implemented at least in part using spiral secondary inductors electromagnetically coupled to a shared primary inductor signal line, thus providing a bi-directional coupler architecture.

Provided is a mount component that is for forming a directional coupler consisting of a main line and a sub line. Out of the main line and the sub line, only the sub line is formed on or in the mount component. The main line is formed on or in a mounting substrate on which the mount component is mounted and is not formed on or in the mount component. When the mount component is mounted on the mounting substrate, the main line and the sub line electromagnetically couple with each other and as a result a directional coupler is formed.

A directional coupler according to various embodiment and an electronic device having the same are provided. The directional coupler includes a first layer having at least one conductive portion, a second layer disposed adjacent to the first layer in a first direction and having at least one conductive plate corresponding to the conductive portion of the first layer, a third layer disposed adjacent to the second layer in the first direction and including an RF signal transmission line, a fourth layer disposed adjacent to the third layer in the first direction and having a conductive line wound with at least one turn, and at least one conductive via electrically connecting the at least one conductive plate of the second layer and the conductive line of the fourth layer which is wound with at least one turn.

A surface mountable coupler may include a monolithic base substrate having a first surface, a second surface, a length in an X-direction, and a width in a Y-direction that is perpendicular to the X-direction. A plurality of ports may be formed over the first surface of the monolithic base substrate including a coupling port, an input port, and an output port. The coupler may include a first thin film inductor and a second thin film inductor that is inductively coupled with the first thin film inductor and electrically connected between the input and output ports. A thin film circuit may electrically connect the first thin film inductor with the coupling port. The thin film circuit may include at least one thin film component.

A directional coupler includes first and second transmission lines, first and second coupling lines, a termination resistor, a coupling signal output terminal, and an impedance-adjusting circuit. The first coupling line is electromagnetically coupled to the first transmission line. The second coupling line is connected in series with the first coupling line and is electromagnetically coupled to the second transmission line. The termination resistor is connected to an end portion of the first coupling line that is on the opposite side from the end portion of the first coupling line that is connected to the second coupling line. The coupling signal output terminal is connected to an end portion of the second coupling line that is on the opposite side from the end portion of the second coupling line that is connected to the first coupling line. The impedance-adjusting circuit is connected between the first and second coupling lines.

A branch line directional coupler has a first line, a second line, a first open-ended coupled circuit, and a second open-ended coupled circuit. The first and second lines have a first characteristic impedance and a quarter wavelength length. The first open-ended coupled line has one end connected to the first line and the other end connected to the second line. The second open-ended coupled line has one end connected to the first line and the other end connected to the second line. The first open-ended coupled line has two coupled lines having a coupling length of a quarter wavelength, an open stub, and a connecting line, and has a total length of one-half wavelength. The second open-ended coupled line includes two coupled lines having a coupling length of -wavelength, open stubs, and a connecting line, and has a total length of -wavelength.

A bi-directional coupler architecture that allows an entire radio frequency coupler to be fully integrated with other circuitry on a single IC substrate. Embodiments of the invention use a lumped component architecture instead of quarter-wave transmission lines to reduce area and limit loss on the primary signal line. In some embodiments, two directional couplers of opposite polarities are implemented at least in part using spiral secondary inductors electromagnetically coupled to a shared primary inductor signal line, thus providing a bi-directional coupler architecture.

A bi-directional coupler includes a first individual directional coupler and a second individual directional coupler, which are individual electronic components having mutually equivalent circuit configurations. Each of the first and second individual directional couplers includes: a first terminal; a second terminal; a third terminal; a fourth terminal; a main line connecting the first terminal and the second terminal; and a subline connecting the third terminal and the fourth terminal. The subline includes first and second coupling line sections configured to be electromagnetically coupled to the main line, and a matching section provided between the first and second coupling line sections. The second terminal of the second individual directional coupler is electrically connected to the second terminal of the first individual directional coupler.

There is provided a multilayer directional coupler formed in a wireless communications device formed by stacking a plurality of substrates, comprising a first conductive pattern formed on a first substrate among the plurality of substrates; and a second conductive pattern formed on a second substrate stacked on one surface of the first substrate and having one or more conductive lines overlapping the first conductive pattern when viewed in a plane direction.