Figure 3.1: A Cross-Guide Directional Coupler

Experiment 3. Get familiarized with directional coupler.
Objective: To be familiarized with the operating principles of directional coupler. Also, to measure the coupling and
directivity of a directional coupler.
Discussion:
• A directional coupler is a four-port component made from two waveguides joined together such that a known
fraction of a microwave signal in one waveguide will couple a signal into the other waveguide.
• Directional coupler is commonly used to measure the power of transmitted and reflected signal without disturbing
the transmission.
• It is formed by joining two waveguide sections sharing a common wall (Figure 3.1) with openings in the common
wall.
Figure 3.1: A cross-guide Directional Coupler.
• The ratio of the incident power to the power of the coupled signal at the sampling port is called the coupling
factor. If the power is fed into port-1 and port-3 is the sampling or coupled port, then
𝑃1
𝐶 = 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 10 log 𝑑𝐵
𝑃3
• The ratio of the coupled power at the sampling port (port-3) to the coupled power at the isolated port (port-4)
when the power is incident at port-1 is called the directivity of the coupler.
𝑃3
𝐷 = 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 10 log 𝑑𝐵 (𝑖𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 1)
𝑃4
The directivity of a cross-guide directional coupler can vary from 20 to 40 dB.
Pre-lab 3
Q1. What is a directional coupler?

Q2. What would be the directivity of an ideal directional coupler?
Q3. Determine the power at ports 2, 3 & 4 for a directional coupler (C = 15 dB, D = 35 dB) when the incident
power at port 1 is 1 mW.
Q4. What is the purpose of ‘matched load’?
Equipment:
Gunn oscillator power supply (9501)

SWR meter (9502)
Gunn oscillator (9510)
Crystal detector (9522)
Directional coupler (9523)
2 Matched loads (9531)
Variable attenuator (9532)
Cables and accessories (9590)
Waveguide supports (9591)
Procedure:
1. Make sure that all power switches are in the “off” position and setup the module as shown in Figure 3.2:
Figure 3.2: Module arrangement.
2. Assemble the setup shown in Figure 3.3 below:
Figure 3.3: Setup used to obtain a reference reading.
3. Make the following adjustments on the Gunn oscillator power supply:

Voltage: Min Mode: 1 kHz Meter Range: 10 V
4. Select the -30 dB RANGE switch on the SWR meter and adjust the GAIN control knob to its maximum value. Select
the 20 Hz BANDWIDTH.
5. Power up the Gunn Oscillator Power Supply and the SWR meter. Wait 1-2 minutes. Adjust the Gunn Oscillator
Power Supply voltage to 8 V.
6. Adjust the Variable Attenuator for a reading of -30 dB on the SWR meter. This is the reference level:
𝑃1 = −30 𝑑𝐵
7. Disconnect the Gunn Oscillator power supply cable. Assemble the set-up of Figure 3.4. Make sure not to change the
setting of the Variable Attenuator.
Figure 3.4: Set-up used to measure the coupling factor.
8. Reconnect the Gunn Oscillator power supply cable.

9. Read the relative level (in dB) of the coupled signal on the SWR meter. Make sure not to change the GAIN control
knob of SWR meter. You might have to select appropriate RANGE on SWR meter.
Coupled Signal Level (𝑃3 ) = _______ dB
Figure 3.5: Set-up used to measure the directivity.
10. Calculate the coupling factor of the Directional Coupler

Coupling factor = 𝑃1 − 𝑃3 = −30 − 𝑃3 = ________ 𝑑𝐵
11. Select -30 dB RANGE on the SWR meter.
12. Adjust the Variable Attenuator to obtain a reading of -30 dB on the SWR meter. This is reference level for directivity
measurement:
𝑃3 = _______ 𝑑𝐵
13. Disconnect the Gunn Oscillator power supply cable. Assemble the set-up of Figure 3.5.
14. Reconnect the Gunn Oscillator power supply cable.
15. Select appropriate range on SWR meter and read the signal level at the isolated port.
Signal Level at the isolated port (𝑃4 ) = _______ dB
16. Calculate the directivity of the Directional Coupler
Directivity = 𝑃3 − 𝑃4 = ______ − ______ = ________ 𝑑𝐵
17. Turn the VOLTAGE control on the power supply to its MIN. Place all power switches in the off position.

Figure 3.1: A Cross-Guide Directional Coupler

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Figure 3.1: A Cross-Guide Directional Coupler

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Experiment 3. Get familiarized with directional coupler.

Figure 3.1: A cross-guide Directional Coupler.

Q1. What is a directional coupler?

Gunn oscillator power supply (9501)

Figure 3.2: Module arrangement.

2. Assemble the setup shown in Figure 3.3 below:

Figure 3.3: Setup used to obtain a reference reading.

3. Make the following adjustments on the Gunn oscillator power supply:

8. Reconnect the Gunn Oscillator power supply cable.

Figure 3.5: Set-up used to measure the directivity.

10. Calculate the coupling factor of the Directional Coupler

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