Shau-Gang Mao

Effective electromagnetic parameters of novel distributed left-handed microstrip lines

The novel one-dimensional left-handed microstrip lines (LHMLs) consisting of the arrays of thin wires and two-layer split-ring resonators are investigated theoretically and experimentally in this paper. Unlike the conventional left-handed metamaterials for waveguides or microstrip lines, which are bulky three-dimensional constructions or require the lumped elements for high-pass configuration, this distributed structure can be directly implemented on a substrate by photolithographic techniques without soldering any chip inductors or capacitors. Moreover, it can also be easily realized at a higher frequency region by scaling the dimensions of the structure, making it highly efficient and flexible in millimeter-wave applications. To characterize the inhomogeneous LHML, the effective medium description is developed for extracting the effective electromagnetic parameters, i.e., the complex effective permittivity and permeability, as well as the refractive index. Results show that not only the simultaneously negative real permittivity and permeability, but also the antiparallel phase and group velocities may be achieved in the design passband region. In contrast to the antenna array using the conventional microstrip delay line, the LHML is incorporated in the series-fed microstrip combline array to exhibit the leading phase between the successive elements.

Modeling of symmetric composite right/left-handed coplanar waveguides with applications to compact bandpass filters

This study proposes an equivalent-circuit model for the composite right/left-handed (CRLH) coplanar waveguide (CPW) comprising the series interdigital capacitor and shunt meandering short-circuited stub inductor in symmetric configuration. The new technique for extracting the equivalent-circuit elements of the CRLH CPW, which include inductances, capacitances, and resistances to represent the left-handed, right-handed, and lossy characteristics, is developed based on the effective medium concept. The applications to the compact resonators and filters are presented to emphasize the unique features of the CRLH CPW. A novel CRLH CPW resonator with a 0/spl deg/ effective electrical length at resonance is proposed, which gives a 49.1% size reduction when compared with the conventional half-wavelength resonator at 5 GHz. Based on the zeroth-order CRLH CPW resonators, an inductively coupled two-pole bandpass filter with 5.4% 3-dB bandwidth and 2.7-dB insertion loss at 5 GHz is implemented, and it is 51.4% more compact than the conventional structure. A good agreement among the results of the full-wave simulation, equivalent-circuit model, published data, and measurement demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed modeling technique. To suppress the higher order harmonic spurious passbands, the electromagnetic-bandgap CPW structures are incorporated into the proposed CRLH CPW filter.

Propagation characteristics of finite-width conductor-backed coplanar waveguides with periodic electromagnetic bandgap cells

Wave propagation along the finite-width conductor-backed coplanar waveguide (FW-CBCPW) with periodically loaded one-dimensional electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) cells proposed earlier by the authors is investigated theoretically and experimentally in this paper. The full-wave simulation in conjunction with Floquets theorem is employed to find the dispersion diagram for characterizing the guided and leaky waves over a wide frequency range. For examining the guided-wave mode, the equivalent-circuit model is established to obtain the analytical formula of the Bloch impedance. The remarkable slow-wave factor 1.9-2.9 times higher than that of a conventional FW-CBCPW is presented. When operating frequency is sufficiently high, the leaky-wave mode is emitted so that the structure radiates in the backward direction. Good agreement among the results of the full-wave simulation, equivalent-circuit model, published data, and measurement supports the usefulness of the proposed full-wave simulation and also validates the analytical formula. By properly adjusting the circuit configuration, the periodic EBG structure with controllable propagation characteristics, which include the bandgap zone, the slow-wave factor, and the Bloch impedance for the guided wave, as well as the radiation main beam for the leaky wave, may be achieved.

Broadband composite right/left-handed coplanar waveguide power splitters with arbitrary phase responses and balun and antenna applications

This study presents novel coplanar waveguide (CPW) power splitters comprising a CPW T-junction with outputs attached to phase-adjusting circuits, i.e., the composite right/left-handed (CRLH) CPW and the conventional CPW, to achieve a constant phase difference with arbitrary value over a wide bandwidth. To demonstrate the proposed technique, a 180/spl deg/ CRLH CPW power splitter with a phase error of less than 10/spl deg/ and a magnitude difference of below 1.5 dB within 2.4 to 5.22 GHz is experimentally demonstrated. Compared with the conventional 180/spl deg/ delay-line power splitter, the proposed structure possesses not only superior phase and magnitude performances but also a 37% size reduction. The equivalent circuit of the CRLH CPW, which represents the left-handed (LH), right-handed (RH), and lossy characteristics, is constructed and the results obtained are in good agreement with the full-wave simulation and measurement. Applications involving the wideband coplanar waveguide-to-coplanar stripline (CPW-to-CPS) transition and the tapered loop antenna are presented to stress the practicality of the 180/spl deg/ CRLH CPW power splitter. The 3-dB insertion loss bandwidth is measured as 98% for the case of a back-to-back CPW-to-CPS transition. The tapered loop antenna fed by the proposed transition achieves a measured 10-dB return loss bandwidth of 114%, and shows similar radiation patterns and 6-9 dBi antenna gain in its operating band.

A novel periodic electromagnetic bandgap structure for finite-width conductor-backed coplanar waveguides

The one-dimensional (1-D) periodic electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure for the finite-width conductor-backed coplanar waveguide (FW-CBCPW) is proposed. Unlike the conventional EBG structures for the microstrip line and the coplanar waveguide (CPW), which are typically placed on one of the signal strips and the ground plane, this EBG cell is etched on both the signal strip and the upper ground plane of FW-CBCPW resulting in a novel circuit element. The equivalent circuit is also used to model the EBG cell. Measured and full-wave simulated results show that the cell exhibits remarkable stopband effect. The low-pass filter with lower cutoff frequency and wider rejection bandwidth is constructed from a serial connection of the EBG cells. The effect of back metallization on the guiding characteristic is also discussed. Compared to the published EBG cells, the proposed structure has the advantages of relative flexibility, higher compactness, lower radiation loss, and easier integration with the uniplanar circuits.

Analysis of coplanar waveguide-to-coplanar stripline transitions

The coplanar waveguide (CPW)-to-coplanar stripline (CPS) transition is analyzed theoretically and experimentally in this paper. To characterize this transition in the lower frequency band, a simple equivalent-circuit model that consists of uniform and nonuniform transmission lines is established. The elements of this model can all be obtained by the closed-form formulas; hence, this model is suitable for computer-aided-design application. This model is then applied to design and analyze the CPW-to-CPS transitions with various structure parameters. In the higher frequency band, the partially prism-gridded finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is employed to take into account the bond-wire effect as well as the surface-wave leakage and space-wave radiation associated with the transition. In this study, results based on equivalent-circuit model, FDTD simulation, and measurement are compared. Good agreement among these results supports the usefulness of the proposed equivalent-circuit model and also validates the FDTD method. By using the equivalent-circuit model to optimize the transition configuration, the CPW-to-CPS transition with broad bandwidth and low insertion loss may be achieved.

A Novel 3-dB Directional Coupler With Broad Bandwidth and Compact Size Using Composite Right/Left-Handed Coplanar Waveguides

A wideband composite right/left-handed (CRLH) coplanar waveguide (CPW) coupler with 3-dB coupling value and quadrature phase difference is presented. Compared with the conventional edge-coupled CPW coupler, this symmetrical structure, consisting of a gap capacitor, a broadside-coupled capacitor, and a meandering short-circuited stub inductor, achieves wider operating bandwidth and larger coupling level. The 3-dB CRLH CPW coupler with 0.7mm spacing between coupled lines exhibits an amplitude balance of 2dB and a phase balance of 900 plusmn 50 from 3.2 to 7.6GHz. The coupled-line length and the port impedance of the proposed structure are approximately lambda/4 and 50Omega, respectively, which makes it more compact than the cascaded CRLH microstrip coupled-line coupler. To characterize this structure, the equivalent circuit model including the unique coupling mechanism within CRLH CPWs is established and verified by measurement. The signal with less dispersion on output ports is demonstrated based on the standard deviation of group delay time

Coplanar Waveguide Bandpass Filters With Compact Size and Wide Spurious-Free Stopband Using Electromagnetic Bandgap Resonators

This work presents a novel coplanar waveguide (CPW) bandpass filter (BPF) that uses electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) resonators to reduce the size and suppress the harmonic responses. The propagation characteristic of the EBG structure is investigated by its associated equivalent circuit model. Compared with the conventional half-wavelength resonator at 5GHz, the EBG resonator is 60.5 % more compact. Based on the EBG CPW resonators, the inductively-coupled two-pole BPF with 3.8% 3-dB bandwidth and 2-dB insertion loss at 5GHz is implemented. This structure generates a 59.6% reduction in size and suppresses a second harmonic passband when compared with a conventional filter. To eliminate the third harmonic response, the proposed EBG CPW BPF further incorporates two EBG structures into its input and output ports and has the merit of a small circuit area

Compact Ultra-Wideband Conductor-Backed Coplanar Waveguide Bandpass Filter With a Dual Band-Notched Response

This work presents a novel ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) based on a conductor-backed coplanar waveguide structure with tunable transmission zeros. The symmetrical UWB BPF, which consists of the broadside-coupled transitions and the stub resonators in double-layer configuration, achieves a UWB bandwidth with transmission zeros. For characterizing this structure, the equivalent-circuit model is established to realize a four-pole response with two transmission zeros located close to the passband edges. To eliminate the interference of the coexisting wireless local area network (WLAN) within the UWB spectrum, two slotlines are symmetrically arranged on the ground plane of UWB BPF to generate the band-notched frequencies at 5.2 and 5.8 GHz simultaneously. The proposed UWB BPFs have the advantages of compact size, low insertion loss, good selectivity, and flat group delay. All results obtained from the equivalent-circuit model and the full-wave simulation are verified by measurements.

SYNTHESIS OF TRIPLE-BAND AND QUAD-BAND BANDPASS FILTERS USING LUMPED-ELEMENT COPLANAR WAVEGUIDE RESONATORS

This paper develops a novel design method for synthesizing the multi-passband filter with high flexibility in various passband location and fractional bandwidth. Using the proposed compensation technology in the equivalent circuit of multi-passband resonator, the cutoff frequencies and matching property in passband regions can be improved. Tripleand quad-band bandpass filters operating in both wireless local area network (WLAN) 802.11 a/b/g and worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) systems are presented to verify the design method. The lumped-element coplanar waveguide stub fabricated by the split-ring resonator is established to realize filter with compact size. All the measured, full-wave simulated and equivalent-circuit modeled results illustrate a good agreement among them, which validates the multi-passband design methodology and shows the advantages of DC elimination and deep rejection between each passband.