Design of miniaturized LTCC baluns

Abstract

In this article, lumped-element loaded methods are examined for the purpose of achieving miniaturized low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) baluns. These methods have proven to be very efficient in reducing the size occupied by the baluns in these designs. Several miniaturized LTCC balun structures are analyzed using the even-odd mode analysis method and the design curves are plotted. Based on the design curves, two design examples in the LTCC environment are presented in order to demonstrate our analysis. The proposed analysis process is validated by the simulated and measured results.

Wideband Broadside-Coupled Line Baluns Enabled by Multimaterial Additive Manufacturing

“…In particular, for the spiral balun, it shows comparable AI and PI with of the presented approaches (e.g., [65] and [70]) and in some occasions, its AI, PI, and size are smaller than the SOA (e.g., its AI is smaller than in [17], [26], [66], [67], [75], and [76], its PI is smaller than in [67] and [75], and its size is smaller than in [17], [26], [36], [65], [67], [70], [75], and [78]) while excluding [17], [26], it exhibits the widest FBW, which is very close to the optimally predicted 99% by the theoretical analysis in Section II-A. Although its loss may appear to be higher than certain integration concepts (e.g., LTCC [66], [75], [77], CMOS [67]), to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that a wideband MB has been implemented monolithically using a two-material inkjet printing process, which demonstrates comparable or even better performance (in terms of FBW) than SOA multilayer processes. Processes that are potentially more expensive require expensive cleanroom manufacturing facilities and do not facilitate such levels of design flexibility.…”

“…As Z A = Z B = 50 is the most common MB implementation [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [36], [37], [66], [67], [68], [69], [70], this manuscript will focus on its realization using inkjet printing and will aim to maximize its FBW. Its corresponding performance is illustrated in detail in Fig.…”

A Q/Ku-K band MMIC double-balanced subharmonic diode ring mixer for satellite communications in GaAs pHEMT technology

“…These very compact structures should be the choice a q/ku-k band mmic double-balanced subharmonic diode ring mixer for satellite communications for both RF and LO balun when space saving is the primary target [9,10]. Another possible solution exploited in [11] with excellent isolation results is the use of reduced-size Marchand baluns, whose dimensions are decreased due to the use of lumped-element capacitive loading [13].…”