SLOT-COUPLING TYPE COUPLER
An embodiment is a slot-coupling type coupler for connecting a high-frequency circuit to a waveguide tube. The coupler includes a substrate, at least a part of the substrate being inserted into the waveguide tube, and a conductor patch on the substrate and configured to emit a high-frequency wave generated by the high-frequency circuit into the waveguide tube. The conductor patch comprises a first conductor patch on a first side of the substrate and includes a complementary metamaterial cell including one or more conductor portions forming one or more gaps.
1 .- 7 . (canceled)
8 . A slot-coupling type coupler for connecting a high-frequency circuit to a waveguide tube, comprising:
a substrate, at least a part of the substrate being inserted into the waveguide tube; and
a conductor patch on the substrate and configured to emit a high-frequency wave generated by the high-frequency circuit into the waveguide tube, the conductor patch comprising a first conductor patch on a first side of the substrate and includes a complementary metamaterial cell including one or more conductor portions and one or more gaps.
9 . The slot-coupling type coupler according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a coplanar waveguide tube including a portion of the substrate in front of the conductor patch, the coplanar waveguide tube being configured to transmit the high-frequency wave.
10 . The slot-coupling type coupler according to claim 8 , wherein
the conductor patch is configured to change a mode of the high-frequency wave.
11 . The slot-coupling type coupler according to claim 8 ,
wherein the high-frequency circuit is on the substrate.
12 . The slot-coupling type coupler according to claim 8 , wherein
the complementary metamaterial cell has a shape configured to resonate with the high-frequency wave.
13 . The slot-coupling type coupler according to claim 8 , wherein
the high-frequency circuit is a differential output circuit including a first output terminal and a second output terminal;
the first conductor patch is connected to the first output terminal; and
the conductor patch further comprises a second conductor patch on the first side of the substrate, the second conductor patch having a shape symmetrical to the first conductor patch, and connected to the second output terminal.
14 . The slot-coupling type coupler according to claim 8 , wherein
the conductor patch further comprises a second conductor patch on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side;
the second conductor patch is opposite the first conductor patch via the substrate and does not include a complementary metamaterial cell; and
the first conductor patch is grounded.
15 . A slot-coupling type coupler for connecting a high-frequency circuit to a waveguide tube, comprising:
a conductor patch on a first side of a substrate, the conductor patch comprising:
a plurality of complementary metamaterial cells arranged in a periodic array,
wherein each complementary metamaterial cell includes:
one or more conductor portions, and
one or more gaps between the one or more conductor portions;
wherein the complementary metamaterial cells are configured to resonate with a high-frequency wave generated by the high-frequency circuit; and
wherein the conductor patch is configured to emit the high-frequency wave into the waveguide tube.
16 . The slot-coupling type coupler of claim 15 , wherein the complementary metamaterial cells are configured to adjust an impedance of the conductor patch to improve transition efficiency between a quasi-TEM mode and a TE10 mode.
17 . The slot-coupling type coupler of claim 15 , further comprising:
a coplanar waveguide on the first side of the substrate, the coplanar waveguide connected to the conductor patch and configured to transmit the high-frequency wave to the conductor patch.
18 . The slot-coupling type coupler of claim 15 , further comprising:
a second conductor patch on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side, wherein the second conductor patch does not include complementary metamaterial cells.
19 . The slot-coupling type coupler of claim 18 , wherein:
the conductor patch on the first side of the substrate is configured to be grounded; and
the second conductor patch has an outline matching the conductor patch on the first side of the substrate.
20 . The slot-coupling type coupler of claim 15 , wherein:
the slot-coupling type coupler is configured to connect to a high-frequency circuit, the high-frequency circuit being a differential output circuit including a first output terminal and a second output terminal;
the conductor patch is a first conductor patch configured to be connected to the first output terminal; and
the slot-coupling type coupler further comprises a second conductor patch on the first side of the substrate, the second conductor patch having a shape symmetrical to the first conductor patch and configured to be connected to the second output terminal.
21 . A method of manufacturing a slot-coupling type coupler, comprising:
forming a first conductor layer on a first side of a substrate;
patterning the first conductor layer to form a conductor patch, wherein patterning the first conductor layer comprises:
creating a plurality of complementary metamaterial cells arranged in a periodic array within the conductor patch, each complementary metamaterial cell including:
a plurality of conductor portions, and
one or more gaps between the conductor portions;
wherein the complementary metamaterial cells are configured to resonate with a high-frequency wave; and
configuring the conductor patch to emit the high-frequency wave into a waveguide tube.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein creating the plurality of complementary metamaterial cells comprises:
etching the first conductor layer using a photolithography mask with a pattern corresponding to the complementary metamaterial cells to form the conductor portions and the gaps.
23 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
forming a coplanar waveguide on the first side of the substrate, the coplanar waveguide connected to the conductor patch and configured to transmit the high-frequency wave to the conductor patch.
24 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
forming a second conductor layer on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side; and
patterning the second conductor layer to form a ground plane.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein patterning the first conductor layer further comprises:
forming a signal line connected to the conductor patch; and
forming ground planes adjacent to the signal line to create a coplanar waveguide.
26 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
selecting geometric parameters for the complementary metamaterial cells based on a desired operating frequency range of the slot-coupling type coupler, wherein the geometric parameters comprise a period of the complementary metamaterial cells, a size of an outer gap ring, a size of an inner gap ring, a distance between the inner and outer gap rings, a width of the outer gap ring, or a width of the inner gap ring.
27 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
forming a second conductor patch on the first side of the substrate, the second conductor patch having a shape symmetrical to the conductor patch;
wherein the conductor patch is configured to connect to a first output terminal of a differential output high-frequency circuit, and the second conductor patch is configured to connect to a second output terminal of the differential output high-frequency circuit.