A review of hybrid couplers: State-of-the-art, applications, design issues and challenges

Abstract

In recent years, the hybrid branch-line coupler has attracted much attention due to its appealing features such as of low cost and ease in fabrication for wireless communications. The fifth-generation cellular networks promise to support several wireless technologies by capitalizing a multitude of frequencies and increase data rates. To achieve that, the butler matrix technique can be used to enhance both bandwidth and data rate with the implementation of beamforming. Conventional hybrid couplers are the main component to build a butler matrix, but they are generally bulky in size and narrow in bandwidth. Moreover, requirements imposed by newer wireless technologies makes the efforts in improving size compactness and bandwidth even more challenging. On the other hand, several techniques have been proposed in literature to solve both issues. This study focuses on the design challenges and issues of hybrid coupler designs and technologies, besides underlining their promising potential. In this context, several techniques for hybrid coupler to achieve the required bandwidth and size reduction are highlighted, such as the T-shape, meander line, two sections, three-section, and parallel couple lines.