Abstract

A novel asymmetric composite right/left-handed (A-CRLH) coupled-line circuit structure for a miniaturized unequal Wilkinson power divider (WPD) with arbitrary large power division ratio and reduced arm's length is proposed. Compared with the traditional unequal WPD, using the A-CRLH coupled-line section in the proposed power divider, due to its controllable phase response and characteristic impedances, not only leads to more compact layout but also results in a larger power-dividing ratio with relaxed line width and separation. The simplified design procedure along with closed form equations based on c- and π-mode analysis and transmission-line-based metamaterial theory is derived. For demonstration, a practical A-CRLH WPD with a high power-dividing ratio of 1:15 as a typical example, at 1.4 GHz is designed, simulated and fabricated. The occurred area of the implemented power divider is 58.7% smaller than that of the conventional one at the same frequency and its experimental results show good agreement with simulation data.