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wilkinsonSplitter

Create Wilkinson splitter in microstrip form on X-Y plane

Since R2021b

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Description

Use the wilkinsonSplitter object to create a Wilkinson power splitter in microstrip form on the X-Y plane. The Wilkinson power splitter is the most common type of power divider. It is a lossless power divider and provides matching at all ports. The isolation between the output ports is achieved using a 2*Z0 resistor connected between the output ports. The Wilkinson splitter is used in transmitters, receivers, power combining applications, and in devices measuring the power of a test signal.

Three part image from right to left: Default image of a Wilkinson splitter. Current distribution on the Wilkinson splitter. S-parameters plot of the Wilkinson splitter.

To analyze the behavioral model for the Wilkinson power splitter, set the Behavioral property in the sparameters to true or 1.

Creation

Syntax

splitter = wilkinsonSplitter
splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(Name=Value)

Description

splitter = wilkinsonSplitter creates a Wilkinson splitter with default property values for an operating frequency of 1.8 GHz.

example

splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(Name=Value) sets Properties using one or more name-value arguments. For example, wilkinsonSplitter(PortLineLength=0.0300) creates a Wilkinson splitter with an input and output line length of 0.0300 meters. Properties not specified retain their default values.

example

Properties

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Shape of the Wilkinson splitter, specified as "Rectangular" or "Circular".

Example: splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(Shape="Circular")

Data Types: char | string

Length of the input and the output line in meters, specified as a positive scalar.

Example: splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(PortLineLength=0.0070)

Data Types: double

Width of the input and the output line in meters, specified as a positive scalar.

Example: splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(PortLineWidth=0.0070)

Data Types: double

Length of the 70-ohm line in meters, specified as a positive scalar. The typical length of a Wilkinson splitter is λ/4.

Example: splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(SplitLineLength=0.0570)

Data Types: double

Width of the 70-ohm line in meters, specified as a positive scalar.

Example: splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(SplitLineWidth=0.00780)

Data Types: double

Length of the resistor in meters, specified as a positive scalar. The resistor length determines the distance between the output ports.

Example: splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(ResistorLength=0.0050)

Data Types: double

Resistance value in ohms, specified as a positive scalar. The default value is for an equal-split Wilkinson splitter.

Example: splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(Resistance=50)

Data Types: double

Height of the Wilkinson splitter from the ground plane in meters, specified as a positive scalar. In the case of a multilayer substrate, you can use the Height property to create a Wilkinson splitter where the two dielectrics interface.

Example: splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(Height=0.0076)

Data Types: double

Width of the ground plane in meters, specified as a positive scalar.

Example: splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(GroundPlaneWidth=0.046)

Example: double

Type of dielectric material used as a substrate, specified as a dielectric object. The dielectric material in a wilkinsonSplitter object with default properties is Teflon. The thickness of the default dielectric material Teflon is 0.0016 m or the same value as the Height property.

Example: d = dielectric("FR4"); splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(Substrate=d)

Data Types: string | char

Type of metal used in the conducting layers, specified as a metal object. The type of metal in a wilkinsonSplitter object with default properties is Copper.

Example: m = metal("PEC"); splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(Conductor=m)

Data Types: string | char

Object Functions

chargeCalculate and plot charge distribution
currentCalculate and plot current distribution
designDesign Wilkinson splitter around specified frequency
feedCurrentCalculate current at feed port
layoutPlot all metal layers and board shape
meshChange and view mesh properties of metal or dielectric in PCB component
shapesExtract all metal layer shapes of PCB component
showDisplay PCB component structure or PCB shape
sparametersCalculate S-parameters for RF PCB objects

Examples

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Open Live Script

Create and view a default Wilkinson splitter on the X-Y plane.

splitter = wilkinsonSplitter
splitter = 
  wilkinsonSplitter with properties:

               Shape: 'Rectangular'
      PortLineLength: 0.0060
       PortLineWidth: 0.0049
     SplitLineLength: 0.0300
      SplitLineWidth: 0.0028
      ResistorLength: 0.0020
          Resistance: 100
              Height: 0.0016
    GroundPlaneWidth: 0.0300
           Substrate: [1x1 dielectric]
           Conductor: [1x1 metal]


show(splitter)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title wilkinsonSplitter element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 8 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed, Teflon, load.

Calculate and plot the S-parameters of the splitter at 3 GHz.

spar=sparameters(splitter,3e9);
figure
rfplot(spar);

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with xlabel Frequency (GHz), ylabel Magnitude (dB) contains 9 objects of type line. These objects represent dB(S_{11}), dB(S_{21}), dB(S_{31}), dB(S_{12}), dB(S_{22}), dB(S_{32}), dB(S_{13}), dB(S_{23}), dB(S_{33}).

Open Live Script

Create and view a multilayer Wilkinson splitter.

sub =  dielectric(Name=["Teflon","Teflon"],EpsilonR=[2.1 2.1], ...
    LossTangent=[0 0],Thickness=[0.8e-3 0.8e-3]);
splitter = wilkinsonSplitter(Height=0.8e-3,Substrate=sub);
show(splitter)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title wilkinsonSplitter element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 9 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed, Teflon, load.

Plot the charge and current on this splitter at 3 GHz.

figure
charge(splitter,3e9)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title Charge distribution, xlabel x (m), ylabel y (m) contains 4 objects of type patch.

figure
current(splitter,3e9)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title Current distribution, xlabel x (m), ylabel y (m) contains 4 objects of type patch.

References

[1] Pozar, David M. Microwave Engineering. 4th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2012.

Version History

Introduced in R2021b

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See Also

Topics