1

Chapter 7: The Wilkinson Power Divider

1) Review of Directional Coupler
2) Review of T Junction
3) Three Port Network
4) The Wilkinson Power Divider
5) Even-Odd Mode Analysis
6) Unequal Power Division
7) Wilkinson Power Dividers Example
8) Wilkinson Power Divider Summary
2
Directional Coupler
Directional Coupler
Circuit Diagram for Even
and Odd Mode Analysis.
( )
) tan(
) tan(
l jZ Z
l jZ Z
Z l Z
o oe
oe o
oe
e
in

+
+
=
( )
) tan(
) tan(
l jZ Z
l jZ Z
Z l Z
o oo
oo o
oo
o
in

+
+
=
Even mode input impedance.
Odd mode input impedance.
3
Directional Coupler
oo oe
oo oe
Z Z
Z Z
C
+

=
( )
( ) l j C
l jC
V V

tan 1
tan
2
3
+
=
( ) ( ) l j l C
C
V V
sin cos 1
1
2
2
2
+

=
0
4
= V
Coupling Factor:
Voltage at port 3:
Voltage at port 2:
Voltage at port 4:
C
C
Z Z
o oe

+
=
1
1
C
C
Z Z
o oo
+

=
1
1
4
T Junction
Matching requirement for the T junction input:

1 3 2
1 1 1
Z Z Z
= +
1) The Lossless T- Junction suffers from the problem of
not being matched at all ports.
2) It does not have any isolation between output ports.

5
T Junction
o
o o
in o
o
o
o o
in
Z
Z Z
Z Z
Z
Z
Z Z
Z = + =
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|
+ + =
3
2
3 3 3 3
Since the network is symmetric from all three ports, the
output ports are also matched. Therefore, S
11
=S
22
=S
33
=0
The resistive divider can be matched at all ports.
Even though it is not lossless, isolation is still not achieved.
6
Three Port Network
| |
(
(
(

=
33 32 31
23 22 21
13 12 11
S S S
S S S
S S S
S
A lossless three port network can be matched at all three ports, but
any matched lossless network must be nonreciprocal.
Alternatively, a lossless and reciprocal three port network can be
physically matched at only two ports.
A Lossy three port network can be matched at all ports with
isolation between ports.
| |
(
(
(

=
0
0
0
32 31
23 21
13 12
S S
S S
S S
S
[S] matrix of a three
port network.
[S] matrix of a lossless
and nonreciprocal
three port network.
| |
(
(
(

=
33 23 13
23 12
13 12
0
0
S S S
S S
S S
S
[S] matrix of a lossless
and nonreciprocal three
port network.
7
The Wilkinson Power Divider/ Combiner
Four-way divider using 3 Wilkinson dividers in Microstrip form.
8
The Wilkinson Power Divider/ Combiner
The Wilkinson power divider can be matched at all ports with
isolation between the output ports.
The Wilkinson can be made using Microstrip or Stripline.
The Wilkinson power divider can be made to give arbitrary
power division.
We will study the equal split (3 dB) case first.
Z
o

Z
o

Z
o

Port 1
Port 3
Port 2
2Z
o

o
Z 2
/4
o
Z 2
9
The Wilkinson Power Divider/ Combiner
2
2
/4
2
1
1
1
1
V
1

V
3

V
2

V
g2

V
g3

Normalized Wilkinson Power Divider/ Combiner
We will analyze this circuit by reducing it to two simpler circuits
driven by Symmetric (Even) and Anti-Symmetric (Odd) sources at
the output ports.
10
2
2
/4
2
1
1
1
1
V
1

V
3

V
2

V
g2

V
g3

If voltages V
g2
and V
g3
are equal and are in phase, we have even excitation, and
magnetic wall (open circuit) can be placed between the two arms
Alternatively, when V
g2
= - V
g3
= 2 V

we have odd excitation, electric wall (short
circuit) can be placed in the plane of the symmetry

The Wilkinson Power Divider/ Combiner
11
Plan:
Consider odd and even excitations
Compute voltages at different ports
Compute reflection coefficient at ports
Create S-matrix

We will consider odd and even excitation of ports 2 & 3.
We know already that any other excitation can be built from that.

Then we will excite port 1 - this is even with respect to ports 2 and 3.

The Wilkinson Power Divider/ Combiner
2
2
/4
2
1
1
1
1
V
1

V
3

V
2

V
g2

V
g3

12
Even Mode Analysis
2
/4
1
1
V
1

V
2

V
g2

For the even mode analysis, V
g2
= V
g3
= 2V and no current flows
through the isolation resistor or through the connection at port 1.
Hence we can treat the axis of symmetry as an open circuit and draw
the circuit as shown below.
We can now examine the voltages at ports 1 and 2, (V
1
and V
2
) and
determine the optimum value for Z.
13
Even Mode Analysis
2
2
1
V
3

V
g3

2
/4
2
1
1
1
V
g2
=2V
V
2
=V
2
/4
1
1
V
1

V
2

V
g2

Quarter wave
transformer
V
2

Match!
V
1
=?
L
o
in
Z
Z
Z
2
=
2 2 = Circuit Open
14
0
) ( ) (
x j x j
e e V x V

+ =
+
) 1 (
1
+ =
+
V V
V 1 ) (
2
= =
+
j j V V
1
1
1
V j V
+
=

V
g3

2
/4
2
1
V
1

x
V
2

2 2
2 2
+

=
j e e
j j
= =

2 4

x=0 x=-/4
Even Mode Analysis
15
1
1
1

+
= j V
2 2
2 2
+

=
V 2 V
2 2
4
) 2 2 ( 2 2
2 2 2 2
V
1
2 2
2 2
1
2 2
2 2
V
1
j j j j V = =
+
+ +
=

+
+

=
V 2
1
j V =
Even Mode Analysis
We had:
and
16
Odd Mode Analysis
2
2
/4
2
1
1
1
1
V
1

V
3

V
2

V
g2

V
g3

For the odd mode analysis V
g2
= -V
g3
= 2 V. So there is a
voltage null along the axis of symmetry of the circuit.
We can assume a virtual ground at that point and redraw
the circuit.
Again we are interested in the behavior at ports 1 and 2 and
in determining the optimum value for Z.
17
2
2
1
1
V
3

V
g3

V
g2

V
g2
=2V
V
2
=V
V
1
=0
V
g2

2
/4
1
1
V
1

V
2

2
1
1
Match!
Odd Mode Analysis
Circuit Short Circuit Short = 2
Quarter wave
transformer
Circuit Open
Z
Z
Z
Z
o
L
o
in
= = =
0
2 2
1
1 1
/4
1 1= Circuit Open
18
Excitation in port 1, when 2 & 3 are matched.
1
2
/4
1
1
1
1
V
1

V
3

V
2

1
1
open
V
2

Match!
Input Impedance at Port 1
The final question is what is the input impedance at port 1, when
ports 2 and 3 are terminated in their matched loads?
1
1
2
1
2
2 2
= =
in
Z
Z
in
Therefore, the input to the divider is
matched as long as the output ports are
matched.
19
1
2
/4
1
1
1
1
V
3

V
2

Matched, S
11
=0
2
/4
1
V
2

V
g2
=2V
even
Port 2 matched for even excitation
2
/4
1
1
V
2

2
odd
Port 2 matched for odd excitation
Port 2 matched for any excitation.
By symmetry, port 3 is also matched
S
22
and S
33
=0
Ports 2 and 3 are separated either by electric or magnetic wall. No power
goes between (ISOLATION). S
23
=S
32
=0
Circuit is reciprocal -- matrix symmetric
Wilkinson Divider S Parameters
20
Wilkinson Divider S Parameters
2
2
/4
2
1
1
1
1
V
1

V
3

V
2

V
g2

We know now that ports are matched. Thus:
0
2
1
12
3 1
= =
+

+ +
=
V V
V
V
S
2
1
V 1 1V
0 V 2
2 2
1 1
2
1
12
j
j
V V
V V
V
V
S
o e
o e
=
+
+
=
+
+
= =
(
(
(
(
(
(

=
0 0
2
0 0
2
2 2
0
j
j
j j
S
21
Wilkinson Power Divider Example
Design an equal split Wilkinson power divider for a 50 system
impedance at frequency f
o
.
Z
o

Z
o

Z
o

Port 1
Port 3
Port 2
2Z
o

o
Z 2
/4
o
Z 2
= = 7 . 70 2
o
Z Z
= = 100 2
o
Z R
The quarter wave transmission lines in the divider
should have a characteristic impedance of:
The shunt resistor has a value of:
22
Unequal Power Division
It is possible to design the Wilkinson for an unequal dividing ratio. This
can be done by different choices of impedances and isolation resistor as
shown below.
Note: Lines 2 and 3 are still / 4 long and that ports 2 and 3 are no longer
matched to Z
o
.
For a given power ratio K between ports 2 and 3:

We have the following formulas to design the width of the arms.
2
3
2
P
P
K =
3
2
3
1
K
K
Z Z
o o
+
=
( )
2
3
2
2
1 K K Z Z K Z
o o o
+ = = |
.
|

\
|
+ =
K
K Z R
o
1
Note: These result will reduce to the equal-split case for K=1.
23
The Wilkinson Divider Summary
The Wilkinson Divider can also be generalized as an N-Way
Divider or Combiner.
This circuit can be matched at all ports.
The isolation between ports can be achieved.
The Wilkinson divider can also be made with stepped
multiple sections for increased bandwidth.
Photograph of a four-way power divider network using three microstrip
Wilkinson power divider.