Patent ID: 7675384
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: H01P

Abstract:
1. A hybrid-ring coupler apparatus for generating separate signal channels from a radio-frequency input, comprising: a plurality of input lines configured for receiving an input signal; a plurality of output lines interposed with said input lines; and a plurality of transmission lines, each transmission line (TL) connecting between neighboring said input line and said output line to form a ring; wherein at least a portion of said TLs incorporate a composite right/left handed (CRLH) TL; and wherein capacitance and inductance contributions of a left-handed (LH) section and a right-handed (RH) section of said CRLH-TL are chosen so that a phase response of said CRLH-TL is dominated by a LH contribution at below a center frequency, while the phase response is dominated by a RH contribution at above the center frequency.