Patent ID: 7298229

Claim:
A device for coupling RF energy from a transmission line to a plurality of couplers comprising: at least one transmission line for carrying energy from a radio frequency (RF) source; a plurality of interconnecting upper plates distributed above the at least one transmission line whose dimension extends laterally beyond the width of the at least one transmission line; a plurality of interconnecting lower plates distributed below the transmission line whose dimension extends laterally beyond the width of the at least one transmission line; a plurality of vias positioned to sequentially connect an end of individual upper plates to individual lower plates so as to provide a helix structure centered around the at least one transmission line; a plurality of secondary plates embedded into the helix structure which are parallel to the at least one transmission line; at least one capacitive element electrically connected to one end of said helix structure; at least one resistive element electrically connected to an opposite end of the helix structure from the at least one capacitive element; and a ground layer positioned below the plurality of interconnecting lower plates and above the plurality of interconnecting upper plates.