Compact circular Wilkinson power divider for wireless applications

Abstract

This manuscript introduces an innovative 1-to-4 modified Wilkinson power divider designed to operate at a frequency of 3.5 GHz. The configuration of the proposed divider is fabricated on Rogers RT/Duroid 5,880, featuring a relative permittivity of 2.2 and a thickness of 0.565 mm, respectively. The circular shape employed in the design minimises size and enhances power handling capability. To achieve a 4-way power division with equal power distribution at each output port, a 1:2 power divider at 3.5 GHz is cascaded. Furthermore, we present and analyse a 1:4 WPD implemented on a microstrip line utilised as a power supply for measuring a four-port MIMO antenna. This divider exhibits excellent impedance matching at all ports and consistent phase and amplitude characteristics between the output ports. The performance metrics of the presented divider, as detailed in both experimental and simulated results, include a return loss of 27.92 dB (1:2) and 29 dB (1:4), isolation of 33.046 dB (1:2) and 35.56 dB (1:4) and insertion loss of 3.17 dB (1:2) and 6.6 dB (1:4) respectively. These proposed power dividers hold potential applications in microwave and communication systems, mainly where power division is imperative with minimal signal loss and robust impedance matching.