A two-way microwave power divider using microstrip transmission lines

The power divider use Klopfenstein tapered transmission lines on each output branch of the junction impedance that is matched the input port. Thus, the output lines are well matched to the input, and a reflected power of 1% can be easily achieved. Resistors are distributed along the transmission lines to provide isolation between the two output ports which prevents power of one output port from coupling to the other output port. A large amount of the power is dissipated in the resistors rather than exiting through any other ports in the system. Due to the symmetry of the design, very little power is dissipated during normal operation. The resulting power divider is operable at high bandwidths as the tapered impedance match which have no upper frequency limitation. Additionally, the tapered lines eliminate many discontinuities in the layout which in turn reduce microwave junction effects. The power divider is capable of being manufactured using known methods and may be utilized in a compact microwave spectrometer.