Millimeter Wave Coupler: Manufacturers and Basics

This page covers the basics of millimeter wave couplers, including their technical specifications and a list of manufacturers and vendors. It’s also known as an mmwave coupler in short.

Introduction: A coupler designed to operate within the millimeter wave frequency range (30 GHz to 300 GHz) is referred to as a millimeter wave coupler. These couplers typically have four ports:

• Input: Where the signal enters.
• Output: The main signal path, with slightly reduced power.
• Coupled: A portion of the input signal is tapped off.
• Isolated: Terminated with 50 Ohms to absorb unwanted reflections.

For example, a 12 dB coupler will have a signal at the coupled port that is 12 dB lower in power than the input signal. The output port will have slightly less power than the input port due to losses and the coupled signal.

Image courtesy: MECA Electronics

The following equations define various specifications of the coupler. P1 is the input port, P2 is the output port, P4 is the coupling port, and P3 is the isolated port.

Technical Specifications of Millimeter Wave Couplers

Here are some key technical specifications to consider when selecting a millimeter wave coupler:

• Frequency Range of Operation: (e.g., 26.5-40 GHz)
• Coupling Value: (e.g., 13 dB, 15 dB, 20 dB)
• Frequency Sensitivity: (e.g., +/-1.0 dB)
• Insertion Loss: (dB) (e.g., 1 dB from 1-20 GHz, 2 dB from 20 to 40 GHz)
• Directivity: (dB) (e.g., 14 dB from 1-20 GHz)
• VSWR (Max.): (e.g., about 1.5 to 1.7)
• Power Ratings: (Watts) (e.g., 20 Watts)
• Connectors: SMA or other standard connectors

Millimeter Wave Coupler Manufacturers and Vendors

The following table lists some of the manufacturers and vendors of millimeter wave couplers: