1

EKT 441
MICROWAVE Communications
CHAPTER 2:
PLANAR TRANSMISSION LINES
2
Transmission Lines
A device used to transfer energy from one point to another point
efficiently
Efficiently = minimum loss, reflection and close to a perfect
match as possible (VSWR = 1:1)
Important to be efficient at RF and microwave frequencies, since
freq used are higher than DC and low freq applications
as freq gets higher, any energy loss is in transmission lines are
more difficult and costly to be retrieved

3
Some Types of Transmission Lines
Some types of transmission lines are listed as follow:
Coaxial transmission line
transmission line which a conductor completely surrounds the
other
Both shares the same axis, separated by a continuous solid
dielectric or dielectric spacers
Flexible able to be bent without breaking
4
Some Types of Transmission Lines
Waveguides
Hollow-pipe structure, in which two distinct conductor are not present
Open space of the waveguide is where electromagnetic energy finds the
path of least resistance to propagate
Do not need any dielectric medium as it uses air as medium of energy
transfer
Planar transmission lines
Planar looks like a 3D line that have been run over and flattened
Usually made up of a layer of dielectric, and one or several ground
(metallic planes)
Four types of planar lines discussed in this chapter; (1) Stripline, (2)
microstrip (3) dielectric waveguide (4) Slotline


Our focus in this
chapter
5
But Why Planar?
Waveguides
High power handling capability
low loss
bulky
expensive
Coaxial lines
high bandwidth,
convenient for test applications
difficult to fabricate complex microwave components in
the medium
6
But Why Planar?
Planar Transmission Lines
Compact
Low cost
Capability for integration with active devices such as
diodes, transistors, etc
7
STRIPLINE
Figure 3.1: Stripline transmission line (a) Geometry (b) Electric and
magnetic field lines.
8
STRIPLINE
Also known as sandwich line evolved from flattened
coaxial transmission line
The geometry of a stripline is shown in Figure 3.1.
Consist of a; (1) top ground plane, (2) bottom ground plane and
(3) a center conductor
W is the width of thin conducting strip (centered between two
wide conducting ground planes).
b is the distance of ground planes separation.
The region between the ground planes is filled with a dielectric.
Practically, the centered conductor is constructed of thickness
b/2.
9
STRIPLINE
Figure 3.2: Photograph of a stripline circuit assembly.
10
STRIPLINE
The phase velocity is given by:
r
r p
c
v
c
c c
=
=
0 0
1
0
0 0
k
v
r
r
p
c
c c e
e
|
=
= =
Thus, the propagation constant of the stripline is:
[3.1]
[3.2]
11
STRIPLINE
From equation [3.1], c = 3 x 10
8
m/sec is the speed of light in
free-space.
The characteristic impedance of a transmission line is given by:
C v C
LC
C
L
Z
p
1
0
= = = [3.3]
L and C are the inductance and capacitance per unit length of the
line. There is a solution as explained in [M. Pozar book].
The resulting formula for the characteristic impedance is:
b W
b
Z
e
r
441 . 0
30
0
+
=
c
t
[3.4]
12
STRIPLINE
( )
35 . 0
35 . 0
35 . 0
0
2
<
>

=
b
W
for
b
W
for
b W b
W
b
W
e
Where W
e
is the effective width of the center conductor given by:
[3.5]
These formulas assume a zero strip thickness, and are quoted as
being accurate to about 1 % of the exact results.

It is seen from equation [3.4] and [3.5] that the characteristic
impedance decreases as the strip width W increase.
13
STRIPLINE
When designing stripline circuits, one usually needs to find the
strip width, W.
By given characteristic impedance (and height b and
permittivity
r
), the value of W can be find by the inverse of the
formulas in equation [3.4] and [3.5].
The useful formulas is:

>
<

=
120
120
6 . 0 85 . 0
0
0
Z f or
Z f or
x
x
b
W
r
r
c
c
441 . 0
30
0
=
Z
x
r
c
t
[3.6]
[3.7]
Where,
14
STRIPLINE
The attenuation due to dielectric loss is:
m Np
k
d
/
2
tano
o =
( )
m Np
Z f or
Z f or
B
b Z
R
t b
A Z R
r
r
s
r s
c
/
120
120
16 . 0
30
10 7 . 2
0
0
0
0
3
>
<

c
c
t
c
o
The attenuation due to the conductor loss:
[3.8]
[3.9]
15
STRIPLINE
With:
|
.
|

\
|

+
+

+ =
t
t b
t b
t b
t b
W
A
2
ln
1 2
1
t
( )
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
+
+ =
t
W
W
t
t W
b
B
t
t
4
ln
2
1 441 . 0
5 . 0
7 . 0 5 . 0
1
[3.10]
[3.11]
Where t is the thickness of the strip
16
STRIPLINE [EXAMPLE 2.1]
Find the width for a 50 copper stripline conductor,
with b = 0.32 cm and
r
= 2.20. If the dielectric loss
tangent (tan ) is 0.001 and the operating frequency is
10 GHz, calculate the attenuation in dB/. Assume
the conductor thickness of t = 0.01 mm and surface
resistance, R
s
of 0.026

17
SOLUTION [EXAMPLE 2.1]
Since and



Eq [3.6] gives the width as W = bx = (0.32)(0.830) = 0.266
cm. At 10 GHz, the wave number is
120 2 . 74 ) 50 ( 2 . 2
0
< = = Z
r
c
830 . 0 441 . 0
30
0
= =
Z
x
r
c
t
1
6 . 310
2

= = m
c
f
k
r
c t
18
SOLUTION [EXAMPLE 2.1]
The dielectric attenuation is


Surface resistance of copper at 10 GHz is R
s
= 0.026 .
Then from eq [3.9]

since A = 4.74
The total attenuation constant is
m Np
t b
A Z R
r s
c
/ 122 . 0
) ( 30
10 7 . 2
0
3
=

=

t
c
o
m Np
k
d
/ 155 . 0
2
) 001 . 0 )( 6 . 310 (
2
tan
= = =
o
o
m Np
d c
/ 277 . 0 = + = o o o
19
SOLUTION [EXAMPLE 2.1]
In dB;


At 10 GHz, the wavelength on the stripline is;


So in terms of the wavelength the attenuation is


m dB e m dB / 41 . 2 log 20 ) / ( = =
o
o
cm
f
c
r
02 . 2 = =
c

o / 049 . 0 ) 0202 . 0 )( 41 . 2 ( ) / ( dB dB = =
20
SOLUTION [EXAMPLE 2.1]
But why do we need to convert Np/m to dB/m
using this way?

loss to the transmission line is reflected by the
attenuation constant. The amplitude of the
signal decays as e
-
.
The natural units of the attenuation constant are
Nepers/meter, but we often convert to dB/meter
in microwave engineering. To get loss in
dB/length, multiply Nepers/length by 8.686.






m dB e m dB
m Np
/ 41 . 2 log 20 ) / (
) / (
= =
o
o
21
STRIPLINE [EXAMPLE 2.2]
Find the width for 50 copper stripline
conductor with b = 0.5 cm and
r
= 3.0. The loss
tangent is 0.002 and the operating frequency is 8
GHz. Calculate the attenuation in dB/. Assume
a conductor thickness of t = 0.003 cm. The
surface resistance is 0.03 .
22
SOLUTION [EXAMPLE 2.2]





The wave number at f = 8 GHz
120 603 . 86 50 3
0
< = = Z
r
c
6474 . 0 441 . 0
50 3
30
441 . 0
30
0
=

= =
t
c
t
Z
x
r
( )( ) m bx W x
b
W
003237 . 0 6474 . 0 10 5 . 0
2
= = = =

( )
1
8
9
246 . 290
10 3
3 10 8 2
2

=

= = m
c
f
k
r
t
c t
23
SOLUTION (cont) [EXAMPLE 2.2]
The dielectric attenuation is
Np/m

The conductor attenuation is


( )( )
29 . 0
2
002 . 0 246 . 290
2
tan
= = =
o
o
k
d
|
.
|

\
|

+
+

+ =
t
t b
t b
t b
t b
W
A
2
ln
1 2
1
t
( ) ( )
|
|
.
|

\
|

+
+

+ =

2
2
2
2
2
10 003 . 0
10 003 . 0 005 . 0 2
ln
10 003 . 0 005 . 0
10 003 . 0 005 . 0 1
10 003 . 0 005 . 0
003237 . 0 2
1
t
A
) 173 . 4 ( 88 . 4 = A
24
SOLUTION (cont) [EXAMPLE 2.2]




Total loss:
Np/m
In dB:
dB/m

( ) t b
A Z R
r s
c

=

t
c
o
30
10 7 . 2
0
3
( )( )( )( )
( )
1259 . 0
10 003 . 0 005 . 0 30
88 . 4 50 3 03 . 0 10 7 . 2
2
3
=

t
o
c
4159 . 0 1259 . 0 29 . 0 = + = + =
c d
o o o
( ) 6123 . 3 log 20 log 20 /
4159 . 0
= = = e e m dB
o
o
25
SOLUTION (cont) [EXAMPLE 2.2]
The guided wavelength:


The attenuation in dB/:



02165 . 0
10 8 3
10 3
9
8
=

= =
f
c
r
g
c

( ) ( )( ) 0782 . 0 02165 . 0 6123 . 3 / = = o dB

26
STRIPLINE DISCONTINUITY
Figure 3.3: geometry of enclosed stripline
27
STRIPLINE DISCONTINUITY
By derivation found in M.Pozars book (page 141), the surface
charge density on the strip at y = b/2 is:
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) | |
+
+
= = =
= = =
2 , 2 ,
2 , 2 ,
0
b y x E b y x E
b y x D b y x D
y y r
y y s
c c

=
|
.
|

\
|
=
odd
n
n r
a
b n
a
x n
a
n
A
1
0
2
cosh cos 2
t t t
c c [3.12]
The charge density on the strip line by uniform distribution:
( )

>
<
=
2
2
0
1
W x f or
W x f or
x
s

[3.13]
28
STRIPLINE DISCONTINUITY
The capacitance per unit length of the stripline is:
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
m Fd
a b n n
a b n a W n a
W
V
Q
C
odd
n
r
/
2 cosh
2 sinh 2 sin 2
1
0
2

=
= =
t c c t
t t
The characteristic impedance is then found as:
cC C v C
LC
C
L
Z
r
p
c
= = = =
1
0
[3.14]
[3.15]
29
MICROSTRIP
Figure 3.3: Microstrip transmission line. (a) geometry. (b)
Electric and magnetic field lines.
30
MICROSTRIP
Microstrip line is one of the most popular types of planar
transmission line.
Easy fabrication processes.
Easily integrated with other passive and active microwave
devices.
The geometry of a microstrip line is shown in Figure 3.3
W is the width of printed thin conductor.
d is the thickness of the substrate.

r
is the relative permittivity of the substrate.
31
MICROSTRIP
The microstrip structure does not have dielectric above the strip
(as in stripline).
So, microstrip has some (usually most) of its field lines in the
dielectric region, concentrated between the strip conductor and
the ground plane.
Some of the fraction in the air region above the substrate.
In most practical applications, the dielectric substrate is
electrically very thin (d << ).
The fields are quasi-TEM (the fields are essentially same as those
of the static case.
32
MICROSTRIP
The phase velocity and the propagation constant:
e
p
c
v
c
=
e
k c |
0
=
r e
c c < < 1
Where
e
is the effective dielectric constant of the microstrip line
used to compensate difference between the top and bottom of the
circuit line
The effective dielectric constant satisfies the relation:
[3.16]
[3.17]
and is dependent on the substrate thickness, d and conductor
width, W
33
MICROSTRIP
The effective dielectric constant of a microstrip line is given by:
W d
r r
e
12 1
1
2
1
2
1
+

+
+
=
c c
c
[3.18]
The effective dielectric constant can be interpreted as the dielectric
constant of a homogeneous medium that replaces the air and
dielectric regions of the microstrip, as shown in Figure 3.4.
Figure 3.4: equivalent geometry of quasi-TEM microstrip line.
34
MICROSTRIP
The characteristic impedance can be calculated as:
( ) | |

>
s
+ + +
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
1
1
444 . 1 ln 667 . 0 393 . 1
120
4
8
ln
60
0
d
W
f or
d
W
f or
d W d W
d
W
W
d
Z
e
e
c
t
c
[3.19]
For a given characteristic impedance Z
0
and the dielectric constant

r
, the W/d ratio can be found as:
( ) ( )
2
2
61 . 0
39 . 0 1 ln
2
1
1 2 ln 1
2
2
8
2
>
<

)
`

+

=
d
W
f or
d
W
f or
B B B
e
e
d
W
r r
r
A
A
c c
c
t
[3.20]
35
MICROSTRIP
Where:
r
r r
r r
Z
B
Z
A
c
t
c c
c c
0
0
2
377
11 . 0
23 . 0
1
1
2
1
60
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+

+
+
=
( )
( )
m Np
k
r e
e r
d
/
1 2
tan 1
0

=
c c
o c c
o
Considering microstrip as quasi-TEM line, the attenuation due to
dielectric loss can be determined as
[3.21]
Where tan is the loss tangent of the dielectric.
36
Which accounts for the fact that the fields around the microstrip line
are partly in air (lossless) and partly in the dielectric.
The attenuation due to conductor loss is given approximately by:
MICROSTRIP
( )
( ) 1
1

r e
e r
c c
c c
This result is derived from Equation [2.37] by multiplying by a
filling factor:
m Np
W Z
R
s
c
/
0
= o
Where R
s
= (
0
/2) is the surface resistivity of the conductor.
[3.22]
37
MICROSTRIP [EXAMPLE 2.3]
Calculate the width and length of a microstrip line for
a 50 characteristic impedance and a 90 phase shift
at 2.5 GHz. The substrate thickness is d = 0.127 cm,
with
r
= 2.20.

Solution: M.Pozar book (page: 146).
38
SOLUTION [EXAMPLE 2.3]
First we need to find W/d for Z
0
=50 , and
initially guess that W/d > 2. From eq [3.20];

B = 7.895 and W/d = 3.081

Otherwise, we would use the expression for W/d<2
Then W = (3.081.d) = 0.391 cm. From eq [3.18];

e
= 1.87
39
SOLUTION [EXAMPLE 2.3]
The line length, l, for a 90
o
phase shift is found as;

( ) l k l
e
o
0
90 c | | = = =
1
0
35 . 52
2

= = m
c
f
k
t
cm
k
l
e
o
o
19 . 2
180
90
0
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
c
t
40
MICROSTRIP [EXAMPLE 2.4]
Design a microstrip transmission line for 70
characteristic impedance. The substrate
thickness is 1.0 cm, with
r
= 2.50. What is the
guide wavelength on this transmission line if
the frequency is 3.0 GHz?
41





Initially, it is guessed that W/d < 2


SOLUTION [EXAMPLE 2.4]
|
|
.
|

\
|
e
+
+ e
e
+
+ e
=
r r
r r
Z
A
11 . 0
23 . 0
1
1
2
1
60
0
|
.
|

\
|
+
+

+
+
=
5 . 2
11 . 0
23 . 0
1 5 . 2
1 5 . 2
2
1 5 . 2
60
70
A
66 . 1 ~ A
64 . 1
2
8
2
8
) 66 . 1 ( 2
66 . 1
2
=

=
e
e
e
e
d
W
A
A
42
SOLUTION cont [EXAMPLE 2.4]
Since the W/d < 2 assumption is valid;


We proceed to calculate
e




cm m W 64 . 1 0164 . 0 10 0 . 1 64 . 1
2
= = =

W d
r r
e
12 1
1
2
1
2
1
+

+
+
=
c c
c
01 . 2
) 64 . 1 0 . 1 ( 12 1
1
2
1 5 . 2
2
1 5 . 2
=
+

+
+
=
e
c
43
SOLUTION cont [EXAMPLE 2.4]
Thus the guided wavelength is given by;







cm
f
c
e
g
05 . 7
10 3 01 . 2
10 0 . 3
9
8
=

=
e
=
44
MICROSTRIP [EXAMPLE 2.5]
Design a quarter wavelength microstrip
impedance transformer to match a patch
antenna of 80 with a 50 line. The system
is fabricated on a 1.6 mm substrate thickness
with
r
= 2.3, that operates at 2 GHz.
45
MICROSTRIP [EXAMPLE 2.5]
246 . 63 50 x 80
0
= = = Z R Z
L S







From the quarter wave transformer equation;
R
L
Z
0
Z
S
Which is also Z
0
of line
46
SOLUTION [EXAMPLE 2.5]
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+

+
+
=
r r
r r
Z
A
c c
c c 11 . 0
23 . 0
1
1
2
1
60
0
4635 . 1
3 . 2
11 . 0
23 . 0
1 3 . 2
1 3 . 2
2
1 3 . 2
60
246 . 63
=
|
.
|

\
|
+
+

+
+
= A
174 . 6
3 . 2 ) 246 . 63 ( 2
377
2
377
0
= = =
t
c
t
r
Z
B
Since W is not known, guess that W/d < 2
47
SOLUTION cont [EXAMPLE 2.5]


From the calculation, the initial assumption of W/d <
2 is incorrect. The next formula (where W/d > 2) is
used





073 . 2
2
8
2
8
) 4635 . 1 ( 2
4635 . 1
2
=

=
e
e
e
e
d
W
A
A
( ) ( )
(

)
`

e
+
e
e
+ =
r r
r
B B B
d
W 61 . 0
39 . 0 1 ln
2
1
1 2 ln 1
2
t
mm W
d
W
3 . 3 ) 6 . 1 )( 0656 . 2 (
0656 . 2
= =
=
48
SOLUTION cont [EXAMPLE 2.5]
The next step is to find the effective dielectric
constant (
e
)


To determine the quarter wavelength of the line, the
guided wavelength
g
need to be determined




cm
f
c
e
g
88 . 10
10 2 8991 . 1
10 0 . 3
9
8
=

= =
c

8991 . 1
12 1
1
2
1
2
1
=
+

+
+
=
W d
r r
e
c c
c
49
SOLUTION cont [EXAMPLE 2.5]
Thus the quarter wave length of line is determined by
dividing the full wavelength by 4;





cm
g
72 . 2
4
88 . 10
4
= =

50
MICROSTRIP
Figure 3.5: Geometry of a microstrip line with conducting sidewalls.
51
MICROSTRIP DISCONTINUITY
By derivation found in M.Pozars book (page 147), the surface
charge density on the strip at y = d is:
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
+
+
= = =
= = =
d y x E d y x E
d y x D d y x D
y r y
y y s
, ,
, ,
0 0
c c c

=
(

+
|
.
|

\
|
=
odd
n
r n
a
d n
a
d n
a
x n
a
n
A
1
0
cosh sinh cos
t
c
t t t
c [3.23]
The charge density on the microstrip line by uniform distribution:

>
<
=
2
2
0
1
W x f or
W x f or
s

[3.24]
52
MICROSTRIP DISCONTINUITY
The capacitance per unit length of the stripline is:
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) | |
m Fd
a d n a d n W n
a d n a W n a
V
Q
C
odd
n
r
/
cosh sinh
sinh 2 sin 4
1
1
0
2

=
+
= =
t c t c t
t t
The characteristic impedance is then found as:
cC C v
Z
e
p
c
= =
1
0
[3.25]
[3.26]
53
DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDE
Figure 3.6: Dielectric waveguide geometry.
54
DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDE
The dielectric waveguide is shown in Figure 3.6.

r2
is the dielectric constant of the ridge.

r1
is the dielectric constant of the substrate.
Usually
r1
<
r2

The fields are thus mostly confined to the area around the
dielectric ridge.
Convenient for integration with active devices.
Very lossy at bends or junctions in the ridge line.
Many variations in basic geometry are possible.
55
SLOTLINE
Figure 3.7: Geometry of a printed slotline.
56
SLOTLINE
The geometry of a slotline is shown in Figure 3.7.
Consists of a thin slot in the ground plane on one side of a
dielectric substrate.
The characteristic impedance of the line can be change by
changing the width of the slot.