A compact 1:15 unequal Wilkinson power divider using A‐CRLH coupled lines

A novel asymmetric composite right/left‐handed (A‐CRLH) coupled‐line circuit structure for a miniaturized unequal Wilkinson power divider (WPD) with arbitrary large power division ratio and reduced arm's length is proposed. Compared with the traditional unequal WPD, using the A‐CRLH coupled‐line section in the proposed power divider, due to its controllable phase response and characteristic impedances, not only leads to more compact layout but also results in a larger power‐dividing ratio with relaxed line width and separation. The simplified design procedure along with closed form equations based on c‐ and π‐mode analysis and transmission‐line‐based metamaterial theory is derived. For demonstration, a practical A‐CRLH WPD with a high power‐dividing ratio of 1:15 as a typical example, at 1.4 GHz is designed, simulated and fabricated. The occurred area of the implemented power divider is 58.7% smaller than that of the conventional one at the same frequency and its experimental results show good agreement with simulation data.