Filtering rat-race couplers with impedance transforming characteristics based on terminated coupled line structures

In this study, a series of rat-race couplers with bandpass filtering responses and impedance transforming characteristics are presented based on novel coupled-line structures. Firstly, a novel filtering rat-race coupler core circuit is proposed by introducing coupled-line structures into conventional rat-race coupler. Then, a series of rat-race couplers with enhanced filtering responses and stopband rejections are constructed by employing various types of impedance transformers. The even- and odd-mode methods are adopted to explain the operating mechanisms. Finally, a filtering rat-race coupler prototype with a fractional bandwidth of 35.2% is designed and measured. The measured results show high passband selectivity, good out-of-band rejection and isolation performances, which is attractive for practical application.