Directional Couplers
MECA’s Directional Couplers are ideal for a variety of applications including, but not limited to, line monitoring, load source isolator, and power measurement applications. These directional couplers have been designed to exceed commercial specifications.
In line monitoring, power level measurement, and VSWR alarms, directional couplers sample power from the transmission line without altering line characteristics. Inserting a directional coupler in a transmission line results in power measurement with simple low level detectors or field strength meters and power measuring equipment. By reversing the coupler in the transmission line, an indication of impedance match and/or reflected power can be derived by comparing the forward to reflected power levels. This may be more easily accomplished by using a dual directional coupler in the line. A signal can be taken from the source to the tap with high attenuation (directivity) between the tap and the load.
MECA offers directional couplers with standard coupling values of 6, 10, 20, 30 and 40 dB available from stock. Custom configurations with unique coupling values, alternate connector styles, special coupling values, and more are readily available as well. Directional couplers are used in a wide variety of applications and can satisfy almost any requirement for sampling incident and reflected microwave power conveniently and accurately with minimal disturbance to the transmission line.