Total loss in a directional coupler is influenced by many factors, including but not limited to insertion loss, coupling loss, and any inherent material absorption, but real devices also experience extra losses due to component quality and circuit layout.
Key factors include the expected power level and dynamic range to be measured, the required sensitivity and accuracy of the detector or measurement circuitry, and the allowable insertion loss in the main signal path. It is also influenced by frequency band and bandwidth, directivity and mismatch tolerance requirements, power handling, and thermal limits.
Werlatone Mismatch Tolerant® RF directional couplers are particularly suitable for high VSWR scenarios because they maintain performance despite significant impedance mismatches. Their design allows for reliable operation even when the load varies, making them robust and dependable for demanding RF applications. This is ideal for monitoring power being reflected to the source while still maintaining accurate … Read more
A unidirectional (UNI) directional coupler samples RF power in only one direction, usually forward power, and cannot measure reflections. A bidirectional (BI) coupler samples both forward and reflected power, enabling VSWR and return-loss measurements. A dual directional coupler also measures forward and reflected power but uses two independent sensing paths, giving higher accuracy and better … Read more
