Numerical techniques for planar and quasi-planar millimeter-wave passive components

Abstract

The necessity for accurate characterizations of microwave circuits and components is well recognized. This is because of the use of higher frequencies and more complicated circuit configurations. This paper reviews two important numerical approaches to the analysis and design of printed circuit transmission lines, the planar circuit approach and the transverse resonance technique. The former is applicable basically to microstrip quasi-TEM circuits, and constitutes a considerable improvement compared to the conventional transmission line approach. It is, however, an approximate technique that cannot be expected to give extremely accurate results in all practical cases, particularly in the higher frequency spectrum. On the contrary, the transverse resonance technique, in a formulation generalized with respect to the conventional transverse resonance method, is a rigorous full wave technique that can be applied to the characterization of both planar and quasi-planar transmission lines. The extension of this method to the modeling of discontinuities is also illustrated.