US 12,467,959 B2
Dual directional asymmetric coupler with a shared through-line
Justin Regis Magers, Santa Rosa, CA (US); Michael Joseph Seibel, Santa Rosa, CA (US); and Marcus Kieling daSilva, Leander, TX (US)
Assigned to NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, Austin, TX (US)
Filed by NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/452,335.
Application 18/452,335 is a continuation of application No. 17/374,697, filed on Jul. 13, 2021, granted, now 11,774,475.
Prior Publication US 2023/0393180 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. G01R 27/06 (2006.01); G01R 27/28 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 27/06 (2013.01) [G01R 27/28 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A reflectometer comprising:
a first port and a second port; and
a first directional coupler and a second directional coupler disposed across from each other on opposite sides of a first section of a signal line, the first section having a first section longitudinal extent measured in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end of the first section, wherein the first section longitudinal extent exceeds a first section lateral extent measured in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and each directional coupler having a respective coupler line spanning a same portion from the first end to the second end of the first section of the signal line, wherein a first distance between the first directional coupler line and the first section at the first end, the first distance measured in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, differs from a second distance between the first directional coupler line and the first section at the second end, the second distance measured in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction;
wherein the first directional coupler is configured to couple, to the first port, at least a portion of signal power of a first signal flowing from the first end through the first section of the signal line to the second end; and
wherein the second directional coupler is configured to couple, to the second port, at least a portion of signal power of a second signal flowing from the second end through the first section of the signal line to the first end.