SMD Compatible Ku-band LTCC Circulators
Abstract
One way to reduce both the cost of circulators and improve their integration is to manufacture SMD compatible circulators using the LTCC technology. Two ferrites, one garnet and one spinel, have been used to design, manufacture and measure two circulators. In both cases, good performances have been achieved. A minimum insertion loss of 0.48dB and relative bandwidth of 15.6% have been measured on the garnet circulator at an isolation and IL level below -18dB. The measured spinel circulator displayed a minimum insertion loss of 0.47dB with a -18dB relative bandwidth of 32%. This work demonstrates for the first time the possibility of producing SMD-compatible nonreciprocal components using LTCC technology.