Spectrum Elektrotechnik GmbH

INTRODUCTION: Isolators and Circulators are usually three port devices, and they are used to force the microwave energy into one direction only. The typical junction Circulator consists of a stripline circuit, sandwiched between two ferrite discs or triangles, an upper and a lower ground plane, magnetically biased by permanent magnets located outside the ground planes. In a Circulator, the magnetic field, applied through the vertical axis of the assembly, results into a circulation of the microwave energy from one port to the other, depending on where the energy is coming from.

Microwave energy entering the device from port J1 is directed to port J2. Energy entering from port J2,is directed to port J3. Signals entering from port J3, are directed to port J1, etc. If one of the ports is terminated into a 50 Ohms load, the device becomes an Isolator. Signals then only can pass the unit with low loss in one direction, and only with high loss in the reverse direction. If e.g. port J3 is terminated into a 50 Ohms line, microwave energy only can pass the device with low loss from port J1 to port J2. An Isolator is used to "isolate" microwave components from each other, or to protect units from receiving damages when working into an open or short circuit. The output of an oscillator is usually protected by an isolator.

Frequency and Bandwidth: Coaxial and microstrip circulators and isolators operate either in the bias region above resonance or below resonance. Above-resonance circuits are usually used for smaller bandwidths and higher power designs, while below-resonance circuits achieve wider bandwidths. Theoretically, the above-resonance circuits have no lower frequency limit.

Operating Temperature: The performance depends on the magnetic field, applied to saturate the ferrite material. Temperature compensated magnets and ferrites need to be used where wide temperature ranges are required. Internal heaters can be installed, where temperature range and ferrite material do not allow other compensation.

Input VSWR: The input VSWR is a function of the VSWR of the other ports. At an isolator the higher output VSWR will cause reflected energy towards the terminated port, where it will be attenuated by the value of the isolation, and the balance is reflected back to the input, increasing the input VSWR.

Four Port Devices:

Four Port Circulators and Isolators are used where higher directivity is needed. An Isolator would have the ports J3 and J4 terminated. In the schematic to the left, microwave energy is forced from port J1 to J2, or from port J3 to port J4, when crossing two ferrite junctions. The high isolation only applies when two ferrite junctions have been crossed, here between ports J2 and J1 with ports J3 and J4 terminated with matched loads.