Simulated and experimental testing of improved wideband microstrip balun circuit at 5 GHz

Project (M.S., Electrical and Electronic Engineering) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2010.The objectives of the project are to simulate and test a broadband microstrip balun to operate at a center frequency of 5 GHz and 50% bandwidth. The balun design finds extensive applications in the modern wireless communications particularly in accomplishing frequency conversion mixers to make cellular phone and data transmission networks possible. They are used to link symmetrical (balanced) circuit to asymmetrical (unbalanced) circuit in design of mixers and push pull amplifiers. The simulation of the circuit is done in Advanced Design System (ADS) software. The balun is designed to convert signals from a single-ended, unbalanced mode to a balanced mode, having two signals of equal balance impedance but shifted 180-degree in phase over the specified frequency range with minimum loss and low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). The goals of the design are to achieve high phase, amplitude balance and low VSWR with good performance results.Electrical and Electronic Engineerin