Multi-section directional coupler, a method for manufacturing a multi-section directional coupler and a method for operating a multi-section directional coupler

A method of manufacturing a multi-section directional coupler, the method comprising:

• forming a plurality of conductive lines on a substrate, wherein each conductive line comprises a plurality of line sections, wherein the forming the plurality of conductive lines comprises:
• forming a plurality of coupled line sections on the substrate, wherein each coupled line section comprises a first line section of a first conductive line and a second line section of a second conductive line, wherein the coupled line sections comprise different coupling strength values, wherein the coupled line sections facilitate signal coupling;
• and
• forming at least one grounded conductive coupling reduction structure adjacent to a selected coupled line section on the substrate, wherein the selected coupled line section comprises a smaller coupling strength value than another one of the coupled line sections, wherein the at least one grounded conductive coupling reduction structure is operable to reduce a coupling value between a respective line section of the first conductive line and a respective line section of the second conductive line of the selected coupled line section, and wherein the at least one grounded conductive coupling reduction structure includes a shape selected from the group consisting of a polygonal shape comprising at least three sides, a rectangular shape, a two-dimensional curved shape, an oval shape, and a shape extending more than a half of a length of the selected coupled line section.

A method of operating a multi-section directional coupler, the method comprising:

• providing the multi-section directional coupler comprising a plurality of conductive lines and a plurality of coupled line sections, wherein each conductive line comprises a plurality of line sections, wherein each coupled line section comprises a first line section of a first conductive line and a second line section of a second conductive line, wherein the coupled line sections comprise different coupling strength values, wherein the coupled line sections facilitate signal coupling;
• and
• reducing a coupling value between a respective line section of the first conductive line and a respective line section of the second conductive line of a selected coupled line section by arranging at least one grounded conductive coupling reduction structure adjacent to the selected coupled line section which comprises a smaller coupling strength value than another one of the coupled line sections;
• wherein the at least one grounded conductive coupling reduction structure includes a shape selected from the group consisting of a polygonal shape comprising at least three sides, a rectangular shape, a two-dimensional curved shape, an oval shape, and a shape extending more than a half of a length of the selected coupled line section.