# US 2014/0152396 A1 · Directional Coupler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152396 A1 - Document ID: US20140152396A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/093,267 - Filed: 2013-11-29 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-29 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Andreas Fackelmeier; Klaus Huber; Stefan Pott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152396A1 ## CPC - H01P 5/18: consisting of two coupled guides, e.g. directional couplers - H01P 1/185: using a diode or a gas filled discharge tube - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) ## Abstract A directional coupler includes a first conductive track, a second conductive track, and a conductive structure. The conductive structure includes a first partial region that is arranged nearer to the first conductive track than the first conductive track is to the second conductive track. The conductive structure also includes a second partial region that is arranged nearer to the second conductive track than the first conductive track is to the second conductive track. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A directional coupler comprising: a first conductive track; a second conductive track; and a conductive structure comprising: a first partial region that is arranged nearer to the first conductive track than the first conductive track is to the second conductive track; and a second partial region that is arranged nearer to the second conductive track than the first conductive track is to the second conductive track. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the conductive structure are arranged in a single conductive track layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the conductive structure are arranged in two conductive track layers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The directional coupler of claim 3, wherein the conductive structure is arranged in a different conductive track layer than the first conductive track and the second conductive track. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The directional coupler of claim 3, wherein the first conductive track is arranged in a different conductive track layer than the second conductive track and the conductive structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The directional coupler of claim 3, wherein the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the conductive structure are arranged in three conductive track layers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The directional coupler of claim 4, wherein the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the conductive structure are arranged in three conductive track layers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The directional coupler of claim 3, wherein the conductive structure overlaps the first conductive track in the first partial region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The directional coupler of claim 7, wherein the conductive structure overlaps the first conductive track in the first partial region, and wherein the conductive structure overlaps the second conductive track in the second partial region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The directional coupler of claim 7, wherein the conductive structure overlaps the first conductive track in the first partial region, or wherein the conductive structure overlaps the second conductive track in the second partial region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The directional coupler of claim 7, wherein the first conductive track is straight at least in a region of the directional coupler and has a first width, wherein the conductive structure in the first partial region is straight and has a second width, and wherein for a first distance between a center line of the first partial region and a center line of the first conductive track, the first distance is at least a difference between half of the first width and half of the second width and at most 80 percent or 90 percent of a sum of half of the first width and half of the second width. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The directional coupler of claim 11, wherein the first partial region is arranged substantially parallel to the first conductive track. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The directional coupler of claim 11, wherein the second conductive track is straight at least in the region of the directional coupler and has a third width, wherein the conductive structure in the second partial region is straight and has a fourth width, and wherein for a second distance between a center line of the second partial region and a center line of the second conductive track, the second distance is at least a difference between half of the third width and half of the fourth width and at most 80 percent or 90 percent of a sum of half of the third width and half of the fourth width. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The directional coupler of claim 13, wherein the second partial region is arranged substantially parallel to the second conductive track. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The directional coupler of claim 7, wherein the second conductive track is straight at least in a region of the directional coupler and has a first width, wherein the conductive structure in the second partial region is straight and has a second width, and wherein for a first distance between a center line of the second partial region and a center line of the second conductive track, the first distance is at least a difference between half of the first width and half of the second width and at most 80 percent or 90 percent of a sum of half of the first width and half of the second width. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein the conductive structure has a circumferential edge or a center line having a length that is less than 20 percent or less than 10 percent of a wavelength of electromagnetic waves, the first conductive track being configured for transmission of the electromagnetic waves. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The directional coupler of claim 16, wherein the directional coupler is coupled by an input to a unit configured to output the electromagnetic waves having a design wavelength. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein the conductive structure is a first conductive structure, wherein the directional coupler further comprises a second conductive structure, wherein the second conductive structure comprises a first partial region that is arranged nearer to the first conductive structure than a second partial region of the second conductive structure, and wherein the second partial region of the second conductive structure is arranged nearer to the second conductive track than to the first conductive structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The directional coupler of claim 18, wherein the second conductive structure overlaps the first conductive structure in the first partial region of the second conductive structure, overlaps the second conductive track in the second partial region of the second conductive structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein the conductive structure is configured as a coupling loop or coupling frame that encloses a non-conductive zone. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The directional coupler of claim 18, wherein the first conductive structure, the second conductive structure, or the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure are each configured as a coupling loop or a coupling frames that encloses a non-conductive zone. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein a length of the first conductive track is less than 5 percent or less than 1 percent of one quarter of a design wavelength. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein the directional coupler is used in a magnetic resonance tomograph or in a nuclear spin tomograph for determining a transmission power transmitted back from a coil via a transmission line.