Synthesis of multistep directional couplers with nonminimum-phase characteristics

Multistep directional couplers with nonminimal phase properties are studied which make it possible to design a number of devices with different signal phase differences given the same frequency characteristic of their moduli. Features of the synthesis of such couplers are elucidated, and an algorithm is proposed for analyzing their phase characteristics. It is shown that couplers of this type can be realized in a printed-circuit design, and that they can find application as independent elements of microwave systems and as components of multibeam pattern-forming devices with stabilization of beam positions of the antenna array.