Importance

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a coupler having one input port and 2.sup.n output ports which includes a plurality of essentially coplanar waveguides connecting the input port to one of the 2.sup.n output ports. The plurality of waveguides are arranged in two symmetrical groups in relation to the axis of the coupler and have points of inflection. Each of the waveguides includes branches connected in a tree-like manner by n levels of Y-junctions where the waveguides connecting at least two of the output ports that are located furthest from the axis of the coupler to the input port have no singularities and between the first level and the nth level of the Y-junction have points of inflection located outside the junctions. Further, the junctions located along these waveguides have axes of symmetry which are not parallel to the axis of the coupler. The waveguides connecting at least two of the output ports that are located closest to the axis of the coupler have junctions in the (n-1)th level having axis of symmetry parallel to the axis of the coupler, with the axis of each of these junctions defining an axis of symmetry for two junctions in the nth level and which are likewise parallel to the axis of the coupler, and also for the four output points that they feed.

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First Claim