216

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE

Surface Acoustic

Wave

THEORY AND TECIINIQUES,

Multistrip

VOL. MT17-21 , NO. 4, APRIL

1973

Components

and Their Applications

F. GRAHAM

MARSHALL,

CLELAND

O. NEWTON,
Invited

Pafier

AbstractThe
multistrip
coupler is a directional
coupler which
operates on freely propagating surface acoustic waves with broad
bandwidth and low loss. The applications of simple multistrip
couplers with straight strips are discussed together with descriptions and
properties of a f smily of multistrip
components that can perform particular operations. Stepped couplers can perform the function of collinear besmwidth
compression and a surface-wave magic T may
be constructed. Bent, U-shaped, and J-shaped structures are considered that may redirect or reflect acoustic beams, and results are
presented for a multistrip
unidirectional transducer. Complex acoustic circuits may be built up using these elements. A beam may be reflected and stepped to the side by one track width, and both directions of a delay line maybe used sequentially to double its capacity.
The spurious triple transit signal of a delay line is shown to be virtually eliminated at the expense of an extra 3-dB single transit loss.

tively

1. INTRODUCTION
HE

multistrip

array
T

of parallel

electric

acoustic

track

with

can

strained

means
the

[1],

performance
perform

other.

devices,

derived

offer

significant

that

of various

functions

acoustic

surface

from

power
strips

into

the

the simpler

primary

objective

Several

of

the

subdividing

in the

devices

and also

to the SAW

system

paper

to

present

their

basic

IV).

components
discussed
All
using

components

structure.

multistrip

structure

Thus

(Section

tracks

as though

The

theory

quate

for

coupler

There
means

a given
have

not,
of

derived
devoted

to

stepped

coupler

structures
multistrip

in which

various

into

acoustic

circuits;

that

reported

with

sound
reasons

the number

these

is not excessive;

bandwidth

and this

were
for this

value

stopband

of NT is obtained

for designing

V)

MSCS

that

are in

circuits.
to be described

of the

coupler.

The

in [1, sec. I I I ] is then adeNI-,

complete

the

energy

when

as gaps between

closely

propagate

in the practical

microwave

determining

for

follow

number

transfer.

the strips

them.

In this

on Y-cut

of
The

are approxi-

case a practical

Z-propagating

LINbO$

is

195 f/fo

NT =

(1)

1 Cos(153 f/fo)
where f is the working
and the cosine
of thumb

quarters

bandwidth
effects

is in degrees.

of the

is near

working

number

this

by the

of finger

stopband

and

we refer

j is the synchronous

in wavelengths.

Coupler

as N/~0, where

N is the number

of separate

had coupler

strips

All

approximately

reflection

are negligible.

n/f/1,

is the aperture

transducer
where

n is the

frequency,

parameters
strips

and 1

are given

in the design

multistrip

equal

rule

the coupler

strip

to interdigital

notation

frequency.

frequency,
a useful

where

coupler

of the stopband

paper

and ~0 is the stopband

that

at approximately

frequency

shorthand

pairs,

We find
frequency

120 percent

due to the proximity

Throughout

fo is the stopband

frequency,

angle

is to set the

components

to the

gaps between

II.

APPLICATIONS

OF THE SIMPLE

MSC

are

paral-

Full-Transfer-Length

Cou@er

Here we consider
the application
of
correct number of strips to give 100-percent

choice:

1)

from

required

to

transfer-length

couplers.

1) Bulk

Wave Sufi@ession:

2) multistrip

com-

can be most

effec-

one

received October 4, 1972; revised October 19, 1972.

are with the Royal Radar Establishment,
Great Malvern,
England.

track

to surface-wave
increases

Manuscript
The authors
Worcestershire,

of

material

them.

obtained

propagating
of strips

purpose

will

factor

is

only

wavelengths

and thus

(Section

presented

required

y as wide

parameters

presented

the

arise

are several

function

a broad

II),

and angled

substrates

lel to the Z axis.

ponents

sections

the

of the MSC

the

[6])

of

Z axis
being

100

of all the devices

be below

strips

minimum

of familiar

the

an isotropic

distances

subsystems

frequency

to

in

is an important

analogs

operating

simple

mate

Thk

anisotropy

diffraction

approximately

appreciable

of acoustic

is arranged

by

by a SO-Q transducer

guided.

man y respects

along

of that

beams

over

construction

A.

K2 is high,
perform

be

categories

(Section

observations

LiNb03

to

compo-

V.

experimental

which

we have

III),

combined

in Section

into

structure

Applications
are

F-cut

components

an

been discussed [2][4],

others have
In this paper we take the opportunity

multistrip

simple

(Section

(as generated

defined

3) the

MSC

improvements

of this

multistrip

here have previously

e.g., the magic T.

coupler

wide

quarter

acoustic

has led

appraisal
of this new class of components,
multistrip
nents, and to indicate
their practical
applications.

the

Free

material;

propagating

broadening

one

[5].

three

is the

from

approximately

Kz

sound

collimated,

con-

designer.
It

effectively

that

G. S. PAIGE

which

are not

from

on a high

is such

formula

transfer

flexibility

available

one

Because

tracks

wave

an

on a piezo-

This

acoustic

not previously

simply

power

of metallic

to each

of novel
in

deposited
acoustic

to 100-percent

by

to a family

is

loss in the structure.

be incorporated,

to be parallel

described

Up

little

which

strips

can transfer

to another.

is transferred

bends

(MSC),

metallic

substrate,

can be achieved
energy

coupler

exploited

LiNbO?

EDWARD

AND

to

another.

energy

as the number

one penalty

of increasing

by reducing

the number

wave signals

become

They
The

radiated

are

couplers
transfer
referred

proportion

to

is reduced

[7].

of an SAW

delay

of finger

is that

pairs

The inclusion

wave

transducer

the bandwidth

significant.

pairs

as full-

of bulk

by an interdigital

of finger

with
the
of energy

Thus
line

spurious

bulk

of a simple

full-

NARSHALL

et

MtJLTISTRIp

al.:

217

COMPONENTS

m..
IJi!
absorber

(a)

+
.-+.
. . . . . . .-
. . . . . . . ----.. . .

Fig. 3.

(b)

Conversion of finger length

transducer

and

is received

directly).

on

The

output

the

weighted

implications

1. (a) Output
of delay line using single finger pair transducers,
showing a surface-wave
signal superimposed
on a background
due to
bulk acoustic waves. (b) Output
signal of delay line incorporating
a
full-transfer-length
MSC.

tages

can be gained

mally

suffered

may

be reduced

transducer

are that

can be used in conjunction

Fig.

with

coupler,

since

leaving

as though

1) weighted

the

by so doing

by signals

weighted
aperture.

to constant

and

2) advan-

diffraction

the narrow

if the coupler

is sited

fed

transducers
losses nor-

aperture

regions

close to the weighted

transducer.
B.

,~
P ,,~

A coupler

output

bond

input

msc~

Half-Transfer-Length

~M

transfer

splits

tensity,

the

advance

over

the

bulk

wave

MSC

wave

line

l(a)

the

of

width

20 pm

finger

wave

by

the

path.

delay

length

bate,

strates

the

An

l(b)

line

reduces

the

surface-

from

pair

a delay

transducers

of

unacceptably

shows

the

has

been

both

lWSC

size in this

to

substrates

way.

was

This
long

dissimilar

lithium

nioIn-

up sub-

could

be used

described
lines.

materials

in

The

is

ducer

being

raised

of different

A
By

introducing

impedance

shown

to
If

using

working
transducer

width,

in

example,

be obtained

a different

the

if

the

a fraction

of

This

aperture,

to the launching
situation

(finger

of an aperture

[1, eq. (22)]

and

in reverse

passes through

may
(the

beam

the full-length

dealing
in

can be

the original
this is readily

from
coupler

difference,

it is found

that

the

a 90
track.
removed

from

tracks,

as

depenclent.

of

+0.5

of 25 percent

dB

can

for a working

frequency,

coupler

This
and as

between

an imbalance

in-

phase

action

is frequency

over a bandwidth

of 0,7.5 of the stopband

A modification

bandwidth

is discussed

in

VI.
Tqansfer-Length

1) Precision
triple

Attenuator:

transit

acoustic

waves.

is/3 dB,

then

may
added

obvious

An

If the increase

attraction

suffered

coupled

bulk

of increasing
SAW

will

transit

acoustic
from

of strips

loss (STL)

be 2P dB.

attenuator

by an MSC

delay

by the propagating

in the single

as a precision

of the number

means

of a simple

in the TTS

of rejecting

of a signal

effective
(TTS)

the attenuation

be used

as a function

Cou@er

suppression

the increase

simply

An MSC

that

waves.
one track

N is given

has the

The attenuto another

by

= -sin[%si:;)l
tions
low,

from

by

the standard
unchanged

the coupler

Line

4(a).

reflects

energy

most

to receive.

The

length
multistrip
removed

defect
strongly

Also,

at frequencies

the simple

of this

This

each

shown

will

be-

has been

in Fig.
this

which
a fraction

The effect

4(b)

delay

is that

pattern

line

each tap
it is de-

calls for the taps

retransmit

a complex

to overcome

tapped

structure

at the frequency

by all of the others.

device

in [1, sec. I].

caused by reflec-

frequency.

if the application

is to introduce

MSCS

are negligible

Consider

together

received

transducers

signals

devices.

Tap:

A severe

be connected

nals.

itself

are as defined

spurious

of the stopband

in practical

2) Delay

power

in [1] that

say, 90 percent

confirmed

2)

and the symbols

It is calculated

signed

as shown

be rendered

at frequencies

increasing

of Fig.

structures.

transducer

full
aperture
while
maintaining
diffraction
effects are ignored,

the structure

when

conpler
weighted

have

a trans-

transducer.

weighted)

a full-transfer-length

energy,
will

by

arises

length

having

balance

aimed
Section

track

energy

of equal

in the original

frequency
at

outputs

of the coupler

amplitude

phase

for complete

two

the

in

[1],

only

length.

can be intercepted

important
weighted

3, the output

converted
weighting.

from

loss and

particularly
aperture

discussed

in the transfer

launched

diffraction

As

are of unequal

is transferred

with
Fig.

Transformation:

of the coupler

the energy
though,

For

where O= mxf/~0

3) Aperture

changed

the

only

question

discussion.
tracks

from

ation

to build

technique
delay

surface

indistinguishable

device,

remaining

of frequency

The

line is to increase

substrate,

be achieved.

be possible

track-changer
to build

couple

were

could

composite

and it would

between

used

coupled

is a basic property

C. Fractionalinto

full-transfer-

to an adjacent

transfer

of the

crystal

into

large

improvement

140/86

Seg5a~ate Substrates:

2. When

paragraphs,

coupling

20 ~m.

one substrate

reflecting

following

finger

Fig.

100-percent

of any

with

gap

coupler

behavior

a single

single

at 43 MHz

a full-transfer-length

from

in Fig.

the

from

of

and

Between

virtually

deed,

unaffected.

signal

delay
leaving

the

waves

as shown

bandwidth

is evident.

multistrip

acoustic

while

output

inserting

Coupling

2)

niobate

a pair

signal

obtained

of

and

shows

consisting

bulk

a lithium
15 to 20 dB

by

transmission

Fig.

into

signal

the signal

stopband.

distinct

required

signal

in the

such is independent
the

transfer-length

signal

CouPlev

the length

an input

phase advance

Fig. 2. Use of MSC to transfer surface

waves between ad j scent substrates.

(3-dB)

of half

to

of the

of a line of such
of spurious

sig-

uses fractional-transfer-

problem.

Reflection

from

the

tap is avoided by designing

its stopband
to be well
from the operating
frequency.
Enel-gy not absorbed

218

lEEE

TRANSACTIONS

ON MICROWAVE

THEORY

AND

TECHNIQUES,

1973

APIUL

fractional

absorber

transfer

msc

---/l...ha......~11.a

(b)

b = z

a )

bs = ~

(a, + a,)

bl = >

(al

It bas the same scattering

matrix,

3
delay line. (b) Use of fractionalcouplers to isolate taps.

as the magic

which

the

exactly
as the

by

the

transducer

and most
small

4, for

to perform

example,

of the energy

fraction

line cannot

they

are directional)
transducer

to be described
III,

with

of magic

by

that

by any of the other

may

be disposed

the

taps (because

the aid of the echo-trap

in Section

into

of at the

construction

that

the signal

a 90 phase
track.

stressed,

frequency

transferred

advance

Without

modified
track
may

in

the

structure
these

the signal
this

arbitrary

to the other.

be displaced

those

over

to produce

relative

by it from

violating

along

adjacent

one track
the

For example,

of the MSC

phase

where

R = a.Jai,

the design

relative

are as defined
The

SAW

to

a stepped
from

structures.

Magic

positioned

two

Ports
signals,

length

is half

a magic

In this
into

a transfer

T, familiar
structure,

two of equal

phase

with

referring

length,

then

the structure

as a microwave
a signal

magnitude

each other.

injected
which

Numbering

to a and b as input

component

the ports

and output

we have

as

[8].

at one port

are either

and the
behaves

will

be split

1 and

transducers

directed

wave

(a, +

a,)

entering

port

between

1 (excluding

R sin 24 sin Tf/2f

sinz 0/2)/0,

and

was

(5)

O= raj/jo.

and other

f!

is

symbols

experimentally

in Fig.
and

5. 3/61/90

at A

and the offset

number
strips

equal

and

1?. The
strips

strips

at their
a signal

amplitude.

coupler
in each

in the coupler

midpoint
input

verified
transducers

between

of active

split

with

a laser

at one port

52 strips

were

into
found

and

then

driven

the output

a calibration
and

signal

B positioned

at port
ports

equal

received

this calibration
inverted

to be

on either
the

1 and 2. The

2 was then

amplitude

3 was found

to receive

transducers

25 dB below

with

at port

of two

backwards-

signal
signal.

on port
The

phase

and the situation

at

reversed.

q of Fig.

6 shows,

as a function

of frequency,

the

decibel ratio between the output

at port 3 and the output
from
the calibration
transducer
A when ports 1 and 2 were driven
with equal amplitude
signals in phase, and curve # shows the
relative
output
at port 4. When the input
transducers
were
driven
curve

5 and

2 were

from

was more than

as in Fig.

respectively,

The

of exactly

than

antiphase,
q within

curves

device

was also used with

figure).
the

was obtained

experimental

in the
gave
b, = A
42

that

of the device,

port

by breaking

3 dB larger

in phase or anti-

vectors,

in

of power

Rsin2~sinkx

shown

at each

in phase,

Curve
to ~ wavelength

be

the ratio

performance

the coupler

signals

may

discussed

by

was at 86 MHz

until

frequency

of the coupler

[I].

was 14 pm.

burner

T
is equal

in

is

in performance

that

+Rz

the arrangement

of the signal

If the step in the coupler

3 and

frequency

expected

the output
.4.

design

for

coupler

to be necessary.

in one

emerge

the

theory

~ = (NFK2

center

the

The degradation

be shown

R7

at the frequency

at which

be

in one track

producing
properties

may

shifts

direction

thereby

has

in the original
coupler

the strips

the propagation

(see Fig. 5). Some interesting

simple

is given

track

to another

remaining

condition
additional

track,

port

loss)

sinz~.(1

and

from

leaving

was adjusted
feature

varies
the simple

the signal

stopband

FROM STEPPED

it is an intrinsic

as indicated
h/4

long.

transducer

using

COUPLER STRUCTURES
As previously

length

]. It may

were

DERIVED

work

[1, sec. III

trans-

V-B.

COMPONENTS

only

is exactly

B,

by A. The

is coupled

offset

by using

Pa
=
PI

T.

absorber

by 4 is absorbed

energy

be received
and

function

is removed

reflected

of the reflected

delay
mitter

stepped

will

~ transfer

found

(4)

[8].

The device

MSC

011

0 011
1 100
lloo

----

ME

(a) Simple tapped

transfer-length

Fig. 5.

(3)

aJ.

......

.. ..

Fig. 4.

In

error)
ports

all cases the

expected

measured

bandwidth,

the curve

for

intensity
but

the difference

4 (identical

r for port

3 and 4 as inputs
port

gain
the

for port

and curve
carrying

sum

of 3 dB + ~ dB

frequency

signal

(not

the

varied

of the
between

plotted
signal

across

peak

to

3. The

the

loss in

60 and

70

MARSHALL

d d:

MULTISTKIP

COMPONENTS

219

50r

--

I!
----9dB

--8dB

rq,s

.5 ~
80
frequency, MHz

Fig. 7.

Schematic of three-stage beamwidth compressor

including profiles of output beams.

Fig. 6. Performance of magic T with equal inputs to ports 1 and 2.

Inputs in phase: q, output from 3; p, output from 4. Inputs out of
phase: s, output from 4; r, output from 3.

MHz.

This

can be accounted

efficiencies
Fig.

of the different

6 was obtained

using

The fit to the results

For effective
r of Fig.
bandwidth
than
B,

the

required
transducers

phase

(curves

dictates

a difference

@ and

the

signal

the bandwidth

Fig. 8.

cal problems

shift

previously

being

by

of more

-.

is 12+ percent.

achieved

by

could

have

the area occupied

by the struc-

coupler

is that

it

functions

is exploited

in the

beamwidth

com-

of (3) that

a uniform

wave-

this

over

a displaced

mum

of 9 dB.

inspection

(al = aJ incident

coupler
beam

will
these

achieved

over the complete

produce
width

for

modest

large

on a normally

demanded

ducers

or SAW

Besides
beamwidth
The

does
by other

about

not

of the stepped

half

its width;

by a factor
power

of 2. By

densities

voltage

inputs,

This

approach

require

the

approaches

the

as an intensifier,

in fact,

a feature

of

to acoustic

sophistication

such as curved

it should

can, of course,

plays

performance

in
trans-

the role

be noted

expand

of an acoustic

of a three-stage

beamwidth

that

the

the width

10 ~m),

the input

narrowest
[10]

aperture

and compared

the input

was
with

transducer,

of 8% dB was measured,

at 108 MHz.
observed

with

compressor

only

in the figure.

* dB below

in
of
had

of the

a potential

probe

beam

An intensity

the theoretical

from
gain
maxi-

indicated

that

8 dB over a bandwidth

COMPONENTS

the inten-

of 35 percent

DERIVED

FROM ANGLED

An
bent

obvious

coupler

coupling

derivative

shown
then

are

paragraphs.
problem

different

the

same

materials,

is trivial

three

as discussed

B.

that

and

output

allowance

as considered

in the

are not equivalent,

of coupling

the

between

on Z-cut

separated

by

be used to construct

Surface-Wave

increasing

to 180 so that
Fig. 9, another

and

two

LiNb03

120
a long

[9].

delay

a path in the form of a series of

Such structures
have not been

experimentally.

Multk&@
By

input

be exploited

directions

line in which the signal follows

interlaced
equilateral
triangles.

is the

velocity

in [1, sec. v].

could

might

the

wires

If the properties

such

structure

provided

connecting

directions

investigated

in

is the same as that

Equivalent
has

multistrip

8. If the surface-wave

the design

for the curved

following

of the

in Fig.

coefficient

directions,
is made

Element

series of 120 bands

The output

the backwards-traveling

as shown

measurements
than

Beam-Redirection

which

transformer.

was 4.3 mm and each coupler

and a stopband

compressor

A.

of a

has been assessed using the structure

shown schematically
Fig. 7. Designed
for operation
at 86 MHz
(coupler
offsets
57 8-~m strips

-.

COUPLER STRUCTURES

cas-

can be

lenses.

acting

. .

86 MHz.

design

compressor

and,

devices.

width

over

acoustic

interdigital
SAW

intensification

design

an output

compression

structures

in nonlinear

power

beam

only

undergoes

cading
value

Other

IV.
from

U-shaped MSC as reflecting element.

sity gain was greater

pressor.
It is obvious

L3

technologi-

of the stepped

arrangement

Fig. 9.

We

-----

-----

of

overlays.

significant

.-

coupler,

displacement

thin-film

it introduces

and also increases

beam;

described

steps in the 3-dB

introducing

because

advantage

propagating

front

-------.
----Ilu

Use of MSC to redirect acoustic beam.

useful

-+~z

introducing

or

the latter

transducer

in

FK2 = 0.043.

signals

criterion

If we take

performance
without

the

The

in the
curve

Compressor

been achieved

ture.

This

as acceptable,

The magic-T

discard

dashed

a.= 0.85 and

the difference

of the device.

Bearnwidth

differences

The

is reasonable.
be low.

25 dB down

by small

(5) with

operation

6) should

for

transducers.

the
the

Rejlector

angle
coupler

multistrip

between
becomes

component

the arms
U shaped,
is formed,

of the coupler
as shown
a broad-band

in

lEEETRANSACLIONS

220
reflector

[2],

which

of loss. The
a signal
leave

input

the

reenter

of strips

at port

coupler

the

into

as a reflector.

into

3 and

ports.

The

introduces

4 in phase

power

working

Considerations:

circular

strips

of the

chosen

acts

portion

(a)

together

the straight

reflector

that

because

require

these

no increase

properties

that

introduce

loss due to their

reflector:
tance;

1) they
2) they

number

consider
which

radiate

these

affect

acoustic

of strips
in turn

for

a standard

gap between
sec. V]

ports

indicate

no more

loss for

than

a few tenths

estimate

probing

surface

waves
The

is more

number

is increased
for

the

necessary

parts

wires

of the strips.

a simple

half-transfer-length

the analysis

presented

that

the number

of strips

required

to

from

coupler

always
The

is N~/2,

(6)

d is the strip
port,

Techniques

1 is the active
of the smallest

for

example,

repeat

modifying

strips

(stopband

at

8 pm

107

MHz)

was no central
signals
coupler

pair

In

there

100 MHz,

7 MHz

is 2 dB

and

the

of 4 mm.
surface-

were first

An

passed

gener-

through

untuned

2* finger

smaller

than

transducer

this

transducer

are given

visible

from

pulse

in Fig.
distortion

the stopband),

limited

frequency

curve
only

at fre10(a).

At

(even

In
perfectly
duction

Unidirectional

principle,

a unidirectional

matched

into

loss and

zero

reflections.

The

(UDT)
to give

TTS

may
zero

of a delay

be
line

insertion

finger

is offset,

setting

required

the

midpoint

the desired

at ports

The

same

design

traversed

the

transducer

curved

portions
for this

an even

number

central

# wavelength

gap

by

of
off-

away

port.
except

into

port.

in phase

of the

will

will

output
differ

is achieved

apply

that

be reduced
the

because
wave.

U means

be increased

in determining

to the

UDT

as to

loss due to resistance

once by the acoustic

of the

the
line

desired

with

an odd

to the center

3 and 4 then

considerations

generation

band-

with

quadrature

reflector

struc-

broad

phase

output

thus

these

of a U so that

relative

towards

arriving

of an

[2],

been produced.

the

the

However,

that

the

length

of the
must

of strips.

The

be

num-

from

The STL and TTS

series-tuned
multistrip

of a delay line consisting

of a pair of
UDTS
are plotted
against
frequency

in Fig.
for

11. A total

this

within

delay
65/86

is large

increased

U-shaped
with

levels

UDT

TTS

aperture.

designs

synchronous

at frequencies

transit

signal.

by decreasing

were

enclosed

[12],

[13],

the

reaches

un-

within

the 3-dB

bandwidth

a 4% finger

pair

for a SO-Q load,

of finger

previously

required

burner

but

the number

transducer

is then

a load

multistrip
used

may

UDT
to adjust

be

the load impedless than

of only

by reducing

passband

of course

pairs in the trans-

[2] that

TTS

simply
was

[6],

frequency
still

The

to give maximum

A laser

3 dB was observed

transducers

couplers.)
other

at the

(6).

loss of only

(7+/61/108

but we have shown

constructed
mum

minimum

line.

In common

(1) and

is

insertion

and due allowance

the number

and

structure

ber to be used is found

of the single

trans-

loss,

have

In the case of a transducer

4~/107/108

load

3-dB

having

by 90.

ducer,

transducer

an electrical

lines

fingers,

acceptable

Transducer

Using

signals

ance required
C. Muliistrip

unidirectional.

U, by + wavelength

Fig.

response.

a transducer
TTS

be used

signals

signal

a transducer

over

stopband

output

the arms

pulse.

by the coupler

a single

may

output

UDT,

is flat

shows

described

directed

within

TTS

10(b)

into

of the

at

a bandwidth

previously

of the

two

to

must

is made to match

is placed

and the reflected

the input

frequency

60 percent,

from

if any attempt

oppositely

of the central

made

which

load.

center

only

be superior

of fingers

acoustic

intervals

3 and 4. The

and then
waves.

100 MHz

is little

the loss against

of at least

bulk

16-pm

therefore
transducers

construction

number

for
with

two

and low

the U-shaped

reflector

aperture

ports

by the structure

of the output

each frequency

that

an active

transducer

of 60, 80, and

only

at

by,
VI.

such
delay

from

situated
close to port 1 served to probe the
approached
and were reflected
from the struc-

Photographs

pulse

and

repeated

of

semicircle.

in Section

a multistrip

gap between

to exclude

pair transducer
signals as they
quencies

wide

to be reflected

ated by a 2* finger

ture.

here for

aperture

performance

are considered

are presented

60 U-shaped

simple

the reflection

SiOa underlays

Results

There

distance,

and r is the radius

should
3-port

coupler

transducer

The

where

U-shaped

interdigital
tures,

is

an electrical
the

widths,

by

the input

into

of strips

reflector

of UDTS

interdigital

to combine

may be used to show

by a U-shaped

simple

give rise to reflections

them

making

a capacitive

coupler

in [1, sec. V]

a pair

one using

reflected

If the number

(a)

incorporating

loss to

a 3-dB

form

MHz

signals observed at input uort of U-shaDed

reflector. (>) Reflection loss v&su~ frequency.

10.

the
will

but

the total

on the main

120

of [1,

resistance

to form

connecting

then
given

13 dB down

of strips

because

on the active

required

than

and

results

power,

that

Fig.

100

frequency.

We

has been made

of acoustic

it has been established

increase

to the reflection

No attempt

the loss due to radiation

potential
signal.

of a decibel

Al strips.

L;o;o

on LiNb02

The

gz=--L-J-

resis-

aperture

zero.

i-

(b)

of the

coupler.

U structure

the loss due to electrical

5000-~-thick

connec-

3) they

a 3-dB

acoustic

3 and 4 effectively

that

of the

The
electrical

and

to form

has a 100-wavelengths-wide

shortest

the functioning

power;

necessary

regions

the

the structure.

60 MHZ

semi-

in the resolution

tions

have several

active

offer

used to fabricate

wave

80 MHz

is

as a full-

to use nested

photolithography

load

the

thus

bandwidth

We have

to connect

multistrip

connections

add

and

coupler.

Design

the

device

IOOMHZ

These

recombines

loss in the curved

same large

2 dB

quadrature

1. The

APRIL 1973

THEORY AND TECHNIQUES,

so that

signals.

then

at port

only

is chosen

two equal

coupler

output

If acoustic

it has the

length

split

at ports
a single

form

in the structure

1 will

opposite

two signals
ignored,

in its current

number

ON MICROWAVE

50 Q; a

15 Q. We have

that

had a maxi-

the transducer
the

number

of

MARSHALL

d al.: MULTISMUP

COMPONENE3

----------

frequency, MHz
60
70

55

------ ----------

80
+fL+
----.-----

10m-

cfB

Fig. 13.

J-shaped delay line tap.

to the 61-MHz

unidirectional

(Fig.

11) except

one U-shaped

The TTS

TTS and STL versus frequency for a

pair of multktrip
UDTS.

332

tical
40Fig. 11.

----------

it

could

band

that

pair

previously

coupler

falls to 20 dB at two points

perhaps

be improved

bidirectional

within

further

transducer

into

described

was absent.

by

the passband:

feeding

a UDT

a narrow-

of broader

band-

width.
fre~ency,

1n a practical

F&k

is necessary
to avoid

that
D.

delay

line

to dispose

reflections

from

are needed

development

can be formed

U into

transducers
wave

if UDTS

it

in order
We find

are used.

Structures

As a further
structure

bidirectional

the edges of the substrate.

no such precautions
J-Shaped

using

of the backwards-going

an adjacent

directional

of angled

into

acoustic

transducer

and, in particular,

couplers,

the U-shaped

a J by extending
track.

In conjunction

the J forms

an efficient

one arm

a unidirectional

tap.

Without

of the

with

a bi-

transducer

the transducer

it

acts as a reflector.
Fig. 12.

finger

pairs

and to progressively

transducers

and U-shaped

previously

described.

lengths),
width

TTS and STL for bidirectional

feeding a multistrip UDT.

a 35-dB
for a 4+-dB

Smith

et al.

have confirmed,

a finger

calculated,

MHz

delay
pairs

load

line

resistance

transducer
of only
fied

reflection

to have
There

the

only

finite

the

of finger

finger

pairs

tuning

coil

with

of

generated

number

of

the

the transducer

the

pairs
waves

to

minimize

the

of+ wavelength

They

have

delay

stray

increases

to

acoustic

capacitance

if there

its

Second,

negligible

line tap.

are only

transfer

interaction

The

subsystems

the

compared

of the

various

to construct
strate

power

of the

of the number

and matched,
absorb

traveling

then

a predeter-

along

loss and

the line.
negligible

taps.
SUBSYSTEMS

in this

components

acoustic

survey

devices.

be used as an efficient

minimum

to be considered

simple

some

a fraction

may

MULTISTRIP

multistrip

band-

structures

U-shaped

are tuned

have

between

~.

an exhaustive

a few finger

would

an

UDT,

by the intrinsic

completely

of the acoustic
line

acts

that

investigated.

only

If the transducers

fraction
a delay

only

with

for full

acoustic

as the
for few

between
when

required

advantage

as in the U-shaped

been experimentally
transducer

of the J to

3, the structure

the equivalent

Such

is reduced.
increases

not

than

incident

as a reflector.

of the aforementioned

First,

fingers

comparable

larger

A J-shaped
of strips

Both

is

each

has sufficient

in the hook

marginal

is limited

of the coupler.

leaving

of the

acts

port

is not required

each of a series of such taps will

effect.

transducer

has the

so the bandwidth

all

structure

from

modi-

for this

surface

device

then

centrally

outputs

3 of the coupler
signal

If the coupler

1; the

is placed

the opposing

the

transfer,

at port

This

half.

energy

if a transducer

13. Port

halves,

the other

complete

are considerably

A resistance

was further

becoming

is no longer
capacitance

reemerges

in Fig.

opposing

reenter

power

width

4*

and

is shown
two

for

and

61-

to

burner,

frequency.

transducer

acoustic

Third,

must

mined

by an interdigital

earth

half

offset

an aperture

converted

required

the device

of finger

pairs decreases,

[7].
and

bulk

workers

used in the

a laser

explanations

as the number

into

strips

receive

pairs.

three

resistance

proportion

waves

2+ finger

with

was

with

then

when

split

Also,

band-

has a series ~mped-

to that

at the resonant

are at least

significance

pairs

described

4 fingers

20 Q was required

line

(81 wave-

numerous

on LiNbOs

finger

of 33 Q was

delay

a 10-percent

and

identical

previously

by breaking

of the

structure

now

as a UDT.

a transducer
and many

The

width

of 4.7 mm

over

have

ance of 50 Q. A transducer
finger

width

was obtained
STL.

that

the active

of the 61-MHz

minimum
[6]

of 108 wavelengths

couplers

At

TTS

reduce

transducer

circuits.

of possible

advantageous

section

make

previously
They

do not

combinations
features

use

described
represent

but

which

demon-

can

be ob-

pairs. This stray capacitance

has the effect of transforming
the
effective
resistance
to a lower value. Which
of the aforemen-

tained. These include improved

TTS and the ability
to transfer a signal from one track to another
while simultaneously

tioned

reversing

effects

Whereas

is dominant

strip

UDT

that

for a bidirectional

of achieving
bine
shows

is not yet clear.

the reflection
increases

with

with

the loss and TTS

a tuned

frequency
transducer

a uniform

a bidirectional

from

TTS

and

matched

deviation

from

decreases.

Thus

across the bandwidth

a unidirectional
of such a delay

transducer.
line

which

multi-

resonance,

its propagation

meander-type
delay

line

delay

direction.

line.

This

We also show

can be doubled

using

forms

the basis of a

how the capacity

multistrip

of a

components.

a method
is to comFig.

12

was iden-

A.

Rejleclivzg
The

Track

reflecting

in the following

Changer
track

changer

paragraphs

both

and

the echo trap

employ

described

the configuration

of

IEEEIXANSACTIONS

ON MICROWAVET HEORYANDT
frequency,

ECHNIQUES,APRIL

1973

MHz

~
smg[e
10

transd

LJ
..

Fig. 14.

Acoustic circuit of reflecting track changer and echot rap.

20

loss

. .

Input

dummy

-+

. .

dB

50 -

absorber -

30

Lo

30 -

20

Lo

50

:
,0.!

10-

Fig.

tions

6.

.5~

from

The
MHZ

with

components

coupler

and two identical

the same distance

1 is split
reentering

of this

port

imposed

on it,

reflected

energy

are U-shaped
introduced

with
port

2. By repeated

to produce

collinear,
crystal

maximum
cut,

ther,

due to the opposed

The
ratio

track

between

changer.
the input

The

55/107

simple

60/107

U-shaped

band

in Section

(Section

use these reflecting

beam
line.
can

diffraction

all the paths

of propagation

Curve
signal

coupler

here

a of Fig.
and

Apart

the loss was between

two

were

in adjacent

from

2 and

tracks

the

4 mm

wide.

to those

region

3 dB over

signal.

of the

destop-

a bandwidth

Complete
transfer
frequency
for which
length

long.

At

other

of energy to port 2 can only occur at the

the simple coupler
is exactly
+ transfer
some

power

will

return

to

that
of the

was

output

from

sistor.

60/86

central

at the

the

the
triple

expense

of

and

couplers

56/86

respectively.
over

coupler

could

if the value

The

from
than

results

properties

used

signals

over

were observed

smaller

are fully

than

consistent

of individual

with

couplers

transit

number

and

variation

that

in

was ad-

were caused

coupler,

but

transit

the previously
and

of

a similar

resistor

the single

reand

to the single

The

load

the

Us

the triple

a 10-percent

the edges of the central

40 dB

the

critical,

of the dummy

and

variable

for

bandwidth.
not

4+/61/54

coil

40 dB relative

was

be obtained

spurious

by reflections

than

a 25-percent

performance

were

It is seen that

by more

this

more

Each

a small

central

Small

line incorporat-

UDTS.

was fed into

signal

number

16 are for a delay

multistrip

U-shaped

these
signal.
meareflec-

tors.
Since the reflection
deviation

from

centered

over

by reflec-

is removed

to port
Thus

to

transducer

previously

caused

rise

series

device

signals

energy

absorber.

give

to a
as the

Y are therefore

an identical

coupler,

in the

were

and

acoustic

normally

in Fig.

is suppressed

j usted.

the reflected

line

at X

characteristics

with

is a very

spurious

delay

given

ducers

Other

would

1 of the

are placed

3 dB in the STL.

port 1. Curve b shows that the level of this spurious reflection

is 30 dB below the input
signal over a 22-percent
bandwidth
on 90 MHz,

delay

Y and X is connected

from

a suitable

tuned

sured

frequencies

it encounters
signal

from

diverts

transducer

in

excess of 50 percent.

and

also be used to

to feed port

transducers

reflections

and three

strips

the decibel

The

The results

on

15 gives

at

was con-

coupler

a surface-wave

the same electrical

ing an echo trap

signal

a single

is taken

having

signal

transit

made

identical

Fur-

for

14 may

from

A is positioned

and the coupler

an extra

significantly

the track-changed

spanned

reflectors

IV-B.

were

circuit.

transit

of a favorable

loss of YZ LiNbOB.

direction

output

reflected

can be

changer

measured

in Fig.

signal

of identical

output

load

changers

2 dB

shown

transit

a pair

~ummy

are

on a sub-

circuit

triple

Y. The

2 where

30 dB down

Trap

and

at port

than

loss of the track

and

input-transducer

identical

bandwidth,

track

be taken

2.

These

back and forth

Since

and

of the

X and

IV-B).
incident

reported

The

scribed

the elements

can be anticipated
to be
or spiral guided structures.

observations

reflecting

whole
at port

a wide

advantage

channels,
crosstalk
lower than in helical

the

signal

previously

of the signal

delay

e.g., the low

The
coupler,

of producing

an acoustic
a long

at port

The

more

[4].

Y reflect

emerges

[3],

reflectors

and reflection

can be used to fold

strate

changer

the objective

efficiency,

through

track

that

line

X and

advance

recombines

beam

at

insertion
0.5 dB

acoustic
the

incident

to the coupler.

the 90 phase

coupler

multistrip

signals.

Y both

were

versus frequency.

100 MHz.

the

The Echo

remove

of a3-dB

X and

A signal

back

a single

In the reflecting

elements

two equal

energy
the

into

14. It consists

the coupler.
into

3 maintains
and

in Fig.

reflecting

from

by the coupler

some fraction

high

shown

coupler

and TTS

respectively.

The
multistrip

below

reflector,
B.

delay line: STL

the simple

measured

sistent

Fig. 15. Reflecting track changer. a: Output signal atport2

relative toinput at port 1. b: SpuriOus reflection at pOrt 1.

triple
transtt
suppression

Echo-trap

frequencies
I,eqenc,

output

dB

++

the

band

from
center

severe

test

described

25-percent

a UDT

increases

increases,

as the frequency

the use of these

trans-

of the

echo-trap

principle.

The

was just

capable

of a 40-dB

TTS

transducer

bandwidth.

The

reflection

MARSHALL

MULTISTRIP

et d.:

223

COMPONENTS

stances

II El

absorber

---------

!3

delay
M

------

device.

path

from

17.

Use of MSCtodouble
D is multistrip

a simple

as the
TTS

bidirectional

frequency

greater

limited

only

C. Double

the capacity
reflector.

interdigital

deviation

than

from

Length

coupler

Delay

It is possible

by using

a delay

Fig.

Half

transducer
could

line

in fact

of the power

delay

delayed

is received

applies

diverted

by

delayed

at the output

double

have negligible

significant

trap

line

The

that

(Fig.

Y and

the

served

as an efficient

was

UDT

of 4} finger

from

The

pairs

decoupling

could

the

studied

in

UDT

the

adjacent

and

had

6+ finger

as used in the echo-trap

so

experi-

STL

14 dB over
than

had

a 16-percent

30 dB

and

the

the

delayed

had

traversed

that

35 dB below
originated

and these were more

Even
or both

the delay

simultaneously

Anticipated

that

times

Reflections

were

the delayed

Overlayers

one

property

of

not been explored

1) Increased

derive
that

concentrated

demonstrating

from

to the basic

it. There

structure
we discuss

on

under-

and exploiting
are improvements

that

should

improve

here since they

have

of

Ejiciency:
the

An

coupler

As
and

discussed
in

certain

in

[1],

Kz

circum-

The

a metal
surface.

added
by

advantage

the

capacity

(though

this

selective

of multistrip

may

to inactive

inclusion,

components,
length

parts

in,

Depositing

can

and hence

for

an

and the piezoelectric

bandwidth
will

example,

a
U-

over
occur

which

since

SiOz

layer

substrate

be-

is expected

NT remains

the coupling

essential
will

fall

off

frequency.

alternative
This

could
in

technique
nullify
[1],

is to randomize

the effect

this

the

of the stopband.

technique

would

strip

posi-

However,

present

technical

difficulties.
4) Reduced
and

Reelections:
the

that

the MSC

are small,

from

some applications

reduced

by

gradually

increasing

reductions

cussed

in the
of

of reflections

so far,

Separation:
embed yi ng
the tracks

be an advantage,

the

typically

level

behavior

of the

mrrltistrip

com-

stopband,

reflec-

30 dB or more down.

is not

acceptable.

into

coupling,

the strips,
strip-width
weighting.
The latter

Track

from

the coupler
the

basic

various

away

this

matching

clude tilting
and aperture
5)

Both

performance

it is evident

components

in depth.

Cou@ing
length

we have

the

increasing

tions
has been

by

strips.

LiNb03

caused

is reduced

de-

substrate

inserting

the

in transfer

Bandwidth:

[21 ]. This

ponents,

work

by

loss. Their

parts

reduction

the coupler

constant
with

of loss

A method

structures.

tween

For
that

also reduce

on active

Increased

coupler

AND CONCLUSION

and both

but

3)

source

the curved

has the

strips

IV),

is responsi-

is to electrically

and

length

per
low

(Section

be favored.

enhanced

underlay

dB

where

is also included).

of active

as discussed

to tap

IV-D).

space of time

may

ratio

tions.

two oppositely

possible

film

to a significant

greater

coupler
signal.

Si02

the curved

i.e., deposition

earlier

piezoelectric

under-layer

in transfer

if a metal

to increase

four

edges of the central

and

MSC,

which

performance

the

bandwidth,

path

use of the directional

I-C

short

its operation

can be made

dictates

this

signal.

it is still

DISCUSSION

on the

the components
device

delay

was more

Improvements

In the relatively
in progress

over

the

line may be carrying

of these by making
(see Sections

was less than

pickup

signal

30 dB below

though

MSC

standing

at the

than

and

Direct

the main

signals

VI.
A.

bandwidth.

that

was more than

directed

of 12+ dB

below

echo

observed

a minimum

with

be offset

shaped

The

Si02

increase

associated

lead

be further

of the

the

the

ob-

structures,
(N2

a possible

of SiOz, say, under

the

Introduction
that

trans-

circuit

transducer

between

from

been

of multistrip

higher

loss mechanism

strips

if the delay

multistrip

open

possible

a layer

ment.

the

this
metal

introducing

was used as the input

A was left

reflector.

also

The

output

was taken

third

of reducing
couple

losses,

have

in reflectors

accidentally

due
less

Additional

generation

remains

it may

exists

parts

As stated

generation

since

evidence
on LiNbO$

are significantly

is

it occurs

desirable.

mode

in U-shaped

loss

in

and

length,

loss nor surface-wave

mode

the

the

and because

but direct

used to demonstrate

14)

configuration.

output

ducer

Bulk

film

resembling

delay

pairs instead

are

Spurious

amplitude,

become

used as a dummy

transducer.

transducers

absorber.

losses are high.

length

X previously

these

because

resistive

ble.

from

echo

length)

particularly

acoustic

closely

transfer

of the echo

to the

of the

significant

neither

They

the bends

by

losses occur

losses

Al films

per transfer

example,

loss is particularly

and half

wave

ohmic

of losses in ineffective

for

is more

B. If A and

reflected

A to B could

track-changing

reduction

offered

effectively.

[1, sec. V].

the stopband.

transducer

signals

therefore

(this

bandwidth

more
to

length

0.5 dB

even below

The

The

strips.

of approximately

components,

in
by

acoustic

served

Further,

also covered

and experimental

the

size

of transducers

due

0.2 dB in a transfer

C is a

path

along

on

physical

of 2 is possible.

losses in 5000-~-thick

flow

overlayers

of the

as an increase

Surface

theoretical

the

NT can be sig-

be interpreted

[14].

structure

Both

that

because

through

SiOz or ZnO

be exploited

Losses:

ohmic

[16]

by a factor

then

circuits

of a signal

A reduction

bandwidth

MSC

B are

the input

delay

than

depositing

LiNbOt.

is increased

Reduced
basic

C, the principle

coupler

from

A device

from

and

to the coupler

the

propagation

principle

returns

and

signals

RF pickup
line

to the

A
from

line employing

signal

the

of a given

employed,
and

signal

the coupler

B are at the same distance

trap

circuit

both

so double

capacity

reflector,

of the forward-going

be a folded

The

to utilize

and

storage

the acoustic

A passes via

elements).

circuit

sequentially

D is a multistrip

transducers.

2)
the

time

in NT may

may

conversion.

a multistrip

17 shows

overlayer

to current

of

coupler.

the
and

over bandwidths

Line

and hence the available

substrate.

increases,

the optimum

the coupler

in acoustic

transit

components

K2,

for low

directions

3-dB

center

decreases

stopband.

delay

time

band

by

on YZ

since the reduction

transducer

its inclusion

it has been shown

lowered

of multistrip

of delay line.

40 dB have been measured

by the

Recently

the coupler

D U1

out

costs or the

nificantly

..--..------

Fig.

can rule

of material

the

free

Techniques

It

can be

surface

by

available

in-

weighting
[1, sec. IV],
is simplest and has yielded

of 10 dB.
In

the

parallel

MSC

are adjacent.

particularly

and

tracks

in long

the

that

Track

we

multistrip
have

separation

structures,

discould

as a means

IEEE TRANSACTIONS

224

ON MICROWAVE

THEORY AND TECHNIQUES,

APRIL

1973

have

been

C. Conclusions
In this

paper

introduced,
width.

tbe

They

than

transducers.

Meander

delay line incorporating

reflecting

track

built

into

after

require

problem

in

range

crosstalk.

introduce

a nonpiezoelectric

coupler

which

corporation

it

is desired

as shown

to separate

Aspects

make

tracks

in the portion
inactive.

delay

18. The

but

as previously

Further

to

a meander

in Fig.

the tracks

reflectors

of separating

underplayer

of undedays

structed,

B.

One technique

line

SiOz strips

to improve

is to
of the

With

the

could

be con-

serve

in-

not only

the performance

of the

discussed.

of Multistri+

Components

T,

portant
range

of SAW

Coupling

pling

between

Between
two

demonstrated
coup[ing

(Section

for

matching

to

This

raises

materials,
the

of power

can,

material

previously

material
the

high

has been

and

coupling

other.

and

while

maintaining

prohibitive

without

By

recourse

to over-

2)

coupling
other

parallel

is used.

to achieve
acoustic

distance

waves
as an

be applied
between

flexibility
in

each

of

if

MSC

to coupling

be-

the

along

coupler
line

include

their

waves

dissimilar

strip

be utilized

ability

of

which

design

structures,

amplifier

using
does

conductor

transducers

simpler

surface

an d then

not

the

require

be

become

feasible.

a tapped
have

delay
but

out

delay
from
further

lines

which

One may

very

to transduce

transistors,

where

a premium,

with

choose

the avail-

low transduction
of the

transduce

development

delay

line,

again.

This

of a new

semi-

technology.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The
Maines
for

authors
for

troller
this

wish

their
the

of the
of

H.

to

valuable

A. S. Young

fabricating

Director
is

could

with

to another

as freedom

long

wave

track

delay,

could

amplification.

of broad-band

approach

of very

loss
area of

can be con-

at

for forming

components

level,

If necessary,

long

as well

the

reflecting
lines

is not

stages of signal

loss it is perhaps

paper;
of

in a semiconductor

waves

Multistrip

on the

several

taps

im-

a wide

signal

V).

In

track

most

insertion

one substrate

unidirectionality

signals.

the

hence

the

delay

II).

re-

is simply

on BilzGeOZO and ceramic

of the multistrip

by

taps,

important

(Section

(Section

virtues

spurious

of

and

Using

from

propagation

structures

One

Another

doubled

The

field

adjustment

Coupling

the

waves.

simple

could

through

track.

and space charge

example

The

of an electric

vector

of the

has

waves.

dissimilar

existence

condition

discussion

surface

and
wave

a phase-matched

periodic

cited

the

Our

two

can

is the

to

The

Waves:

between

waves

requirement

component
coupler

Different

principle

identical

essential

the

Between

to the coupling

multistrip
tween
An

length

loss

includes

by reducing

lines.

can be transmitted
significant

described

the spurious

and

length

amplify
Coupling

by reducing
transit,

and

without

advance

components

structed

their

in

performance,

delay

similar

individual

unidirectional

compressor.
line

or shorts
the

the

for

UDT,

the bandwidth.

to use acoustic

Iayers.
been limited

triple

render

we have

changer,

delay

and therestrips

with

allowed

their
can be

strips.

18), meander-type

require

of strips

be

of multistrip

is to long

repercussions

However,

simply

(as in Fig.

on each ma-

number

Broken

changer

a significant

be transferred.
the

of

lithium
efficiency

of the

frequency),

discussed

cou-

question

quartz

(stopbands

same

in principle,

prove

Efficient

coefficient

the

amount

might

same

phase velocity

be at

for

necessary

of the

temperature

the effective

the

Subst~ates:

to exploit

the zero

adjusted

II).

dissimilar

example,

of one and
terial

substrates

between

niobate,

Separate

track

devices,

bulk

the signal
1)

can

beamwidth

both

application

they

and

in

for

components

compared

of additional

applications

improvement

interdigital

are required

treatment.

unimportant

band-

nor higher

standard

the multistrip

of components

and

processing

produce

connections

transducers;

reflecting

magic
of reducing

are

inclusion

The

exceptional

used for the photolithography

inoperative

flectors,

to

words,

no special

strips

components
enjoy

additional

used

external

the mask

between

changers.

neither

that

In other

judicious
18.

of which

No

operation.

Fig.

of multistrip

require

resolution

strips

a range
majority

for

A.

Baynham
on the

the devices;

bridging

Radar

M, Stationery

C.

discussion

supplying

coupler

Royal

thank

two
for

J.

D.

of this

J. R, Morgan

substrates,

Establishment
Office

and

subject

and

permission

and
the

the
Con-

to publish

paper.

coupled.
3) Othev Multistri@
Structures:
In
true coupler
the multistrip
structure
convenient
with

means

a surface

medium

of transferring

acoustic

photoconductor,
electrical
system

by

semiconductor

struction.
cussed

Other
by Tournois

the

structure.

This

wave but which

of the beam.

air gap in the separated

be replaced
and

from

fields

might

a multistrip
to

give

advantages
et al.

[19]

could

medium
structure

a robust
of

this

and Adler

as a
as a

associated

piezoelectric

an array of transistor
circuits,
which
might
advantageously

the running
sound
in the actual path
The

the electric

wave

to some adjacent

addition
to its role
may also be used

delay

be a strip

of

or any other
interact
with

not be constructed
amplifier
linklng

device

of planar

modification
[20].

[17]

may

piezoelectric
are

condis-

REFERENCES
[1] F. G. Marshall,
C, O. Newton,
and E. G, S. Paige, Theory
and design of the surface acoustic wave multistrip
coupler, this issue, pp.
206215.
[2] F. G. Marshall,
E. G. S. Paige, and A, S. Young, New unidirectional
transducer
and broadband
reflector
of acoustic
surface waves,
~/fXt)0?2.
.LW.,
vol.
7, pp. 638-640, 1970.
[3] F, G, Marshall,
Reflecting
trackchanger:
IVew acoustic-surfacewave component
for folding long delay lines onto small substrates,
Electron.
Lett.,
vol. S, pp. 89, 1972.
[4] F. G. Marshall,
New technique
for the suppression of triple-transit
signals in surface-acoustic-wave
delay lines, -?31ect70?J.Left., VO1. g,
Dp.
311312, 1972.
[5] J. C. Crabb, J. D. Maines, and N. R. Ogg, Surface wave diffraction
on LiNbOs, Electron. Lett., vol. 7, pp. 253255, 1971.
[6] W. R. Smith, H. M. Gerard, J. H. Collins, T. M. Reeder, and H. J.
Shaw, Design of surface wave delay lines with interdigital
transducers, IEEE
Trans. Microwave
Theory
Tech.,
vol. MTT-17,
pp.
865873, NOV. 1969.

IEEE TRANSACTIONS

ON MICROWAVE

THEORY AND TECHNIQUES,

VOL. MTT-21 , NO. 4, APRIL 1973

R. F. Milsom and M. Redwood,

Generation
of acoustic waves by
single pair of electrodes on surface of piezoelectric
ceramic, ~ Electron.
Left.,
vol.
7, p. 541, 1971.
[8] J. L. Altman,
Microwave Circuits.
New York: Van Nostrand;
1964.
[9] A. J. Slobodnic,
Jr., and E. D. Conway, Microwave Acoustics
Hand1: Surface IVaw Velocities,
USAF Office of Aerospace
book, vol.

VO1. hJfTT-17, pp.

[7]

[15]

[16]

Research, Mar. 1970.

[10] B.A. Richardson and G. S. Klno, Probing of elastic surface waves
in piezoelectric media, AMJ1. Phys. Lett., vol. 16, pp. 8284, 1970.

[17]

[11] A. Armstrong,
private communication.
Broadband
unidirectional
surface
[12] J. C. Worley and H. Matthews,
wave transducer, IEEE
Trans.
Sonics
Ultrason.
(Abstracts),
vol.
SU-18, P. 52, Jan. 1971.
[13] R. A. Waldron,
Principles
of wideband
unidirectional
piezoelectric
transducers, M. I.T. Lincoln
Lab., Cambridge,
Mass., Tech. Note
54, 1969.
[14] W. R. Smith, H. M. Gerard, J. H. Collins, T. M. Reeder, and H. J.
Shaw, Analysis
of interdigital
surface wave transducers
by use of
an equivalent
circuit model, IEEE
Trans.
Mittowave
Theory
Tech.,

[18]

Acoustic

E.

IAIN

LAGASSE,

M.

Invited

AbsfractThe
properties of acoustic surface waveguides are reviewed, with particular reference to topographic structures in which
guiding is achieved by drastic deformation
of the substrate surface.
A nnmericaf technique, capable of computing efficiently
and with
high accuracy the mode spectrum of an anisotropic piezoelectric
heterogeneous
waveguide of arbitrary
cross section, is described.
Characteristics
of both the ridge guide and the recently discovered
wedge waveguide are dkscussed in some detail.
Techniques for the f abdication of and transduction
onto acoustic
surface waveguides are dk.cussed, and a preliminary
assessment is
made of potential linear and nonlinear waveguide applications.
A
number of ezperimentaf devices are described.

space.

wave

surface

One can,

however,

guides

devices
fact

device
by

[1].

confined

most

the

which

energy

curvature

the

waves

equation

the

gate near the surface

fore

INTRODUCTION

acoustic

the surface

design,
choice

near

lead
to

make

wave,

represent

the

since

free

it will

surface

which

been considered

though

one may

a low

of

MASON,

[2]-[4].
like

as one

of the

free

so far

of the

seek to

diffraction

waves

convex
is there-

surface.

one accepts

constraints

minimize

propagation

In

its

in

effects

direction

Manuscript
received October 4, 1972; revised November
20, 1972.
This paper incorporates
work carried out under a C.V.D. contract and is
published
by permission
of tbe U.K. Ministry
of Defence (Navy
Department).
P. E. Lagasse is with Laboratorium
voor Electromagnetism
en
Acustica, University
of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
I. M. Mason and E. A. Ash are with the Department
of Electronic
and
Electrical
Engineering,
University
College London,
Torrington
Place,
London W.C. 1, England.

A. ASH

of acoustic
past,
papers
to

some

to

guides

the

which

which

bear

is the

understanding
has

been

acoustic

must,

less than

the

classified

in accordance

velocity

causing

ments

leading

guides,

change

~f

bulk
with

in

which

In

open guide

the

the

substrate

for

the

this

the

minimum

However,

[12]

[13],

in
the

by

or

the

electric

topographic
by a change

[15] [17].

characteristic
action,

fields

by

are thin-film

is effected

[7],

by

be develop-

[14], and
is achieved

of the guiding
of the

be done

well

[10]

single

be

or by depoling

guides.

reduction

the

may

for example,

may

elastic

the

for effecting

can

[8],

such

the acoustic

tha~

be reduced

and less than

itself;

thin
film
reduction

important

side

implies
region,

been considered

of the free surface

to which

determines

with

of such
experiments

adopted

There

have

by

most

on either

paper

both

Waveguides

principle,

velocity

is the strength

by the extent

present

some

velocity
waves.

[9].

properties
of a deposited
guides, in which the velocity
Perhaps

review

are necessarily y open,

in the material

that

effected

in the topography

in the

recent

field,

leakage,

the means

to applications

categories

perturbation

which

to

in the case of a semiconductor

main

of types

characteristics

in the guiding

case of a ferroelectric

two

this

and

Rayleigh

coupled

reduction.

a local

doping
the

any

in

of the

in

waveguides

devoid

of

purpose

would

considered

be found

achieved

surface

velocity

A number

been

of the

one

of the free surface

applications.

action,

velocity
this

will

advances

on possible

guiding

have

main

recent

where

plane

completely.

accounts

[5 ] [7 ]. It

rezard

in the

waveguides

detailed

review

situations

action

diffraction

surface

and

however,

are,
guiding

so as to eliminate

to a value

to propa-

a small

ERIC

There

of the
that

and Assessment

AND

to obtain

propagation

statement

1969.

Paper

the

of a half-

continue
have

plane-that

have

surface

stronger

for acoustic

diffraction

solutions

to a concentration
the

to a single

of

[21]

true

even if this should

Diffraction

of lateral

[20]

Since

I.

[19]

856864,

M. F. Lewis and E. Patterson,

Novel
helical-path
surface wave
delay line, AM2.
PJcys. Lett.,
vol. 18, pp. 143-145, 1971.
A. Armstrong,
F. G. Marshall, E. G. S. Paige, and C. P. Sandbank,
High coupling efficiency for ZnO overlays in LINbOB, presented at
the IEEE Ultrasonics
Symp., Oct. 4, 1972.
J. H. Collins, K. M. Lakfn, C. F. Quate, and H. J. Shaw, Amplification of acoustic surface waves with adjacent
semiconductor
and
piezoelectric
crystals, AM1.
Phys.
Lett.,
vol.
13, pp. 314-316, 1969.
W. L, Bond, J. H, Collins, H. M, Gerard, T. M. Reeder, and H. J.
Shaw, Acoustic
surface wave coupling
across an air gap, A Ml.
Pkys.
Lett.,
vol.
14, pp. 122124, 1969.
P. Tournois,
C. Maerfeld,
and F. Gires, Amplification
dune onde
de surface acoustique
par des Wctrons
subsoniques
grace 5, un
couplage p6riodique
discontinue,
C. R. A cad. Sci. (Paris), Ser. B,
vol.
273, pp. 710713, 1971.
R. Adler,
A surface wave amplifier
with improved
geometry,
Electron.
Lett.,
vol. 8, PP. 6566, 1972.
C. Maerfeld,
private communication.

Surface WaveguidesAnalYsis
PAUL

COUSTIC

225

of an

as portrayed

extend

guiding

structure.

radius

of curvature

within
It

the

is this
through