Novel Planar and Waveguide Implementations of Impedance Matching Networks Based on Tapered Lines Using Generalized Superellipses

For the practical implementation of RF and microwave impedance matching networks, a widely employed solution—alternative to the use of classical impedance transformers—is based on tapered lines. This paper shows a simple method to design smooth tapers that take into account the dispersion of the line and the required design bandwidth simultaneously. A planar taper has been designed in microstrip technology with the same length of classical ones but improving their performances. A waveguide prototype has also been designed with similar performance to a commercial one but with one third of its length. Both tapered structures have been obtained through the optimization of very few parameters using the same design strategy. As a result, the reflection coefficient of the tapers can be optimally adapted to a given specific mask using the prescribed value of physical length. Experimental results for both tapers are included for the validation of the proposed topologies and the related design method.