Abstract: In a directional coupler, a first low pass filter includes a first coil that is connected between a first outer electrode and a main line and has a characteristic in which attenuation increases with increasing frequency in a certain frequency band. A second low pass filter includes a second coil that is connected between a second outer electrode and the main line and has a characteristic in which attenuation increases with increasing frequency in the certain frequency band. A high pass filter is connected, in parallel to the main line, between a point between the first coil and the first outer electrode and a point between the second coil and the second outer electrode and has a characteristic in which attenuation decreases with increasing frequency in the certain frequency band.

Abstract: A system for power smoothing in power distribution and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a power multiplying network is provided that comprises a multiply-connected, velocity inhibiting circuit constructed from a number of lumped-elements. The power multiplying network is coupled to a power distribution network. The power multiplying network is configured to store power from and supply power to the power distribution network.

Abstract: This invention describes a method by which the output power of a circuit or system at any point can be efficiently and cost effectively sampled in a simple and broadband fashion for processing in a closed loop system for applications such as power level control in very broadband circuits. A divider circuit consisting of a selection of passive lumped elements is used to create a very broadband means of sampling the RF power level at any point in a transmission line. Unlike prior art schemes of this nature, this circuit does not rely upon extremely accurate element values and minimization of parasitic reactances. Used in conjunction with a balanced detector-logarithmic or other amplifier combination this invention result in a very broadband low cost simplified realization of the traditional costly bandwidth limited directional coupler-detector combination.

Abstract: Various embodiments may provide a circuit including a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) and a coupler (e.g., a directional coupler). The coupler may be coupled between a first impedance matching section and a second impedance matching section. The first matching section may transform a first impedance at the RF PA to a second impedance at an RF input port of the coupler. The second matching section may transform the second impedance at an RF output port of the coupler to a third impedance at an output terminal. The second impedance may be a real impedance and the third impedance may be a complex impedance. A real part of the third impedance may be greater than a real part of the second impedance. Additionally, the second impedance may be greater than the first impedance.

Abstract: An RF directional coupler circuit assembly for matching high frequency cable TV apparatus includes a cover body, and a printed circuit board. The cover body includes a space. The space includes a bottom surface. An RF directional coupler circuit is arranged on the printed circuit board. A 0.01 mm˜2 mm gap is formed between the RF directional coupler circuit and the bottom surface when the printed circuit board is deposited in the space. The distance between the printed circuit board and the cover body is shorten because of the gap, so that the reflections of the high frequency signals and the signal fading are decreasing to achieve matching high frequency impedance characteristics.

Abstract: In a directional coupler, a first low pass filter includes a first coil that is connected between a first outer electrode and a main line and has a characteristic in which attenuation increases with increasing frequency in a certain frequency band. A second low pass filter includes a second coil that is connected between a second outer electrode and the main line and has a characteristic in which attenuation increases with increasing frequency in the certain frequency band. A high pass filter is connected, in parallel to the main line, between a point between the first coil and the first outer electrode and a point between the second coil and the second outer electrode and has a characteristic in which attenuation decreases with increasing frequency in the certain frequency band.

Abstract: The invention relates to a directional coupler (1), comprising a first high-frequency line (2) for feeding a first high-frequency signal, a second high-frequency line (3) for feeding a second high-frequency signal, and a coupling line (4) for outputting signals from the first and the second high-frequency lines (2, 3), wherein the coupling line (4) comprises resistive segments (5a-5c, 15a-15c, 25a-25c, 35a-35c, 45a), each comprising a predetermined impedance. Coupling properties and resistive damping and adapting properties can be integrated in the coupling line (4). A compact and low-cost construction of the directional coupler (1) is thus made possible.

Abstract: The embodiment of the present disclosure discloses a power division network device, which comprises a shielding house and a circuit board. Two opposite surface layers of the circuit board are respectively provided with a signal transmission line and a coupling line. The signal transmission line and the coupling line are suspended in the shielding house. The coupling line comprises a coupling area, and a load interface and an output signal interface connected at the two ends of the coupling area. The projection of the coupling area on the surface layer where the signal transmission line is located falls onto the signal transmission line and forms thereon a projection area. The length of the projection area in the longitudinal direction of the signal transmission line is one quarter wavelength. Broadside coupling by way of making the projection of the coupling line fall onto the signal transmission line can realize the allocation and sampling of the signals transmitted in the signal transmission line.

Abstract: A compact four-way transducer (FWT) is provided for a microwave communications system. The compact FWT is a compact assembly that is configured to process microwave signals in dual-polarization antenna feeds and to provide single polarized signals for four communications channels. The compact FWT includes four terminals facing different directions at one end for receiving/sending single polarized signals, and a terminal at an opposite end for receiving/sending dual polarized signals.

Abstract: A distributed-line directional coupler including: a first conductive line between first and second ports intended to convey a signal to be transmitted; and a second conductive line, coupled to the first one, between third and fourth ports, the second line being interrupted approximately at its middle, the two intermediary ends being connected to attenuators.

Abstract: In a directional coupler, even when parasitic inductance exists, an increase in device size can be suppressed while obtaining good isolation characteristics. A transmission line type directional coupler includes a main line and a sub line that is coupled to the main line through electric field coupling and magnetic field coupling. The main line includes a signal input port and a signal output port, and the sub line includes a coupling port and an isolation port. A series capacitor is connected to only one of the signal output port and the coupling port.

Abstract: A directional coupler includes in a laminate block, a first main line, a first sub-line, a second sub-line, and a second main line sequentially provided in a lamination direction of layers. Further, each of the first main line, the first sub-line, the second sub-line, and the second main line is divided into at least two divided coil conductors. Furthermore, at least two divided ground conductors are provided between the first sub-line and the second sub-line.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a coupler has a first line that includes a coiled main line and a second line that includes a coiled secondary line arranged to oppose the main line via an insulating layer. The coupler also has a plurality of vias that connect the separate portions of the first line arranged in the different layers and connect the separate portions of the second line arranged in the different layers, and a plurality of terminals each connected to an end of the first and second lines. The vias include an extension via connected to the main line or the secondary line that extends through the insulating layer, and the extension via wires the first line and the second line to the same side of the insulating layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coupling apparatus for dividing a radio frequency (RE) transmitting signal and an RF receiving signal in a transceiver with a transmitting unit and a receiving unit sharing an antenna, comprising: a four-port circuit having ports 1-4; a through path formed between the port 1 and the port 2; a first signal input to the port 1 being coupled to the port 4.1; a second signal input to the port 2 being coupled to the port 3; an isolation path formed between the port 1 and the port 3 and between the port 2 and the port 4; an attenuator attenuating a signal output from the port 4; and wherein the RF transmitting signal is input to the port 1, the RF receiving signal is input to the port 2, and outputs of the port 3 are provided to the receiving unit.

Abstract: A distributed-line directional coupler including: a first conductive line between first and second ports intended to convey a signal to be transmitted; and a second conductive line, coupled to the first one, between third and fourth ports, the second line being interrupted approximately at its middle, the two intermediary ends being connected to attenuators.

Abstract: Directional couplers are provided. In one embodiment, the directional coupler includes first and second transmission line segments positioned on a first plane and spaced apart by a first distance, third and fourth transmission line segments positioned on a second plane and spaced apart by a second distance, the second plane spaced apart from the first plane, a first conductive segment connecting the first and third transmission line segments, and a second conductive segment connecting the second and fourth transmission line segments, where the first and second transmission line segments are configured to couple energy therebetween, and where the third and fourth transmission line segments are configured to couple energy therebetween.

Abstract: In a directional coupler, a laminated body includes a plurality of insulator layers that are laminated to one another. A main line and a sub-line are embedded in the laminated body, include spiral-shaped portions including central axes parallel or substantially parallel to a z-axis direction, and are electromagnetically coupled to each other. The main line and the sub-line have the same or substantially the same shape and are provided within regions coinciding or substantially coinciding with each other in a y-axis direction.

Abstract: A communication device includes a communication circuit part, a transmission path for signals, a ground, a coupler electrode, and a resonance part. The coupler electrode includes an upper flat part as an electrode, a support, and a connecting portion. The support supports the upper flat part. Thus, the upper flat part faces the ground and is separately placed therefrom at a height only enough to ignore the wavelength of the signal, while having a flexible portion which is elastically deformable in the height direction. On the connecting portion, the other end of the support is connected to the transmission path. The resonance part enlarges a current flowing into the coupler electrode through the transmission path. A micro dipole is a line segment connecting between the center of accumulated electric charge in the coupler electrode and the center of mirror charge accumulated in the ground.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a directional coupler having favorable characteristics even when a parasite inductance is present on a coupling line. The directional coupler includes resistive elements between at least either a signal input port and a coupling port or between a signal output port and an isolation port. The resistive elements can reduce the output from the ISO port and improve directivity.

Abstract: Provided is a high-frequency switch formed by a first switch circuit connected in parallel to a first ?/4 signal transmission path for transmitting a transmission signal from a transmission terminal and a second switch circuit connected in parallel to a second ?/4 signal transmission path for transmitting a reception signal to a reception terminal. The high-frequency switch further includes a directivity coupler which has the first ?/4 signal transmission path as a constituent element and detects a reflected wave of the transmission signal. The directivity coupler includes: the first ?/4 signal transmission path; a ?/4 signal line arranged to oppose to the first ?/4 signal transmission path; a reflected wave output terminal connected to one end of the ?/4 signal line; and a terminal resistor connected to the other end of the ?/4 signal line.

Abstract: A coupler including: a first conductive line intended to convey a signal to be transmitted between first and second terminals; a second conductive line, coupled to the first one and having one end intended to provide, on a third terminal, data relative to a signal reflected on the second terminal; and an inductive and/or capacitive impedance matching circuit, interposed between the other end of the second line and a fourth terminal of the coupler.

Abstract: A diplexing apparatus and method which utilizes composite right/left-handed (CRLH) phase-advance/delay lines combined with a coupler. By engineering CRLH-based transmission lines with desired phase responses at two arbitrary frequencies of interest, the connected CRLH delay line and/or CRLH coupler are excited in a manner such that signals at designated frequencies are separated to the corresponding output ports of the hybrid coupler. Benefits of the apparatus include elimination of design complexities such as optimization of the interconnection junctions and the harmonic spurious suppression involved in conventional filter-based diplexers. In addition, channel isolation is beneficially achieved from the isolation property of directional couplers. Measured insertion loss on the implementations was found to be less than 1 dB, with isolation greater than 20 dB in the dual bands. A high level of agreement was observed between simulated and measured results.

Abstract: High-frequency couplers and coupling techniques are described utilizing artificial composite right/left-handed transmission line (CRLH-TL). Three specific forms of couplers are described; (1) a coupled-line backward coupler is described with arbitrary tight/loose coupling and broad bandwidth; (2) a compact enhanced-bandwidth hybrid ring coupler is described with increased bandwidth and decreased size; and (3) a dual-band branch-line coupler that is not limited to a harmonic relation between the bands. These variations are preferably implemented in a microstrip fabrication process and may use lumped-element components. The couplers and coupling techniques are directed at increasing the utility while decreasing the size of high-frequency couplers, and are suitable for use with separate coupler or couplers integrated within integrated devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a leakage signal includes a coupler including a transmission port through which a transmission signal is input, an antenna port through which the transmission signal is output to an antenna and a receiving signal is input from the antenna, and a receiving port through which the receiving signal is output; and a removing unit which outputs, to the receiving port, a leakage removing signal having a same magnitude as one of or a sum of a magnitude of a first leakage signal of the transmission signal, which is generated at the transmission port and input to the receiving port, and a magnitude of a second leakage signal of the transmission signal which is input to the receiving port through the antenna port, the leakage removing signal having an opposite phase to one of the phases or an aggregate phase of the first and second leakage signals.

Abstract: A semiconductor die has an RF coupler and balun integrated on a common substrate. The RF coupler includes first and second conductive traces formed in close proximity. The RF coupler further includes a resistor. The balun includes a primary coil and two secondary coils. A first capacitor is coupled between first and second terminals of the semiconductor die. A second capacitor is coupled between a third terminal of the semiconductor die and a ground terminal. A third capacitor is coupled between a fourth terminal of the semiconductor die and the ground terminal. A fourth capacitor is coupled between the high side and low side of the primary coil. The integration of the RF coupler and balun on the common substrate offers flexible coupling strength and signal directivity, and further improves electrical performance due to short lead lengths, reduces form factor, and increases manufacturing yield.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a coupler that can be used in a radar system. The coupler includes differential ports, an antenna port, a receiver port, a local port and a transmission path. The differential ports are configured to receive a differential signal. The antenna port is configured to output a transmitted signal and to input a received signal. The transmitted signal is derived from the differential signal. The receiver port is configured to output a portion or version of the received signal. The local port outputs a local signal, which is also derived from the differential signal. The transmission path is coupled to the differential ports, the antenna port, the receiver port and the local port. The transmission path typically has a length selected to derive or output the signals at the above ports.

Abstract: A distributed multiband coupling circuit including: a number n of first and of second terminals equal to the number of frequency bands; a third terminal and a fourth terminal; a number n of distributed couplers equal to the number of frequency bands, all couplers being identical and sized according to the highest frequency band, and each coupler including a first conductive line between first and second ports intended to convey a signal to be transmitted in the concerned frequency band, and a second conductive line coupled to the first one between third and fourth ports; a first set of resistive splitters in cascade between the third ports of the couplers, a terminal of the splitter associated with the first coupler being connected to the third terminal of the coupling circuit; and a second set of resistive splitters in cascade between the fourth ports of the couplers, a terminal of the splitter associated with the first coupler being connected to the fourth terminal of the coupling circuit.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a transmission line geometry or structure may readily be realized as periodic printed coupled/uncoupled microstrip lines on dielectric and/or suitable biased ferromagnetic substrates. An example of a transmission line geometry or structure may be adapted to emulate extraordinary propagation modes within bulk periodic assemblies of anisotropic dielectric and magnetic materials. For instance, wave propagation in anisotropic media may be emulated by using a pair of coupled transmission lines (30, 32) having a specially designed geometry, thereby enabling mold wave dispersion in a microwave or optical guided wave structure. Degenerate band edge resonances, frozen modes, other extraordinary modes, and other unique electromagnetic properties such as negative refraction index may be realized using unique geometrical arrangements that may, for example, be easily manufactured using contemporary RF or photonics/solid state technology.

Abstract: A distributed differential coupler, including a first conductive line and two second conductive lines coupled to the first one, each second conductive line including two conductive sections electrically in series, their respective junctions points being intended to be grounded.

Abstract: A plasma supply arrangement for supplying power to a plasma load has a quadrature coupler which has at least one capacitance and at least one inductivity and which is suitable for coupling together two HF power signals of the same frequency which are phase-shifted relative to each other by 90°, an HF power signal being supplied respectively at a first useful signal connection and at a second useful signal connection of the quadrature coupler as a useful signal, to form a coupled HF power which can be output as a useful signal at a third useful signal connection, at least one useful signal connection being configured for a first impedance. The quadrature coupler has a fourth useful signal connection which is configured for a second impedance which is higher than the first impedance, or has only three useful signal connections.

Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry coupled to multiple antennas though a passive coupler. When transmitting signals, the passive coupler can divide transmitted signals between each of the multiple antennas. When using the antennas to receive signals, the received signals can be combined using the passive coupler. The combined signals may be provided to a receiver in the transceiver circuitry. A tap may be interposed in a path between the passive coupler and one of the antennas to monitor radio-frequency signal power. Phase-shift elements may be interposed in the paths between the antennas and the passive coupler to adjust the relative phase between signals associated with the first and second antennas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power coupler for hyperfrequency signals. The single-section coupler with microstrip lines comprises a dielectric substrate, a main line and a secondary line comprising a coupling section, the lines being deposited on the substrate, the main line being substantially rectilinear and uniform over its entire length, the coupling section comprising a protuberance at each of its ends, the protuberances being interlinked by a portion of conductive line of which the section, the shape and the disposition are adapted to minimize the coupling between said portion and the main line relative to the coupling made between the protuberances and the main line. The invention applies notably to the measurement of the power of a signal passing through a transmission line.

Abstract: A cascaded directional couplers circuit having capacitive compensation such that the directivity of a resistively terminated one of the cascaded couplers is not degraded by an inductance of the other one of the cascaded directional couplers.

Abstract: A directional coupler that has a degree of coupling that is close to constant and is to be used in a predetermined frequency band includes a main line between a first outer electrode and a second outer electrode. A sub-line is provided between a third outer electrode and a fourth outer electrode and is electromagnetically coupled with the main line. A low pass filter is provided between the third outer electrode and the sub-line and has a characteristic in which attenuation increases with increasing frequency in a predetermined frequency band.

Abstract: A method for improving RFID readers includes transmitting an outgoing RF signal to an antenna through a directional device, and generating a demodulated vector signal from an RF signal related to the RF signal received from the receiver. The method also includes setting the impedance of a controllable-variable-reflectance element with control-parameters from a memory circuit. The memory circuit includes a look up table having therein a corresponding relationship between the control-parameters and an error vector related to the demodulated vector signal.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a transmitter circuit, a receiver circuit, a first conductor, and a second conductor of a return path being a grounded line. The first conductor is surrounded by a dielectric. A plurality of resistive elements are connected in parallel between the first conductor and the second conductor. The first conductor transfers therethrough a transmission signal from the transmitter circuit. The length of the line of the first conductor is set to be greater than or equal to one half of the product between the inverse of the signal transfer rate of the first conductor and the velocity of light traveling through the dielectric. The resistive elements are provided along the line of the first conductor for every unit distance being equal to one half of the product between the signal transfer rate of the first conductor and the velocity of light traveling through the dielectric. Thus, it is possible to reduce the signal waveform distortion along the transmission line.

Abstract: The invention discloses the variable attenuator with characteristics, comprising wide attenuation ranges; syntheses on group delays, and low variation of the group delay. The building blocks, which construct the variable attenuator, comprise internal matching networks, external matching networks, delay networks, protecting networks, biasing network, a power combining network, and variable impedance networks. The elements, which realize the internal matching networks, external matching networks, signal combining networks, comprise resistor, inductor, capacitor, and transmission lines. The elements, which realize the variable impedance networks, comprise n-channel field-effect transistor (FET), p-channel FET, n-type bipolar junction transistor (BJT), and p-type BJT. The elements of the variable attenuator can be either integrated on a semiconductor chip by using system-on-chip (SOC) technologies.

Abstract: In one embodiment, RF front-end circuit includes a tunable matching network having an input coupled to an RF interface port, a directional coupler with a first connection coupled to an RF input of a mixer, a second connection coupled to an RF signal generation port, and a third connection coupled to an output of the tunable matching network. The directional coupler is configured to direct a signal from the RF signal generation port to the tunable matching network and to direct a signal from the tunable matching network port to the RF port of the mixer. The RF front-end circuit also has a tunable matching network control unit coupled to the tunable matching network. The control unit is configured to optimize an impedance match between the RF interface port and the output of the tunable matching network.

Abstract: A directional dual distributed coupler including: a first conductive line between first and second ports, intended to convey a signal to be transmitted in a first frequency band; a second conductive line coupled to the first one; a third conductive line between third and fourth ports, intended to convey a signal to be transmitted in a greater frequency band than the first one; a fourth conductive line coupled to the third one; and at least one diplexer connecting, on the side of the second and fourth ports, the respective ends of the second and fourth lines to a fifth port.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing signals via directional couplers embedded in a package are disclosed and may include generating via a directional coupler, one or more output RF signals that may be proportional to a received RF signal. The directional coupler may be integrated in a multi-layer package. The generated RF signal may be processed by an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the multi-layer package. The directional coupler may include quarter wavelength transmission lines, which may include microstrip or coplanar structures. The directional coupler may be electrically coupled to one or more variable capacitances in the integrated circuit. The variable capacitance may include CMOS devices in the integrated circuit. The directional coupler may include discrete devices, which may be surface mount devices coupled to the multi-layer package or may be devices integrated in the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package.

Abstract: A terminal circuit is applied to a bi-directional coupler. The terminal circuit includes a transmission line having a first end and a second end, a first resistor connecting the first end and a first ground and a second resistor connecting the second end and a second ground. A resistance value of the first resistor is substantially identical to that of the second resistor.

Abstract: A mixer for mixing pulse voltage energy and electromagnetic wave energy in the same transmission line is provided with a first input terminal to which an electromagnetic wave is inputted, a second input terminal to which pulse voltage is inputted, a mixing output terminal from which the pulse voltage and the electromagnetic wave are outputted, a bar-shaped first conductive member of which one end is electrically connected to the second input terminal and the other end is electrically connected to an inner conductor of the mixing output terminal, a cylindrical second conductive member which surrounds the first conductive member with a gap therebetween and is disposed coaxially with the first conductive member and electrically connected to an inner conductor of the first input terminal, and a cylindrical third conductive member which houses the first conductive member and the second conductive member with a gap between the second conductive member and the third conductive member and is disposed coaxially with t

Abstract: AN RF hybrid coupler is described having a coupling section and impedance matching transformer sections. The coupler, constructed of Strpline patterns, accepts an RF input signal at a first impedance value and outputs a plurality of RF signals at a second impedance value. The output RF signals are at equal amplitudes to one another and at lower amplitude than the input RF signal.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a printed circuit board (PCB) including a ground plane and having first and second opposing surfaces. The electronic device may also include a radio frequency (RF) directional coupler carried by the first surface of the PCB and including a housing and circuitry therein defining an input port, an output port, and first and second monitoring ports. A first monitoring circuit may be carried by the first surface of the PCB and connected to the first monitoring port. The electronic device may also include a via conductor connected to the second monitoring port and extending through the PCB to the second surface thereof. A second monitoring circuit may also be carried by the second surface of the PCB and connected to the via conductor.

Abstract: At very high frequencies, generally above 100 GHz, the performance of traditional radio frequency (RF) circuitry begins to significantly limit performance. An example is the hybrid coupler, which can have a relatively narrow 90° bandwidth in these frequency ranges. Here, however, a branch-line hybrid coupler (which has been integrated into a quadrature downconversion mixer) has been modified. Namely, an adjustable impedance network has been coupled to isolation port (which has traditionally been terminated) to substantially increase the tuning range and expand the bandwidth of the quadrature mixer within these very high frequency ranges.

Abstract: A loop directional coupler having a first waveguide, particularly a hollow, planar, or a coaxial conductor in the form of a half loop antenna having first and second antenna branches for the contact-free extraction of an incoming signal “a” on a second waveguide and a returning signal “b” on the second waveguide. The first antenna branch is connected to a first input of a first network and the second antenna branch is connected to a second input of the first network, the first network having a first power splitter at the first input and a second power splitter at the second input for dividing the signal present at each antenna branch, the first network having a first adder adding the signals of the first and second power splitters to each other, and a first subtractor subtracting the signals of the first and second power splitters from each other.

Abstract: A coupler is presented that has high-directivity and low coupling coefficient variation. The coupler includes a first trace associated with a first port and a second port. The first trace includes a first main arm, a first connecting trace connecting the first main arm to the second port, and a non-zero angle between the first main arm and the first connecting trace. Further, the coupler includes a second trace associated with a third port and a fourth port. The second trace includes a second main arm.

Abstract: A directional coupler has first to fourth input/output terminals, a first phase shifting unit which is connected between the first input/output terminal and the second input/output terminal, phase-shifts a supplied signal by 90° and outputs a resulting signal, a second phase shifting unit which is connected between the third input/output terminal and the fourth input/output terminal, phase-shifts a supplied signal by 90° and outputs a resulting signal, a first amplifier having an input connected to the third input/output terminal and an output connected to the first input/output terminal, and a second amplifier having an input connected to the fourth input/output terminal and an output connected to the second input/output terminal.

Abstract: Provided is a transmission and reception signal detecting apparatus, which includes a directional coupler and a signal detecting part. The directional coupler includes a first port and a second port. The signal detecting part is connected to the first and second ports of the directional coupler and detects an output of a first signal transmitted through the first port and an output of a second signal transmitted through the second port. The signal detecting part is connected to the first port under a first operation condition. The signal detecting part is connected to the second port under a second operation condition.

Abstract: One embodiment comprises a directional coupler system comprising a substrate having a top surface and a backside surface, with the backside surface comprising a metalization ground portion and an unmetalized portion. A power line is coupled to the top surface, with the power line having an input adapted to receive a power signal, a first trace coupled to the input, a second trace in parallel with the first trace and coupled to the input, and an output coupled to the first and second traces and adapted to emit the power signal. A sensor line is coupled to the backside surface unmetalized portion, with the sensor line adapted to emit a sensor line signal having a sensor line signal level generally proportional to the power signal. Finally, a thermo-conductive base platform coupled to the metalized portion of the backside surface.