Characterization and modeling of multiple coupled lines in an inhomogeneous medium from time-domain reflection measurements

A synthesis technique of an equivalent lossless (nondispersive) uniform mul ticonductor n-coupled lines (UMCLs) an-port system from the measured discre te time-domain reflection response is presented, This procedure is based on the decomposition of characteristic immittance matrix of UMCL in terms of partial mode immittance matrices, The decomposition scheme leads to the dis crete transition matrix function of a UMCL an-port system, This, in turn, e stablishes a relationship between the normal-mode parameters of the UMCL an d the measured impulse reflection and transmission response. Equivalence be tween the synthesis procedure presented in this paper and the solution of a special form of algebraic Riccati matrix equation whose solution can lead to the normal-mode parameters and including real termination network is ill ustrated, In order to exemplify the procedure, a typical microstrip structu re with three lines is synthesized from the time-domain reflection (TDR) da ta.