The interaction between two circuits so that energy is transferred from one to the other. In common-impedance coupling there is an impedance common to both circuits (Figs. a, b).
The impedance may be a capacitance (capacitive coupling), a capacitance and a resistance (resistance-capacitance coupling), an inductance (inductive coupling), or a resistance (direct coupling). The impedance may be a part of each circuit or connected between the circuits. In mutual-inductance coupling the circuits are coupled by the mutual inductance, M, between the coils L1 and L2 (Fig. c). The coils used are often those of a transformer. The use of two separate coils between amplifier stages rather than a transformer is termed choke coupling. Mixed coupling is a combination of mutual-inductance coupling and common-impedance coupling.
The coupling coefficient, K, is defined as
where Xm is the reactance common to both circuits and X1 and X2 are the total reactances, of the same type as Xm, of the two circuits. For Fig. a:
For Fig. b:
For Fig. c:
The current in the secondary circuit depends on the degree of coupling and the frequency. Critical coupling occurs when KQ = 1, where Q is the Q factor of the circuit. A single peak occurs at the resonant frequency of the circuit and the current has its optimum value. Overcoupling occurs when K > 1/Q; the current has two side peaks with a dip at the resonant frequency. Undercoupling, when K < 1/Q, produces a smaller central peak than the optimum.
Band-pass filters often employ overcoupling, in order to pass a narrow band of frequencies, followed by undercoupling, to compensate for the central dip. In a tuned circuit, the bandwidth passed varies with frequency. This may be overcome by employing mixed coupling using a capacitance with the mutual inductance to give a constant bandwidth for a range of frequencies.
Cross coupling is unwanted coupling between communication channels, circuits, or components, particularly those with a common power supply. The removal of unwanted signals, especially those due to cross coupling, is called decoupling. It is usually achieved using a series inductance or a shunt capacitor