ENGINEERING ANSWER
Couplers and dividers require controlled electrical length, impedance ratios and symmetry. Their useful bandwidth depends on the topology and the real layout, not just quarter-wave arithmetic.
What to decide before release
Synthesize the circuit, then simulate bends, junctions, resistors and launches. Check how width and gap tolerances change balance and isolation. Choose reference planes that make measurement and simulation comparable.
Checks to put in your design brief
- Specify balance and isolation limits
- Include component parasitics
- Sweep the intended band
Important distinction
Equal physical branch lengths can still have unequal electrical environments.
Sources & basis
Material facts follow the cited source. Design checks are preliminary guidance, not supplier process instructions.