A Waveguide to Microstrip Inline Transition With Very Simple Modular Assembly

• Published in: IEEE microwave and wireless components letters 2010-09, Vol.20 (9), p.480-482
• Main Authors: Yunchi Zhang, Ruiz-Cruz, J A, Zaki, K A, Piloto, A J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antenna arrays; Antenna feeds; Antennas; Applied sciences; Assembly; Assembly systems; Circuit properties; Design engineering; Design. Technologies. Operation analysis. Testing; Dielectrics; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Integrated circuits; Interconnection; Microstrip; microstrip transition; Microwave circuits, microwave integrated circuits, microwave transmission lines, submillimeter wave circuits; Modular; no soldering; Noise levels; Phased arrays; Radiocommunications; rectangular waveguide; Rectangular waveguides; Segmentation; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Soldering; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; transformer; Waveguide components; Waveguide transitions; Waveguides; X-band
• ISSN: 1531-1309; 2771-957X; 1558-1764; 2771-9588
• DOI: 10.1109/LMWC.2010.2056358

A microstrip to empty rectangular waveguide transition is presented for systems requiring a simple modular assembly with good electrical performance. The structure is based on three building blocks, involving a microstrip line to dielectric-loaded rectangular waveguide, a transition between dielectric-loaded and empty rectangular waveguides with reduced height, and a final transformer to standard waveguide. These three building blocks (segmentation based on the design point of view) are combined in three simple parts which are assembled in a straightforward modular way, without soldering. These features are very important for signal feeders requiring a large number of transitions, as the X-band phased array antenna where the proposed structure has been integrated. The concepts involved in the design and manufacturing are illustrated with a prototype showing measured return loss of 10 dB and insertion loss of 1.1 dB in the band 8.5-9.5 GHz.