End-launched coaxial and microstrip to partial H-plane waveguide adapters

Abstract

Conventional rectangular waveguides are commonly used for high power and millimetre wave microwave applications. However their use at lower frequencies has been limited by their bulky nature at these frequencies. A new type of compact waveguide called a partial H-plane waveguide has previously been proposed that has only one quarter of the cross sectional area of a conventional waveguide. However, only limited information relating to the feeding of such waveguides is available. This study focuses on the development of a practical end-launched coaxial and a microstrip to partial H-plane waveguide adapters with similar or larger achievable bandwidths compared to conventional waveguide probe feed adapters. The two proposed waveguide transition geometries are investigated to determine which parameters can be used to optimise the insertion and return losses. The prototype waveguide transitions were optimised using numerous simulations and fabricated in the back-to-back configuration. Simulated single ended and back-to-back S-parameters yield good performance over the entire H-band (3.95 to 5.85 GHz, also known as G-Band). De-embedding techniques are used to measure the approximate single ended response of the two waveguide adapters based on the back-to-back measurements. The measurement and simulation results compare favourably and validate the designs.