2 research outputs found
High-performance 16-way Ku-band radial power combiner based on the TE01-circular waveguide mode
This work presents a 16-way Ku-band radial power combiner for high power and high frequency
applications, using the very low loss TE01 circular waveguide mode. The accomplished design shows
an excellent performance: the experimental prototype has a return loss better than 30 dB, with a balance
for the amplitudes of ( 0.15 dB) and ( 2.5 ) for the phases, in a 16.7% fractional bandwidth (2 GHz
centered at 12 GHz). For obtaining these outstanding specifications, required, for instance, in highfrequency
amplification or on plasma systems, a rigorous step-by-step procedure is presented. First, a
high-purity mode transducer has been designed, from the TE10 mode in the rectangular waveguide to
the TE01 mode in the circularwaveguide, with very high attenuation (>50 dB) for the other propagating
and evanescent modes in the circularwaveguide. This transducer has been manufactured and measured
in a back-to-back configuration, validating the design process. Second, an E-plane 16-way radial
power divider has been designed, where the power is coupled from the 16 non-reduced-height radial
standardwaveguides into the TE01 circularwaveguide mode, improving the insertion loss response and
removing the usual tapered transformers of previous designs limiting the power handling. Finally, both
the transducer and the divider have been assembled to make the final radial combiner. The prototype
has been carefully manufactured, showing very good agreement between the measurements and the
full-wave simulationsThe authors would like to thank INMEPRE S.A., the diligence
in the manufacturing process. This work was supported
by the Spanish government under Grant (ADDMATE) No.
TEC2016-76070-C3-1/2-R (AEI/FEDER/UE) and the program
of Comunidad de Madrid S2013/ICE-3000 (SPADERADARCM
Additive Manufacturing of 3D Printed Microwave Passive Components
This chapter presents a comprehensive analysis of the applications of a low-cost version of additive manufacturing (AM). The technique called Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), which makes use of plastic as raw material, is explained in the context of its applications to the microwave waveguide engineering field. The main advantages of this technology include the promptness to print models, the variety of feasible geometries, and specially the reduced cost. The main limitations are also explained. Two important applications are considered: (1) rapid prototyping of complex devices and (2) manufacturing of fully functional devices. The former is relevant to get a more realistic perspective of the actual geometry in computer-aided designs, as shown in several examples. It also helps to forecast possible issues in the fabrication process that the computer sometimes fails to detect at the design stage. In the latter case (2), the subsequent and necessary metallization of plastic devices is also addressed. Several examples of state-of-the-art passive waveguide devices are presented, including waveguide filters, a diplexer, a branch-line coupler, a load or horn antennas, which have been printed, metallized, and measured. The results show the potential of three-dimensional (3D) printing and provide a different insight into this innovative technology