Radio frequency (RF) microwave components and subsystems using loaded ridge waveguide
A waveguide having a non-conductive material with a high permeability (μ, μ r for relative permeability) and/or a high permittivity (∈, ∈ r for relative permittivity) positioned within a housing. When compared to a hollow waveguide, the waveguide of this invention, reduces waveguide dimensions by ∝ 1 μ r * ɛ r . The waveguide of this invention further includes ridges which further reduce the size and increases the usable frequency bandwidth.
1. A waveguide for an operating frequency comprising:
a housing including a broad wall and a narrow wall;
a ridge formed in the broad wall;
a non-conductive material positioned within a volume formed by the broad wall, the narrow wall and the ridge, the non-conductive material having a permeability (μ, μ r ) and a permittivity (∈, ∈ r ); and
a coaxial output extending generally perpendicular from the housing at a mating section, wherein the coaxial output comprises copper and alumina.
2. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive material comprises a relative permittivity of 2 to 10,000.
3. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive material is selected from the group consisting of Teflon, alumina, water and ceramic.
4. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the ridge forms a U-shaped cross-section.
5. The waveguide of claim 1 further comprising:
a second ridge, wherein the ridge and the second ridge form an H-shaped cross-section.
6. The waveguide of claim 1 further comprising:
a coupling channel connected to the housing at the narrow wall, the coupling channel extending to a second waveguide.
7. The waveguide of claim 1 further comprising:
a RF absorbing material wedge positioned at a terminating edge of the housing, wherein an RF wave propagating through the housing is absorbed by the RF absorbing material wedge and converted into heat.
8. The waveguide of claim 1 further comprising:
a Ferrite insert positioned inside the housing on the narrow wall, wherein the Ferrite insert varies an external magnetic bias field which changes a phase of an RF wave propagating through the waveguide.
9. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the operating frequency is in a range of 100 to 1,000,000 MHz.
10. A waveguide for an operating frequency comprising:
an input comprising an input housing including an input broad wall, an input narrow wall, and an input ridge in a portion of the input broad wall;
an output connected to the input, the output comprising a output housing including an output broad wall, an output narrow wall, and an output ridge in a portion of the output broad wall;
a non-conductive material filling the input and the output, the non-conductive material including a permeability (μ, μ r ) and a permittivity (∈, ∈ r ).
11. The waveguide of claim 10 further comprising:
a coaxial output extending generally perpendicular from the output housing at an output mating section.
12. The waveguide of claim 10 further comprising:
a coaxial input extending generally perpendicular from the input housing at an input mating section.
13. The waveguide of claim 10 further comprising:
a hybrid coupler in communication with the input and the output, the hybrid coupler comprising a first housing connected to a coupling channel connected to a second housing;
the first housing including a first housing broad wall, a first housing narrow wall, and a first housing ridge in a portion of the first housing broad wall;
the second housing including a second housing broad wall, a second housing narrow wall, and a second housing ridge in a portion of the second housing broad wall;
the coupling channel connected to the first housing narrow wall and the second housing narrow wall; and
the non-conductive material filling the first housing and the second housing.
14. The waveguide of claim 10 further comprising:
a matched load in communication with the input and the output, the matched load including a matched load housing including a matched load broad wall, a matched load narrow wall, a matched load ridge in a portion of the matched ridge broad wall, and a RF absorbing material wedge positioned at a terminating edge of the matched load housing, wherein an RF wave propagating through the matched load is absorbed by the RF absorbing material wedge and converted into heat; and
the non-conductive material filling the matched load housing.
15. The waveguide of claim 10 further comprising:
a phase shifter in communication with the input and the output;
the phase shifter including a phase shifter housing including a phase shifter broad wall, a phase shifter narrow wall, a phase shifter ridge in a portion of the phase shifter broad wall; and
a Ferrite insert positioned inside the phase shifter housing at the phase shifter narrow wall, wherein the Ferrite insert varies an external magnetic bias field which changes a phase of an RF wave propagating through the waveguide.
16. The waveguide of claim 10 , wherein the non-conductive material comprises a relative permittivity of 2 to 10,000.
17. The waveguide of claim 10 , wherein the non-conductive material is selected from the group consisting of Teflon, alumina, water and ceramic.