Free-space matched waveguide flange

1. A system comprising:

a first waveguide configured to propagate electromagnetic energy along a propagation direction; and

a first waveguide flange configured to selectively operate in one of a plurality of modes, wherein:

operating in a first mode comprises radiating at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy from the first waveguide via a plurality of radiating features of the first waveguide flange, wherein the plurality of radiating features are located on a surface of the first waveguide flange that is perpendicular to the propagation direction, and

operating in a second mode comprises conducting at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy from the first waveguide to a subsequent element, wherein the plurality of radiating features are shorted to a portion of the subsequent element.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein when operating in the first mode, the first waveguide flange has an impedance approximately equal to a characteristic impedance of the first waveguide.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein when operating in the first mode, the first waveguide flange functions as an impedance transformer to match the characteristic impedance of the first waveguide to an impedance of free space.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the radiated electromagnetic energy has an associated, predetermined radiation pattern such that performance measurements may be calculated by measuring a far field of the electromagnetic energy.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein when operating in the second mode, the subsequent element comprises a second waveguide flange configured to couple to the first waveguide flange.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the second waveguide flange is coupled to a second waveguide having a characteristic impedance equal to a characteristic impedance of the first waveguide.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radiating features are is at least one radiating cavity.

8. A method comprising:

conducting electromagnetic energy in a first waveguide along a propagation direction; and

operating a first waveguide flange in one of a plurality of modes, wherein:

operating in a first mode comprises radiating at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy from the first waveguide via a plurality of radiating features of the first waveguide flange, wherein the plurality of radiating features are located on a surface of the first waveguide flange that is perpendicular to the propagation direction, and

operating in a second mode comprises conducting at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy from the first waveguide to a subsequent element, wherein the plurality of radiating features are shorted to a portion of the subsequent element.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein operating in the first mode further comprises radiating electromagnetic energy with an associated, predetermined radiation pattern such that performance measurements may be calculated by measuring a far field of the electromagnetic energy.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein operating in the first mode further comprises radiating electromagnetic energy by at least one radiating slot.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the subsequent element comprises a second waveguide flange, and wherein operating in the second mode further comprises, coupling to the second waveguide flange.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein operating in the second mode further comprises conducting at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy to a second waveguide coupled to the second waveguide flange, wherein the second waveguide has a characteristic impedance equal to a characteristic impedance of the first waveguide.

13. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising when operating in the first mode, transforming an impedance from a characteristic impedance of the first waveguide to an impedance of free space.

14. A system comprising:

a first waveguide configured to propagate electromagnetic energy along a propagation direction; and

a first waveguide flange configured to selectively operate in one of a plurality of modes, wherein:

operating in a first mode comprises radiating at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy from the first waveguide via a plurality of radiating features of the first waveguide flange, wherein the plurality of radiating features are located on a surface of the first waveguide flange that is perpendicular to the propagation direction, and

operating in a second mode comprises conducting at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy from the first waveguide to a second waveguide coupled to the first waveguide via the first waveguide flange and a second waveguide flange, wherein when operating in the second mode, the second waveguide flange is configured to short the plurality of radiating features of the first waveguide flange.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein when operating in the first mode, the first waveguide flange has an impedance approximately equal to a characteristic impedance of the first waveguide.

16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein when operating in the first mode, the first waveguide flange functions as an impedance transformer to match a characteristic impedance of the first waveguide to an impedance of free space.

17. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the radiated electromagnetic energy has an associated, predetermined radiation pattern such that performance measurements may be calculated by measuring a far field of the electromagnetic energy.

18. The system according to claim 14 , wherein when operating in the second mode, the electromagnetic energy propagates freely from the first waveguide to the second waveguide with no reflections.

19. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the second waveguide has a characteristic impedance equal to a characteristic impedance of the first waveguide.

20. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of radiating features are at least one radiating slot.