Orthomode transducer having improved cross-polarization suppression and method of manufacture

1. An orthomode transducer, comprising:

a first waveguide section configured to support the propagation of a signal having a first polarization, the first waveguide section comprising a first waveguide aperture sized to communicate the signal having the first polarization therethrough;

a second waveguide section coupled to the first waveguide section and configured to support the propagation of a signal having a second polarization which is substantially orthogonal to the first polarization, the second waveguide section comprising a single internal septum and a second waveguide aperture sized to communicate the signal having the second polarization therethrough; and

a third waveguide section coupled to the first waveguide section and the second waveguide section, and configured to support the propagation of a signal having the first polarization or the second polarization, the third waveguide section comprising a third waveguide aperture sized to communicate the signal having the first signal polarization or the second polarization therethrough.

2. The orthomode transducer of claim 1 , wherein:

the first waveguide section comprises a substantially rectangular waveguide operable to support the propagation of a vertically-polarized signal;

the second waveguide section comprises a substantially rectangular waveguide operable to support the propagation of a horizontally-polarized signal; and

the third waveguide section comprises a substantially circular or square waveguide operable to support the propagation of either the vertically-polarized signal or the horizontally-polarized signal.

3. The orthomode transducer of claim 1 , wherein the single internal septum of the second waveguide section has a vary thickness dimension.

4. The orthomode transducer of claim 1 , wherein the single internal septum of the second waveguide section has a substantially constant thickness dimension.

5. The orthomode transducer of claim 1 , wherein the single internal septum of the second waveguide section comprises a length less than the length of the second waveguide section.

6. The orthomode transducer of claim 1 , wherein the dimensions of the first waveguide section and first waveguide aperture are sized to support the propagation of a signal within the band of 14-14.5 GHz.

7. The orthomode transducer of claim 1 , wherein the dimensions of the second waveguide section and second waveguide aperture are sized to support the propagation of a signal within the band of 10.95-12.75 GHz.

8. The orthomode transducer of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third waveguide sections are integrally formed in cast aluminum.

9. The orthomode transducer of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third waveguide sections are integrally formed in machined aluminum, brass, copper, or Kovar.

10. An orthomode transducer, comprising:

a transmit waveguide section configured to transmit a vertically-polarized signal, the transmit waveguide section comprising an aperture sized to transmit the vertically polarized signal therethrough;

a receive waveguide section coupled to the receive waveguide section and configured to receive a horizontally-polarized signal, the receive waveguide section comprising a single internal septum and a substantially rectangular aperture sized to receive the horizontally-polarized signal therethrough; and

an antenna waveguide section coupled to the transmit waveguide section and the receive waveguide section, the antenna waveguide section configured to support the propagation of the transmitted vertically-polarized signal and the received horizontally-polarized signal, the antenna waveguide section comprising a substantially circular aperture sized to communicate the vertically-polarized signal and the horizontally-polarized signal therethrough.

11. The orthomode transducer of claim 10 , wherein the single internal septum of the receive waveguide section has a vary thickness dimension.

12. The orthomode transducer of claim 10 , wherein the single internal septum of the receive waveguide section has a substantially constant thickness dimension.

13. The orthomode transducer of claim 10 , wherein the single internal septum of the receive waveguide section comprises a length less than the length of the receive waveguide section.

14. The orthomode transducer of claim 10 , wherein the dimensions of the transmit waveguide section and the transmit waveguide aperture are sized to support the transmission of a signal within the band of 14-14.5 GHz.

15. The orthomode transducer of claim 10 , wherein the dimensions of the receive waveguide section and receive waveguide aperture are sized to support the reception of a signal within the band of 10.95-12.75 GHz

16. The orthomode transducer of claim 10 , wherein the receive, transmit, and antenna waveguide sections are integrally formed in cast aluminum.

17. The orthomode transducer of claim 10 , wherein the receive, transmit, and antenna waveguide sections are integrally formed in machined aluminum, brass, copper, or Kovar.

18. A method for fabricating a orthomode transducer, the method comprising:

developing a theoretical design of the orthomode transducer having a desired cross-polarization response;

fabricating a machined orthomode transducer prototype based upon the developed theoretical design;

verifying the performance of the machined orthomode transducer prototype;

generating a casting negative based upon the machined orthomode transducer prototype;

fabricating a cast orthomode transducer prototype;

verifying the performance of the cast orthomode transducer prototype;

providing a production cast negative for the orthomode transducers; and

casting, using the production cast negative, one or more orthomode transducers.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein verifying the performance of the machined orthomode transducer prototype comprises:

measuring the cross-polarization response of the machined orthomode transducer prototype; and

if the measured cross-polarization response is not within a predefined range of the desired cross-polarization response, repeating the steps of developing a theoretical design, and fabricating a machined orthomode transducer prototype.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein casting one or more orthomode transducers comprises casting one or more orthomode transducers in aluminum.