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Compact wide-band coaxial-to waveguide microwave transitions for X and KU

bands

Conference Paper · September 2013

DOI: 10.1109/ICATT.2013.6650817

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International Conference on Antenna Theory and Techniques, 2013, Odessa, Ukraine pp. 475-477

COMPACT WIDE-BAND COAXIAL-TO

WAVEGUIDE MICROWAVE TRANSITIONS
FOR X AND KU BANDS
V. A. Rudakov, V. A. Sledkov, A. P. Mayorov and M. B. Manuilov
Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
E-mail: m_manuilov@sfedu.ru

Abstract
A novel compact wide-band coaxial-to-waveguide transition between a standard
rectangular waveguide and 50-Ohm coaxial line is designed. The prototypes of transi-
tions for X- and Ku- band are successfully fabricated and tested. The measured
VSWR is less than 1.2 for both coaxial-to-waveguide transitions.
The proposed design of coaxial-to-waveguide transition is easy-to-manufacture
and it shows excellent electrical performances by mass production. The transversal
dimensions of the transitions are equal to dimensions of standard waveguide flanges
and the thickness is about 13 mm.

Keywords: Coaxial-to waveguide transition, coaxial line, rectangular waveguide,

TEM-mode.

In this paper we consider the implementation of

1. INTRODUCTION
Coaxial-to waveguide transitions are widely used in
many microwave subsystems for the connection of the
various components. The key requirements imposed
on the operation of the transitions are a good power
match within a wide frequency range and a compact,
easy-to-manufacture design which shows high electri-
cal performances by mass production.
The various real-world microwave applications re-
quire the appropriate design of coaxial-to-waveguide
transition. For example, the collinear transitions (end-
launcher transitions) are more appropriate for applica-
tions such as the phased array antennas with closely
packed radiators [1,4]. In other cases the compact
lateral (right angle) transitions are preferable [5,8] (for
excitation of horn antennas etc.).
In this paper the right angle coaxial-to-waveguide
transitions are considered. The disadvantages of
known transitions are the relatively large size and
narrow operational bandwidth which achieves about
25%.
2. COAX-TO-WAVEGUIDE TRANSITIONS
DESIGN
This research is devoted to the development of im-
proved compact design of lateral coaxial-to-
waveguide transitions which are characterized by ex-
tended operational bandwidth, high impedance match-
ing and reduced geometrical dimensions in
comparison with known prototypes.
proposed solution for X-band (8-12 GHz) and Ku-
band (12-18 GHz). In accordance with the problem
formula
tion the transitions should provide the impedance
matching between the standard rectangular waveguide
(2310 mm and 168 mm in X- and Ku-band, respec-
tively) and 50-Ohm coaxial line. The transversal ge-
ometrical dimensions of transition should be equal to
standard waveguide flanges dimensions and SMA
connector is used as a coaxial port. The desired max-
imal VSWR value is 1.2.
The photos and 3D models of suggested coaxial-to-
waveguide X- and Ku-band adapters are shown in Fig.
1, 2. 3D models include the standard SMA connector
(Fig. 1b, 2b).
The numerical simulation of the adaptors was car-
ried out on the basis of full-wave 3D electromagnetic
model [9].
The proposed design of the adapters consists of on-
ly five elements: waveguide housing 1, disk-loaded
coaxial probe 2, dielectric rod 3 on the top of coax
probe, dielectric filling of coaxial line 4 and SMA
connector 5 (Fig. 1b). The waveguide housing is a
short-ended section of ridged waveguide which is
produced by milling of whole metallic plate. The
cross geometrical dimensions of the housing are equal
to the dimensions of a standard waveguide flange.
The disc-loaded probe 2 is introduced into the
waveguide through the hole in the broad wall. In order
to fix the probe in the hole, the dielectric filling 4 in
the form of hollow cylinder is used which protrudes

978-1-4799-2897-2/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE

 V. A. Rudakov, V. A. Sledkov, A. P. Mayorov and M. B. Manuilov

into the waveguide. The upper edge of the disc-loaded
probe 2 is fixed by means of dielectric rod 3 inserted
into the hole on the top of probe. Thus, the disc-ended
coaxial probe is installed strongly between the SMA
connector and the ridge on the opposite wall of the
waveguide.
The high impedance matching over the wide op-
erational frequency band and ultra-compact size of
adapters are provided due to some features of the pro-
posed design. The first feature is the ridge on the
broad wall of waveguide opposite the coaxial probe.
The value of characteristic impedance of ridged
waveguide section is between the impedance values of
rectangular waveguide and coaxial line. On the other
hand, the step discontinuity appears in junction of
rectangular and ridged waveguides. This discontinuity
provides the additional degrees of freedom for imped-
ance matching of adapter.
ational frequency band of rectangular waveguide.
During the optimization the dimensions of the ridge as
well as the lengths and radii of the transforming coax-
ial sections of the probe have been varied.
3. RESULTS
It was experimentally proved, that the proposed de-
signs of coaxial-to waveguide adaptors assure the high
impedance matching of 50-Ohm coaxial line with the
standard rectangular waveguide within the total opera-
tional band of waveguide. The vector network analyz-
er Agilent PNA E8363B was used for testing of
adapters. The 2-ports calibration SOLT was employed
by measurements.
The calculated frequency responses of normalized
input impedance on Smith chart and measured charac-
teristics of reflection coefficient |S11| for both adapters
are shown in Fig. 3-6. The coaxial port is excited
while the waveguide port is terminated by matching
load. All the values of the normalized input imped-
ance Z=R+jX of X-band adapter (Fig. 3) are close to
Z=1, where 0.93<R<1.13, 0<X<0.2. It corresponds to
maximal measured reflection coefficient |S11| = -20
dB (Fig. 4) and VSWR=1.22. The measured data are
in good agreement with the theoretical results.

(a) (b)
Fig. 1. Coaxial-to-waveguide transition for X-band
(8-12 GHz): (a) photo; (b) 3D model.

Fig. 3. Calculated frequency response of normal-

ized by 50 Ohm input impedance of transition in
Fig.1 over the band 8-12 GHz.
(a) (b)
Fig. 2. Coaxial-to-waveguide transition for
Ku-band (12-18 GHz): (a) photo; (b) 3D model.

Secondly, the central conductor of the coaxial line

may have one or several transforming sections of in-
creased diameter. For instance, the adapters in Fig. 1,
2 have one quarter-wave-length section with the larger
diameter. Dielectric rod 3 (Fig. 1b) is also a new
structural element of the suggested adapter in compar-
ison with the known prototypes. The disc-ended coax-
ial probe is placed in maximum of electric field in
parallel with the electric field lines. This feature yields
an efficient transformation of TEM mode of coaxial
line into the fundamental mode of rectangular wave- Fig. 4. Measured frequency response of |S11| for X-
guide TE11. band transition.
The quarter-wave-length distance from the short
end to the coaxial probe has been chosen in order to In the case of Ku-band adapter the real and imagi-
assure the desired impedance matching over the oper- nary parts of input impedance are as follow

476 International Conference on Antenna Theory and Techniques, 16-20 September, 2013, Odessa, Ukraine
 Compact wide-band coaxial-to-waveguide microwave transitions for X and Ku bands
0.95<R<1.13, -0.08<X<0.05 (Fig. 5). The maximal
value of measured reflection coefficient is -22 дБ and
VSWR=1.2 (Fig. 6). For both X- and Ku-band transi-
tions the bandwidth is 40%. The geometrical dimen-
sions of X- and Ku-band adapters are 424213.6 mm
and 353513.6 mm, respectively, where the trans-
versal dimensions are equal to the dimensions of
standard waveguide flanges and the ultra-compact
thickness of adapters is 13.6 mm.
The designed coaxial-to-waveguide transitions
were employed as the feeders of wide-band horn an-
tennas.
4. CONCLUSIONS
A novel ultra-compact design of wide-band coaxial-
to-rectangular waveguide transitions is proposed in
the paper. The short-ended ridged waveguide section
and disc-loaded coaxial probe with transforming quar-
ter-wave sections are introduced into design as new
elements.
The coaxial-to-waveguide transitions operating
over X-band (8-12 GHz) and Ku-band (12-18 GHz)
are successfully designed, fabricated and tested. With-
in the 40%-bandwidth the transitions show VSWR
less than 1.2. The designed transitions have ultra-
compact thickness (13.6 mm) and transversal dimen-
sions which are equal to dimensions of standard
waveguide flanges.
The proposed design may be implemented in other
frequency bands. The designed coaxial-to-waveguide
transitions have been used for excitation of wide-band
horn antennas.
Fig. 5. Calculated frequency response of normal-
ized by 50 Ohm input impedance of transition in
Fig.2 over the band 12-18 GHz.
International Conference on Antenna Theory and Techniques, 16-20 September, 2013, Odessa, Ukraine
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Fig. 6. Measured frequency response of |S11| for
Ku-band transition.
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