Microwave waveguide mode converter having a bevel output end

• US 5,734,303 A
• Filed: 03/28/1995
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Air Force
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Baca, Ernest A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benny T.
• Application Number:
  US08/412,259
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 333/21 R, 315/4, 315/5, 331/79
• US Class Current: 333/21.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion

Abstract

The present invention comprises a microwave mode convert having a cylindrical waveguide input. Attached to the waveguide input is a transition section which gradually changes from the elliptical or cylindrical waveguide input. The output section is also an elliptical waveguide. The output section may also have an elliptical or cylindrical waveguide attached to it. The mode converter of the present invention has input a TM₀₁ mode microwave energy from a cylindrical waveguide and outputs TE₁₁ or TEM mode microwave energy which is an elliptical or circular pencil beam of radiation with high directivity.

Claims

1. A mode converter for a microwave system, said mode converter being able to receive microwave energy at an input thereof in the form of a TM₀₁ mode of a perfectly circular waveguide, said mode converter being able to output microwave energy predominantly in the form of a fundamental TE mode where said fundamental mode radiates a single narrow beam of energy into space, said mode converter comprising:

a transition section being a first section of elliptical waveguide having a straight axis and of predetermined length, said input of said mode converter being in said first section, said first section having a circular cross-sectional shape with a radius, r₁, at a first position and an elliptical cross-sectional shape at a second position, an interior surface of the first section between the first and second positions described by a mathematical equation of the form x² /a² (z)+y² /b² (z)=1, wherein x, y, and z are Cartesian coordinates, a major axis function a(z) is a mathematical function describing a major axis radius of the elliptical waveguide, a minor axis function b(z) is a mathematical function describing a minor axis radius of the elliptical waveguide, said major axis function a(z) having values greater than said radius r₁ such that the major axis radius is generally increasing in a non-abrupt fashion from the first position to the second position, the minor axis function b(z) having a range of values greater than zero and less than or equal to radius r1 such that the minor axis radius is generally decreasing in a non-abrupt fashion from the first position to the second position, and

an output section being a second section of waveguide of elliptical cross-section of a predetermined length, the second section connected to said first section at said second position in a manner such that internal surfaces of both the first and the second sections establish a continuous and non-abrupt elliptical waveguide, said second section having an interior surface described by x² /a² (z)+(y-f(z))² /b² (z)=1, wherein a(z) and b(z) are said mathematical functions having changing values from the second position to a third position, an offset function f(z) is a mathematical function which offsets the second section of waveguide in a minor axis radius direction, said second section of waveguide terminated at a flat plane thereby establishing a beveled end beginning at a first intermediate position between the second position and the third position and ending at the third position, said flat plane having a predetermined angle, α

, with respect to said first section straight axis, and said predetermined angle α

having a value greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees, said flat plane further oriented perpendicular to a plane coincident with the second section waveguide minor axis radius, a bounded area produced by the second section waveguide internal surface at the flat plane establishing an output aperture having an approximately elliptical shape, said output aperture being able to have a waveguide of predetermined length and shape attached thereto;

whereby said transition section providing a means to preserve the input TM₀₁ mode from the first position to the second position, said output section providing a means to convert the TM₀₁ mode to a fundamental TE mode at the output aperture.

2. A mode converter as defined in claim 1, said major axis function a(z) having increasing value from the second position to the third position, said second section minor axis function b(z) having decreasing value from the second position to the third position, said offset function f(z) having a value necessary to establish from the second position to a second intermediate position prior to the third position an offset elliptical waveguide with a straight waveguide bottom, said waveguide bottom defined in terms of said x and y Cartesian coordinates, said offset function f(z), and said minor axis function b(z), by equations y=f(z)-b(z) and x=0, said offset function f(z) having value necessary to establish from the second intermediate position to the third position an offset elliptical waveguide with a parabolic-like waveguide bottom said offset function together with said beveled end producing an approximately elliptical shaped output aperture which radiates a single beam of energy into space at an angle, γ

, with respect to said first section waveguide axis.

3. A mode converter as defined in claim 1, said major axis function a(z) having increasing value from the second position to the third position, said second section minor axis function b(z) having increasing value from the second position to the third position, said offset function f(z) having a value necessary to establish from the second position to a second intermediate position prior to the third position an offset elliptical waveguide with a straight waveguide bottom, said waveguide bottom defined in terms of said x and y Cartesian coordinates, said offset function f(z), and said minor axis function b(z), by equations y=f(z)-b(z) and x=0, said offset function f(z) having a value necessary to establish from the second intermediate position to the third position an offset elliptical waveguide with a parabolic-like waveguide bottom, said offset function together with said beveled end producing an approximately elliptical shaped output aperture at said flat plane which radiates a single beam of energy into space at an angle, γ

, with respect to said first section waveguide axis waveguide axis.

4. A mode converter as defined in claim 3 having a straight approximately elliptical waveguide of predetermined length attached to said approximately elliptical shaped output aperture at said flat plane, said attached straight approximately elliptical waveguide having an internal bounded area coincident with the approximately elliptical shaped output aperture at said flat plane, an axis of said attached straight elliptical waveguide having approximately said angle, γ

, with respect to said first and second sections continuous elliptical waveguide axis.

5. A mode converter as defined in claim 3 having a straight approximately elliptical waveguide of predetermined length attached to said approximately elliptical shaped output aperture at said flat plane, said attached straight approximately elliptical waveguide having an internal bounded area coincident with the approximately elliptical shaped output aperture at said flat plane, an axis of said attached straight elliptical waveguide having approximately said angle, γ

, with respect to said first and second sections continuous elliptical waveguide axis.

6. A mode converter as defined in claim 1 wherein said major axis function a(z) and said minor axis function b(z) have such minimal changes from the second position to the third position of said output section so as to establish a second section with essentially constant major and minor axes radii, said offset function f(z) being of zero value, said first and second sections thereby producing a continuous elliptical waveguide with straight axes aligned and with an elliptical aperture at said flat plane which radiates a single beam of energy into space at an angle, γ

, with respect to said straight axis.

7. A mode converter as defined in claim 6 having a straight elliptical waveguide of predetermined length attached to said elliptical shaped output aperture at said flat plane, said attached straight elliptical waveguide having an internal bounded area coincident with the elliptical shaped output aperture at said flat plane, an axis of said attached straight elliptical waveguide having approximately said angle, γ

, with respect to said first and second sections elliptical waveguide axes.