Patent ID: 6563398
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
A waveguide network having:(a) a first port; (b) a plurality of second ports oriented in a first direction; and (c) a plurality of waveguide junctions and waveguide bends, each junction having a common branch and two separate branches, and each bend having a first branch and a second branch meeting at an angle, said junctions and bends being grouped into a plurality of sets with a particular set being denoted by n, n being an integer ranging from 0 to (N-1) and N representing the total number of sets and being an integer greater than or equal to three, the 0'th set being a first set, the n'th set having 2n junctions and 2n+1 corresponding bends, each of the separate branches of each junction in a particular set being connected to the first branch of a bend in the same set, wherein (i) the plurality of sets comprise E-plane sets operatively coupled with H plane sets in an alternating fashion, each E-plane set comprising E-plane junctions and E plane bends, and each H-plane set comprising H-plane junctions and H-plane bends; (ii) the common branch of the junction in the first set is connected to said first port; (iii) the second branch of each of the bends in the n'th set, other than the last set, is connected to the common branch of a junction in the n+1)'th set, and the second branch of each of the bends in the last set is connected to one of said plurality of second ports; and (iv) the second branches of each of the bends in at least one set extend in the first direction, and the second branches of each of the bends in at least one other set, not including the last set, extend in a direction opposite to said first direction.