FEM-based evaluation of manufacturing tolerances on a millimeter-waves rectangular to coplanar waveguide transition

Rectangular to coplanar waveguide hermetic transitions are frequently used in satellite payloads, to interconnect rectangular waveguides toward antennas with internal active circuits, often realized in MMIC technology. The effects of manufacturing tolerances on this kind of transition are analyzed both in qualitative terms and in quantitative ones using a Monte Carlo method applied to FEM electromagnetic simulations. Results are compared with measures on a W-band prototype.