Rigorous and efficient fabrication-oriented CAD and optimization of complex waveguide networks

A sophisticated computer-aided design (CAD) and optimization tool of complex microwave networks, incorporating fabrication and realizability constraints has been developed. Rigorous full-wave models based on the mode matching technique are adopted along with specific algorithms to speed up both the analysis and optimization of the entire microwave structure. A number of beamforming Butler matrices in waveguide technology characterized by about 240 geometrical parameters have been designed and globally optimized. A full-wave analysis requires less than 1 s per frequency point, while the entire optimization can be performed in less than 1 h, using a PC Pentium 133 MHz.