Bundled waveguide solution for multibeam satellite applications

A bundled waveguide approach is introduced for multi-beam satellite applications providing remarkable mass reductions compared with standard single waveguide interconnections. Several waveguide paths are associated closely in a profile sharing common separation walls. Novel waveguide components (e.g. bends, transformers, etc.) have been developed, to allow convenient combination of bundled waveguide sections (with and without flange interconnections) for the realization of arbitrarily routed (bundled) waveguide runs with optimal interfacing at the antenna and payload subsystems. The use of cigar-shape waveguide cross sections for the bundled profiles yield low insertion loss and improved manufacturing properties. The realization of first bundled waveguide runs at 20GHz prove the applicability and advantages of the approach.