Design, Realization and Testing of an Adaptable Folded Parallel Plate Waveguide Feeding Network

This paper presents a detailed analysis, realization, and testing of a low-height waveguide folded feeding structure that launches a quasi-TEM surface wave to feed structures such as leaky-waves, modulated metasurfaces and slotted waveguide antennas. This structure reduces the antenna size by having the feed beneath it. The analysis can be divided into two parts: the first report the implementation of the n-furcated waveguide quasi-TEM wave launcher that could be integrated with a radiating structure of any width; the second part is the analysis of the folded transition that helps direct the quasi-TEM wave to an antenna having any height or width above the feed. A detailed procedure for designing is reported, and a design example of two folded feeding networks having different heights with a quadri-furcated quasi-TEM wave launcher is fabricated. The details of the fabrication for such a divider are given, and the two feeds cover 11.5 to 12.8 GHz and agree well with the simulated results. This feeding network could be used for high power SATCOM applications.