Probe coupled, multi-band combiner/divider

Abstract

A passive microwave device combines energy from two microwave communication frequency bands into a common waveguide. Reciprocally, the device separates energy from two microwave frequency bands carried in a common waveguide into separate waveguides for each frequency band. The coupling is accomplished by means of probes that pass between the waveguides. The device can be used for the combination/separation of energy in the X-band and the Ku-band, wherein the Ku-band energy is coupled into/out of a square common waveguide by means of symmetrically positioned coaxial RF coupling probes. The coupling probes extend into both the common waveguide and also into rectangular Ku-band only waveguides. The X-band and Ku band are thus combined and/or separated passively for dual or multi-band antenna feeds in a compact, low cost package. The common waveguide is constructed to include a filter that substantially attenuates any Ku-band energy that would otherwise propagate towards the X-band input/output port. The filter is constructed with symmetrically arrayed ridges or posts that extend into the common waveguide. The combiner/divider device provides extremely broad band passive coupling over the commonly used X and Ku satellite communication frequency bands.