Microwave Devices

Introduction
Microwaves have frequencies > 1 GHz approx.
Stray reactances are more important as frequency
increases
Transmission line techniques must be applied to
short conductors like circuit board traces
Device capacitance and transit time are important
Cable losses increase: waveguides often used instead
Microwave engineering: Engineering and design of
communication/navigation systems in the microwave frequency
range.
Microwave Engineering
Applications: Microwave oven, Radar, Satellite communi-cation,
direct broadcast satellite (DBS) television, personal
communication systems (PCSs) etc.
What are Microwaves? (Pozar Sec. 1.1)
= 30 cm: f = 3 x 10
8
/ 30 x 10
-2
= 1 GHz
= 1 cm: f = 3 x 10
8
/ 1x 10
-2
= 30 GHz
Microwaves: 30 cm 1 cm
Millimeter waves: 10 mm 1 mm
(centimeter waves)
= 10 mm: f = 3 x 10
8
/ 10 x 10
-3
= 30 GHz
= 1 mm: f = 3 x 10
8
/ 1x 10
-3
= 300 GHz
( )
( )
( ) m
s m
Hz

/ 10 3
wavelength
c light of velocity
f frequency
8


= =
Note: 1 Giga = 10
9
What are Microwaves?
1 cm
f =10 kHz, = c/f = 3 x 10
8
/ 10 x 10
3
= 3000 m
Phase delay = (2t or 360) x Physical length/Wavelength
f =10 GHz, = 3 x 10
8
/ 10 x 10
9
= 3 cm
Electrical length =1 cm/3000 m = 3.3 x 10
-6
, Phase delay = 0.0012
RF
Microwave
Electrical length = 0.33 , Phase delay = 118.8 !!!
1 360
Electrically long - The phase of a voltage or current changes significantly
over the physical extent of the device
Electrical length = Physical length/Wavelength (expressed in )
Magnetic field on a single wire.
Magnetic field on a coil.
Magnetic field pattern in a waveguide.


Magnetic field in a waveguide three half-wavelengths long.
E field boundary condition. MEETS BOUNDARY CONDITIONS.
H field boundary condition.
Half-sine E field distribution.



Full-sine E field distribution.


Magnetic field caused by a half-sine E field.
Waveguides
Pipe through which waves propagate
Can have various cross sections
Rectangular
Circular
Elliptical
Can be rigid or flexible
Waveguides have very low loss

Modes
Waves can propagate in various ways
Time taken to move down the guide varies
with the mode
Each mode has a cutoff frequency below
which it wont propagate
Mode with lowest cutoff frequency is
dominant mode

Mode Designations
TE: transverse electric
Electric field is at right angles to direction of travel
TM: transverse magnetic
Magnetic field is at right angles to direction of
travel
TEM: transverse electromagnetic
Waves in free space are TEM
Rectangular Waveguides
Dominant mode is TE
10
1 half cycle along long dimension (a)
No half cycles along short dimension (b)
Cutoff for a = c/2
Modes with next higher cutoff frequency are
TE
01
and TE
20
Both have cutoff frequency twice that for TE
10

Cutoff Frequency
For TE
10
mode in rectangular waveguide with
a = 2 b


a
c
f
c
2
=
Usable Frequency Range
Single mode propagation is highly desirable to
reduce dispersion
This occurs between cutoff frequency for TE
10

mode and twice that frequency
Its not good to use guide at the extremes of
this range

Example Waveguide
RG-52/U
Internal dimensions 22.9 by 10.2 mm
Cutoff at 6.56 GHz
Use from 8.2-12.5 GHz

Group Velocity
Waves propagate at speed of light c in guide
Waves dont travel straight down guide
Speed at which signal moves down guide is
the group velocity and is always less than c

2
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
f
f
c v
c
g

Phase Velocity
Not a real velocity (>c)
Apparent velocity of wave along wall
Used for calculating wavelength in guide
For impedance matching etc.
2
1
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
f
f
c
v
c
p

Characteristic Impedance
Z
0
varies with frequency

O
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
2
0
1
377
f
f
Z
c
Guide Wavelength
Longer than free-space wavelength at same
frequency
2
1
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
f
f
c
g

Impedance Matching
Same techniques as for coax can be used
Tuning screw can add capacitance or
inductance
Coupling Power to Guides
3 common methods
Probe: at an E-field maximum
Loop: at an H-field maximum
Hole: at an E-field maximum

Probe coupling in a
rectangular waveguide.
Probe coupling in
a rectangular waveguide
Probe coupling in a
rectangular waveguide.
Loop coupling in a
rectangular waveguide.


Loop coupling in a
rectangular waveguide.


Loop coupling in a
rectangular waveguide.
Slot coupling in a waveguide.
Directional Coupler
Launches or receives power in only 1 direction
Used to split some of power into a second
guide
Can use probes or holes

Passive Compenents
Bends
Called E-plane or H-Plane bends depending on the
direction of bending
Tees
Also have E and H-plane varieties
Hybrid or magic tee combines both and can be
used for isolation

Gradual E bend.
Waveguides may be bent in several ways
that do not cause reflections.
The E bend must have a radius greater than
two wavelengths to prevent reflections.

Gradual H bend.
Sharp bends.
Waveguide twist
The twist must be gradual and greater
than 2.

E fields in an E-type T junction.
E fields in an H-type junction.

Magic-T with input to arm b
Resonant Cavity
Use instead of a tuned circuit
Very high Q

Rectangular waveguide cavity resonator.
Several types of cavities.
Attenuators and Loads
Attenuator works by putting carbon vane or
flap into the waveguide
Currents induced in the carbon cause loss
Load is similar but at end of guide

Circulator and Isolator
Both use the unique properties of ferrites in a
magnetic field
Isolator passes signals in one direction,
attenuates in the other
Circulator passes input from each port to the
next around the circle, not to any other port