Frontend Design with Special Waveguide Transition in K-and Ka-Band for a Hybrid Steerable Multi-Beam Satellite Antenna Array

For a steerable multi-beam antenna array in the K-and Ka-Band on a small satellite a bidirectional front end design is presented. The main concept of the antenna array consists of stacked Rotman lenses in hollow waveguide technology. This paper describes the waveguide transition from the electronic circuitry to the Rotman lens by using a coplanar waveguide with ground followed by a surface integrated waveguide SIW into a double ridged waveguide. A prototype of the frontend design including a distribution network and diplexer circuit is analyzed. The analysis shows good agreement in measurement and simulation results.