A simple parallel-plate wave launcher in substrate integrated waveguide technology

We present a compact substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) fed, parallel-plate wave launcher which is able to excite a TEM wave in a dielectric-filled parallel-plate waveguide (PPW). The engineered wave-front with controlled amplitude and phase distribution, can generate a desired aperture for conventional antenna structures and other integrated feed systems. For example, our proposed PPW launcher may be useful when feeding planar, parallel-plate slot-array antennas in PCB technology. In this work theoretical design curves are initially presented for such PPW launchers. Results are then confirmed by full-wave simulations of two SIW-fed, PPW designs operating at 15 GHz, and covering two different aperture widths of 5 cm and 10 cm. Our novel approach for simple, PPW launching at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies can also be applied to other parallel-plate based guides, low-cost transitions, and compact dividing/combing circuits for new antenna feed systems.