Abstract: Systems and methods for using power dividers for improved ferrite circulator RF power handling are provided. In one embodiment, a method for switching RF power using a high power circulator switch comprises: operating a ferrite circulator switch to direct RF power to either a first output port or a second output port, the ferrite circulator switch comprising at least three ferrite circulators arranged as a triad switch, wherein a first circulator is coupled to the first output port, a second circulator is coupled to the second output port; and using a waveguide power divider coupled between the first circulator and the second circulator, distributing reflected RF power received at the first output port or the second output port between a plurality of waveguide loads.

Abstract: Systems and methods for RF energy wave switching using asymmetrically wound ferrite circulator elements are provided.

Abstract: A circulator for a waveguide is provided. The circulator comprises a waveguide housing including a central cavity, and a ferrite element disposed in the central cavity of the waveguide housing, with the ferrite element including a first surface and an opposing second surface. The circulator also comprises a pair of asymmetric dielectric spacers including a first dielectric spacer located on the first surface of the ferrite element, and a second dielectric spacer located on the second surface of the ferrite element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ferrite circulator phase shifters are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-bit phase shifter comprises: a first switching circulator having a first port coupled to a first short circuit of a first phase length; and a second switching circulator coupled in series with the first switching circulator, the second switching circulator having a second port coupled to a second short circuit of a second phase length, the second switching circulator configured to switch in the second short circuit when the first short circuit is switched out by the first switching circulator, and switch out the second short circuit when the first short circuit is switched in by the first switching circulator.

Abstract: An (M+1)-for-M redundant switch, where M is an integer greater than 1, is provided. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch includes a first switch-triad-assembly including a first switching element circulator and two element isolators; a second switch-triad-assembly including a second switching element circulator and two element isolators and; and at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly including a third switching element circulator and two element isolators. One of the element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly is arranged to couple power with one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly. One of the element isolators of the second switch-triad-assembly is arranged to couple power with another one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly.

Abstract: An (M+1)-for-M redundant switch, where M is an integer greater than 1, is provided. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch includes a first switch-triad-assembly including a first switching element circulator and two element isolators; a second switch-triad-assembly including a second switching element circulator and two element isolators and; and at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly including a third switching element circulator and two element isolators. One of the element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly is arranged to couple power with one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly. One of the element isolators of the second switch-triad-assembly is arranged to couple power with another one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved ferrite circulator RF power handling are provided. In one embodiment, a high power circulator switch comprises: at least three ferrite circulators, the at least three ferrite circulators arranged as a triad switch, wherein a first circulator is coupled to a first output of the triad switch, a second circulator is coupled to a second output of the triad switch, and a third circulator is coupled to an input of the triad switch; and a shared high power load having a first port coupled to the first circulator and a second port coupled to the second circulator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using power dividers for improved ferrite circulator RF power handling are provided. In one embodiment, a method for switching RF power using a high power circulator switch comprises: operating a ferrite circulator switch to direct RF power to either a first output port or a second output port, the ferrite circulator switch comprising at least three ferrite circulators arranged as a triad switch, wherein a first circulator is coupled to the first output port, a second circulator is coupled to the second output port; and using a waveguide power divider coupled between the first circulator and the second circulator, distributing reflected RF power received at the first output port or the second output port between a plurality of waveguide loads.

Abstract: A twist for coupling radiation between orthogonal waveguides is provided. The twist includes at least three cavities opening from at least one of a first X1-Y1 surface and a second X2-Y2 surface of a metal block. A first cavity has a first opening in a first Y-Z plane and a second opening in a second Y-Z plane offset from the first Y-Z plane by a first length. A second cavity shares the second opening with the first cavity and has a third opening in a third Y-Z plane offset from the second Y-Z plane by a second length and has at least two heights and at least two widths. A last cavity shares a next-to-last opening in a next-to-last Y-Z plane with a next-to-last cavity. The last cavity has a last opening in a last Y-Z plane offset from the next-to-last Y-Z plane by a last length.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises: a first circulator module comprising a first plurality of circulators including a first circulator; a second circulator module comprising a second plurality of circulators including a second circulator, wherein an interconnection port connects the first and second circulator modules, each circulator in the first and second plurality of circulators comprises: an internal cavity; a plurality of ports extending from the internal cavity, wherein at least one port in the plurality of ports connects the circulator to another circulator; and at least one ferrite element disposed in the internal cavity and including at least one aperture; the system further comprising: a control wire, respective portions of the control wire being disposed in the at least one aperture of the at least one ferrite element of the first circulator and the at least one aperture of the at least one ferrite element of the second circulator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ferrite circulator phase shifters are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-bit phase shifter comprises: a first switching circulator having a first port coupled to a first short circuit of a first phase length; and a second switching circulator coupled in series with the first switching circulator, the second switching circulator having a second port coupled to a second short circuit of a second phase length, the second switching circulator configured to switch in the second short circuit when the first short circuit is switched out by the first switching circulator, and switch out the second short circuit when the first short circuit is switched in by the first switching circulator.

Abstract: A twist for coupling radiation between orthogonal waveguides is provided. The twist includes at least three cavities opening from at least one of a first X1-Y1 surface and a second X2-Y2 surface of a metal block. A first cavity has a first opening in a first Y-Z plane and a second opening in a second Y-Z plane offset from the first Y-Z plane by a first length. A second cavity shares the second opening with the first cavity and has a third opening in a third Y-Z plane offset from the second Y-Z plane by a second length and has at least two heights and at least two widths. A last cavity shares a next-to-last opening in a next-to-last Y-Z plane with a next-to-last cavity. The last cavity has a last opening in a last Y-Z plane offset from the next-to-last Y-Z plane by a last length.

Abstract: A multi-junction circulator assembly comprises a waveguide housing including first and second sets of waveguide arms, and a junction section therebetween. A first circulator component located in the waveguide housing comprises a ferrite element including a plurality of leg segments, with one of the leg segments extending toward the junction section. A second circulator component located in the waveguide housing operatively communicates with the first circulator component and comprises a ferrite element including a plurality of leg segments, with one of the leg segments extending toward the junction section. A dielectric transition segment is located in the junction section between the leg segments of the ferrite elements that extend toward the junction section. The dielectric transition segment is separated from the leg segments by opposing gaps at opposite ends of the dielectric transition segment. The gaps provide dielectric-free regions in the direction of signal flow between the ferrite elements.

Abstract: A multi-junction circulator assembly comprises a waveguide housing including first and second sets of waveguide arms, and a junction section therebetween. A first circulator component located in the waveguide housing comprises a ferrite element including a plurality of leg segments, with one of the leg segments extending toward the junction section. A second circulator component located in the waveguide housing operatively communicates with the first circulator component and comprises a ferrite element including a plurality of leg segments, with one of the leg segments extending toward the junction section. A dielectric transition segment is located in the junction section between the leg segments of the ferrite elements that extend toward the junction section. The dielectric transition segment is separated from the leg segments by opposing gaps at opposite ends of the dielectric transition segment. The gaps provide dielectric-free regions in the direction of signal flow between the ferrite elements.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a circulator module comprises circulators. Each circulator comprises: an internal cavity; ports extending from the internal cavity wherein at least one port connects the circulator to another circulator; and a ferrite element disposed in the internal cavity, the ferrite element including an aperture. The circulator module further comprises a first control wire, wherein a first portion of the first control wire is disposed in an aperture of the ferrite element of the first circulator and wherein a second portion of the first control wire is disposed in an aperture of the ferrite element of the second circulator; and, a second control wire, wherein a first portion of the second control wire is disposed in an aperture of the ferrite element of the first circulator and wherein the second control wire is not disposed in an aperture of the ferrite element of the second circulator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for RF energy wave switching using asymmetrically wound ferrite circulator elements are provided.

Abstract: A circulator comprises a waveguide housing having a plurality of hollow waveguide arms that communicate with a central cavity, the waveguide housing having a height defined by a plurality of waveguide sidewalls between a waveguide floor and a waveguide ceiling. A ferrite element is disposed in the central cavity of the waveguide housing, with the ferrite element including a central portion. The ferrite element further includes a plurality of ferrite segments that each extend from the central portion and terminate at a distal end. A plurality of dielectric transformers each having an upper surface protrude into the waveguide arms away from the central cavity along the waveguide floor. The dielectric transformers have a height that is less than the height of the waveguide housing such that the upper surface of the transformers is separated from the waveguide ceiling by a gap.

Abstract: A waveguide circulator for an electro-magnetic field having a wavelength is provided. The waveguide circulator includes: N waveguide arms, where N is a positive integer; a ferrite element having N segments protruding into the N respective waveguide arms; at most (N?1) quarter-wave dielectric transformers attached to respective ends of at most (N?1) other segments; a first quarter-wave dielectric transformer attached to an end of the first segment; and a coaxial-coupling component. The N waveguide arms include a first-waveguide arm and (N?1) other-waveguide arms. The N segments include a first segment protruding into the first-waveguide arm and (N?1) other segments protruding into respective (N?1) other-waveguide arms. The coaxial-coupling component is positioned within a quarter wavelength of the electro-magnetic field from the first quarter-wave dielectric transformer positioned in the first-waveguide arm.

Abstract: A circulator comprises a waveguide housing having a plurality of hollow waveguide arms that communicate with a central cavity, the waveguide housing having a height defined by a plurality of waveguide sidewalls between a waveguide floor and a waveguide ceiling. A ferrite element is disposed in the central cavity of the waveguide housing, with the ferrite element including a central portion. The ferrite element further includes a plurality of ferrite segments that each extend from the central portion and terminate at a distal end. A plurality of dielectric transformers each having an upper surface protrude into the waveguide arms away from the central cavity along the waveguide floor. The dielectric transformers have a height that is less than the height of the waveguide housing such that the upper surface of the transformers is separated from the waveguide ceiling by a gap.

Abstract: A waveguide circulator for an electro-magnetic field having a wavelength is provided. The waveguide circulator includes: N waveguide arms, where N is a positive integer; a ferrite element having N segments protruding into the N respective waveguide arms; at most (N?1) quarter-wave dielectric transformers attached to respective ends of at most (N?1) other segments; a first quarter-wave dielectric transformer attached to an end of the first segment; and a coaxial-coupling component. The N waveguide arms include a first-waveguide arm and (N?1) other-waveguide arms. The N segments include a first segment protruding into the first-waveguide arm and (N?1) other segments protruding into respective (N?1) other-waveguide arms. The coaxial-coupling component is positioned within a quarter wavelength of the electro-magnetic field from the first quarter-wave dielectric transformer positioned in the first-waveguide arm.