Abstract: A microwave coupler for coupling microwave energy from a first waveguide to a second waveguide disposed side by side along a propagation length includes a common coupling means, and specifically, orifices along the propagation length wherein the coupling orifices are sized to promote coupling of a favored field mode of electromagnetic energy according to a Bessel function distribution of energy along the length of the waveguide. The Bessel function distribution provides for wideband, low-loss coupling of the favored field mode and maximal isolation from non-favored field modes. The invention is particularly useful for extracting a type TE.sub.21 circular mode signal from a signal containing TE.sub.11 and TE.sub.21 circular modes wherein the TE.sub.21 mode signals are used for generating elevational and azimuthal tracking signals.

Abstract: A short-focus microwave reflector is located a short distance away from the feed horn and is positioned to reflect the beam of microwave radiation away from the feed axis and toward a large primary reflector antenna for transmission. A conical shield extends from the feed horn to the secondary reflector, joining them together as a unit and preventing sidelobe radiation. The beam of radiation emerges from the shield through an aperture in the sidewall thereof. The short focus of the secondary reflector causes the beam to be focussed approximately at the plane of the aperture, such that the beam diameter is small and the aperture can also be small, reducing stray radiation from the shield structure. Diffraction at the edges of the aperture is reduced by a radially surrounding choke structure which further suppresses sidelobe radiation.

Abstract: This specification discloses a microwave circular polarizer for converting a linearly polarized microwave signal to a circularly polarized microwave signal and vice versa. A transducer, such as an Orthomode junction is used to obtain a power split or a power recombination of two orthogonal linear polarizations. To obtain the phase delay required to generate a circularly polarized signal from two linearly polarized signals, the polarizer includes a phase compensator with a pair of waveguides which have appropriate width and length so that signals passing therethrough develop a phase difference therebetween and a composite circularly polarized signal results. The amount of phase shift occurring in each of the waveguides varies with the frequency of the signal in such a way as to produce a high purity circular polarization over a broad frequency band. A phase shift of 90.degree.