Abstract: A transverse-electric waveguide filter is provided for transmitting a fundamental transverse-electric mode in a first frequency band while attenuating an associated higher-order transverse-electric mode in a second frequency band. The filter includes transverse corrugations between input and output waveguide ports to attenuate the higher-order transverse-electric mode. The input and output waveguide ports have a characteristic impedance and the filter also incudes a ridge system that is coupled between the first and second waveguide ports and is configured to provide a signal-path impedance that substantially matches the characteristic impedance to thereby support transmission of the fundamental transverse-electric mode from the input port to the output port.

Abstract: A variable absorptive/reflective high power attenuator for attenuating microwave signals in a communication system is formed from a circulator connected to a section transmission line such as a waveguide, having at least one adjustable tuning element connected thereto. The transmission line itself is terminated with a microwave energy absorbing load. A signal injected into the circulator is partially reflected by the tuning element(s), and partially absorbed in the load. The reflected portion is routed to an output port of the circulator. The non-reflected portion is dissipated as heat by the load. The amount of output of signal attenuation is selectively controlled by the location and penetration of the tuning elements. In another embodiment, a latching type circulator is utilized to allow selective switching of the attenuation level insitu. More than one such switching type attenuator can be cascade connected to form a single customizable and variable attenuator design.