Waveguide feed chains for scanning lens array in Ku and Ka bands

For satellite communications-on-the-move antennas a scanning aperture may be required. This may take the form of a hemispherical (or half-Luneburg) lens, or a shaped reflector, which scans in elevation with respect to a primary feed. In either case, better scan performance may be obtained by combining several smaller apertures in an array configuration. The array feed chain and power combiner then become of critical importance. Two configurations are reported, respectively for linear and circular polarisations in the Ku (11-14 GHz) and Ka (20/30 GHz) bands, where these are to be used in a low profile aperture combining two lens elements.