WR-19 H-Plane Bend
The WR-19 H-Plane Bend is a precision-engineered waveguide component that redirects millimeter-wave signals by 90 degrees in the broad wall (H-field) plane. It is specifically designed for the 40 - 60 GHz frequency range, serving as a critical building block in U-Band infrastructure.
H-plane bends curve along the wider dimension of the rectangular waveguide cross-section, providing horizontal signal routing without inducing higher-order modes. Covering the 40-60 GHz U-Band, WR-19 components operate near the 60 GHz atmospheric oxygen absorption spike. This makes WR-19 critical for secure, short-range military communications that cannot be intercepted from afar.
Key Features
H-Plane Geometry
Bend follows the broad wall (wider dimension) of the waveguide, routing signals horizontally while maintaining the narrow-wall dimension.
Low Insertion Loss
Optimized bend radius and CNC-machined interior walls ensure minimal signal degradation through the 90-degree turn.
Precision CNC Machined
Each bend is machined from a solid billet of OFHC copper, maintaining tight dimensional tolerances throughout the bend radius.
Gold-Plated Construction
Gold plating provides excellent conductivity, corrosion resistance, and consistent electrical performance over the component's service life.
U-Band Use Cases
V-Band WiGig
IEEE 802.11ad/ay testing
Covert Comms
Oxygen-absorption limits
Plasma Physics
High-frequency diagnostics
Radar Systems
Short-range tracking
More H-Plane Bends
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use an H-plane bend over an E-plane bend?+
H-plane bends are used when the signal needs to be routed horizontally across an optical table or chassis without twisting the polarization of the wave. The wider bend radius typically handles higher peak power than an E-plane bend.
Why is WR-19 used for secure communications?+
WR-19 covers frequencies approaching 60 GHz. At 60 GHz, oxygen molecules in the Earth's atmosphere naturally resonate and absorb the RF energy, severely limiting the transmission range. Military systems exploit this by creating secure point-to-point links that naturally dissipate before enemies can intercept them.
What flange types are standard for WR-19?+
Because the aperture is only 0.188" x 0.094", WR-19 typically utilizes UG-383/U or precision anti-cocking flanges to ensure perfect alignment. Even a 0.005" misalignment will cause massive VSWR spikes at 60 GHz.