Abstract
This work introduces an innovative miniaturized transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waveguide
design, which is 60% smaller than conventional metal waveguides. The proposed waveguide offers two
distinct electronically reconfigurable passbands well below the cutoff frequency. This has been achieved
by using sidewalls composed of reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductors (AMC), optimized to operate
at 3.51 GHz and 4.37 GHz. By replacing the metal sidewalls with an AMC structure, a TEM mode can
be sustained within the confined space enclosed by the waveguide structure, which otherwise would not
exist in a conventional metal waveguide. This eliminates typical cut-off frequency constraints that limit the
size of conventional waveguides, thereby enabling a significant miniaturization of the waveguide design.
The work also proposes a reconfigurable AMC design whose operating frequency can be dynamically
adjusted by applying or removing a direct current (DC) bias across the integrated PIN diodes. Additionally,
this work utilizes 3D printing technology to fabricate a functional waveguide, highlighting the design’s
compactness, cost-effectiveness, versatility, and fast prototyping capabilities for a wide range of microwave
applications. This study therefore demonstrates the potential of using reconfigurable AMCs for compact and
versatile waveguide designs that can be 3D-printed for various practical use cases and modern microwave
applications.