PCB Integrated Waveguide Terminations and Load

A method comprising:

• receiving electromagnetic energy by a waveguide;
• radiating at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy by radiating components of the waveguide, wherein a portion of the electromagnetic energy that is not radiated is reflected as reflected electromagnetic energy;
• coupling at least a portion of the reflected electromagnetic energy to an attenuation port;
• coupling at least a portion of the reflected electromagnetic energy to an attenuation component, wherein the attenuation component is disposed on a circuit board;
• and
• dissipating the portion of the reflected electromagnetic energy coupled to the attenuation component by the attenuation component.

A waveguide system comprising:

• a waveguide feed configured to receive electromagnetic energy;
• a beamforming network comprising a plurality of waveguides coupled to the waveguide feed, wherein the beamforming network:
• has a plurality of elongated segments, and
• is configured to divide the electromagnetic energy into a plurality of portions of electromagnetic energy;
• and
• a plurality of radiating waveguides located in the plane, wherein each radiating waveguide comprises at least one radiating element, wherein each radiating waveguide receives one of the portions of electromagnetic energy and wherein the radiating element is configured to:
• radiate at least a portion of the received portion of electromagnetic energy, and
• reflect the portion of the received portion of electromagnetic energy that is not radiated;
• at least one attenuation port coupled to at least one of the waveguides and configured to couple the reflected portion of the received portion of electromagnetic energy;
• and
• a respective attenuation component coupled to each attenuation port and configured to attenuate the reflected portion of the received portion of electromagnetic energy, wherein the attenuation component is disposed on a circuit board.