5. Conclusion

This article addressed an important point concerning guides, particularly planar lines, namely their technological implementation in microwaves and millimeter waves. The most well-known technological processes and some very recent ones, such as additive manufacturing or 3D printing, which enable the creation of complex structures, were described. Some typical geometric data and substrate characteristics were presented. Next, aspects concerning design assistance were discussed, particularly the use of distribution matrices. We showed that knowledge of this matrix for each element of a system allows the characterization of the whole. However, the elements must only interact through their connections. If this is not the case, a rigorous electromagnetic simulation is required. In addition, another important aspect of lines and guides was discussed. It concerns their performance in terms of losses...