Waveguide

Abstract

The invention relates to a waveguide (1) consisting of two waveguide parts (11, 12). Each waveguide part (11, 12) has a waveguide body (111, 121) and a portion (110, 120) of at least one waveguide channel (10) arranged to form the at least one waveguide channel (10) when joining the two waveguide parts (11, 12). Opposite surfaces (112, 122) of the two waveguide members (11, 12) are formed in parallel. A pin (2) is formed in the waveguide body (111) of the first waveguide member (11), said pin protruding in the direction toward the second waveguide member (12). The waveguide body (121) of the second waveguide part (12) is provided with a deep part (3) for receiving the pin (2). The pin (2) and the cut-out portion (3) are arranged coaxially with each other, and the pin (2) and the cut-out portion (3) are not in contact in the engaged state of the waveguide (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a waveguide, which consists of two joined waveguide components. Each waveguide component has a part of at least one waveguide channel (i.e. a part of one waveguide channel or a part of a plurality of waveguide channels), in particular the upper half or the lower half of the at least one waveguide channel. The waveguide components are, for example, welded, glued, screwed, etc. After the waveguide components are joined, they form the at least one waveguide channel. The opposing surfaces of the two waveguide components are configured to be parallel. Background Art

[0002] The waveguide is produced, for example, by forming two waveguide components and then joining them. Each waveguide component has a waveguide body into which a portion of at least one waveguide channel is respectively machined by means of methods known per se, such as milling or injection molding. The two waveguide components are then joined at their waveguide bodies and thus form a firm connection. During the joining, the components of the at least one waveguide channel are aligned one above the other and combined to form at least one waveguide channel. The joining is achieved, for example, by screwing, gluing, press-fitting, welding or the like.

[0003] Leakage of the electromagnetic waves guided in the waveguide can occur at the joints. This is caused by the interruption of the current path on the surface due to imperfect plated contacts. It is known from the publication "Principles of Microwave Circuits" by Montgomery et al. (Stevenage: IET, 1987) that the waveguide is divided in an area where only a small amount of current flows or, ideally, no current flows. In a rectangular waveguide for the fundamental mode, this area is located, for example, in the middle of the longer side. If the waveguide is divided in this area, the symmetry is largely preserved and, ideally, no leakage occurs, even if there are imperfect plated contacts between the two waveguide components (for example due to bonding or press-fitting).

[0004] However, even this does not completely prevent leakage. Even if the design of the waveguide is perfectly symmetrical (which is usually not the case due to bends and components such as transistors), small defects and manufacturing tolerances lead to slightly asymmetrical waveguides, which lead to at least a small amount of energy leakage between waveguide components. However, small asymmetries also lead to smaller leakage, so that if the asymmetry is small enough, the leakage can be ignored depending on the application.

[0005] Usually, there is a gap between the waveguides. The aligned surfaces of the waveguides run parallel to each other so that these surfaces can be regarded as plates of a plate capacitor. Even the smallest leakage can generate excitation of the parallel plate mode between the parallel surfaces of the waveguides of the waveguide components. As long as the amount of energy is small enough, the leakage can be ignored. However, due to the excitation, resonance can be generated in the gap between the two waveguides of the waveguide component or between adjacent waveguide channels. Through resonance, the energy amount of the parallel plate mode will increase significantly, which leads to a reduction in the mode propagating in the waveguide. As a result, leakage increases and the performance of the waveguide (or waveguide antenna using the waveguide) is reduced. The occurrence of resonance depends on the frequency used and the geometric boundary conditions of the waveguide and the gap between the waveguide components. This will cause the design of the waveguide to be unusable or to be welded as a prerequisite when joining. Summary of the invention

[0006] The waveguide has a pin, which is configured in the waveguide body of the first waveguide component. The pin protrudes in the direction toward the second waveguide component, preferably protruding from the first waveguide component perpendicular to the surface of the first waveguide component. The pin can have different shapes, for example cylindrical or cylindrical as a bolt, conical as a cone, a truncated cone, a pyramid or a truncated pyramid, and has a circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or other polygonal cross-section. A deep cut is provided in the second waveguide component, which receives the pin and is preferably configured in the second waveguide component perpendicular to the surface of the second waveguide component. Here, the deep cut is adapted to the pin and is preferably configured in the shape of the counterpart of the pin, but can also have any other shape. The pin and the deep cut are arranged coaxially with each other. In addition, the pin and the deep cut are shaped so that the pin can enter the deep cut without contacting its wall when the waveguide components are joined. Therefore, a gap is retained between the pin and the deep cut, and no electroplated contact is formed.

[0007] In the engaged state, the pin, the cutout and the gap between them can be interpreted as a short coaxial line. Here, the pin acts as an inner conductor, the waveguide around the cutout acts as an outer conductor, and the gap filled with air between them acts as a dielectric. As a result, the geometric boundary conditions of the parallel plate mode between the parallel surfaces of the waveguide are changed. The pin and the cutout act as a coaxial choke. By the positioning and number of the pin and the cutout, the resonant frequency of the waveguide can be controlled and eliminated in the relevant frequency band. As a result, the energy leakage from the waveguide is reduced.

[0008] Advantageously, the length of the pin corresponds to a quarter of the wavelength (λ0 / 4) of the signal for which the at least one waveguide channel is designed. Thus, the coaxial choke consisting of the pin and the recess acts as a short circuit at the first waveguide component, significantly reducing the propagation of the parallel plate mode.

[0009] The coaxial choke functions particularly advantageously in the waveguide channel configuration described below, but may be applied to any configuration.

[0010] In one configuration, the waveguide has a curved or bent waveguide channel that surrounds the following area in which a resonant cavity can be formed in the gap between two waveguide components. Resonance is formed when one dimension of the resonant cavity corresponds approximately to half (or a multiple thereof) of the free space wavelength of the signal propagating through the waveguide channel (I≈λ0 / 2). The pin is preferably arranged in the area of ​​the waveguide conductor of the first waveguide component surrounded by the curved or bent waveguide channel. Correspondingly, the deepening portion is also arranged in the area of ​​the waveguide conductor of the second waveguide component surrounded by the curved or bent waveguide channel. The resonant cavity is thereby destroyed and the parallel plate mode in the gap between the waveguide conductors is significantly reduced. In general, any shape of the waveguide surrounding such an area in which a resonant cavity can be formed can be relevant. The following shapes are particularly relevant: a U-shaped waveguide channel in which the waveguide channel runs parallel on two legs, a V-shaped waveguide channel or an L-shaped waveguide channel in which the legs are bent at an angle to each other.

[0011] A plurality of pins can also be configured in the waveguide body of the first waveguide component, and a plurality of recesses corresponding to the pins can be configured in the waveguide body of the second waveguide component. As a result, parallel plate modes can be selectively and particularly effectively suppressed. Similarly, one or more pins and one or more recesses can also be configured in the waveguide body of the first waveguide component, and correspondingly, one or more recesses and one or more pins can be configured in the second waveguide component.

[0012] In particular, the plurality of pins and the plurality of recesses are arranged along a straight line. The coaxial choke then forms a "fence" which effectively suppresses parallel plate modes over an area. If the straight line along which the plurality of pins and the plurality of recesses are arranged runs parallel to the waveguide channel, parallel plate modes which are configured perpendicularly to the parallel plate modes are suppressed over the length of the waveguide channel.

[0013] In another configuration, the waveguide has two parallel waveguide channels. In the region of the waveguide conductor between the two parallel waveguide channels, a resonant cavity can be formed in the gap between the two waveguide components. In addition, undesirable energy coupling may occur between the two waveguide channels. When the spacing between the two parallel waveguide channels corresponds approximately to half (or a multiple thereof) of the free space wavelength of the signal propagating through the waveguide channel (I≈λ0 / 2), resonance is formed. For this configuration, the above-mentioned arrangement of the pins and grooves along a straight line (so that they form a "fence") is particularly advantageous. The straight line runs parallel to the waveguide channels and is arranged between the waveguide channels. Therefore, a "fence" consisting of coaxial chokes is constructed along the parallel waveguide channels between them. As a result, the resonant cavity is destroyed and the parallel plate mode in the gap between the waveguide conductors is significantly weakened. In addition, energy coupling between the waveguide channels via the gap is thereby prevented.

[0014] In order to form an impenetrable boundary, the plurality of pins have a spacing relative to one another which is at most half the wavelength of the signal for which the waveguide channel is designed (d≤λ0 / 2). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description.

[0016] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a waveguide having a waveguide channel joined by two waveguide components is shown.

[0017] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view showing a pin and a recess in a waveguide according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Figure 3 A partially transparent isometric view of one embodiment of a waveguide according to the present invention is shown having a first configuration of waveguide channels.

[0019] Figure 4 A partially transparent isometric view of another embodiment of a waveguide according to the invention is shown having a second configuration of waveguide channels. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Figure 1A waveguide 1 is shown, which consists of two waveguide components 11, 12. The first waveguide component 11 has a waveguide 111, in which a groove 110 is formed, which has a rectangular cross section in this embodiment and extends through the waveguide 111 in a direction perpendicular to the cross section. Similarly, the second waveguide component 12 has a waveguide 121, in which a groove 120 is formed, which has the same shape as the above-mentioned groove 110 of the first waveguide component 11 in this embodiment. Outside the groove, the waveguides 111, 121 have surfaces 112 and 122 that are opposite to each other and run parallel to each other. In order to assemble the waveguide 1, the two waveguide components 11, 12 are joined at these surfaces 112 and 122. As a method for joining, in addition to welding, bonding or screwing can also be used. Through joining, the two grooves 110 and 120 together form a waveguide channel 10 configured as a rectangular waveguide tube, in which electromagnetic signals not shown here can be guided. That is, the grooves 110, 120 are parts of the waveguide channel 10, which can be easily formed in the waveguide bodies 111, 121 in a separated state, for example by milling or injection molding, and form the waveguide channel 10 in a joined state. By means of correspondingly formed grooves 110, 120, waveguide channels of different shapes and also multiple waveguide channels can be formed in the same waveguide 1. For this, see Figure 3 and Figure 4 When joined, a gap 13 is formed between the surfaces 112 and 122, which is shown disproportionately large in the current figure. Since the surfaces 112 and 122 are parallel to each other, a parallel plate mode can be formed in the gap 13. This causes leakage of electromagnetic energy of the signal guided in the waveguide channel 10 (shown by arrow 131), so that the energy of the signal in the waveguide channel 10 is reduced.

[0021] In other drawings, the same components are marked with the same reference numerals, and reference is made to the above description for their explanation.

[0022] Figure 2 FIG. 1 shows a portion of a waveguide 1 according to the present invention. Figure 1 The waveguide 1 according to the invention has a pin 2 which extends perpendicularly to the surface 112 of the waveguide body 111 of the first waveguide component 11 in the direction of the second waveguide component 12 and passes through the gap 13. The pin 2 has a cylindrical shape in the embodiment shown here. In addition, the pin 2 can have a cone ( Figure 2 Not shown; see Figure 3). In other embodiments not shown, the pin 2 may also have other shapes, for example, a rectangular base or other circular or polygonal base. Coaxially with the pin 2, a deepening 3 is constructed in the waveguide body 121 of the second waveguide 12, which extends into the waveguide body 121 perpendicularly to the surface 122 of the waveguide body 121 of the second waveguide component 12 (and since the surface 122 is parallel to the surface 112 of the first waveguide component 11, it is also perpendicular to the surface of the first waveguide component). The deepening 3 also has a cylindrical shape in this embodiment, its diameter is greater than the diameter of the pin 2, and its depth is greater than the height h of the pin 2 (the spacing of the gap 13 can usually be ignored). Therefore, after the joining, a gap remains between the pin 2 and the deepening 3, and no electroplated contact is formed between the two. The pin 2 is oriented in the deepening 3 as centrally as possible. The deepening 3 may also have other shapes, which may also be different from the shape of the pin 2, as long as there is a gap between the pin 2 and the deepening 3. The height h of the pin 2 is one quarter of the wavelength of the signal in the waveguide channel 10 (h=λ 0 / 4), so that a short circuit is generated at the base of the pin 2 .

[0023] exist Figure 3 and Figure 4 Detailed description of the invention shows exemplary embodiments of a waveguide 1 according to the invention with different configurations of a waveguide channel 10 .

[0024] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment, the waveguide channel 10 is constructed in a U-shape and has a base section 101 and two mutually parallel leg sections 102, 103. The base section 101 and the leg sections 102, 103 surround a region of the waveguide 111 from three sides. If the length I of this region of the waveguide 111 between the leg sections 102, 103 (i.e., the spacing between the leg sections 102, 103) is close to half the wavelength of the signal in the waveguide channel 10 (I≈λ0 / 2), a resonant cavity can be formed in the gap 13 between the parallel waveguides 111 and 121 in this surrounded region, which resonant cavity enhances the leakage of electromagnetic energy. In other embodiments not shown, the waveguide channel can be constructed in a V-shape or an L-shape and also surround a region in which a resonant cavity can be formed. According to the invention, in the surrounding area, a pin 2 is arranged in the waveguide 111 of the first waveguide component 11 and a recess 3 is arranged in the waveguide 121 of the second waveguide component 12, the pin and the recess being separated by a gap 4 (not shown here), as shown in reference Figure 2 The pin 2 and the recessed portion 3 change the geometric boundary conditions so that the parallel plate mode is suppressed and no or only a small amount of leakage occurs.

[0025] exist Figure 4In the figure, two waveguide channels 10 and 100 running parallel to each other are shown. The waveguide channels surround a region of the waveguide body 111 from two opposite sides. If the length I of this region of the waveguide body 111 between the waveguide channels 10, 100 (i.e. the spacing between the waveguide channels 10, 100) is close to half the wavelength of the signal in one of the waveguide channels 10 (I≈λ0 / 2), a resonance cavity can be formed in the gap 13 between the parallel waveguides 111 and 121 in this surrounded region, which resonance cavity enhances the leakage of electromagnetic energy. According to the present invention, in this surrounded region, a plurality of pins (here five) 21 to 25 are arranged in the waveguide body 111 of the first waveguide component 11 and a plurality of recesses (here five) 31 to 35 are arranged in the waveguide body 121 of the second waveguide component 12, as shown in reference thereto. Figure 2 As shown. A plurality of pins 21 to 25 are arranged along a straight line G, which extends in a surrounding area in parallel with the waveguide channels 10, 100. A plurality of pins 21 to 25 are arranged at the same spacing d, respectively, which corresponds to half the wavelength of the signal in the waveguide channels 10, 100 (d=λ0 / 2). Correspondingly, the deep cuts 31 to 35 are also arranged along the straight line G and at the same spacing d. The pins 21 to 25 and the deep cuts 31 to 35 thus form a "fence" along the waveguide channels 10, 100, which suppresses the parallel plate mode and thus no or only a small amount of leakage occurs.

Claims

1. A waveguide (1) comprising two waveguide components (11, 12), wherein: Each waveguide component (11, 12) has a waveguide conductor (111, 121) and a portion (110, 120) of at least one waveguide channel (10), the waveguide conductor and the portion being arranged to form the at least one waveguide channel (10) when the two waveguide components (11, 12) are joined, wherein the opposing surfaces (112, 122) of the two waveguide components (11, 12) are designed to be parallel, The invention is characterized in that a pin (2, 21-25) is constructed in the waveguide body (111) of the first waveguide component (11), and the pin protrudes in the direction toward the second waveguide component (12), and a recessed portion (3, 31-35) for receiving the pin (2, 21-25) is constructed in the waveguide body (121) of the second waveguide component (12), wherein the pin (2, 21-25) and the recessed portion (3, 31-35) are arranged coaxially with each other, and the pin (2, 21-25) and the recessed portion (3, 31-35) do not contact each other when the waveguide (1) is in a connected state.

2. The waveguide (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The pins (2, 21-25) protrude from the first waveguide (111) perpendicularly to a surface (112) of the first waveguide, and the recesses (3, 31-35) are formed in the second waveguide (121) perpendicularly to a surface (122) of the second waveguide.

3. The waveguide (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The length of the pins (2, 21-25) corresponds to a quarter of the wavelength of the signal for which the at least one waveguide channel (10) is designed.

4. A waveguide (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The waveguide has a curved or angled waveguide channel (101, 102, 103) surrounding a region, characterized in that the pin (2) is arranged in the region of the waveguide body (111) surrounded by the curved or angled waveguide channel (101, 102, 103).

5. Waveguide (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A plurality of pins (21-25) are constructed in the waveguide body (111) of the first waveguide component (11), and a plurality of recessed portions (31-35) corresponding to the pins (21-25) are constructed in the waveguide body (121) of the second waveguide component (12).

6. The waveguide (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The plurality of pins (21-25) and the plurality of deepening portions (31-35) are arranged along a straight line (G).

7. The waveguide (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The straight line (G) along which the plurality of pins (21-25) and the plurality of recessed portions (31-35) are arranged runs parallel to the waveguide channel (10).

8. The waveguide (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein: The waveguide (1) has two waveguide channels (10, 100) extending in parallel, and is characterized in that the plurality of pins (21-25) and the plurality of recesses (31-35) are arranged along a straight line (G) extending between the waveguide channels (10, 100) and parallel to the waveguide channels (10, 100).

9. The waveguide (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that The plurality of pins have a spacing (d) relative to one another which is at most half the wavelength of the signal for which the waveguide channel (10) is designed.

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