Low-Loss Dielectric Waveguide for Millimeter-Wave Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dielectric waveguides for millimeter-wave communication suffer from high transmission losses and signal integrity issues due to the interaction with external agents, and existing solutions with metallic shields are costly and complex to produce, while requiring a larger diameter that limits compact design applications.
Innovation Solution
A dielectric waveguide with a high dielectric constant inner core and a non-metallic cladding, using materials like quartz or alumina for the core and PTFE for the cladding, which confines the electromagnetic field within the core, reducing transmission losses and enhancing flexibility by using a bundle of fibers or powder dielectric medium, thereby minimizing interaction with external agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional dielectric waveguides are configured to guide field mainly in surrounding air to reduce transmission losses, then transmission loss decreases, but signal integrity is degraded due to interaction with external agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dielectric parameter (dielectric constant) of the core material to a high value (greater than 3.0), which fundamentally alters the field distribution. This parameter change enables the field to be confined within the core rather than propagating in the surrounding air, thereby simultaneously reducing transmission loss and protecting signal integrity from external interference.
2Reliability
If metallic shields are added around dielectric fibers to reduce electromagnetic interference, then signal integrity improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the metallic shield component from the waveguide structure. Instead of adding a metallic shield around the dielectric fiber, the invention uses a high dielectric constant core that inherently confines the electromagnetic field, thereby achieving signal integrity protection without the manufacturing complexity and cost associated with metallic shields.
3Reliability
If metallic shields are added around dielectric fibers to reduce electromagnetic interference, then signal integrity improves, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the metallic shield component entirely and replaces it with a high dielectric constant core material. This extraction of the metallic shield eliminates the need for complex metal-dielectric integration processes and reduces material costs, thereby achieving signal integrity protection in a cost-effective manner.
4Loss of energy
If conventional dielectric waveguides use large cross-section to accommodate field propagation in surrounding medium, then transmission loss is reduced, but compact design capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dielectric parameter of the core to a high value (greater than 3.0), which fundamentally alters the electromagnetic field distribution. This parameter change enables effective field confinement within a compact core cross-section, thereby achieving low transmission loss without requiring a large waveguide cross-section, thus enabling compact design applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves low transmission loss and improved signal integrity with reduced sensitivity to touch and external interference, while being cost-effective and compact, maintaining flexibility and low attenuation characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The dielectric material is selected so as to confine the propagating electromagnetic field to the inner core while introducing low transmission loss at signal frequencies in the millimeter-wave frequency range
Implementation Method 2
an inner core that extends along the dielectric waveguide length L and comprises a dielectric medium for transmitting the millimeter-wave signal along the dielectric waveguide by carrying an electromagnetic field associated with the transmitted signal
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a dielectric waveguide for transmission of millimeter-wave signals and a cable comprising the same, the dielectric waveguide comprising: an inner core having a dielectric medium adapted to transmit a millimeter-wave signal by carrying an electromagnetic field along the dielectric waveguide, the dielectric medium comprising a dielectric material having dielectric properties adapted to confine the propagating electromagnetic field to the inner core while adding low transmission loss at signal frequencies in a millimeter-wave frequency range. The dielectric medium may be provided as a core of solid dielectric material, one or more bundles of fibers that extend along the length of the inner core, or as granulate of dielectric material that fills the volume of the inner core. The dielectric material may be quartz or alumina.