Tubular Dielectric Waveguide Cable for Low-Loss mm-Wave Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dielectric waveguide cables face challenges in achieving low attenuation and dispersion for high-speed data transmission in the mm-wave range, particularly with increasing data rates, and require smaller diameters and tighter bending radii, while maintaining effective field confinement and minimizing signal loss.

Innovation Solution

A dielectric waveguide cable design featuring a tubular core with a low-loss material surrounded by a cladding with lower permittivity, incorporating a thin high-permittivity inner layer for enhanced field confinement, and potentially a conductive or resistive jacket to manage electromagnetic field leakage, allowing for smaller diameters and improved bending capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a solid dielectric core is used for field confinement, then electromagnetic wave confinement is improved, but attenuation increases due to material losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield confinementVSAvoidattenuation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The waveguide structure is segmented into distinct functional layers: an inner core layer for field confinement and an outer cladding layer for low-loss propagation. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between confinement and attenuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the waveguide are assigned different dielectric properties. The inner core has higher permittivity (εr1) for effective field confinement, while the outer cladding has lower permittivity (εr2) and lower loss tangent for reduced attenuation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its primary function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Length of stationary object

If the cable diameter is reduced for compactness, then flexibility and installation ease are improved, but field confinement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable diameterVSAvoidfield confinement
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The waveguide utilizes precise control of dielectric parameters (permittivity and loss tangent) in each layer to achieve effective field confinement in a compact diameter. The high-contrast permittivity difference between inner and outer layers enables strong confinement even at small scales, resolving the contradiction between size and confinement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the bending radius is reduced for flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but signal loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending flexibilityVSAvoidsignal loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The waveguide employs a composite structure with an inner core layer and outer cladding layer having different dielectric properties. This composite design provides mechanical flexibility for tight bending while the optimized dielectric boundaries maintain field confinement during bending, preventing excessive signal loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a high-permittivity material is used for the core, then field confinement is improved, but dispersion increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield confinementVSAvoiddispersion
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The inner core layer uses high-permittivity material for field confinement, while the outer cladding layer uses low-permittivity material to control the overall mode propagation characteristics. This local quality differentiation allows the system to achieve both good confinement and controlled dispersion by optimizing the interface between the two regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design achieves reduced attenuation and dispersion, enabling smaller cable diameters and tighter bending radii, with attenuation below 5 dB/m and group delay variation under 4 pico sec/m across the 110-140 GHz range, enhancing transmission efficiency and flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

for transmitting of electromagnetic waves for high speed data transmission between two devices in the range of gigahertz

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The first dielectric is designed for confinement of the transmitted electromagnetic waves and has a first permittivity. The second dielectric at least partially surrounds the first dielectric and is designed for spatially limiting the electromagnetic waves.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric confinement: Dielectric Permittivity

Data Source

PatentEP3900103B1Dielectric waveguide cable
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 HUBERSUHNER AG
  • EP3900103B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3900103B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3900103B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention is directed to a dielectric wave guide cable (1) comprising a tubular core (2) made from a low loss material having a certain permittivity. The tubular core (2) is encompassed by a cladding (3) having, compared to the tubular core (2), a lower permittivity. The tubular core (2) may be coated on the inside by a coating (3) having a higher permittivity. The cladding (3) may be encompassed by a jacket (4).