Dielectric Waveguide Transition With Offset Plates for Low-Loss Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data transmission technologies face challenges in achieving high bandwidth and efficient signal transmission, particularly at high frequencies, due to signal attenuation and dispersion in metallic conductors and the need for complex electro-optical conversions in optical systems.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide assembly comprising an electrical circuit arrangement, a dielectric waveguide, and a waveguide transition with at least two electrically conductive plates offset along the dielectric waveguide's longitudinal axis, enabling efficient transmission of electromagnetic waves in the millimeter and sub-millimeter range without the need for electro-optical conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If metallic conductors are used for data transmission, then electrical signals can be transmitted, but signal attenuation increases strongly at high frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces metallic conductors with dielectric waveguides for signal transmission. This substitution eliminates the skin effect and resistive losses inherent in metallic conductors, enabling low-loss transmission at millimeter wave frequencies (e.g., 80 GHz) where conventional copper cables exhibit strong signal attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the transmission medium from conductive metal to dielectric material, fundamentally altering the transmission mechanism from electrical current flow to electromagnetic wave propagation. This parameter change enables operation at much higher frequencies with reduced attenuation.
2Loss of energy
If optical data transmission is used, then extremely low losses and high data rates are achieved, but complex electro-optical conversion structures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the electro-optical conversion stage from the transmission system. By using dielectric waveguides that carry electromagnetic waves directly, the system avoids the need for complex optical transmitters and receivers, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining low loss and high data rate capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric waveguide serves as an intermediary transmission medium that carries electromagnetic waves directly between circuit components without requiring conversion to optical signals. This intermediary approach enables wireless-like transmission characteristics through a guided medium, avoiding the complexity of optical conversion infrastructure.
3Productivity
If conventional electrical conductors are used, then electrical signal transmission is possible, but transmission bandwidth is limited by signal attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes dielectric waveguide technology for conventional electrical conductors to achieve high-bandwidth data transmission. The waveguide structure supports millimeter wave frequencies (e.g., 80 GHz carrier frequency) enabling transmission bandwidths exceeding 10 GHz, which is impossible with traditional copper cables due to their frequency-dependent attenuation characteristics.
4Loss of energy
If dielectric waveguides are used for high-frequency transmission, then signal attenuation is reduced, but waveguide transitions and coupling structures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the dielectric waveguide transition structure with the printed circuit board substrate, integrating the coupling mechanism into the existing board structure. This integration reduces the number of discrete components and simplifies assembly, although transition structures are still required to interface between different transmission media.
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 waveguide assembly achieves a significant increase in frequency bandwidth and coupling efficiency, allowing for high-bit-rate data transmission over medium distances without the limitations of signal attenuation and dispersion encountered in traditional technologies.
Implementation Method 1
waveguide transition (4) present in between for the transmission of an electromagnetic wave (5) between the circuit arrangement (2) and the dielectric waveguide (3)
Data Source
AI summary
A waveguide assembly, comprising an electrical circuit assembly, a dielectric waveguide with a longitudinal axis (A), and a waveguide transition lying therebetween for transmitting an electromagnetic wave between the electrical circuit assembly and the dielectric waveguide. The waveguide transition has a first electrically conductive plate and a second electrically conductive plate which are arranged between the electrical circuit assembly and the dielectric waveguide in an offset manner to each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A) of the dielectric waveguide.