Microwave Connector Assembly Angular Alignment Coding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Polarization-maintaining waveguides are difficult to handle and require reliable and reproducible connections with low coupling losses in microwave connector assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A microwave connector assembly with a waveguide ferrule featuring a coding member that engages a complementary coding member in a ferrule socket, allowing the ferrule to be rotated into a predetermined angular position for secure coupling with minimized coupling losses, and a secondary locking mechanism to prevent incorrect insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a polarization-maintaining dielectric waveguide is used to transmit millimeter waves with high data rates, then the transmission performance is improved, but the waveguide becomes difficult to handle and requires precise angular alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide ferrule incorporates an asymmetric coding member (protrusion) that must engage with a complementary coding recess in the ferrule socket. This asymmetric feature creates a mechanical constraint that guides the ferrule into the correct angular position, eliminating the need for manual alignment and making the connection process intuitive and error-proof.
Solution Approach 2:
The coding member and coding recess act as intermediary elements between the ferrule and socket. These intermediate features facilitate the alignment process by providing a mechanical interface that automatically establishes the correct angular relationship, simplifying the connection operation while ensuring reliable polarization-maintaining performance.
2Loss of energy
If manual alignment of the waveguide ferrule is attempted to achieve proper angular position, then coupling losses may be reduced, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The coding member and coding recess are pre-configured in fixed positions on the ferrule and socket respectively. This preliminary arrangement of alignment features ensures that when the ferrule is inserted into the socket, the coding elements automatically guide it into the correct angular position, eliminating the need for complex manual alignment procedures and reducing coupling losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The ferrule and socket are designed with self-aligning coding features that automatically establish the correct angular relationship during insertion. The operator simply needs to insert the ferrule into the socket; the coding member and recess work together to self-align the components, minimizing coupling losses without requiring complex alignment operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If the waveguide ferrule is designed without angular positioning features, then the device complexity is reduced, but reproducible connections with low coupling losses cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The coding member on the ferrule and the complementary coding recess in the socket create an asymmetric mechanical interface that defines a unique angular position. This asymmetric design ensures that the ferrule can only be inserted in the correct orientation, achieving precise angular positioning and reproducible connections with low coupling losses while adding minimal structural complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a microwave connector assembly (55) and a microwave transmission assembly (98). Polarization-maintaining microwave connector assemblies (55) of the art have the disadvantage that incorrect angular positioning of two dielectric waveguides (3) or a dielectric waveguide (3) and a ferrule socket (53) may result in coupling losses. These disadvantages are overcome by the invention in that a waveguide ferrule (5) is comprised having a receiving end (13) for receiving a dielectric waveguide (3) and a connecting end (15) located distal to the receiving end (13), the microwave connector assembly (55) further comprising a ferrule socket (53) for at least partially receiving the waveguide ferrule (5) in a ferrule receptacle (61), the waveguide ferrule (5) comprising at least one locking member (31) for a locking connection with the ferrule socket (53), wherein the ferrule socket (53) comprises at least one coding member (69) that engages a complementary coding member (38) of the waveguide ferrule (15) only when the waveguide ferrule (5) is positioned relative to the ferrule socket (53) in a single predetermined angular position (71) or in one out of two predetermined angular positions (71) which are rotated by 180° with respect to each other.