Millimeter-Wave Gas Cell Alignment Using Waveguide Interposers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing millimeter wave systems face challenges in efficiently aligning and testing atomic gas cells with transceivers, leading to high complexity, signal loss, and potential errors due to the need for precise alignment and costly, time-consuming probing methods.
Innovation Solution
A compact millimeter wave system is designed with a substrate, transceiver, and a gas cell positioned relative to the substrate, utilizing multiple waveguides and an interposer to facilitate efficient alignment and communication, reducing the need for direct probing and minimizing signal loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct probing methods are used to align and test atomic gas cells with transceivers, then measurement precision can be achieved, but device complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interposer as an intermediary component between the transceiver and gas cell. The interposer includes waveguides that are pre-aligned and coupled to both the transceiver and gas cell, eliminating the need for direct probing and complex alignment procedures. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall system while maintaining precise signal transmission.
2Measurement precision
If direct probing methods are used to align and test atomic gas cells with transceivers, then measurement precision can be achieved, but time consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguides in the interposer are pre-aligned and pre-coupled to both the transceiver and gas cell during manufacturing. This preliminary alignment action eliminates the need for time-consuming alignment procedures during testing, significantly reducing testing time while maintaining precise alignment through the pre-configured waveguide structures.
3Ease of operation
If multiple waveguides and interposers are used to facilitate alignment, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alignment function and signal transmission function into a single interposer component. The interposer integrates multiple waveguides that simultaneously provide mechanical alignment and electromagnetic signal transmission, eliminating the need for separate alignment mechanisms and reducing overall structural complexity despite the addition of the interposer.
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 system enables quick and accurate alignment of atomic gas cells with transceivers, reducing complexity and cost, while maintaining efficient signal propagation and minimizing signal loss, thus improving testing efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a first waveguide affixed relative to the substrate, the first waveguide having a first end coupled to the transceiver and a portion, along a first dimension, having a second end proximate a first portion of the gas cell
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C~3
AI summary
A millimeter wave apparatus includes a substrate (102), a transceiver (104) in a first fixed position relative to the substrate (102), and a gas cell (206) in a second fixed position relative to the substrate (102). The apparatus also includes at least four waveguides (108, 110, 230, 232).