Non-Contact Waveguide Interface for Faster High-Frequency Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waveguide connections in high-frequency testing require physical contact and fastening, leading to cumbersome and time-consuming manipulation, inconsistent measurements, and degradation of waveguide interfaces, especially at millimeter-wave and terahertz frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide component with a recessed region and protrusions that allows for electromagnetic wave transmission without physical contact, eliminating the need for fastening and clamping hardware, enabling rapid and accurate measurements by maintaining good electromagnetic wave transmission and reducing mechanical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical contact and fastening are used for waveguide connections, then connection stability is improved, but operation time increases and measurement consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical fastening system (screws, clamps, physical contact) with an electromagnetic field-based coupling system. The waveguide component uses electromagnetic fields to establish connections without mechanical fastening, eliminating the need for physical contact while maintaining connection stability and enabling rapid reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary between waveguide components. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the electromagnetic field mediates the connection, allowing energy transfer and signal transmission without physical fastening, thus reducing operation time while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If physical contact and fastening are used for waveguide connections, then connection stability is improved, but measurement consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical fastening with electromagnetic field coupling, eliminating variability introduced by manual fastening operations. This substitution ensures consistent electromagnetic coupling characteristics across multiple measurements, improving measurement consistency while maintaining connection stability through field-based coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the coupling parameter from mechanical (physical contact, fastening torque) to electromagnetic (field strength, phase, amplitude). This parameter change eliminates the variability associated with mechanical assembly and ensures consistent electromagnetic coupling, thereby improving measurement consistency while maintaining connection reliability.
3Reliability
If physical contact and fastening are used for waveguide connections, then connection stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical fastening hardware (screws, clamps, brackets) by substituting it with an electromagnetic field-based coupling mechanism. This reduces device complexity by removing unnecessary mechanical components while maintaining connection stability through electromagnetic field coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the mechanical fastening subsystem from the waveguide connection system. By taking out the screws, clamps, and associated hardware, the design simplifies the overall system while maintaining connection reliability through electromagnetic field-based coupling.
4Reliability
If physical contact and fastening are used for waveguide connections, then connection stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical fastening operations with simple electromagnetic field coupling. This substitution eliminates the need for manual screwing, clamping, or aligning operations, making the connection process easier to perform while maintaining connection stability through field-based coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide component achieves self-alignment and self-coupling through electromagnetic field interactions. The system automatically establishes stable connections without requiring manual fastening operations, improving ease of operation while maintaining connection reliability through the self-organizing nature of electromagnetic fields.
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
Facilitates faster, more accurate, and reliable high-frequency measurements by eliminating the need for physical contact and reducing measurement errors and uncertainties, improving connection accuracy and extending the life span of waveguide test setups.
Implementation Method 1
The waveguide component includes a body, wherein the body includes an interface configured to face toward a waveguide opening of another component. The waveguide component includes a cavity within the body, wherein an end of the cavity terminates at the interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A waveguide interface is disclosed. The disclosed waveguide interface comprises: an inner boundary region extending peripherally around a cavity, a recessed region extending peripherally around the inner boundary region, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the recessed region.