Plastic Waveguide for EHF Signal Capture in ATE Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test systems face challenges in accurately measuring electromagnetic radiation from wireless communication devices, particularly at Extremely High-Frequency (EHF) ranges, due to the bulky size of horn antennas and the attenuation of low-power signals, making it difficult to collect and detect radiation within close proximity to the transmitter.
Innovation Solution
The use of a plastic waveguide with high relative permittivity and low loss characteristics to capture and transport EHF electromagnetic radiation from the near-field envelope to a detector, allowing for longer distance transmission and enabling accurate measurement without the need for large horn antennas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a horn antenna is used to measure electromagnetic radiation, then measurement capability is improved, but the device size becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
A plastic waveguide with high relative permittivity is introduced as an intermediary component between the transmitter and detector. The waveguide captures electromagnetic radiation in the near-field region and transports it to the detector, enabling accurate measurement without requiring a large horn antenna. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing measurement capability while maintaining a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dielectric parameter of the waveguide material to high relative permittivity plastic. This parameter change allows the waveguide to effectively capture and transport electromagnetic radiation at EHF frequencies, achieving accurate measurement with a much smaller physical size compared to traditional horn antennas.
2Power
If the receiver is placed at close proximity to the transmitter, then signal strength is improved, but the test apparatus becomes bulky and difficult to position
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic waveguide serves as a mediator that captures electromagnetic radiation in the near-field region where signal strength is high, and transports it to the detector. This allows the receiver to be positioned at a convenient distance while maintaining strong signal capture through the waveguide's proximity to the transmitter.
3Measurement precision
If a radiation chamber is used to contain and direct radiation, then signal reception is improved, but the apparatus size increases and becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of radiation containment and direction from the bulky radiation chamber and concentrates it into the plastic waveguide. The waveguide captures and directs electromagnetic radiation along its length, providing the necessary signal containment without requiring a large chamber structure.
Solution Approach 2:
By using high relative permittivity plastic material, the waveguide achieves effective radiation containment and direction with a much smaller cross-sectional area compared to a traditional radiation chamber, resolving the contradiction between signal reception quality and apparatus size.
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
This solution allows for effective collection and detection of EHF radiation at close proximity, enabling accurate testing of transmitters and receivers, even when the receiver is not in close proximity to the transmitter, and reduces the cost and size of the test apparatus compared to traditional horn antennas.
Implementation Method 1
The use of a plastic waveguide with high relative permittivity and low loss characteristics to capture and transport EHF electromagnetic radiation from the near-field envelope to a detector
Implementation Method 2
The use of a plastic waveguide with high relative permittivity and low loss characteristics to capture and transport EHF electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A test fixture has a flexible plastic cable that acts as a waveguide. The Device-Under-Test (DUT) is a small transceiver and antenna that operate in the Extremely High-Frequency (EHF) band of 30-300 GHz. The size of the DUT transceiver is very small, limiting the power of emitted electromagnetic radiation so that close-proximity communication is used. The envelope for reception may only extend for about a centimeter from the DUT transceiver, about the same size as the test socket. A slot is formed in the test socket very near to the antenna. The slot receives one end of the plastic waveguide. The slot extends into the envelope by the DUT transceiver so that close-proximity radiation is captured by the plastic waveguide. The waveguide has a high relative permittivity and reflective metalized walls so that the radiation may be carried to a receiver that is outside the envelope.