Passive-Waveguide THz RF Interconnect for Dual-Polarized Signals

Solution Overview

Problem

Optical networking systems face challenges with power dissipation, thermal requirements, and mechanical tolerances, and existing THz wireless communication approaches are complex and costly, particularly in transmitting and receiving dual-polarized signals.

Innovation Solution

A Terahertz (THz) radio frequency (RF) transmission system using RF signals coupled into hollow waveguides, eliminating optical components and reducing power requirements, thermal sensitivity, and mechanical precision needs, while utilizing a dual-polarization coherent receiver to compensate for cross-polarization interference and polarization mode dispersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If optical components are used to transmit signals, then bandwidth is achieved, but power dissipation and thermal management problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower dissipationVSAvoidthermal management

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical transmission components (lasers, optical modulators, photodetectors) with electrical RF transmission components. This substitution eliminates the need for optical-to-electrical conversion and removes power-intensive optical components while maintaining transmission functionality through purely electrical means in the THz frequency range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating frequency parameter from optical frequencies to THz frequencies (300 GHz to 10 THz). This parameter change enables transmission through electrical RF components rather than optical components, thereby reducing power dissipation and eliminating thermal management requirements associated with optical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If optical components are used, then signal transmission is achieved, but mechanical tolerances and alignment precision are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical tolerancesVSAvoidassembly precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical transmission components (lasers, optical modulators, photodetectors) with electrical RF transmission components. This substitution eliminates the need for optical-to-electrical conversion and removes power-intensive optical components while maintaining transmission functionality through purely electrical means in the THz frequency range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating frequency parameter from optical frequencies to THz frequencies (300 GHz to 10 THz). This parameter change enables transmission through electrical RF components rather than optical components, thereby reducing power dissipation and eliminating thermal management requirements associated with optical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If conventional optical modems are used for dual-polarized signals, then signal processing is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical component complexityVSAvoidsignal processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary optical components from the dual-polarized signal transmission system. By eliminating optical modulators, polarization combiners/splitters, and 90-degree optical hybrids, the system achieves dual-polarized signal processing with simpler RF components, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining signal processing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces optical transmission components (lasers, optical modulators, photodetectors) with electrical RF transmission components. This substitution eliminates the need for optical-to-electrical conversion and removes power-intensive optical components while maintaining transmission functionality through purely electrical means in the THz frequency range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250330246A1Thz RF interconnect system

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 ATTOTUDE INC

AI summary

Network elements and methods of use are described herein, including a network element comprising a passive waveguide, one or more modulator, and one or more RF antenna. The one or more modulator is configured to generate first and second channel signals. The first channel signal has first data encoded in a first modulation format. The second channel signal has second data encoded in a second modulation format. The first and second channel signals have first and second carrier frequencies, respectively. The first and second carrier frequencies are in a range between 300 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 Terahertz (THz). The one or more RF antenna is configured to receive the first and second channel signals and transmit the first and second channel signals into the passive waveguide with first and second polarizations, respectively. The first polarization is different from the second polarization.