Transmission Line With Segmented Ground Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transmission lines used in probes for testing electronic devices suffer from signal loss and dispersion, particularly at high frequencies, due to radiation out of the sides and between conducting sheets, leading to inefficient signal transmission and measurement interference.
Innovation Solution
A transmission line arrangement featuring a signal conductor surrounded by conducting sheets and pieces of conducting material, with intersecting conductors to shorten antennas and increase their resonant frequency, reducing signal loss and dispersion by attenuating frequencies outside the range of interest, and formed on a printed circuit board for cost-effective manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional transmission line with conducting sheets is used, then signal transmission is achieved, but signal loss and dispersion occur due to radiation out of the sides and between conducting sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous ground conductor is segmented into multiple discrete pieces positioned at different locations between the conducting sheets. This segmentation creates multiple small antenna elements rather than one large antenna, which reduces the overall radiation effect and signal loss while maintaining the necessary ground reference plane functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground conductor is extended from a simple planar configuration into the third dimension by positioning pieces between the conducting sheets at various depths. This three-dimensional arrangement allows the ground conductor to effectively surround the signal conductor, reducing radiation in multiple directions and minimizing signal loss.
2Reliability
If conducting sheets are used to transmit signals, then signal transmission is enabled, but dispersion occurs particularly at high frequencies due to radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation effect, which causes signal loss and interference, is converted into a beneficial shielding effect. By strategically positioning ground conductor pieces between the conducting sheets, the same electromagnetic radiation mechanism that causes harm is harnessed to shield the signal conductor, reducing dispersion and improving signal transmission accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground conductor pieces are positioned in advance to counteract the radiation effects before they can cause significant signal degradation. The pieces are strategically placed at locations where radiation is most likely to occur, creating a preemptive shield that prevents dispersion and maintains signal integrity.
3Loss of energy
If pieces of conducting material are added to surround the signal conductor, then signal loss is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than creating a completely continuous ground shield, the solution applies ground conductor pieces only at specific critical locations where radiation and signal loss are most problematic. This localized approach maintains the essential shielding function while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process compared to a fully continuous ground structure.
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 solution effectively reduces signal loss and dispersion across a broad frequency range, including high frequencies, while maintaining cost-effectiveness and ease of customization, thereby improving the accuracy of signal transmission and measurement in probe testing.
Implementation Method 1
reduces any radiation of energy out of the sides of the transmission line arrangement and between the conducting sheets
Implementation Method 2
intersecting conductors to shorten antennas and increase their resonant frequency, reducing signal loss and dispersion by attenuating frequencies outside the range of interest
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission line arrangement having a first end and a second end, the transmission line arrangement being configured to transmit a signal between the first end and the second end, the transmission line arrangement comprising a signal conductor extending between the first end and the second end of the transmission line arrangement, a first conducting sheet and a second conducting sheet positioned on two opposing sides of the signal conductor, an insulating material separating the first and second conducting sheets from the signal conductor and a plurality of pieces of conducting material extending between the first and second conducting sheets and arranged at different positions between the first and second ends of the transmission line arrangement, wherein the pieces of conducting material and the conducting sheets are arranged to substantially surround the signal conductor for at least part of its length between the first and second ends of the transmission line arrangement.