Waveguide Cooling Structure With Air-Passage Coupling Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for antenna elements are bulky, expensive, and inefficient in providing effective cooling, especially for power amplifiers on printed circuit boards, which can lead to cooling issues due to blocked access and high loss in signal filtering.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide arrangement comprising a mounting printed circuit board with air-filled waveguide conducting tubes and coupling layers that enable efficient ventilation and cooling through air passages, allowing for forced ventilation and integration of filtering and antenna functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If existing cooling solutions are used for power amplifiers on PCB, then cooling capability is provided, but the solutions are bulky and block direct access to cooling surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function with the waveguide structure by integrating air passages directly into the coupling layers between PCB and waveguide conducting tubes. This combination eliminates the need for separate bulky cooling components while maintaining effective heat dissipation through the waveguide arrangement itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional planar cooling arrangements to a three-dimensional stacked structure where multiple waveguide layers and coupling layers are vertically arranged. This vertical stacking enables cooling air passages to be integrated within the layered structure, providing efficient cooling without increasing the horizontal footprint.
2Reliability
If existing filtering solutions are implemented for antenna elements, then signal filtering is achieved, but the solutions are expensive and have high loss
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide conducting tubes serve multiple functions simultaneously: they guide electromagnetic signals, provide signal filtering through their structural design, and enable cooling through integrated air passages. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate expensive filtering components while reducing overall signal loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the filtering function from separate filtering components and integrates it directly into the waveguide conducting tube structure. By incorporating filtering capabilities within the waveguide itself, the system achieves effective frequency selectivity without the high losses associated with traditional filtering solutions.
3Power
If traditional waveguide arrangements are used, then signal transmission is provided, but ventilation and cooling are not integrated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the waveguide signal transmission function with the cooling ventilation system by integrating air passages directly into the coupling layers. This merger allows the same structural components to serve both electromagnetic signal guidance and thermal management functions, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide arrangement serves itself by providing integrated cooling through its own structure. The air passages within the coupling layers enable the system to self-regulate temperature without requiring external cooling systems, making the structure self-sufficient for both signal transmission and thermal management.
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 provides a compact, reliable, and cost-effective cooling system that effectively manages heat dissipation and filtering of RF signals, enhancing the performance of antenna elements while maintaining a lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
Each coupling layer comprises air passages that enable air to pass through the coupling layer
Implementation Method 2
Each waveguide layer in turn comprises at least a first air-filled waveguide conducting tube, where each waveguide conducting tube has an electrically conducting inner wall
Implementation Method 3
each resulting waveguide conducting tube comprises filtering elements such that a radio frequency signal passing via a resulting waveguide conducting tube is arranged to be electromagnetically filtered
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a waveguide arrangement including a mounting printed circuit board, PCB, and at least a first waveguide layer. Each waveguide layer comprises at least a first waveguide conducting tube, each waveguide conducting tube having an electrically conducting inner wall. The PCB includes a signal interface for each waveguide conducting tube. The waveguide arrangement further includes at least a first coupling layer that is positioned between the PCB and the first waveguide conducting tube such that at least the first waveguide conducting tube of the first waveguide layer is connected to the corresponding signal interface via the first coupling layer.