Waveguide Gasket Ribbon Structure for RF Gap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waveguide gasket arrangements are costly and ineffective at sealing gaps between waveguides at high frequencies, leading to RF leakage and transmission property degradation.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide gasket arrangement featuring a carrier arrangement with a carrier aperture and an electrically conducting flexible ribbon arrangement, where the ribbon is mounted to the carrier aperture edge and extends towards both waveguide ends, providing a secure and efficient electrical seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resilient gasket is used to seal the gap between waveguide sections, then the gap sealing is improved, but the waveguide dimensions are changed which affects transmission properties
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is divided into multiple discrete conductive elements (fingers or strips) arranged in a matrix pattern, rather than using a single continuous resilient ring. This segmentation allows each element to make contact independently with the waveguide surface, sealing gaps effectively while maintaining the overall waveguide dimensional integrity and transmission properties.
Solution Approach 2:
A non-conductive flexible substrate serves as an intermediary carrier that holds the conductive elements in the correct spatial arrangement. This substrate provides mechanical support and flexibility for gap sealing, while the conductive elements provide the electrical connection, separating the mechanical sealing function from the electrical conduction function.
2Reliability
If silicon rubber gasket is used for higher frequencies, then the sealing is improved, but the quality requirements increase significantly adding cost
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket uses a composite structure combining a non-conductive flexible substrate material with separate conductive elements. This allows optimization of each component for its specific function: the substrate provides flexibility and gap accommodation, while the conductive elements provide electrical connection. This composite approach reduces the quality requirements for the base material compared to using high-grade silicon rubber throughout, lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining high-frequency performance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If high manufacturing tolerances are used to counteract gaps, then the RF leakage is reduced, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket incorporates flexible elements that can dynamically adapt to manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations. The flexible substrate and conductive elements can deform and conform to the actual waveguide surfaces, ensuring consistent electrical contact and RF sealing across a range of dimensional variations, thereby reducing the need for tight manufacturing tolerances.
4Reliability
If resilient gasket is compressed to seal the gap, then the electrical sealing is improved, but the gasket expands into the waveguide affecting transmission properties
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented into multiple discrete conductive elements on a flexible substrate, allowing localized compression at contact points without causing overall expansion into the waveguide. Each conductive element can compress independently to establish electrical contact, while the segmented structure prevents the bulk material from expanding into the waveguide aperture and affecting transmission properties.
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 achieves significantly improved electrical performance with low manufacturing costs, effectively sealing gaps between waveguides while maintaining transmission properties at high frequencies.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conducting flexible ribbon arrangement that comprises at least one plurality of electrically conducting members forming a coherent common structure
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a waveguide gasket arrangement (1, 1′, 1″) arranged for electrically sealing a waveguide interface (2) between a first waveguide end (3) and a second waveguide end (4). The waveguide gasket arrangement (1, 1′, 1″) comprises a carrier arrangement (5, 5′, 5″) where a carrier aperture (6; 6a, 6b) is formed in the mounted carrier arrangement (5, 5′, 5″). The waveguide gasket arrangement (1, 1′, 1″) further comprises an electrically conducting flexible ribbon arrangement (7) that comprises at least one plurality of electrically conducting members (8a, 8b) forming a coherent common structure. The ribbon arrangement (7) is mounted to a carrier aperture edge (11; 11a, 11b) that circumvents the carrier aperture (6; 6a, 6b) such that for each plurality of electrically conducting members (8a, 8b), a first plurality of electrically conducting members (8a) is adapted to extend towards the first waveguide end (3) and a second plurality of electrically conducting members (8b) is adapted to extend towards the second waveguide end (4).