Waveguide Plug Connector Alignment for Low Signal Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for connecting waveguides to electrical conductors often result in high signal losses due to alignment issues and impedance mismatches, making it difficult to achieve efficient high-frequency signal transmission over long distances with existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A plug connector design that includes a housing with fastening means for securing the waveguide to a structure with an electrical conductor, incorporating a waveguiding arrangement to align the waveguide with the antenna arrangement, facilitating easy installation and minimizing coupling losses by ensuring optimal alignment and impedance matching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If manual alignment of waveguide to antenna is used, then installation flexibility is maintained, but signal coupling losses increase due to positioning inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is pre-aligned with the antenna during manufacturing, establishing the optimal geometric relationship before installation. This preliminary alignment action eliminates the need for complex field adjustments and ensures minimal coupling losses from the outset.
Solution Approach 2:
A transition structure serves as an intermediary component between the waveguide and antenna, providing impedance matching and field transformation. This mediator enables efficient energy transfer while accommodating slight misalignments, reducing coupling losses without requiring perfect manual positioning.
2Loss of energy
If conventional electrical conductors are used for signal transmission, then ease of installation is maintained, but signal attenuation increases at high frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electrical conductor-based signal transmission with electromagnetic wave propagation through a waveguide. This substitution eliminates the high-frequency attenuation inherent in electrical conductors while maintaining transmission functionality, despite the increased structural complexity of the waveguide system.
3Reliability
If exact positioning of waveguide is required for optimal coupling, then signal transmission quality improves, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide and antenna are pre-positioned and aligned during manufacturing with high precision. This preliminary action ensures optimal signal coupling and transmission quality is built into the structure, eliminating the need for time-consuming field adjustments and specialist installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into modular components (antenna, transition structure, waveguide) that are independently manufactured and pre-aligned. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized separately and assembled with minimal alignment requirements, reducing installation complexity while maintaining transmission quality.
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 plug connector enables efficient coupling of high-frequency electromagnetic signals with reduced signal losses, allowing for reliable transmission over long distances with simplified installation, independent of installer expertise.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguiding arrangement (6) is provided inside the housing (1; 1.1; 1.6) which is set up for this purpose, wherein the waveguiding arrangement (6) is arranged and designed to guide an electromagnetic wave into the waveguide (2; 2') and for coupling to the antenna arrangement (11)
Data Source
AI summary
A preferred embodiment of a plug connector for connecting a waveguide to at least one electric conductor may have a housing for connecting to the waveguide. Fastening means may be provided to attach the housing to a structure having the at least one electric conductor. The housing may accommodate a signal converter having an antenna arrangement. A waveguiding arrangement may be provided within the housing. The waveguiding arrangement may guide an electromagnetic wave into the waveguide and may be paired with the antenna arrangement. The signal converter may be connected to at least one electric conductor and may perform conversion between electric signals and high-frequency electromagnetic signals.