Waveguide Recess for Millimeter-Wave Antenna Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connection arrangements for electromagnetic waves, particularly in the millimeter-wave frequency range, face challenges in alignment and space efficiency, leading to increased time and cost for assembly and potential signal loss due to improper coupling between antenna and waveguide members.

Innovation Solution

The use of a waveguide member with a polymer fiber core, a dielectric layer of lower permittivity, a metallic shield, and a plastic outer layer, featuring a recess at one end to partially receive the antenna member, ensuring precise alignment and efficient coupling, with optional complementary recess and antenna designs for enhanced assembly and signal quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional waveguide members are brought close to or into direct contact with antenna members for coupling electromagnetic waves, then coupling efficiency can be achieved, but alignment is time and cost consuming and the arrangement requires large volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling efficiencyVSAvoidalignment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The recess is pre-formed in the waveguide member at a predetermined position, allowing the antenna member to be inserted and automatically aligned without time-consuming adjustment procedures. The recess acts as a pre-prepared receptacle that guides the antenna into the correct position, eliminating the need for manual alignment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna member is inserted into and nested within the recess of the waveguide member, creating a compact integrated structure. This nesting arrangement reduces the overall volume required for the antenna-waveguide assembly while ensuring proper coupling between the two components through their nested geometric relationship.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If traditional waveguide members are brought close to or into direct contact with antenna members for coupling electromagnetic waves, then coupling efficiency can be achieved, but the arrangement requires large volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling efficiencyVSAvoidarrangement volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna member is inserted into and nested within the recess of the waveguide member, creating a compact integrated structure. This nesting arrangement reduces the overall volume required for the antenna-waveguide assembly while ensuring proper coupling between the two components through their nested geometric relationship.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The recess extends into the waveguide member along its longitudinal axis, utilizing the internal dimensional space of the waveguide rather than requiring additional external space. This dimensional utilization allows the antenna to be coupled to the waveguide without increasing the overall footprint or volume of the assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the waveguide member is provided with a recess to receive the antenna member, then alignment is simplified and coupling efficiency is improved, but the waveguide structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment easeVSAvoidwaveguide structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The waveguide member is segmented into distinct functional layers including the core made from polymer fibres, a dielectric layer surrounding the core, a metallic shielding layer, and an outer jacket. The recess is formed within this segmented structure, allowing the complexity to be organized into manageable functional segments rather than a monolithic complex structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The waveguide member employs composite material construction with a core made from polymer fibres surrounded by a dielectric layer, metallic shielding, and plastic outer jacket. This composite structure accommodates the recess while maintaining the integrity of each material layer, distributing the structural complexity across multiple material systems with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

This configuration simplifies the assembly process, ensures high transmission quality by maintaining precise component alignment, reduces signal loss, and conserves space, while allowing for flexible and cost-effective manufacturing.

Implementation Method 1

the dielectric layer surrounding the core has a dielectric constant that is lower than that of the core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

a core made from polymer fibres, a dielectric layer surrounding the core, wherein the dielectric layer surrounding the core has a dielectric constant that is lower than that of the core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal Internal Reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 3

a metallic shield and an outer layer made from plastic material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3560028B1Connection arrangement
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 TE CONNECTIVITY NEDERLAND
  • EP3560028B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3560028B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3560028B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a connection arrangement (1) for the transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves, in particular in the millimeter-wave frequency range, the arrangement comprising at least one antenna member (3) for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves and at least one waveguide member (5) for transporting said waves, wherein, at least in a transmission state (T), at least an end section (6) of the at least one waveguide member (5) is arranged at the at least one antenna member (3) such that electromagnetic radiation can be transmitted between these. The invention further relates to a method for assembling a connection arrangement (1), the arrangement comprising at least one antenna member (3) for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves, in particular in the millimeter-wave frequency range, and at least one waveguide member (5) for transporting said waves. In order to provide a solution that facilitates coupling of an antenna member (3) with a waveguide member (5) and which reduces signal loss, it is intended according to the invention that the at least one waveguide member (5) is provided with at least one recess (25) which extends from a free end (7) of the at least one waveguide member (5) into the same, and in that, at least in the transmission state (T), the at least one antenna member (3) is at least partially inserted in the at least one recess (25).