Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that obtains a group of signals that are each representative of a corresponding one of a group of electromagnetic waves, analyzes the group of signals to determine signal characteristics, and determines, according to the signal characteristics, predicted characteristics for a communication signal that is to be transmitted by a circuit. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that obtains a group of signals that are each representative of a corresponding one of a group of electromagnetic waves, analyzes the group of signals to determine signal characteristics, and determines, according to the signal characteristics, predicted characteristics for a communication signal that is to be transmitted by a circuit. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A waveguide-coupling device (14) for a hydraulic cylinder (10) has an outer conductor element (22) to which a microwave signal can be supplied, an inner conductor element (24) for coupling a waveguide mode into a liquid-filled inner chamber (16) of the hydraulic cylinder (10) and a dielectric insulating element (22) arranged between the inner conductor element (24) and the outer conductor element (20), wherein the inner conductor element (24) and the dielectric insulating element (22) as well as the dielectric insulating element (22) and the outer conducting element (20) are each connected to each other in a liquid-tight manner.

A waveguide-coupling device (14) for a hydraulic cylinder (10) has an outer conductor element (22) to which a microwave signal can be supplied, an inner conductor element (24) for coupling a waveguide mode into a liquid-filled inner chamber (16) of the hydraulic cylinder (10) and a dielectric insulating element (22) arranged between the inner conductor element (24) and the outer conductor element (20), wherein the inner conductor element (24) and the dielectric insulating element (22) as well as the dielectric insulating element (22) and the outer conducting element (20) are each connected to each other in a liquid-tight manner.

A process for making a self-aligned waveguide includes: disposing a central conductor layer on a substrate; disposing a mask layer on the central conductor layer; forming a mask from the mask layer; removing a portion of the central conductor layer; forming an undercut interposed between substrate and the mask; forming a central conductor; disposing a ground conductor layer on the mask and the substrate; removing a portion of the ground conductor layer disposed on the mask; forming a ground plane conductor from the ground conductor layer in response to removing the portion of the ground conductor layer; and removing the mask to make the self-aligned waveguide in which the undercut provides self-alignment of each of the inner walls of the ground plane conductor to each of the sidewalls of the central conductor, and the ground plane conductor is electrically isolated from the central conductor.

A process for making a self-aligned waveguide includes: disposing a central conductor layer on a substrate; disposing a mask layer on the central conductor layer; forming a mask from the mask layer; removing a portion of the central conductor layer; forming an undercut interposed between substrate and the mask; forming a central conductor; disposing a ground conductor layer on the mask and the substrate; removing a portion of the ground conductor layer disposed on the mask; forming a ground plane conductor from the ground conductor layer in response to removing the portion of the ground conductor layer; and removing the mask to make the self-aligned waveguide in which the undercut provides self-alignment of each of the inner walls of the ground plane conductor to each of the sidewalls of the central conductor, and the ground plane conductor is electrically isolated from the central conductor.

An enhanced electrical circuit can employ conductive fill components that can facilitate providing desirable resistive stabilization of the electrical circuit and other desirable circuit qualities without having to use a physical resistor. The electrical circuit can comprise a transmission line, which can be a microstrip line, that can have defined dimensions. The electrical circuit can comprise respective conductive fill components that can be in proximity to desired sides of the transmission line, wherein the respective conductive fill components can provide the desired resistive stabilization for the electrical circuit. The respective conductive fill components can be separated from, and not in contact with, each other based on respective gaps of a defined size(s) between respective adjacent conductive fill components. The respective conductive fill components can be across a single layer or multiple layers of conductive fill components.

An enhanced electrical circuit can employ conductive fill components that can facilitate providing desirable resistive stabilization of the electrical circuit and other desirable circuit qualities without having to use a physical resistor. The electrical circuit can comprise a transmission line, which can be a microstrip line, that can have defined dimensions. The electrical circuit can comprise respective conductive fill components that can be in proximity to desired sides of the transmission line, wherein the respective conductive fill components can provide the desired resistive stabilization for the electrical circuit. The respective conductive fill components can be separated from, and not in contact with, each other based on respective gaps of a defined size(s) between respective adjacent conductive fill components. The respective conductive fill components can be across a single layer or multiple layers of conductive fill components.

A rat-race balun includes a transmission line loop and 4 input-output ports P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3, P.sub.4 connected to the transmission line loop, the respective transmission line section between the adjacent ports P.sub.1 and P.sub.4 is of electrical length 2?.sub.2, of impedance Z.sub.3 and is a line section loaded by a capacitor of capacitance C2; where ?.sub.2<135 and the following equalities are satisfied:

[00001]$C2=-\frac{2\tan \left({?}_2\right)}{?Z_{P1P4}\tan \left(2{?}_2\right)}$$\mathrm{and}{Z}_3=-\frac{Z_{P1P4}}{\tan \left({?}_2\right)}$ w being equal to 2?f, with f the operating frequency, and Z.sub.P1P4 being the impedance of the unloaded transmission line section of physical length 3?/4 equivalent to the loaded line section.

A rat-race balun includes a transmission line loop and 4 input-output ports P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3, P.sub.4 connected to the transmission line loop, the respective transmission line section between the adjacent ports P.sub.1 and P.sub.4 is of electrical length 2?.sub.2, of impedance Z.sub.3 and is a line section loaded by a capacitor of capacitance C2; where ?.sub.2<135 and the following equalities are satisfied:

[00001]$C2=-\frac{2\tan \left({?}_2\right)}{?Z_{P1P4}\tan \left(2{?}_2\right)}$$\mathrm{and}{Z}_3=-\frac{Z_{P1P4}}{\tan \left({?}_2\right)}$ w being equal to 2?f, with f the operating frequency, and Z.sub.P1P4 being the impedance of the unloaded transmission line section of physical length 3?/4 equivalent to the loaded line section.