A rotary joint including a stator intended to be fastened on a first part of the antenna and defining a transmission surface, and a rotor intended to be fastened on a second part of the antenna and defining a transmission surface, wherein one of the transmission surfaces includes primary means for delimiting electromagnetic signals and the other includes complementary means for delimiting electromagnetic signals; the rotor being mounted rotating relative to the stator such that at least part of the transmission surface of the rotor is positioned across from at least part of the transmission surface of the stator, the facing parts forming at least one transmission path between them for the electromagnetic signals delimited by the primary and complementary delimiting means.

A vehicle having a communication system is disclosed. The system includes two electrical couplings, coupled by way of a rotary joint. Each electrical coupling includes an interface waveguide configured to couple to external signals. Each electrical coupling also includes a waveguide section configured to propagate electromagnetic signals between the interface waveguide and the rotary joint. Additionally, the rotary joint is configured to allow one electrical coupling to rotate with respect to the other electrical coupling. An axis of rotation of the rotary joint is defined by a center of a portion of the waveguides. Yet further, the rotary joint allows electromagnetic energy to propagate between the waveguides of the electrical couplings.

A rotary joint includes a shaft having a first end, a second end, and a cavity. The rotary joint includes a first waveguide section having a first proximal end and a first distal end. The first proximal end of the first waveguide section is positioned within the cavity and secured to the inner surface of the shaft. The rotary joint includes a second waveguide section that includes a second proximal end and a second distal end. The second proximal end of the second waveguide section is positioned within the cavity of the shaft and unsecured to the inner surface of the shaft to form a radial gap between an outer surface of the second proximal end and a laterally adjacent portion of the inner surface of the shaft. The shaft and the first waveguide section are configured to rotate about the rotational axis and relative to the second waveguide section.

A coupler provides a high speed datalink between rotatable parts, which includes comprising a circular gap shaped as a hollow-cylindric volume and at least two antennae. The gap is formed between a first ring and a second ring rotatable against the first ring. A first antenna is mechanically coupled to the first ring and a second antenna is mechanically coupled to the second ring. The antennae are configured to effectuate a microwave signal connection between them the antennae based on multiple reflections of the signal at the rings.

Systems and methods for efficient coupling to low-loss eigenmodes of a spherical waveguide bounded by the Earth's surface and its ionosphere are disclosed. One or more eigenmodes of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide may be computed based on a mathematical model incorporating electrical properties of the terrestrial surface and plasma physics of the ionospheric layer. An array of electrically-connected waveguide-coupling elements may be configured for coupling to the one or more eigenmodes. By adjusting relative phases and/or amplitudes of the waveguide-coupler elements, as well as frequencies, the electrical size of the array may be made much larger than its physical size, and substantial electromagnetic energy may be targeted to preferentially excite the one or more eigenmodes. The adjustments may also account or compensate for non-homogeneous propagation properties of the ionosphere, and help reduce ohmic losses in the ionosphere.

A contactless datalink for transmission of data between a rotatable part and a stationary part, including a dielectric waveguide split into two sections. A first dielectric waveguide section is at the rotatable part and a second dielectric waveguide section is at the stationary part. The first dielectric waveguide section is coupled to a transmitter and the second dielectric waveguide section is coupled to a receiver.

A waveguide connector assembly includes a waveguide connector having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a body having a length that extends axially between the first end and the second end. The body has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the waveguide connector being configured to receive a waveguide at the first end. The waveguide connector assembly further includes a movable sleeve having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a body extending axially between the first end and the second end, and an actuating surface. The movable sleeve is configured to slide axially along the exterior surface of the waveguide connector, the actuating surface being configured to prevent axial movement of the waveguide when the movable sleeve is in an actuating position.

A waveguide connector assembly includes a waveguide connector having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a body having a length that extends axially between the first end and the second end. The body has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the waveguide connector being configured to receive a waveguide at the first end. The waveguide connector assembly further includes a movable sleeve having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a body extending axially between the first end and the second end, and an actuating surface. The movable sleeve is configured to slide axially along the exterior surface of the waveguide connector, the actuating surface being configured to prevent axial movement of the waveguide when the movable sleeve is in an actuating position.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a dielectric coupler includes a neck portion configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave from a hollow waveguide. A flared portion is configured to generate, responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the flared portion at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A tapered portion is configured to interface the neck portion to the flared portion.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a dielectric coupler includes a neck portion configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave from a hollow waveguide. A flared portion is configured to generate, responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the flared portion at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A tapered portion is configured to interface the neck portion to the flared portion.