A system for a machine component includes at least one local transmitter/receiver. At least one device is associated with a component and configured to communicate with the at least one local transmitter/receiver through wireless signals. Shielding surrounds both the local transmitter and the device for containing the wireless signals proximate to the component. A remote processing unit is disposed outside of the shielding in communication with the local transmitter/receiver. A control system and method are also disclosed.

A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) applicator which includes covering a ceramic insert with a coating, wherein the ceramic insert has dimensions that substantially match an internal volume of an open-ended, hollow waveguide, and wherein the ceramic insert has a recess therein configured to accept a radio frequency emitter, heating the waveguide to a temperature that is above a melting point of the coating, placing the coated ceramic insert into the internal volume of the heated waveguide, wherein the internal volume is completely filled except for the recess, and cooling the waveguide, ceramic insert, and coating to a temperature below the melting point of the coating so that the coating solidifies and fills gaps between facing surfaces of the insert and the waveguide.

A system is provided in which a first waveguide has a first resonator coupled to an end of the first waveguide. A second waveguide has a second resonator coupled to the second waveguide. The first resonator is spaced apart from the second resonator by a gap distance. Transmission of a signal propagated by the first waveguide across the gap to the second waveguide is enhanced by a confined near field mode magnetic field produced by the first resonator in response to the propagating wave that is coupled to the second resonator.

A waveguide for receiving an incident electromagnetic wave (EMW) having an operating frequency Γ includes an array of spaced apart unit cells arranged along the waveguide. The unit cells are configured to resonantly couple to the incident EMW and radiate an EMW at the operating frequency propagating inside and along the waveguide. Each unit cell is configured to couple to the incident EMW with a first coupling efficiency and includes a dielectric body configured to couple to the incident EMW with a second coupling efficiency and one or more metal layers disposed on and partially covering the dielectric body. The second coupling efficiency is substantially smaller than the first coupling efficiency. A communication system includes the waveguide and a transceiver configured to emit an EMW having the operating frequency Γ.

A digital system has a dielectric core waveguide that has a longitudinal dielectric core member. The core member has a body portion and may have a cladding surrounding the dielectric core member. A radiated radio frequency (RF) signal may be received on a first portion of a radiating structure embedded in the end of a dielectric waveguide (DWG). Simultaneously, a derivative RF signal may be launched into the DWG from a second portion of the radiating structure embedded in the DWG.

Disclosed herein are components for millimeter-wave communication, as well as related methods and systems.

A method of forming a waveguide comprises forming an elongate waveguide core including a dielectric material; and arranging a conductive sheet around an outside surface of the dielectric core to produce a conductive layer around the waveguide core.

Embodiments of the invention may include a mm-wave waveguide. In an embodiment, the mm-wave waveguide may include a first dielectric waveguide and a second dielectric waveguide. A conductive layer may be used to cover the first dielectric waveguide and the second dielectric waveguide in some embodiments. Furthermore, embodiments may include a repeater communicatively coupled between the first dielectric waveguide and the second dielectric waveguide. In an embodiment, the repeater may be an active repeater or a passive repeater. According to an embodiment, a passive repeater may be integrated within the dielectric waveguide. The passive repeater may include a dispersion compensating material that produces a dispersion response in a signal that is substantially opposite to a dispersion response produced when the signal is propagated along the dielectric waveguide.

A signal level control element comprises a substrate having conductive formations defining a substrate integrated wave-guide arrangement disposed at least partly within the substrate; the substrate integrated waveguide arrangement providing a quadrature hybrid coupler having first and second pairs of signal ports, such that a signal introduced to a port of one pair of the first and second pairs is provided with equal amplitude but a 90 degree phase difference to both ports of the other pair of the first and second pairs; in which a port of the first pair is configured to receive an input signal and the other port of the first pair is configured to provide an output signal; and termination circuitry connected to the ports of the second pair, the termination circuitry providing, for each port of the second pair, a respective termination having a variable impedance dependent upon a respective control signal.

An electromagnetic waveguide including conductive material on upper lower, and side surfaces of a dielectric is disclosed. A conductive excitation member is electrically coupled to the conductive material on the upper surface of the dielectric and extends to the lower surface of the dielectric at or near an end surface of the dielectric. The conductive excitation member includes a host interface flange separated and electrically isolated from the conductive material on the lower surface of the dielectric. The conductive material on the lower surface of the dielectric can be a ground plane and the waveguide can be a surface-mountable component.