A conformable waveguide for conveyance of high frequency radio signals including a hollow component having a smooth interior surface and an obround cross section, the obround cross section defined as having parallel opposing sides connected by two rounded opposing ends, where the parallel opposing sides are separated by a first distance, where vertices of the two rounded opposing ends are separated by a second distance, and where the second distance is greater than the first distance.

A conformable waveguide for conveyance of high frequency radio signals including a hollow component having a smooth interior surface and an obround cross section, the obround cross section defined as having parallel opposing sides connected by two rounded opposing ends, where the parallel opposing sides are separated by a first distance, where vertices of the two rounded opposing ends are separated by a second distance, and where the second distance is greater than the first distance.

A vacuum insulated structure including a tube having an outer wall, a jacket surrounding the tube to enclose an annular insulating space, the jacket having an end that terminates at the outer wall of the tube, a seal formed between the end of the jacket and the tube to preserve a vacuum within the insulating space, and a fitting affixed to one of the tube and the jacket for coupling the vacuum insulated structure to an external device. A method of making a vacuum insulated structure including forming a tube and a jacket, positioning the jacket over the tube to form an annular insulating space, with an end of the jacket being positioned adjacent to an outer wall of the tube to form a vent, causing air to escape through the vent, sealing the vent, and affixing a fitting to one of the tube and the jacket.

An elongate flexible waveguide section for radio frequency signals is provided, wherein the waveguide section is corrugated in the longitudinal direction, and the waveguide section is at least partially corrugated in a circumferential direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Also provided is an apparatus for connecting a VHTS antenna system to a spacecraft.

A foldable and deployable assembly for use to transfer RF signals comprises a RF transmitter/receiver adapted to operate in the RF range S and up, a transmit/receive horn unit to attach the assembly to an antenna operable in the RF range S and up and a foldable/deployable RF waveguide connected between the RF transmitter/receiver and the transmit/receive horn and operable in the RF range of S and up, the waveguide is formed as a hollow elongated piece made of at least one of silicone based shape memory composite carbon fiber reinforced silicone (CFRS) and graphite with silicone.

A foldable and deployable assembly for use to transfer RF signals comprises a RF transmitter/receiver adapted to operate in the RF range S and up, a transmit/receive horn unit to attach the assembly to an antenna operable in the RF range S and up and a foldable/deployable RF waveguide connected between the RF transmitter/receiver and the transmit/receive horn and operable in the RF range of S and up, the waveguide is formed as a hollow elongated piece made of at least one of silicone based shape memory composite carbon fiber reinforced silicone (CFRS) and graphite with silicone.

A flexible waveguide includes an inner dielectric, and a flexible external conductor disposed in a position covering an outer periphery of the dielectric, the flexible waveguide conducting a radio wave in a frequency band equal to or longer than a millimeter wave or a submillimeter wave near 60 GHz or more. The external conductor includes a metal layer, the metal layer has a shape displacement structure, a shape of an inner periphery side section of which faces the inner dielectric and is cyclic in the waveguide longitudinal direction, the shape displacement structure being a cyclic structure satisfying λmr<λch, where λmr represents a center wavelength of a main reflection band due to the cyclic structure and λch represents a cutoff wavelength in a high-order mode of the waveguide.

A flexible waveguide includes an inner dielectric, and a flexible external conductor disposed in a position covering an outer periphery of the dielectric, the flexible waveguide conducting a radio wave in a frequency band equal to or longer than a millimeter wave or a submillimeter wave near 60 GHz or more. The external conductor includes a metal layer, the metal layer has a shape displacement structure, a shape of an inner periphery side section of which faces the inner dielectric and is cyclic in the waveguide longitudinal direction, the shape displacement structure being a cyclic structure satisfying λmr<λch, where λmr represents a center wavelength of a main reflection band due to the cyclic structure and λch represents a cutoff wavelength in a high-order mode of the waveguide.

A method of making a waveguide, comprises: extruding a first dielectric material as a waveguide core of the waveguide, wherein the waveguide core is elongate; and coextruding an outer layer with the waveguide core, wherein the outer layer is arranged around the waveguide core.

A method of making a waveguide, comprises: extruding a first dielectric material as a waveguide core of the waveguide, wherein the waveguide core is elongate; and coextruding an outer layer with the waveguide core, wherein the outer layer is arranged around the waveguide core.