WAVEGUIDE LAUNCH

Abstract

A waveguide launch system configured for translating radio frequency signal waves is provided. The system comprises a first printed circuit board lamina comprising an electrically conductive ground member and configured for attachment of a separate waveguide element, having a first cross-section area, thereto. A second printed circuit board lamina comprising an electrically conductive backshort cover configured to reflect the RF signal waves is bonded to a first printed circuit board lamina. An electrically conductive barrier arrangement extends through the second printed circuit board lamina. The electrically conductive barrier arrangement and the electrically conductive backshort cover form an integrated electrically conductive backshort volume of an integrated backshort having a second cross-section area. The second cross-section area is smaller than the first cross-section area.

Claims

1. A waveguide launch system configured for translating radio frequency signal waves, the waveguide launch system comprises; a separate waveguide channel of a separate waveguide element having a first cross-section area; a first printed circuit board lamina comprising an electrically conductive ground member and configured for attachment of the separate waveguide element thereto; a second printed circuit board lamina comprising an electrically conductive backshort cover configured to reflect the radio frequency signal waves; a probe member arranged within an interface defined between the first printed circuit board lamina and the second printed circuit board lamina; an electrical transmission line signal member arranged within said interface and coupled between the probe member and an integrated circuit unit; wherein the thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina is determined by the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina in regard to the permittivity of the used PCB material and by the scaling of said thickness taking into account the wavelength of the radio frequency signal waves, characterized in that; the thickness of the integrated circuit unit essentially or fully corresponds with the thickness of the first printed circuit board lamina; the waveguide launch system further comprises; an electrically conductive barrier arrangement extending perpendicular to the plane of the second printed circuit board lamina and extending through the second printed circuit board lamina, wherein the electrically conductive barrier arrangement and the electrically conductive backshort cover form an integrated electrically conductive backshort volume of an integrated backshort having a second cross-section area, which is smaller than the first cross-section area.

2. The waveguide launch system according to claim 1, wherein the second cross-section area is down-scaled versus the first cross-section area taking into account the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina in regard to the permittivity of the used PCB material.

3. The waveguide launch system according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina corresponds with the length of approximately a quarter of a wavelength of the radio frequency signal waves.

4. The waveguide launch system according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina forms the height of the integrated backshort.

5. The waveguide launch system according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive barrier arrangement comprises through holes machined through the second printed circuit board lamina, which through holes are filled with electrically conductive material.

6. The waveguide launch system according to claim 1, wherein an outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement at least partially surrounds the electrically conductive barrier arrangement and extends perpendicular to the plane and through the first and second printed circuit board lamina.

7. The waveguide launch system according to claim 6, wherein the outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement is electrically coupled between the electrically conductive ground member and the electrically conductive backshort cover for electrical communication.

8. The waveguide launch system according to claim 7, wherein the outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement is electrically coupled to an electrically conductive ground member plane of the interface.

9. The waveguide launch system according to claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the first cross-section area is rectangular shaped.

10. The waveguide launch system according to claim 1, wherein an electrically conductive wire is coupled between the integrated circuit unit and the electrical transmission line signal member of the first printed circuit board lamina, the thickness of which corresponds approximately with the height of the integrated circuit unit.

11. A wideband probe fed patch antenna apparatus configured for mm-wave frequencies according to claim 1.

12. A commercial aircraft comprising a wideband probe fed patch antenna apparatus according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The disclosure of this document will now be described by way of examples with references to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:

[0048] FIGS. 1a to 1b illustrate a waveguide launch system according to a first example;

[0049] FIGS. 2a to 2b illustrate a waveguide launch system according to a second example;

[0050] FIGS. 3a to 3b illustrate examples of electrically conductive barrier arrangements; and

[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates a mechanical backshort according to prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] Hereinafter, examples of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein for the sake of clarity and understanding some details of no importance may be deleted from the drawings. Some details may have the same reference number but may relate to different examples.

[0053] FIG. 1a illustrates a waveguide launch system 1 according to a first example. The waveguide launch system 1 is configured for translating radio frequency RF signal waves. The waveguide launch system 1 comprises a separate waveguide channel 3 of a separate waveguide element 4 having a first cross-section area A1 (also shown in FIG. 1b) defined by separate waveguide channel wall 6. The waveguide launch system 1 further comprises a first printed circuit board lamina 5 comprising an electrically conductive ground member 7 and configured for attachment of the separate waveguide element 4 thereto. A second printed circuit board lamina 9 comprising an electrically conductive backshort cover 11 configured to reflect the radio frequency RF signal waves is bonded to the a first printed circuit board lamina 5. An electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 extends perpendicular to a plane P of the first and second printed circuit board lamina 5, 9. The electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 extends through the second printed circuit board lamina 9.

[0054] The electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 and the electrically conductive backshort cover 11 form an integrated electrically conductive backshort volume 21 of an integrated backshort 22 having a second cross-section area A2 (also see FIG. 1b). The second cross-section area A2 is smaller than the first cross-section area A1. The second cross-section area A2 is down-scaled versus the first cross-section area A1 taking into account the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 in regard to the to the permittivity of the used PCB material.

[0055] The thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina suitably forms the height of the integrated backshort 22.

[0056] The thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 is determined by the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 in regard to the permittivity of the used PCB material and by the extension of the wavelength of the radio frequency RF signal waves.

[0057] In this example, the thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 may correspond with the length of approximately a quarter of a wavelength of the radio frequency RF signal waves.

[0058] A probe member 13 is arranged within an interface 16 defined as a bond section between the first printed circuit board lamina 5 and the second printed circuit board lamina 9.

[0059] An electrical transmission line signal member 15 is arranged within said interface 16 and is coupled between the probe member 13 and an integrated circuit unit 17.

[0060] An outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement 24 surrounds the electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 and extends perpendicular to the plane P and through the first and second printed circuit board lamina 5, 9. The outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement 24 is electrically coupled between the electrically conductive ground member 7 and the electrically conductive backshort cover 11 for electrical communication. Furthermore, the outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement 24 may be electrically coupled to an electrically conductive ground member plane 8 of the interface 16.

[0061] The electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 is electrically coupled between the electrically conductive backshort cover 11 and the electrically conductive ground member plane 7 via the electrically conductive ground member plane 8 and the outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement 24.

[0062] The electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 may be electrically grounded by coupling a first end 31 of the electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 to the electrically conductive backshort cover 11, which in turn is coupled to the electrically conductive ground member 7 via the outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement 24. The electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 may further be electrically grounded by coupling a second end 33 of the electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 to the electrically conductive ground member plane 8, which in turn is coupled to the electrically conductive ground member 7 via the outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement 24.

[0063] The thickness of the integrated circuit unit 17 essentially or fully corresponds with the thickness of the first printed circuit board lamina 5 whereby it is possibly to arrange and couple an optimal short conductive wire 20 between the integrated circuit unit 17 and the electrical transmission line signal member 15.

[0064] The thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 is preferably determined by the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 in regard to the permittivity of the used PCB material and by the scaling of said thickness taking into account the wavelength of the radio frequency RF signal waves.

[0065] Even though the integrated electrically conductive backshort volume 21 is illustrated with no fill (white) in the drawing, it shall be interpreted as comprising the material of the second printed circuit board lamina 9.

[0066] FIG. 1b illustrates the waveguide launch system 1 in FIG. 1a shown in a view from above. It is clearly shown that the second cross-section area A2 formed by the electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 is smaller than the first cross-section area A1 of the separate waveguide element 4.

[0067] The second cross-section area A2 is down-scaled versus the first cross-section area A1 taking into account the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 in regard to the permittivity of the used PCB material. In this example, the perimeter of the first cross-section area A1 is rectangular shaped.

[0068] FIGS. 2a to 2b illustrate a waveguide launch system 1 according to a second example. FIG. 2a shows the waveguide launch system 1 and belonging parts before assembly.

[0069] According to this example, the waveguide launch system 1 comprises a first printed circuit board lamina 5 and a second printed circuit board lamina 9 having one electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 achieved by a plurality of through holes H filed with electrically conductive material.

[0070] The electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 may be achieved by drilling the through holes H through the second printed circuit board lamina 9, which through holes H are filled with the electrically conductive material.

[0071] The drilling the filling of the through holes H may be performed before the application of an electrically conductive backshort cover 11 on the upper side of the second printed circuit board lamina 9.

[0072] The electrically conductive backshort cover 11 is configured to reflect the radio frequency RF signal waves.

[0073] A probe member 13 coupled to an electrical transmission line signal member 15 is configured to be attached to the lower side of the second printed circuit board lamina 9.

[0074] An electrically conductive ground member plane 8 is configured to be attached to the lower side of the second printed circuit board lamina 9.

[0075] The drilling and the filling of the through holes H may alternatively be performed after the application of the electrically conductive backshort cover 11 on the upper side of the second printed circuit board lamina 9, wherein the through holes H are drilled through the electrically conductive backshort cover 11 and also filled with the electrically conductive material (not shown).

[0076] The drilling and the filling of the through holes H may be performed after the application of electrically conductive ground member plane 8 on the lower side of the second printed circuit board lamina 9, wherein the through holes H extend through the electrically conductive ground member plane 8 and also filled with the electrically conductive material (not shown).

[0077] The electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 and the electrically conductive backshort cover 11 being configured to form an integrated electrically conductive backshort volume 21 of an integrated backshort 22 having a second cross-section area A2.

[0078] A separate waveguide channel 3 of a separate waveguide element 4 exhibits a first cross-section area A1. The second cross-section area A2 is smaller than the first cross-section area A1.

[0079] The first printed circuit board lamina 5 is configured for assembly with an electrically conductive ground member 7, which is configured for attachment to the separate waveguide element 4.

[0080] The electrically conductive ground member 7 may be electrically coupled to the electrically conductive ground member plane 8 via a ground connection wire 111 as shown in FIG. 2b.

[0081] An integrated circuit unit 17 is prepared to be attached to the first printed circuit board lamina 5 and/or the electrically conductive ground member 7.

[0082] The thickness T9 of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 is preferably determined by the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 in regard to the permittivity of the used PCB material and by the scaling of said thickness taking into account the wavelength of the radio frequency RF signal waves.

[0083] The thickness T9 of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 suitably forms the height H22 of the integrated backshort 22.

[0084] FIG. 2b shows the waveguide launch1 and belonging parts after the assembly of the parts. The waveguide launch1 is configured for translating radio frequency signal waves. The waveguide launch1 comprises a separate waveguide channel 3 of a separate waveguide element 4 having a first cross-section area A1. A first printed circuit board lamina 5 comprising an electrically conductive ground member 7 is configured for attachment of the separate waveguide element 3 thereto.

[0085] A suitable adhesive system may be used for adhesion of the electrically conductive ground member 7 to the lower side of the first printed circuit board lamina 5.

[0086] A suitable adhesive system may be used for adhesion of the separate waveguide element 4 to the upper side of the first printed circuit board lamina 5.

[0087] An integrated circuit unit 17 is adhered to the first printed circuit board lamina 5. The thickness of the integrated circuit unit 17 may correspond with the thickness of the first printed circuit board lamina 5.

[0088] An electrically conductive backshort cover 11 is adhered to an upper side of a second printed circuit board lamina 9. An electrically conductive ground member plane 8 and an electrical transmission line signal member 15 coupled to a probe member 13 may be adhered to a lower side of the second printed circuit board lamina 9.

[0089] The second printed circuit board lamina 9 may be semi-cured before the assembly to the first printed circuit board lamina 5.

[0090] The first printed circuit board lamina 5 may be less partly cured than the semi-cured second printed circuit board lamina 9 before assembly.

[0091] The first printed circuit board lamina 5 and the second printed circuit board lamina 9 being co-cured in a co-curing process.

[0092] After assembly/co-curing of the first printed circuit board lamina 5 to the second printed circuit board lamina 9, the electrical transmission line signal member 15 coupled to the probe member 13 and the electrically conductive ground member plane 8 will be positioned within an interface 16 defined as a bond section between the first printed circuit board lamina 5 and the second printed circuit board lamina 9.

[0093] The thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 forms the height of the integrated backshort 22.

[0094] The thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 is preferably determined by the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 in regard to the permittivity of the used PCB material and by the scaling of said thickness taking into account the wavelength of the radio frequency RF signal waves.

[0095] The electrical transmission line signal member 15 will thus have a distance (height) from the electrically conductive ground member 7 that corresponds with the thickness of the integrated circuit unit 17, since the thickness of the integrated circuit unit 17 corresponds with the thickness of the first printed circuit board lamina 5.

[0096] A short conductive wire 20 is coupled between the integrated circuit unit 17 and the electrical transmission line signal member 15. In such way is avoided deterioration of the RF performance of the conductive wire transition.

[0097] The second cross-section area A2 is down-scaled versus the first cross-section area A1 taking into account the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 in regard to the permittivity of the used PCB material.

[0098] The radio frequency RF signal waves are transmitted through the material of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 within the integrated electrically conductive backshort volume 21, and for achieving optimal performance of the system 1, the second cross-section area A2 of the integrated backshort 22 is to be down-scaled relative the first cross-section area A1.

[0099] The applicant has made great effort in determining that the second cross-section area A2 of the integrated backshort 22 has to be down-scaled, at the same time as a less bulky waveguide launch is achieved. It has surprisingly been shown that optimal RF transmission performance is achieved by such technical feature.

[0100] FIGS. 3a to 3b illustrate examples of electrically conductive barrier arrangements of exemplary waveguide launch systems. A separate waveguide channel 3 of a separate waveguide element 4 having a first cross-section area A1 is part of the waveguide launch system 1. FIG. 3a illustrates an electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 extending perpendicular to the plane P of the second printed circuit board lamina 9. The electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 extends through the second printed circuit board lamina 9, wherein the electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 and the electrically conductive backshort cover (not shown) form an integrated electrically conductive backshort volume 21 of an integrated backshort 22 having a second cross-section area A2, which is smaller than the first cross-section area A1 of the separate waveguide element 4. The electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 comprises a plurality of through holes H in at least double rows and machined through the second printed circuit board lamina 9, which through holes H are filled with electrically conductive material.

[0101] FIG. 3b illustrates an electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 extending perpendicular to the plane P of the second printed circuit board lamina 9. An outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement 24 surrounds the electrically conductive barrier arrangement 19 and extends perpendicular to the plane P of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 and through a first printed circuit board lamina 5 (being concealed by the second printed circuit board lamina) and the second printed circuit board lamina 9. In such way is achieved a waveguide launch system that is robust, wherein the outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement 24 provides that the waveguide launch will have additional structural strength and robustness.

[0102] The thickness of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 is preferably determined by the material property of the second printed circuit board lamina 9 in regard to the permittivity of the used PCB material and by the scaling of said thickness taking into account the wavelength of the radio frequency RF signal waves.

[0103] In such a way is achieved that the waveguide launch system that can be manufactured by low-cost PCB (Printed Circuit Board) technology and produced cost-effectively.

[0104] The waveguide launch system eliminates the need of labour-intensive manufacture of external mechanical back shorts, while maintaining wideband RF performance.

[0105] In such a way is achieved a waveguide launch system that is compatible with thin RF circuits at the same time as there is provided hermeticity by means of the integrated backshort being integrated in the second printed circuit board lamina.

[0106] The waveguide launch system is suitable for mm-wave frequencies at the same time as it is compatible with standard low cost PCB technologies.

[0107] In such way is achieved a waveguide launch system that can be manufactured cost-effectively and be of extremely small dimension for generating mm-wave frequencies in a robust way.

[0108] FIG. 4 illustrates a mechanical backshort 401 according to prior art. A backshort 403 open space is machined in a first metal block 405. A second block 407 comprises a probe member 409 connected to an integrated circuit unit 411. The first block 405 and the second block 407 are assembled to constitute one piece. It is extremely important that the first block 405 and the second block 407 are in proper alignment against each other. Screws 413 are drawn to tighten the first block 405 and the second block 407 to each other. A separate waveguide element 415 having a first cross-section area A1 is attached to the second block 407. A second cross-section area A2 of the backshort 403 open space corresponds with the area of the first cross-section area A1.

[0109] The present invention is not in any way restricted to the examples described above, but many possibilities to modifications, or combinations of the described examples, thereof should be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0110] The material of the first and/or second printed circuit board lamina may be based on PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), LCP (liquid-crystal polymer), or other suitable material. In such way is avoided deterioration of the RF performance.

[0111] The electrically conductive ground member and/or the electrically conductive backshort cover and/or the electrically conductive barrier arrangement and/or the electrical transmission line signal member and/or the electrically conductive ground member plane and/or the outer electrically conductive barrier arrangement may comprise copper.

[0112] The definition of the word scaling means that the physical length of an object (e.g. the height of the integrated backshort) is adjusted (scaled) in order to obtain a desired electrical length in a given dielectric.