Broadband Waveguide

Abstract

A broadband waveguide comprising at least one filament configured to transmit a signal therethrough. The broad-band waveguide may include one or more reflection suppression techniques including a damping material coupled to at least a portion of the at least one filament and/or at least one reflection point configured thereon. The waveguide may further including a cladding material coupled to the at least one filament. The at least one filament may be coupled to a securing element configured to couple to a surface. The at least one filament may be coupled to a sensor configured to sense the transmitted signal.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A broadband waveguide configured to communicate a signal, comprising:
 at least one filament configured to transmit the signal including a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends;   a damping material at least partially engaging at least a portion of the at least one filament having a defined length based at least in part on an application of the broadband waveguide.   
     
     
         7 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 6 , wherein the defined length is greater than about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 6 , wherein the damping material comprises polyolefin shrink tubing. 
     
     
         9 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 6 , wherein the damping material comprises a first layer having a first length and a second layer having a second length different than the first length. 
     
     
         10 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 6 , wherein the second end reflects the signal as a reflected signal and the defined length of the damping material is configured to absorb at least a portion of energy associated with the reflected signal to thereby at least partially suppress the reflected signal. 
     
     
         11 . A broadband waveguide configured to communicate a signal, comprising:
 at least one filament configured to transmit the signal including a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends;   a cladding material surrounding at least a portion of the at least one filament, wherein the cladding material is sized such that at least a portion of the at least one filament is loosely fit within the cladding material.   
     
     
         12 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 11 , wherein the cladding material comprises fiberglass. 
     
     
         13 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 11 , wherein the cladding material comprises Teflon. 
     
     
         14 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 11 , wherein the cladding material comprises a solid tube. 
     
     
         15 . A broadband waveguide configured to communicate a signal, comprising:
 at least one filament configured to transmit the signal including a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends;   a cladding material at least partially engaging the at least one filament, wherein the first end is hermetically sealed by the cladding material.   
     
     
         16 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a sensor coupled to the first end of the filament, wherein the hermetically sealed first end prevents escape of pressure from the second end.   
     
     
         17 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 15 , wherein the length between the first end and second end of the filament is hermetically sealed by the cladding material. 
     
     
         18 . A broadband waveguide configured to communicate a signal, comprising:
 at least one filament configured to transmit the signal including a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends;   a damping material at least partially engaging at least a portion of the at least one filament having a defined length based at least in part on an application of the broadband waveguide; and   a sensor connected to the at least one filament and configured to sense the signal transmitted through the at least one filament.   
     
     
         19 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 18 , wherein the sensor comprises a piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         20 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 18 , wherein the sensor comprises a piezoelectric polymer film and at least one metallization element positioned in the piezoelectric polymer film. 
     
     
         21 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 20 , wherein the piezoelectric polymer film is a polyvinylidene fluoride film. 
     
     
         22 . The broadband waveguide of  claim 18 , wherein the sensor is tangentially bonded to a circumference of a portion of the at least one filament. 
     
     
         23 . A broadband waveguide configured to communicate a signal, comprising:
 at least one filament configured to transmit the signal including a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends; and   a securing element coupled to the first end of the at least one filament and configured to couple to a surface.   
     
     
         24 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for manufacturing a broadband waveguide, comprising:
 disposing a piezoelectric material on at least a portion of at least one filament; and   poling the potentially piezoelectric material.