Arrangement for Interconnection of Waveguide Structures and a Structure for a Waveguide Structure Interconnecting Arrangement

Abstract

An arrangement for interconnecting waveguide structures or components including waveguide flange adapter elements with a surface of a conductive material with a periodic or quasi-periodic structure formed by a number of protruding elements that allows waves to pass across a gap between a surface around a waveguide opening to another waveguide opening in a desired direction or path, at least in an intended frequency band of operation, and to stop wave propagation in the gap in other directions. The arrangement includes devices for interconnecting with a waveguide flange or adapter element without requiring electrical contact and assuring that the gap is present between at least one first surface formed by periodically or quasi-periodically arranged protruding elements and a surface around a waveguide opening of the other waveguide flange, hence assuring that the first surface is not in direct mechanical contact with the other, opposite, interconnecting, waveguide flange.

1 .- 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . An arrangement for interconnecting waveguide components, comprising:
 a number of waveguide flange adapter elements comprising a first surface of a conductive material with a periodic or quasi-periodic structure formed by a number of protruding elements that allow waves to pass across a gap between a second surface around a waveguide opening to another waveguide opening in a desired direction or waveguide path, at least in an intended frequency band of operation, and that stop propagation of waves in the gap in other directions;   means for interconnecting a waveguide flange or a waveguide flange adapter element without requiring electrical contact and with assuring that the gap is present between the first surface and a third surface around the other waveguide opening of the other waveguide flange or of another waveguide flange adapter element, hence assuring that the first surface is not in direct mechanical contact with an opposite interconnecting waveguide flange or waveguide flange adapter element;   wherein the gap is smaller than λ/4, where λ is a wavelength in a medium surrounding the protruding elements pins of a waveguide signal to be measured, and the interconnecting means comprises a rim, a ridge, a protective element or layer, or a supportive element or layer that at least partly surrounds surfaces formed by the periodically or quasi-periodically arranged protruding elements.   
     
     
         41 . The arrangement of  claim 40 , further comprising at least one separate, loose, flange adapter element that is releasably disposed between two waveguide flanges interconnected. 
     
     
         42 . The arrangement of  claim 40 , wherein at least one waveguide flange adapter element comprises alignment pin holes substantially symmetrically disposed around, and at a distance from, the first surface, and is aligned with respect to interconnecting waveguide flange or flanges by alignment pins introduced into the alignment pin holes and into cooperating pin holes in the interconnecting waveguide flanges. 
     
     
         43 . The arrangement of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one waveguide flange adapter element is fixedly or releasably connected to a waveguide flange and is slidably arranged on the alignment pins. 
     
     
         44 . The arrangement of  claim 43 , wherein the interconnecting means further comprises interconnecting elements; the at least one waveguide flange adapter element comprises a number of through recesses, protruding sections, or wing portions for receiving the interconnecting elements or portions thereof; the interconnecting elements are connected to at least one interconnecting waveguide flange; the interconnecting elements comprise magnetic elements or magnetic portions adapted for cooperating with magnetic elements of the other interconnecting waveguide flange or with magnetic elements or magnetic portions of interconnecting elements of the other interconnecting waveguide flange, at least some of the interconnecting elements include at least one of snap-on elements, clip-on elements, clamping elements, and fasteners with magnetic heads or elements fixedly or releasably connected thereto; and the at least one waveguide flange adapter element is interposed and aligned between two waveguide flanges, the waveguide flanges are interconnected and the waveguide flange adapter element is held therebetween. 
     
     
         45 . The arrangement of  claim 44 , wherein the interconnecting elements comprise screws or sleeves with protruding portions; the waveguide flange adapter element has a thickness or height that corresponds to substantially twice a height of a screw head or a protruding portion; and interconnecting elements comprising screws are introduced into screw holes in both interconnecting waveguide flanges. 
     
     
         46 . The arrangement of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one waveguide flange adapter element is interconnects two waveguide flanges with smooth surfaces; and the first surface faces one of the smooth waveguide flange surfaces such that the gap less is than λ/4. 
     
     
         47 . The arrangement of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one waveguide flange adapter element is connected to a smooth waveguide flange by fasteners or glue such that the first surface faces away from the waveguide flange to which it is fastened. 
     
     
         48 . The arrangement of  claim 40 , comprising two waveguide flange adapter elements, each comprising a first surface of a conductive material with a periodic or quasi-periodic structure formed by a number of protruding elements; each protruding element of a first set of protruding elements of a first one of the waveguide flange adapter elements faces a protruding element of a second set of protruding elements of the second one of waveguide flange adapter elements; facing protruding elements each have a height or length such that a total height or length of two facing protruding elements is a full length of the periodic or quasi-periodic structure needed to stop propagation of waves inside the gap between the flanges in any direction and to allow waves to pass across the gap from a waveguide opening in one flange surface to a waveguide opening in the other flange surface in an intended frequency band. 
     
     
         49 . The arrangement of  claim 48 , wherein each waveguide flange adapter element comprises four protruding sections or wing sections disposed around its first surface and a hole adapted for receiving an interconnecting element. 
     
     
         50 . The arrangement of  claim 40 , wherein the first surface of the at least one waveguide flange adapter element is optimized for low reflection coefficient and high transmission coefficient between two interconnected waveguide structures; and a height of a protruding element is either between substantially λ/4−λ/2 when the waveguide flange adapter element is interconnected with a waveguide flange with a smooth conductive surface or between λ/8−λ/4 when the waveguide flange adapter element is interconnected with another waveguide flange adapter element. 
     
     
         51 . The arrangement of  claim 50 , further comprising rim or ridge sections that surround the first surface of the at least one waveguide flange adapter element, the rim or ridge sections comprising long rim or ridge sections and short rim or ridge sections that surround wide and narrow sides of the waveguide opening; wherein physical dimensions of the rim or ridge sections are selected with respect to one another; and a pattern of a periodic or quasi-periodic structure and the physical dimensions of the rim or ridge sections are selected with respect to one another to optimize electrical performance. 
     
     
         52 . The arrangement of  claim 51 , wherein a wall thickness of a long rim or ridge section is about Δ g /4, λ g  being a wavelength in the waveguide. 
     
     
         53 . The arrangement of  claim 40 , wherein the protruding elements of the periodic or quasi-periodic structure are arranged in at least one row around the waveguide opening. 
     
     
         54 . The arrangement of  claim 40 , wherein the periodic or quasi-periodic structure provides a stopband for waves leaking out between two interconnected waveguide flanges with the gap, such that waves passing from the waveguide opening in one flange to the waveguide opening in the interconnected flange are unaffected. 
     
     
         55 . The arrangement of  claim 40 , wherein the protruding elements have dimensions and are arranged in a pattern adapted for a desired frequency band. 
     
     
         56 . The arrangement of  claim 40 , comprising one first surface and a waveguide flange. 
     
     
         57 . A surface structure, comprising:
 a periodic or quasi-periodic structure having a number of protruding elements for a waveguide flange as in  claim 40 ;   rim or ridge sections that surround a waveguide opening, around which the periodic or quasi-periodic structure is disposed, wherein the rim or ridge sections comprise long or wide rim or ridge sections and short or narrow rim or ridge sections that surround wide and narrow sides of the waveguide opening; physical dimensions of the rim or ridge sections and physical dimensions and arrangement of the number of protruding elements are selected with respect to one another based on electrical performance.   
     
     
         58 . The surface structure of  claim 57 , wherein the number of protruding elements of the periodic or quasi-periodic structure are arranged in between one and four rows around the waveguide opening.