WAVEGUIDES
A dielectric waveguide comprising a dielectric probe at each end, wherein the dielectric probes are arranged to transfer energy.
The present invention relates to waveguides, and particularly, although not exclusively to low cost dielectric waveguides for sub-millimetres/Terahertz(sub-mm/THz) applications.
BACKGROUNDWaveguides is an indispensible technology widely used in different technology fields such as wireless and wire-line communications, metrology, sensing and security. In particular, dielectric waveguides have been used in transmission line applications as well as in waveguide circuits to confine, process and transmit light over various distances. For example, dielectric waveguides are used to transmit light over thousands of kilometers (km) in long-distance fibre-optic transmission. In another application, dielectric waveguides are used in integrated photonics for light processing and transmission over tens or hundreds of micrometers (μm).
Dielectric waveguides of different size, shape, material and form are required for different applications. For sub-millimetres/Terahertz frequency applications of guided-waves, waveguide circuits with small dimension are desired in order to satisfy the associated single-mode and modal-operation conditions. However, the fabrication of small dimension waveguides, especially those made with metallic materials is particularly challenging. Moreover, metallic waveguides for sub-millimetres/terahertz frequency applications are relatively inflexible and costly to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dielectric waveguide comprising a dielectric probe at each end, wherein the dielectric probes are arranged to transfer energy.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, a core or a cladding or both the core and the cladding of the dielectric waveguide are made of polymeric materials.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the polymeric materials include thermoplastics or a combination of thermoplastic materials.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the polymeric materials include one of polyethylene or polypropylene or combinations thereof. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dielectric waveguide is fabricated by injection moulding.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dielectric waveguide is fabricated in a single mould.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dielectric waveguide is a planar waveguide.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dielectric probes are tapered.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dielectric probes have a linear tapered form. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dielectric probes are power adaptor probes.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dielectric waveguide is arranged to operate at sub millimeter (Sub-mm) or terahertz(THz) frequencies. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the terahertz (THz) frequencies comprise frequencies larger than 60 GHz.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dielectric waveguide has a propagation loss less than 0.5 dB/cm.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dielectric waveguide is fabricated in multiple moulds.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
In this embodiment, the waveguide 100 is a dielectric waveguide arranged to be used for sub-millimetres/terahertz(sub-mm/THz) frequency applications of guided-waves. Preferably, the operation frequency of the waveguide 100 is above 100 GHz. More preferably, the operation frequency of the waveguide 100 is above 60 GHz. In other embodiments, the dielectric waveguide 100 can be arranged to be used in other frequencies.
As shown in
The dielectric waveguide 100 as shown in
To measure the optical properties of polyethylene and polypropylene, materials that can potentially be used to make the dielectric waveguides 100 of
The refractive indices and absorption coefficients of polyethylene and polypropylene materials measured in different frequencies are shown in
Referring now to
Since the mode profiles between the metallic waveguides 302 of the analyser 300 and the dielectric rectangular waveguides 100 are different, dielectric probes 104 that are linearly tapered in both x and y directions are arrange at both ends of the dielectric waveguide 100 for transferring energy smoothly to and from the I/O ports 302 over a broad range of frequency. The incorporation of these probes 104 to the dielectric waveguides 100 can be easily accomplished by using injection moulding in which complicated structures can be made in a single or multiple moulds.
As the coupling loss is due to two transitions, the coupling loss per transition between the metallic and the dielectric waveguides should be halved. As shown in
The embodiments of the present invention are distinctive in that the thermoplastic dielectric waveguides are produced by injection moulding and the dielectric waveguides fabricated have low propagation loss. By using injection moulding to manufacture the thermoplastic dielectric waveguides, highly detailed structures can be stamped out with relative ease and at a relatively low cost. Therefore, the dielectric waveguides of the present invention can be mass produced cost effectively. On the other hand, different thermoplastics and blended polymers can be used to manufacture the dielectric waveguides. These different materials may potentially provide valuable new functionalities to waveguide circuits. In sum, these factors together present a versatile and low-cost THz waveguide circuit platform in accordance with the present invention.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.
Claims
1. A dielectric waveguide comprising a dielectric probe at each end, wherein the dielectric probes are arranged to transfer energy.
2. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 1, wherein a core or a cladding or both the core and the cladding of the dielectric waveguide are made of polymeric materials.
3. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 2, wherein the polymeric materials include thermoplastics or a combination of thermoplastic materials.
4. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 3, wherein the polymeric materials include one of polyethylene or polypropylene or combinations thereof.
5. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 2, wherein the dielectric waveguide is fabricated by injection moulding.
6. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 5, wherein the dielectric waveguide is fabricated in a single mould.
7. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 5, wherein the dielectric waveguide is fabricated in multiple moulds.
8. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dielectric waveguide is a planar waveguide.
9. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dielectric probes are tapered.
10. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 9, wherein the dielectric waveguide is operates at sub millimeter (Sub-mm) or terahertz (THz) frequencies.
11. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 9, wherein the dielectric probes have a linear tapered form.
12. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 11, wherein the dielectric waveguide is operates at sub millimeter (Sub-mm) or terahertz (THz) frequencies.
13. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dielectric probes are power adaptor probes.
14. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 13, wherein the dielectric waveguide is operates at sub millimeter (Sub-mm) or terahertz (THz) frequencies.
15. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dielectric waveguide is operates at sub millimeter (Sub-mm) or terahertz (THz) frequencies.
16. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 15, wherein the terahertz (THz) frequencies comprise frequencies larger than 60 GHz.
17. A dielectric waveguide in accordance with claim 16, wherein the dielectric waveguide has a propagation loss less than 0.5 dB/cm.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 3, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 8, 2015
Inventors: Sai Tak Chu (Kowloon), Jacky Ping Yuen Tsui (Kowloon), Peng Zhou (Kowloon), Edwin Yue Bun Pun (Kowloon)
Application Number: 13/934,437