Abstract: An apparatus for calibration of an electronic instrument, such as a vector network analyzer, includes a number of calibrator connector elements for connection to the instrument, and a plate element including a plurality of calibration waveguide structures. The plate element has conductive surfaces, and the calibrator connector elements and conductive surfaces include periodic structures disposed with respect to each other such that gaps are formed between them. An interface enables interconnection of a waveguide of a calibrator connector element, a waveguide of the instrument, and a calibration waveguide structure. The apparatus includes a driving unit and controller for moving the plate element and/or the calibrator connector element to connect the calibrator connector element to different calibration waveguide structures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an RF part of an antenna system is disclosed, as well as thereby producible RF parts. The RF part has at least one surface provided with a plurality of protruding elements. In particular, the RF part may be a gap waveguide. The protruding elements are monolithically formed and fixed on a conducting layer, and all protruding elements are connected electrically to each other at their bases via the conductive layer. The RF part is produced by providing a die having a plurality of recessions forming the negative of the protruding elements of the RF part. The die may be a multilayer die, having several layers, at least some having through-holes to form the recessions. A formable piece of material is arranged on the die, and pressure is applied, thereby compressing the formable piece of material to conform with the recessions of the die.

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.

Abstract: A microwave device, such as a waveguide, transmission line, waveguide circuit, transmission line circuit or radio frequency part of an antenna system, is disclosed. The microwave device comprises two conducting layers arranged with a gap there between, and a set of periodically or quasi-periodically arranged protruding elements fixedly connected to at least one of said conducting layers, thereby forming a texture to stop wave propagation in a frequency band of operation in other directions than along intended waveguiding paths, thus forming a so-called gap waveguide. All protruding elements are connected electrically to each other at their bases at least via the conductive layer on which they are fixedly connected, and some or all of the protruding elements are in conductive or non-conductive contact also with the other conducting layer. A corresponding manufacturing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-grounded bowtie antenna arrangement including an antenna structure including a number of antenna petals including arm sections tapering towards a respective end tip portion and being made of an electrically, conducting material, the end tip portions being arranged to approach a base portion on a first side thereof and to be connected to feeding ports, a specific port being provided for each antenna petal. The base portion includes a conducting ground plane or a Printed Circuit Board, and each antenna petal is made in one piece from a metal sheet or similar, and it is adapted to be fabricated as separate units, and to be mountable onto a front or back side of the base portion or ground plane by means of surface mounting. The ground plane may be a Printed Circuit Board, meaning that the bowties can be mounted by automatic placement and soldering machines.

Abstract: A self-grounded bowtie antenna arrangement includes an antenna structure having a number of antenna petals. An antenna petal has an arm section tapering toward an end tip portion and is made of an electrically conductive material. End tip portions are arranged to approach a first side of a base portion and to connect to feeding ports. The base portion includes a conductive ground plane or a printed circuit board. Each antenna petal is made in one piece from a conductive sheet, such as metal, and is surface-mounted on either the front side or back side of the base portion. Antenna petals can be mounted by automatic placement and soldering (“pick-and-place”) machines.

Abstract: An apparatus for calibration of an electronic instrument, such as a vector network analyzer, includes a number of calibrator connector elements for connection to the instrument, and a plate element including a plurality of calibration waveguide structures. The plate element has conductive surfaces, and the calibrator connector elements and conductive surfaces include periodic structures disposed with respect to each other such that gaps are formed between them. An interface enables interconnection of a waveguide of a calibrator connector element, a waveguide of the instrument, and a calibration waveguide structure. The apparatus includes a driving unit and controller for moving the plate element and/or the calibrator connector element to connect the calibrator connector element to different calibration waveguide structures.

Abstract: A self-grounded antenna arrangement includes a base or central portion in a first plane and a number of arm sections associated with the central portion that taper toward a respective end tip. Each arm section is adapted to form a transition from the central portion and being bent backward toward the central portion by more than 180 degrees so that its end tip approaches a first side of the central portion, at an opening in the central portion. The end tip is connected to a feeder configured to feed, via an arm-section-specific port, one specific port for each arm section. Each arm section has a mixed functionality of a curved monopole antenna and a loop antenna, and the antenna arrangement provides substantially uncoupled ports with far-field functions that are almost orthogonal in polarization, direction, or shape. The arrangement finds use in multiple-input multiple-output antenna systems for statistical multipath environments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an RF part of an antenna system is disclosed, as well as thereby producible RF parts. The RF part has at least one surface provided with a plurality of protruding elements. In particular, the RF part may be a gap waveguide. The protruding elements are monolithically formed and fixed on a conducting layer, and all protruding elements are connected electrically to each other at their bases via the conductive layer. The RF part is produced by providing a die having a plurality of recessions forming the negative of the protruding elements of the RF part. The die may be a multilayer die, having several layers, at least some having through-holes to form the recessions. A formable piece of material is arranged on the die, and pressure is applied, thereby compressing the formable piece of material to conform with the recessions of the die.

Abstract: A microwave/millimeter device having a narrow gap between two parallel surfaces of conducting material by using a texture or multilayer structure on one of the surfaces is disclosed. The fields are mainly present inside the gap, and not in the texture or layer structure itself, so the losses are small. The microwave/millimeter wave device further includes one or more conducting elements, such as a metallized ridge or a groove in one of the two surfaces, or a metal strip located in a multilayer structure between the two surfaces. The waves propagate along the conducting elements. At least one of the surfaces is provided with means to prohibit the waves from propagating in other directions between them than along the ridge, groove or strip. At very high frequency, the gap waveguides and gap lines may be realized inside an IC package or inside the chip itself.

Abstract: A microwave device, such as a waveguide, transmission line, waveguide circuit, transmission line circuit or radio frequency part of an antenna system, is disclosed. The microwave device comprises two conducting layers arranged with a gap there between, and a set of periodically or quasi-periodically arranged protruding elements fixedly connected to at least one of said conducting layers, thereby forming a texture to stop wave propagation in a frequency band of operation in other directions than along intended waveguiding paths, thus forming a so-called gap waveguide. All protruding elements are connected electrically to each other at their bases at least via the conductive layer on which they are fixedly connected, and some or all of the protruding elements are in conductive or non-conductive contact also with the other conducting layer. A corresponding manufacturing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-grounded antenna arrangement includes a base or central portion in a first plane and a number of arm sections associated with the central portion that taper toward a respective end tip. Each arm section is adapted to form a transition from the central portion and being bent backward toward the central portion by more than 180 degrees so that its end tip approaches a first side of the central portion, at an opening in the central portion. The end tip is connected to a feeder configured to feed, via an arm-section-specific port, one specific port for each arm section. Each arm section has a mixed functionality of a curved monopole antenna and a loop antenna, and the antenna arrangement provides substantially uncoupled ports with far-field functions that are almost orthogonal in polarization, direction, or shape. The arrangement finds use in multiple-input multiple-output antenna systems for statistical multipath environments.