Connector for dielectric waveguides

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016308266-A1
Application number	US-201615096961-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 12, 2016
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to a connector for a dielectric waveguide. In accordance with one embodiment, the connector includes a connector housing that forms a receptacle operably receiving the dielectric waveguide through an opening in the housing. Furthermore, the connector includes an antenna coupled to the connector housing and electromagnetically coupled to the dielectric waveguide when inserted in the opening of the connector housing.

First claim

1 . A connector for a dielectric waveguide, comprising:
a connector housing forming a receptacle operably receiving the dielectric waveguide through an opening in the housing; and an antenna coupled to the connector housing and electromagnetically coupled to the dielectric waveguide when inserted in the opening in the connector housing.

2 . The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured to:
radiate an RF signal, as electromagnetic signal, towards the opening in the connector housing; and/or convert an electromagnetic signal received from the dielectric waveguide when inserted in the opening in the connector housing into a corresponding RF signal.

3 . The connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the antenna is attached to a back side of a rear wall of the connector housing or embedded in the rear wall of the connector housing..

4 . The connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the connector housing is made of plastic and the antenna is molded in the connector housing.

5 . The connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein a shielding is attached to a front side of a rear wall of the connector housing, the shielding being made of metal to shield electromagnetic radiation.

6 . The connector according to claim 5 ,
wherein the shielding has an opening, which is arranged such that the RF signal is radiated from the antenna through the opening of the shielding.

7 . The connector according to claim 5 ,
wherein the shielding comprises a metal sleeve attached to a the front side of the rear wall of the connector housing, the metal sleeve operably receiving an end-portion of the dielectric waveguide.

8 . The connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein a shielding is attached to the connector housing, the shielding being made of metal to shield electromagnetic radiation, and the shielding being arranged to shield radiation from the antenna in a direction away from the dielectric waveguide.

9 . The connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein a reflector is attached to the connector housing and configured to reflect radiation, which propagates away from the opening in the connector housing, back towards the opening in the connector housing.

10 . The connector according to claim 9 ,
wherein the reflector is formed such that the reflected radiation is focused into the dielectric waveguide when inserted in the opening in the connector housing.

11 . The connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the antenna is included in a chip package and the chip package is attached to the connector housing.

12 . The connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the connector housing is made of plastic and the antenna is molded in the connector housing together with an RF semiconductor chip that includes an RF frontend circuit for generating or receiving the RF signal.

13 . The connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the connector housing comprises stiffeners, which are arranged in the interior of the connector housing and are attached to inner surfaces of the connector housing.

14 . The connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the antenna is mechanically attached to the connector housing.

15 . The connector according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a further waveguide arranged to guide the RF signal radiated from the antenna towards the connector housing.

16 . The connector according to claim 15 ,
wherein the further waveguide is a plastic fiber or a hollow waveguide or an RF coaxial cable.

17 . The connector according to claim 15 ,
wherein the antenna is integrated in a chip package spaced apart from the connector housing.

18 . The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the connector housing includes at least one further opening for receiving at least one further dielectric waveguide.

19 . The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the connector housing includes at least one metal contact.

20 . A device for coupling a dielectric waveguide, the device comprising:
an RF frontend circuit integrated in a chip package and configured to generate and/or receive an RF signal; a connector housing forming a receptacle operably receiving the dielectric waveguide through an opening in the housing; an antenna coupled to the RF frontend circuit.

21 . The device according to claim 20 , wherein the antenna is configured to:
receive the RF signal from the RF frontend and to radiate the RF signal towards the opening in the connector housing, and/or to convert an electromagnetic signal received from the dielectric waveguide into the an corresponding electric signal and supply the electric signal, as the RF signal, to the RF frontend.

22 . The device according to claim 20 ,
wherein the antenna is attached to or embedded in a rear wall of the connector housing.

23 . The device according to claim 20 ,
wherein the antenna is integrated in the chip package and the chip package is attached to or embedded in a rear wall of the connector housing.

24 . The device according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a circuit board carrying the connector housing.

25 . The device according to claim 24 ,
wherein the chip package is attached to the circuit board and electrically connected to the antenna.

26 . The device according to claim 24 ,
wherein the antenna is integrated in the chip package, and wherein the chip package is attached to the circuit board.

27 . The device of claim 26 ,
wherein the antenna integrated in the chip package is coupled to the connector housing by a further waveguide.

28 . A connector system, comprising:
a plug arranged at an end-portion of a dielectric waveguide; a connector housing forming a receptacle configured to receive the plug with the dielectric waveguide through an opening in the connector housing; and an antenna coupled to the connector housing and configured to: radiate an electric RF signal, as electromagnetic signal, towards the end-portion of the dielectric waveguide and/or configured to convert an electromagnetic signal received from the dielectric waveguide to an electric RF signal.

29 . The connector system according to claim 28 , further comprising:
a circuit board carrying the connector housing.

30 . The connector system according to claim 29 , further comprising:
an RF frontend circuit arranged in a chip package, the RF frontend circuit being configured to generate the RF signal.

31 . The connector system according to claim 30 ,
wherein the antenna is attached to or embedded in the connector housing.

32 . The connector system according to claim 30 ,
wherein the antenna is integrated in the chip package.

33 . The connector system according to claim 32 ,
wherein the chip package is attached to or embedded in the connector housing.

34 . The connector system according to claim 32 ,
wherein the chip package is attached to the circuit board, and wherein the system comprises a further waveguide that guides the electromagnetic signal radiated by the antenna towards the connector housing for coupling the electromagnetic signal into the dielectric waveguide.

35 . The connector system according to claims 32 ,
wherein the chip package is attached to the circuit board, and wherein the system

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Hammerschmidt Dirk

Classifications

• H01P5/08

  for linking dissimilar lines or devices (H01P1/16, H01P5/04 take precedence; linking lines of the same kind but with different dimensions H01P5/02) · CPC title

• H01Q1/50 Primary

  Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors · CPC title

• H01P5/087 Primary

  Transitions to a dielectric waveguide · CPC title

• H01P3/16

  Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor · CPC title

• G02B1/045

  Light guides · CPC title