Wide band end launcher for coaxial line to co-planar waveguide
AssigneeUnited States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
InventorsManohar Deshpande, Eleanya Onuma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This application describes an apparatus and system for a Wide band end launcher to convert a signal in a coaxial line to a CPW line. The apparatus uses a transition zone which gradually tapers in two inclined planes from the coaxial line to the CPW line, connecting the central conductor of the coaxial line to the central conductor of the CPW line. In addition, the outer conductor of the coaxial line is connected to the ground plates of the CPW line. This allows for high bandwidth transfers between the two types of lines for accurate measurements and other purposes.
Claims8
An end launcher designed to interface between a coaxial line and a co-planar waveguide (CPW) line;
- said end launcher comprising:
- a coaxial end, which comprises the coaxial line, wherein the coaxial end is arranged as a coaxial cable with a center conductor in the center of the coaxial cable and an outer conductor on the exterior of the coaxial cable;
- a co-planar waveguide end, wherein the CPW line is etched on the top surface of a silicon wafer and comprises a center conductor, two ground plates, one located on either side of the center conductor, and two slots, one located between the center conductor and each of the ground plates;
- a transition region, the transition region comprising a conductor, wherein the shape of the conductor gradually transitions from the two slots in the CPW line to the coaxial line to align an electric field at the transition region between the coaxial cable and co-planar waveguide end;
- wherein the end launcher further comprises an additional transition zone in the transition region, located closer to the coaxial end with the electric field with a gradual transition in the transition area, preventing a sudden shift in the electric field and providing a wider bandwidth to be transmitted between the CPW line and coaxial line.
A system for transmitting a signal from a co-planar waveguide to a coaxial cable, said system comprising:
- a coplanar waveguide etched on one side of a silicon wafer, comprising a center conductor plate and two ground plates separated by two grooves in the silicon wafer,
- a coaxial cable comprising an outer conductor which can be connected to ground and an inner conductor;
- an end launcher comprising a transition area, wherein the transition area changes shape from a coaxial line at one end narrowing to align with the center conductor of a CPW line at the other end;
- wherein the inner conductor of the coaxial cable is connected through the transition region to the center conductor of the CPW line and wherein the outer conductor of the coaxial cable is connected to the outer ground regions of the coplanar waveguide to align an electric field at the transition region between the coaxial cable and co-planar waveguide end;
- wherein the end launcher further comprises an additional transition zone in the transition region, located closer to the coaxial end with the electric field with a gradual transition in the transition area, preventing a sudden shift in the electric field and providing a wider bandwidth to be transmitted between the CPW line and coaxial line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.