Feedhorn assembly and method of fabrication thereof

Abstract

In a terahertz radiation detection system, such as a terahertz camera, an array of feedhorns feeds detected radiation through waveguides to diode-based mixers for mixing with a local oscillator to produce modulated intermediate frequency (“IF”) signals that can be amplified and used in imaging. The mixers and waveguides are accommodated on the surface of a substrate and multiple substrates can be layered up to support a two-dimensional array of waveguide openings in a face of a waveguide/mixer block. A feedhorn block is brought into register with this face so that each waveguide opening connects with a feedhorn. In order to improve both manufacturing speed and performance, an end portion of each feedhorn is drilled into the opening of a respective waveguide. The main feedhorn block and the waveguide/mixer block are then assembled to bring the main body of each feedhorn into registration with an end portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.