Combination conductor-antenna

A combination conductor-antenna apparatus comprising:

• a contact element having a surface extending in a longitudinal direction, the surface defining a passage that extends from an opening at a first end of the contact element to a back wall at a second end of the contact element, said passage adapted to serve as a waveguide for a first signal and to receive a second conductor carrying a second signal making an electrical connection with said surface;
• and
• a pickup element for sensing the electromagnetic energy of the first signal in the passage, the pickup element extending into the passage from the surface in a direction normal to the surface,
• wherein the surface is electrically conductive, and
• wherein the surface is shaped so as to convert circular mode electromagnetic waves entering the opening into rectangular mode waves.

In a combination antenna-conductor connector,

• a surface extending in a longitudinal direction, the surface defining a passage that extends from an opening at a first end of the surface to a back wall at a second end of the surface, said passage adapted to serve as a waveguide and to receive a conductor making an electrical connection with said surface;
• and
• a pickup element for injecting and/or sensing electromagnetic energy in the passage, the pickup element extending into the passage from the surface in a direction normal to the surface,
• wherein the surface is shaped so as to convert circular mode electromagnetic waves entering the opening into rectangular mode waves,
• wherein the surface includes a contacting section that is electrically conductive and extends from the opening towards the back wall,
• wherein the surface includes a pickup section that is electrically conductive and extends from the back wall towards the opening,
• wherein the pickup element extends from the pickup section of the surface,
• wherein a distance d between the pickup element and the back wall satisfies the following relationship:
• d
• =
• 1
• 4
• ⁢
• λ
• g
• =
• 1
• 4
• ⁢
• λ
• o
• (
• 1
• -
• λ
• o
• λ
• c
• )
• 2
• where λg is a wavelength of an operating frequency of the contact element, λc is a lower dominant mode cutoff wavelength of the operating frequency, and λo is a wavelength of the operating frequency in free space, and
• wherein the opening is circular and has a radius r that satisfies the following equation:
• r
• =
• λ
• c
• k
• where λc is a lower dominant mode cutoff wavelength of an operating frequency of the contact element and k is a constant associated with an operating mode of the contact element.