Deployable electromagnetic waveguides
Embodiments relate to a deployable and/or reconfigurable waveguide and waveguide-based components that can be configured to various states of length along a longitudinal axis such that the waveguide is an expandable structure. The waveguide can be expanded or unfolded to an expanded (or deployed) state, and the waveguide can be compressed or folded to a compressed state. The deployable waveguide comprises a hollow tube extending in a longitudinal direction. The hollow tube may be folded according to various different origami-inspired folding patterns.
1 . A deployable waveguide, comprising:
a hollow tube extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall,
wherein the hollow tube is folded according to an origami-inspired folding pattern,
wherein the hollow tube is folded according to the folding pattern such that:
the first side wall has a plurality of first cross-sectional creases,
the second side wall has a plurality of second cross-sectional creases opposite of the first cross-sectional creases of the first side wall,
the top wall has a first longitudinal crease, and
the bottom wall has a second longitudinal crease opposite of the first longitudinal crease of the top wall.
2 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is reconfigurable to various states of length along the longitudinal direction.
3 . The deployable waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the waveguide is reconfigurable between a compressed state of length and an expanded state of length.
4 . The deployable waveguide of claim 3 , wherein a cross-sectional profile at a first end of the waveguide is smaller than a cross-section profile at a second end of the waveguide such that the waveguide expands in a transverse direction when in the expanded state of length.
5 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube comprises an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the interior surface comprises a conductive material.
6 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first cross-sectional creases includes first concave creases and first convex creases following an alternating pattern, and wherein the plurality of second cross-sectional creases includes second concave creases and second convex creases following an alternating pattern.
7 . The deployable waveguide of claim 6 , wherein each first concave crease is opposite of each second convex crease, and wherein each first convex crease is opposite of each second concave crease.
8 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal crease and second longitudinal creases are concave creases.
9 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal crease and second longitudinal creases are convex creases.
10 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is selected from the group consisting of a straight waveguide, a twisted waveguide, and E-Bend waveguide, an H-Bend waveguide, and a magic tee waveguide.
11 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is a slotted waveguide antenna comprising at least one slot.
12 . The deployable waveguide of claim 11 , wherein the at least one slot is positioned in a predetermined arrangement such that the waveguide achieves a desired radiation pattern when the waveguide is in an expanded state of length.
13 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is a directional coupler.
14 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is a waveguide transition.
15 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is a filter selected from the group consisting of a band-pass filter, a band-stop filter, a high-pass filter, and a low-pass filter.
16 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is a splitter configured to split microwave power.
17 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is a combiner configured to combine microwave power.
18 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is an attenuator configured to reduce microwave power.
19 . The deployable waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is a resonant cavity.
20 . A deployable waveguide assembly, comprising:
the deployable waveguide of claim 1 ;
a first flange connected to a first end of the hollow tube; and
a second flange connected to a second end of the hollow tube.