RF connector mechanically configurable between a wireless and wired radio frequency transmission and a method of operating thereof
In accordance with an embodiment, a connector is mechanically configurable between a wireless radio frequency transmission and a wired radio frequency transmission via a cylindrical dielectric radio frequency waveguide. The connector includes: a first package assembled to a printed circuit board provided with a radio frequency antenna; and a second package configured to be assembled to the waveguide, wherein the second package is configured to be removably assembled to the first package in the wired radio frequency transmission configuration and is separated from the first package in the wireless radio frequency transmission configuration.
1 . A connector mechanically configurable between a wireless radio frequency transmission and a wired radio frequency transmission via a cylindrical dielectric radio frequency waveguide, the connector comprising:
a first package assembled to a printed circuit board provided with a radio frequency (RF) antenna; and
a second package configured to be assembled to the waveguide, wherein the second package is configured to be removably assembled to the first package in the wired radio frequency transmission configuration and is separated from the first package in the wireless radio frequency transmission configuration,
wherein the connector is operable in the wireless radio frequency transmission configuration when the second package is separated from the first package such that radio frequency signals radiate from the RF antenna into free space without propagation through the waveguide, and
wherein the connector is operable in the wired radio frequency transmission configuration when the second package is removably assembled to the first package such that radio frequency signals are coupled from the RF antenna into the waveguide for guided-wave transmission.
2 . The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first package comprises a first cavity having a circular transverse cross-section around the RF antenna, the first cavity emerging onto a first surface of the first package and having a wall made of a material configured to block radio frequency waves;
the second package comprises a second cavity having a circular transverse cross-section around an end of the waveguide when the waveguide is assembled to the second package, the second cavity emerging onto a second surface of the second package and having a wall made of a material configured to block radio frequency waves; and
the first and second surfaces are configured to be in contact and the first and second cavities are configured to be placed end-to-end in the wired radio frequency transmission configuration.
3 . The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity placed end-to-end define a third cavity, an area of coupling of the RF antenna to the waveguide being arranged in the third cavity.
4 . The connector according to claim 3 , wherein a diameter of the third cavity is larger at a level of the area of coupling.
5 . The connector according to claim 3 , wherein the first cavity comprises a chamfer on a side of the first surface and the second cavity comprises a corresponding chamfer on a side of the second surface.
6 . The connector according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first cavity is longitudinally aligned with a transmission direction of the RF antenna and the second cavity is longitudinally aligned with the end of the waveguide when the waveguide and the second package are assembled together; and
the second cavity is longitudinally aligned with the first cavity when the second package is removably assembled to the first package.
7 . The connector according to claim 2 , wherein:
the waveguide is surrounded with a foam sheath upstream of the end;
the second package is configured to tightly encircle the foam sheath of the waveguide while exerting a pressure on the foam sheath when the waveguide and the second package are assembled together; and
the foam sheath does not extend to the end of the waveguide in the second cavity.
8 . The connector according to claim 7 , wherein:
the second package comprises, on a side of the second cavity opposite to the second surface, a ring having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of the waveguide and smaller than the diameter of the foam sheath; and
the foam sheath abuts against the ring when the waveguide and the second package are assembled together.
9 . The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the end of the waveguide is flush with the second surface, or is recessed by less than one millimeter with respect to the second surface, when the waveguide and the second package are assembled together.
10 . The connector according to claim 2 , wherein:
the second package comprises two portions fastened to each other, each of the two portions defining a portion of the second cavity; and
a contact plane between the two portions is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the second cavity.
11 . The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the RF antenna is arranged entirely inside the first cavity.
12 . The connector according to claim 2 , wherein an integrated circuit chip configured to receive a radio frequency signal of the RF antenna and/or to deliver a radio frequency signal to the RF antenna is intended to be assembled on the printed circuit board, and a radio frequency transmission line of the printed circuit board is configured to couple the integrated circuit chip assembled on the printed circuit board to the RF antenna.
13 . The connector according to claim 12 , wherein:
the radio frequency transmission line comprises a bandpass radio frequency filter coupling the integrated circuit chip to the RF antenna; and
the bandpass radio frequency filter is integrated to a substrate of the printed circuit board, or the bandpass radio frequency filter is filled with air and integrated to the substrate of the printed circuit board.
14 . The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second packages are configured to block radio frequency waves.
15 . The connector according to claim 14 , wherein the first package and the second package are made of:
a metal;
a metal alloy;
plastic coated with the metal; or
plastic coated with the metal alloy.
16 . The connector according to claim 15 , wherein the metal or the metal alloy comprises aluminum.
17 . The connector according to claim 1 , configured for radio frequency transmissions at 60 GHz.
18 . A connector mechanically configurable between a wireless radio frequency transmission and a wired radio frequency transmission via a dielectric radio frequency waveguide, the connector comprising:
a first package assembled to a printed circuit board provided with a radio frequency antenna, the first package comprising a first cavity having a transverse cross-section around the RF antenna, wherein
the first cavity emerges onto a first surface of the first package,
the first cavity has a wall made of a material configured to block radio frequency waves, and
the first cavity is configured to be removably assembled to a second package in the wired radio frequency transmission configuration and is separated from the second package in the wireless radio frequency transmission configuration,
wherein the second package is configured to be assembled to the waveguide, the second package comprises a second cavity having a transverse cross-section around an end of the waveguide when the waveguide is assembled to the second package, the transverse cross-section of the first cavity has the same shape as the transverse cross-section of the second cavity, the second cavity emerging onto a second surface of the second package and has a wall made of a material configured to block radio frequency waves, the first and second surfaces being configured to be in contact and the first cavity and the second cavity are configured to be placed end-to-end in the wired radio frequency transmission configuration.
19 . The connector of claim 18 , wherein the connector is operable in the wireless radio frequency transmission configuration when the second package is separated from the first package such that radio frequency signals radiate from the radio frequency antenna into free space without propagation through the waveguide, and
wherein the connector is operable in the wired radio frequency transmission configuration when the second package is removably assembled to the first package such that radio frequency signals are coupled from the radio frequency antenna into the waveguide for guided-wave transmission.
20 . A method of operating a connector mechanically configurable between a wireless radio frequency transmission and a wired radio frequency transmission via a cylindrical dielectric radio frequency waveguide, the method comprising:
affixing a first package to a second package, wherein:
the first package is assembled to a printed circuit board provided with a radio frequency antenna and comprises a first cavity having a transverse cross-section around the RF antenna,
first cavity emerges onto a first surface of the first package,
the second package comprises a second cavity having a transverse cross-section that has a same shape as the transverse cross-section of the first cavity,
the second cavity emerges onto a second surface of the second package and has a wall made of a material configured to block radio frequency waves; and
affixing the first package to the second package comprises placing the first and second surfaces in contact with each other such that the first and second cavities are placed end-to-end; and
inserting the waveguide into the second cavity.