Micromachined contactless pin-flange adapter for robust high-frequency measurements

• Published in: Journal of micromechanics and microengineering 2014-08, Vol.24 (8), p.84004-12
• Main Authors: Rahiminejad, S, Pucci, E, Haasl, S, Enoksson, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adapters; Chokes; Exact sciences and technology; Flanges; gap waveguide; GHz; high-frequency measurement; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Joints; Mechanical instruments, equipment and techniques; metamaterial; Micromachining; Micromechanical devices and systems; Micromechanics; Physics; pin-flange adapter; RF MEMS; Waveguides
• ISSN: 0960-1317; 1361-6439; 1361-6439
• DOI: 10.1088/0960-1317/24/8/084004

We present the first micromachined double-sided contactless WR03 pin-flange adapter for 220-325 GHz based on gap waveguide technology. The pin-flange adapter is used to avoid leakage at the interface of two waveguides even when a gap between them is present and can be fitted onto any standard WR03 waveguide flange. Tolerance measurements were performed with gaps ranging from 30-100 µm. The performance of the micromachined pin flange has been compared to a milled pin flange, a choke flange and to standard waveguide connections. The micromachined pin flange is shown to have better performance than the standard connection and similar performance to the milled pin flange and choke flange. The benefits of micromachining over milling are the possibility to mass produce pin flanges and the better accuracy in the 2D design. Measurements were performed with and without screws fixing the flanges. The flanges have also been applied to measure two devices, a straight rectangular waveguide of 1.01 inch and a ridge gap resonator. In all cases, the micromachined pin flange performed flawlessly while the standard flange experienced significant losses at already small gaps.