A Radio-Frequency (RF) waveguide comprising at least a folded sheet (3) is described, wherein the sheet comprises a first layer made of a plastic, and at least a second layer made of a electric conductive material. Furthermore a method for manufacturing such a RF waveguide plus a device to perform said method is described.
Description
Brief description of the drawings, with
FIG. 1 showing schematically a combined laminated sheet before folding it to an electric conductor,
FIG. 2 showing schematically the combined laminated sheet of FIG. 1 after folding it to an electric conductor, and
FIG. 3 showing three different embodiments of waveguides comprising a folded combined laminated sheet.
Claims
1. Radio-Frequency (RF) waveguide comprising at least a folded sheet, wherein the sheet comprises a first layer made of a plastic, and at least a second layer made of an electric conductive material.
2. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that the margin ends of the folded sheet are overlapping.
3. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that the margin ends of the folded sheet are connected with each other by hemming and/or crimping.
4. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet is embossed and/or corrugated.
5. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the second layer lies between 10 to 100 μm.
6. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic first layer is made of Polyolefin or Polyethyleneterephtalat or Polyimide or another suitable plastics.
7. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic first layer is provided with additives and/or reinforcements.
8. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the plastic first layer sustains temperatures allowing soldering the conductors of waveguides to be connected with each other.
9. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic foil is provided with a fiberglass cloth.
10. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that the combined laminated sheet is wrapped with a fire proof strip or wire.
11. RF waveguide according to claim 1, characterized by openings in the electric conductive second layer providing radiation properties.
12. RF waveguide according to claim 11, characterized in that said openings are achieved by etching or silk screen process printing techniques.
13. Method for manufacturing a RF waveguide according to one of the previous claims, including the steps of:
laminating a foil of plastic with at least one electric conductive material in order to get a combined laminated sheet with at least a first layer of a plastic foil and at least one second layer of an electric conductive material, andfolding said combined, laminated sheet to a substantially cylindrical conductor
14. Method according to claim 13, wherein after folding, the joint between the margin ends of the combined, laminated sheet that are adjacent after folding the cylindrical conductor are hemmed and/or crimped.
15. Method according to claim 13, wherein openings are arranged in the electric conductive second layer providing radiation properties.
16. Device to perform the method of claim 13, characterized by
means to laminate a foil of plastic with at least one electric conductive material in order to get a combined laminated sheet with at least a first layer of a plastic foil and at least one second layer of an electric conductive material, andmeans to fold said combined, laminated sheet to a substantially cylindrical conductor.
Patent Application
20070171007
