Automated Design of a 3D Printed Waveguide Surface Coupler

Abstract

We have implemented an automated optimization algorithm which generates de-novo EM structures under specified design objectives. We demonstrated a particular design of a surface coupling antenna which is capable of launching energy efficiently into the main mode of a plastic waveguide. A 3D printer was used to print the designed system to verify our results. The maximum available power gain of the system was measured as 0.128, implying that the coupler achieves an efficiency of at least 36% at the designed center frequency of 9.6GHz. The actual coupler efficiency is believed to be much higher because the polymer used is very lossy in this frequency range.

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