Patent ID: 7423497

Claim:
A coupling device comprising: a non-radiative dielectric (NRD) electromagnetic waveguide comprising spaced apart top and bottom electrically conductive layers, and a dielectric strip therebetween having a tapered transition for coupling with an external transmission source; and a suspended stripline (SSL) electromagnetic waveguide being coupled to said NRD electromagnetic waveguide so that electromagnetic energy transfers therebetween, said SSL electromagnetic waveguide comprising an electrically conductive strip being configured as a stepped impedance probe for providing the coupling to said NRD electromagnetic waveguide, an electrically conductive housing surrounding said electrically conductive strip, and at least one dielectric member suspending said electrically conductive strip within said electrically conductive housing; said electrically conductive strip of said SSL electromagnetic waveguide and said dielectric strip of said NRD electromagnetic waveguide being physically separated from each other for reducing insertion loss.