Patent ID: 8755661

Claim:
An electromagnetic wave propagating structure adapted for use in an electromagnetic wave propagating system that includes a wave emanating block, from which an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength is adapted to propagate in a wave-propagating direction, said electromagnetic wave propagating structure comprising: a main body that has surfaces configured to block propagation of the electromagnetic wave, and that includes an incident side and an exit side opposite to said incident side in the wave-propagating direction, said main body being formed with a plurality of wave-propagating channels that are spaced apart from each other by a distance not greater than the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave, each of said wave-propagating channels extending from said incident side to said exit side and having an inner dimension not greater than half of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave; and wherein said main body defines a central axis in the wave-propagating direction, each of said wave-propagating channels having an incident opening at said incident side of said main body, and an exit opening at said exit side of said main body; wherein said main body is further formed with a plurality of grooves in said exit side, adjacent ones of said grooves being spaced apart from each other by a distance not greater than the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave; wherein the plurality of grooves includes a first groove formed at a first lateral side of a grouping of exactly two of the plurality of wave-propagating channels, and a second groove formed at a second, opposing lateral side of the grouping of exactly two wave-propagating channels, such that exactly two wave-propagating channels are located between the first groove and the second groove in a lateral direction; and wherein at least one of the inner dimension and depth of each of said grooves and the distance between adjacent ones of said grooves is set such that said electromagnetic wave propagating structure is adapted to allow an electromagnetic wave to propagate from the wave emanating block therethrough via said wave-propagating channels for superimposing near the central axis and for continuing to propagate as a super collimated beam.