Abstract: A circuit (100) for processing radio frequency signals includes a substrate (50) where the circuit can be placed. The substrate can be a meta-material and can incorporate at least one dielectric layer (20, 30, or 40). The circuit such as a three port circuit and at least one ground can be coupled to the substrate. The dielectric layer can include a first region (40) with a first set of substrate properties and a second region (20) with a second set of substrate properties. Substrate properties can include permittivity and permeability. A portion (32 or 46) of the three port circuit can be selectively coupled to the second region. The permittivity and/or permeability of the second region can be higher than the permittivity and/or permeability of the first region. The increased permittivities and/or permeabilities can reduce a size of the three port circuit and effect a change in a variety of electrical characteristics associated with the three port circuit.

Abstract: A transmission line structure for reduced coupling of signals between circuit elements. The structure includes an RF transmission line disposed on a circuit board (100) formed from a dielectric substrate material. The RF transmission line includes an elongated conductive metal trace (110) and has opposed elongated edge portions. The structure also includes a pair of elongated substrate boundary regions (105) coextensive with at least a portion of the elongated conductive metal trace (110). Each of the boundary regions (105) is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the opposing edge portions to define an elongated substrate channel region (205). A pair of conductive metal traces (410) can be disposed on the substrate channel region (205) within the substrate boundary regions (105). The conductive metal traces (410) are spaced apart by an intermediate substrate region (405) and are parallel to each other.

Abstract: An RF filter that includes a substrate having a plurality of regions, each having respective substrate properties including a relative permeability and a relative permittivity. At least one filter section is coupled to one of the regions of the substrate which has different substrate properties in comparison to other regions. Other filter sections can be coupled to other substrate regions having different substrate properties. The permeability and/or permittivity can be controlled by the addition of meta-materials to the substrate and/or by the creation of voids in the substrate. The RF filter can be a stepped impedance filter. One filter section includes a transmission line section having an impedance influenced by the region of the substrate on which the filter section is disposed. The transmission line section construction can be a microstrip, buried microstrip, or stripline. A supplemental layer of the substrate can be disposed beneath the filter section.

Abstract: A circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The circuit can include a substrate board that has at least one dielectric layer (100) having a first set of substrate properties over a first region (102). The first set of substrate properties can include a first permittivity and a first permeability. A second region (140) can be provided with a set of second substrate properties. The second region can have a second set of substrate properties including a second permittivity and a second permeability. The second permittivity can be different than the first permittivity and/or the second permeability can be different than the first permeability. A first transmission line (102) having at least one discontinuity can be coupled to the second region (108). The discontinuity can include a bend, corner, non-uniformity, break in the transmission line, or a junction between the first transmission line and a second transmission line.

Abstract: A printed circuit (100) for processing radio frequency signals includes a substrate (110) including substrate regions (101, 103, 105, 111, and 119) upon which the printed circuit can be placed. The circuit is a lowpass filter including a transformer line section (112), at least a first stub section (114 or 116), and transmission line sections (117) interconnecting the transformer line section with at least the first stub section. The transformer line section, the transmission line sections, and at least the first stub section are coupled to respective substrate regions that have substrate characteristics that are each independently customizable. The circuit further comprises at least one ground or ground plane (120) coupled to the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The resonant circuit includes a substrate. The substrate can be a meta material and can incorporate at least one substrate layer. A resonant line and at least one ground can be coupled to the substrate. An end of the resonant line can electrically shorted to the ground or electrically open with respect to ground. The substrate layer can include a first region with a first set of substrate properties and at least a second region with a second set of substrate properties. At least a portion of the resonant line can be coupled to the second region. The first and/or second set of substrate properties can be differentially modified to vary a permittivity and/or a permeability over a selected region. A third region can be provided with a third set of substrate properties as well.

Abstract: An antenna formed on a dielectric substrate including at least a first and second dielectric substrate region. One or more antenna-radiating element is formed on the first region of the dielectric substrate and defines a conductive path. Feed circuitry for the antenna can be formed on the second region of the dielectric substrate. The feed circuitry can comprise a balun, an impedance transformer, and/or a feed line. The dielectric substrate in the first region can preferably have a first relative permeability and/or first permittivity different from a second relative permeability and/or a second permittivity of the dielectric substrate of the second region.

Abstract: A printed circuit log periodic dipole array (LPDA) includes dipole elements with arms having reduced size through use of high effective permittivity substrate portions. The radiation efficiency degradation generally associated with use of a high permittivitty substrate can be be reduced through addition of magnetic particles to provide enhanced permeability in the high permittivity regions. The substrate preferably includes meta-materials. The feed line can provide a broadband transformation by being configured as a plurality of segments having quarter wave electrical lengths.

Abstract: A circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The circuit includes a substrate where the circuit can be placed. The substrate can be a meta material and can incorporate at least one dielectric layer. A quarter-wave transformer and at least one ground can be coupled to the substrate. The dielectric layer can include a first region with a first set of substrate properties and a second region with a second set of substrate properties. Substrate properties can include a permittivity and a permeability. A substantial portion of the quarter-wave transformer can be coupled to the second region. The permittivity and/or permeability of the second region can be higher than the permittivity and/or permeability of the first region.

Abstract: A reactive element of selected value is integrated within a circuit board substrate. At least one conductive path is provided for defining a circuit element. The conductive path is selectively formed on first characteristic regions of a circuit board substrate. The substrate in the first characteristic regions can have a first permeability and first permittivity. One or more reactive elements can be interposed between portions of the conductive path. In particular, the reactive element can be formed on a second characteristic region of the substrate having a second permittivity and second permeability. Either the first permittivity, the first permeability, or both characteristics of the first regions can be different respectively from the second permittivity and the second permeability of the second characteristic region of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dipole antenna of reduced size and with improved impedance bandwidth. The antenna is preferably formed on a dielectric substrate having a plurality of regions, each having a characteristic relative permeability and permittivity. First and second dipole radiating element defining conductive paths can be selectively formed on first characteristic regions of the substrate having a first characteristic permeability and first permittivity. A reactive coupling element can be interposed between the dipole radiating elements for reactively coupling the first dipole radiating element to the second dipole radiating element.

Abstract: A printed circuit for processing radio frequency signals includes a substrate including substrate regions upon which the printed circuit can be placed. The circuit is a coupled line filter including a plurality of resonator elements. The plurality of resonator line elements are at least partially coupled to respective substrate regions that have substrate characteristics that are each independently customizable. The circuit further comprises at least one ground or ground plane (50) coupled to the substrate.

Abstract: The invention concerns an efficient loop antenna of reduced size. The antenna is formed on a dielectric substrate disposed on a conductive ground plane. The substrate has a plurality of regions of differing substrate characteristics. An elongated conductive antenna element is arranged in the form of a loop and disposed on a first region of the substrate. The antenna element can have first and second adjacent end portions separated by a gap. The first region of the substrate has a relative permeability that is higher as compared to a second region of the substrate on which the remainder of the circuitry is disposed. According to one aspect of the invention, the relative permeability of the first region is greater than 1.

Abstract: A printed circuit for processing radio frequency signals includes a substrate including substrate regions upon which the printed circuit can be placed. The circuit is an interdigital filter including a plurality of resonator elements. The plurality of resonator line elements are at least partially coupled to respective substrate regions that have substrate characteristics that are each independently customizable. The circuit further comprises at least one ground or ground plane (50) coupled to the substrate.

Abstract: A printed circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The printed circuit includes a substrate. The substrate can be a meta material and can include at least one dielectric layer. The dielectric layer can have a first set of dielectric properties over a first region and a second set of dielectric properties over a second region. The dielectric permittivity and/or magnetic permeability of the second set of dielectric properties can be different than the first set of dielectric properties. The printed circuit also can include a single port resonant line and a ground coupled to the substrate. The dielectric properties can be controlled to adjust the size of the resonant line. The dielectric properties also can be controlled to adjust an impedance, quality factor and/or capacitance on the resonant line. Resonant characteristics of the resonant line can be distributed through the substrate.

Abstract: A circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The circuit includes a substrate where the circuit can be placed. The substrate can be a meta-material and can incorporate at least one dielectric layer. A four port circuit and at least one ground can be coupled to the substrate. The dielectric layer can include a first region with a first set of substrate properties and a second region with a second set of substrate properties. Substrate properties can include permittivity and permeability. A substantial portion of the four port circuit can be coupled to the second region. The permittivity and/or permeability of the second region can be higher than the permittivity and/or permeability of the first region. The increased permittivities and/or permeabilities can reduce a size of the four port circuit and effect a change in a variety of electrical characteristics associated with the four port circuit.

Abstract: A printed circuit array of log periodic dipole arrays (LPDA) where each LPDA includes dipole elements with arms having reduced size through use of high effective permittivity substrate portions. The radiation efficiency degradation generally associated with use of a high permittivitty substrate can be be reduced through addition of magnetic particles to provide enhanced permeability in the high permittivity regions. The substrate preferably includes meta-materials. The feed line can provide a broadband transformation by being configured as a plurality of segments having quarter wave electrical lengths.

Abstract: A method for forming a low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) device includes forming a channel in a first LTCC tape layer. A wax is inserted in the channel. The wax is of a type that bums out at a temperature below a sintering temperature of the first LTCC tape layer. At least a second LTCC tape layer is stacked on the first LTCC tape layer to form a stack. The stack is pressed sufficiently for the first and second layers to bond into a laminate. The laminate is fired at the sintering temperature to form a sintered ceramic structure from the first and second LTCC tape layers, so that all or substantially all of the wax is burned out from the channel.

Abstract: A printed circuit antenna with broadband input coupling is disclosed. An elongated conductive antenna element arranged in the form of a loop is disposed on a dielectric substrate formed on a ground plane. The antenna element has first and second adjacent end portions separated by a gap. The second end portion is connected to the ground plane. An input coupler is provided for matching an input impedance of the antenna to the antenna feed circuitry. The input coupler can comprise a conductive line disposed on the substrate adjacent to the antenna element. The conductive line is separated from the antenna element by a coupling space for coupling to the antenna element an input signal applied to the input coupler. The conductive line extends parallel to a portion of the antenna element including the first end portion. The arrangement has the advantage of having an input impedance that is relatively insensitive to adjustments affecting the antenna center frequency.

Abstract: A method for applying a protective coating to an electro-optical component includes positioning the electro-optical component in a chamber and applying a coating composition to at least one surface of the electro-optical component to form the protective coating thereon. The coating composition may include fluorinated poly(phenylene ether ketone) and an anti-reflection agent. The anti-reflection agent may include at least one of an inorganic salt, an organofunctionalized additive, and an erbium dopant, for example.