Abstract: A support structure for a coaxial transmission line includes a plurality of groups of dielectric balls compressibly mounted between the inner and outer conductors of the coaxial transmission line, the balls being "locked" into position via recesses located in the outer face of the inner conductor with holes centrally located in the balls and aligned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the transmission line sewing to compression relieve the balls and improve the VSWR of the transmission line, and with seventy-degree V-grooves being located on either side of the recesses in longitudinal alignment with the coaxial transmission line, for further improving the VSWR by adding inductance to compensate for the capacitance added by the presence of the balls.

Abstract: In an I-F substitution loop having a summing junction for receiving both an I-F signal and a substitution signal, an amplification loop is connected in parallel with the substitution loop for amplifying and bandpass filtering the signal at the summing junction, and feeding back to the summing junction the processed summing junction signal, for reducing the phase noise at the summing junction.

Abstract: An improved meter for measuring RF power. The RF power is applied to thermocouple means which transforms the RF power into a low level d.c. signal which then passes through a chopper stage that is driven by a clamped sinusoidal input. The output of the chopper stage includes periodic pulses with a prescribed pulse spacing: pulse duration ratio, the pulses being passed through a band-pass filter at a harmonic of the chopper drive signal. The filtered signal, which is also amplified, undergoes synchronous detection with a tri-level square-wave signal which is centered in phase relative to the amplified, filtered signal when the two signals are in phase. The power meter measurements adjusted for zero drift and calibration drift by a microprocessor; based on zero measurements and calibration measurements made before and after an RF measurement is made. Measurements are stored and processed digitally to enhance accuracy.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining an input electrical characteristic of a device under test by power-related measurements made by the device under test, wherein the input characteristic to be determined is related to the input impedance of the device under test. Specifically, the input impedance, the reflection coefficient, or the standing wave ratio of the input to the device under test is determined by a plurality of power, voltage, or current measurements made by a meter or sensor in the device under test. The plurality of measurements are made when the device under test is in a network including (a) a first leg having a first fixed impedance and a selectively variable impedance forming a series and (b) a second leg having a second fixed impedance and the device under test in series, an electrical input of constant amplitude being applied to the network with power being split symmetrically between the two legs.

Abstract: A coaxial connector having a useful frequency range extended to 26.5 GHz is characterized by two separate dielectric support members. A first dielectric member is injection-molded into the annular space between the center conductor and the outer shell at a location rearward of the center conductor mating region. Injection molding provides positive longitudinal support for the center conductor without use of means such as epoxy or crimping which cause higher losses and introduces mismatches around the center conductor. A second dielectric member is press-fit into the shell to surround but not contact the center conductor in the mating region. The second dielectric member is contoured to support the center conductor during mating, to provide the desired characteristic impedance, and to compensate for distortion produced by the gap subsisting between the second dielectric members of a mated plug and jack.

Abstract: A programmable microwave card-type step attenuator is compensated for switch capacitance to render its attenuation response effectively insensitive to frequency over most of its dB range and comprises a plurality of cascaded attenuator sections disposed on a microstrip card with each attenuator section including a deposited film microstrip resistive network adapted to be switched into or out of the signal line by a miniature relay switch, a minimum loss transmission line being inserted into the signal line when the resistive network is switched out. Each of the microstrip resistive networks includes a reactive element connected thereto to compensate the frequency response of the resistive networks due to deviations from the optimum electrical length, thereby minimizing the frequency sensitivity of the attenuation characteristic of the section. Inductive effects are achieved by use of suitably shaped conductive areas or by removal of portions of the resistive networks.

Abstract: In order to cancel unwanted reflected waves in a waveguide system, two micrometer-driven stub tuners are inserted in a waveguide bend. A first tuner is inserted through the outer bend wall to extend axially along one leg of the bend and includes a dielectric rod having a reflecting slug at its tip. Axial movement of the rod permits the variable position of the slug to vary the phase of the wave which it reflects. The second tuner includes a metal rod, which enters the waveguide transversely from the inner wall of the bend, diametrically across from the entrance of the dielectric rod, and permits adjustment of the magnitude of the wave which it reflects.

Abstract: Insertion loss measurement at microwave frequencies is achieved using an improved IF substitution technique wherein the IF test signal is applied to a feedback loop which generates a feedback signal to null out the test signal. A precision calibrated attenuator in the path of the feedback signal is adjusted to achieve the null, and the difference between attenuator settings with the device under test in and out of the microwave test signal path is a measure of the insertion loss of the device under test. In one embodiment the difference signal between the IF test signal and the fed back null signal is divided into amplitude and phase components which are integrated and used to control the attenuation and phase shift, respectively, of a reference signal at the IF test signal frequency, the controlled reference signal comprising the fed back null signal. In another embodiment the amplitude and phase components are filtered at d.c., restored to IF, and recombined before being fed back as the null signal.

Abstract: A swept-frequency VSWR measurement system for slotted lines is disclosed in which the measurement values are rapidly produced as a graph of VSWR versus frequency over a range of 2-18 GHz, in which the VSWR is given directly by the height of the ordinate at any frequency without requiring subtraction of two values derived from graph measurements as previously done. In addition, a "slope" correction is continuously made for errors introduced by physical imperfections of the slotted line, simultaneously with the taking of the swept frequency measurement.