Abstract: A method for fabricating a suspended transmission line includes supporting a first conductive trace on a first side of a dielectric support layer. A second conductive trace is supported on a second side of the support layer. The first and second conductive traces are connected at spaced intervals. A first spacer is formed outwardly of the first side of the support layer A second spacer is formed outwardly of the second side of the support layer. A first plate is disposed outwardly of the first spacer and includes a first ground plane displaced from the first conductive trace. A second plate is disposed outwardly of the second spacer and includes a second ground plane displaced from the second conductive trace.

Abstract: A suspended transmission line includes a dielectric support layer having a first side and a second side. The conductor is supported between first and second ground planes and includes a first part supported on the first side of the support layer and a second part supported on the second side of the support layer. A third part of the conductor connects the first and second parts at spaced intervals along the conductor. A propagation structure is disposed between the ground planes and operable to substantially contain an electric field generated by a signal transmitted on the conductor.

Abstract: A suspended transmission line includes a lossy dielectric support layer having a first side and a second side. A conductor is supported between first and second ground planes by the lossy support layer and includes a first part supported on the first side of the lossy support layer and a second part supported on the second side of the lossy support layer. A propagation structure is positioned between the ground planes to substantially contain an electromagnetic field generated by a signal transmitted on the conductor.

Abstract: A dual band, stacked microstrip antenna produces circular polarization. A two-layer, 90.degree. microstrip coupler is mounted to a hi-band patch and a lo-band patch and provides two inputs to the antenna to excite two orthogonal linearly polarized radiation patterns in quadrature. The coupler outputs are connected to the antenna by two conducting pins that connect directly to the groundplane of the lower patch. The coupler uses the hi-band patch as a groundplane and is transparent to the radiation from the antenna. An antenna input connector is connected to the coupler input by means of a coaxial line through the center of the antenna. The isolation port is terminated in a surface mounted 50-ohm resister to ground through a quarter wave length open transmission line.

Abstract: A method for etching tin oxide films from substrate materials is provided that includes the steps of forming an etching pattern layer of an active metal on the tin oxide film that is to be etched, contacting the active metal cathodically in an electrolytic solution, and subsequently contacting the active metal anodically in the electrolyte to thereby etch those portions of the tin oxide film that are covered by the etching pattern of active metal.