Abstract: A multistage transmission line interconnect device (50) for joining two microstrip circuits (82, 86). A center conductor pin (52) extends through a cylindrical dielectric (54) to form a coaxial midsection of the device. The ends of the pin extend from the dielectric to form a conductor for a straight open troughline at each end of the device. The ends of the pin are connected to the microstrip circuits by ribbon bonds (80, 84). Because the midsection of the device is coaxial, the microstrip circuits (82, 86) may be oriented at arbitrary angles with respect to one another.

Abstract: An orthogonal coaxial-line-to-microstripline transition is described. The transition employs capacitively loaded troughline transmission line to interface between the coaxial line and the microstripline. Because the field configuration of the troughline shows similarities to both the coaxial line and the microstripline configurations, a well matched transition between coaxial line onto microstripline. The center conductor of the troughline can be bent at right angles with no mismatch. Dielectrically loading the troughline prevents higher order modes from radiating out of the trough.

Abstract: A magic-tee hybrid network fabricated as a single conductor layer circuit. The network is fabricated from two ring sections, connected together to provide four magic-tee ports, i.e., sum, difference and two input/output ports. The double ring network with single layer construction provides wide bandwidth at a low fabrication cost.

Abstract: A suspended stripline corporate feed with an orthogonal transition to a coaxial transmission line at each of its input/output ports. Alternate I/O ports are pointed in opposite directions so that devices on both sides of the feed can be serviced by the same circuit. The cover for the feed is made out of injection molded, copper plated plastic. When utilized to distribute RF energy to T/R modules in an Active Array, the feed is machined as an integral part of the heat exchanger which cools the modules.

Abstract: A length of strip transmission line uses two symmetrically spaced center conductors between two groundplanes. These conductive strips produce an even-mode electric field between the two groundplanes when excited in-phase and an odd-mode electric field when excited in anti-phase relationship. For the latter case, the phase velocity of the odd-mode is significantly affected by the electric field in the gap region between the conducting strips. By varying the relative dielectric constant of a material located in the gap region, e.g., by means of a voltage-controllable dielectric such as barium-titanate compositions, the phase velocity and, hence, the phase shift of an RF signal propagating through the strip transmission medium can be controlled.

Abstract: A dual junction back-to-back four-port microstrip circulator made up of two three-port single junction circulators whose substrates lay back-to-back and are interconnected with a coaxial feedthrough. When used in an active antenna array application, the transmit and receive ports will be located on different levels of the device. The back-to-back configuration allows sharing either a single magnet for biasing or a single magnetic shield carrier for bias return, with a magnet on top of each substrate. The circulator has the advantages of small size and operation over a wide frequency band.

Abstract: A metal flared notch radiator with separate and isolated transmit and receive ports for an active array. A 4-port circulator is integrated into the transition of the radiator so that the integrated device has have a separate transmit port, a separate receive port, and a separate termination port to provide isolation between the transmit and receive.

Abstract: A switched loop/180.degree. phase shift device is disclosed, having the additional capability of an aperture shutter that can be selected to produce either a noncorrelated reflection in one mode of operation, or to absorb RF energy that enters the radiating aperture port in the other mode.

Abstract: A self-aligning push-on coaxial RF connector assembly is disclosed. The male structure of the assembly includes a cross-slotted center conductor with a dielectric sleeve. The female structure of the assembly includes a feed-through device having a center conductor pin, a primary counterbored hole to the base of the feed-through, and a larger secondary pilot counterbored hole with a lead-in angle of about 15 degrees to the primary hole. The larger pilot hole allows for a substantial radial misalignment of the male and female structures. The center conductor pin is captured by the cross-slotted center conductor upon engagement. The dimensions of the assembly components are selected to provide a constant characteristic impedance throughout the connector assembly.

Abstract: A multilayer, multiconductor stripline magic-tee network is disclosed. The device incorporates a stripline balun that is sandwiched within a double-sided airstrip-line 3-port reactive-tee power divider to produce a matched 4-port magic-tee that is physically planar and electrically symmetrical. Each port of the device is shielded from the others.