Abstract: A high-temperature superconductive microwave delay line that operates in an essentially pure TEM field configuration in a compact assembly. The delay line is a planar signal delay line which includes first and second substrates made of first and second dielectric materials; each substrate can be LAO material. First and second patterned delay line segments having a configuration, are formed of first and second conductive materials on the obverse sides of the first and second substrates, respectively. On the reverse side of each of the first and second substrates, respective first and second ground planes are formed using respective first and second conductive materials, which are preferred to be high-temperature superconductive films, such as YBCO films. The delay line also includes coupling means for coupling the first patterned delay line segment to the second patterned delay line segment, thus bringing the two patterned delay line segments into substantial contact.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an FSL in which a pair of planar ferrite members have planar surfaces in confronting relationship and at least one signal carrying conductor is supported between the ferrites and is closely coupled thereto. A magnetic biasing field is established having field lines disposed at an angle relative to the conductor such that the FSL has an increased attenuation at low frequencies resulting in a relatively flat limiting characteristic across the bandwidth. The conductor may lie in a plane parallel to the field lines or transverse to the field lines. In one embodiment the conductor zigzags in the plane of the field.

Abstract: A frequency selective limiter is described in which first and second ferrite members have confronting planar surfaces and at least one conductor is located on the surface of each ferrite in intimate contact. Each conductor on the first ferrite is a mirror image and is paired to a corresponding conductor on the second ferrite. The paired conductors have confronting end surface portions which are intimately bonded or welded in electrical contact such that each of the paired conductors is electrically equivalent to a single conductor in closely coupled to the ferrites. No other form of bonding is necessary to secure the ferrite members together. In the invention, an external conformal ground plane is more securely deposited in the regions where the ferrites abut. In a particular embodiment, coplanar ground planes located between the ferrites are securely bonded to the conformal ground plane.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a frequency selective limiter. A ferrite member supports a signal carrying conductor and magnets establish a transverse magnetic field closely coupled with the conductor through the ferrite. The magnets establish a magnetic field strength versus temperature having a desired characteristic slope. A magnetic shunt, magnetically coupled to the magnets, diverts a portion of the magnetic field lines away from the ferrite for reducing the magnitude of the field coupled with the conductor to a lower value while maintaining the desired characteristic slope of the magnetic field strength with temperature. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the magnetic shunt establishes magnetic field lines within the ferrite which lie at a selected angle with respect to the conductor so that the limiting characteristic of the FSL is relatively flat across the bandwidth.

Abstract: The nonlinearity of the frequency response of a solid state power amplifier (SSPA) is obviated by effectively operating the SSPA at the 1 dB compression point, where the nonlinearity does not exist, and controllably reducing, downstream of the SSPA, the power output produced by the SSPA to the level required by the link. In particular, the output is reduced by controllably inserting a relatively thin tapered blade of ferrite material into a waveguide coupling section downstream of the SSPA. Preferably the ferrite material is comprised of a robust carbonyl steel of sufficient thickness to withstand the heat induced in the course of its absorbing microwave energy at the SSPA output, while being of a narrow or thin configuration and oriented for insertion into the absorbing section of waveguide so as to not effectively alter the characteristics of the signal profile of the electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: In satellite communication systems it is often necessary to relay the signal between terminal stations and the satellite through ground relay stations remote from the terminal stations. Normally, in systems using composite multi-carrier signals for transmission through the satellite, the composite multi-carrier signals are reduced to baseband in the ground relay station prior to retransmission. To reduce the amount of equipment and the cost of such a ground relay station, a method and apparatus for relaying the composite multi-carrier signal through the ground relay station without reducing it to baseband in the ground relay station is provided. Thus, with this arrangement, the composite multi-carrier nature of the signal is preserved throughout the ground relay station.

Abstract: For eliminating an unwanted leaking local oscillator signal from the output of a double-balanced mixer circuit in a microwave frequency up-converter, a band rejection filter formed of series connected impedance inverter elements and a plurality of tuned cavity resonators is provided. The cavity resonators are integrally formed by the cylindrical walls of an aluminum housing, the top portion of which is formed of a plated printed circuit board. That face of the printed circuit board which faces the cylindrical cavities of the resonators is plated with copper to form the upper surface of each resonator. The other side of the printed circuit board is selectively plated with copper layers which extend through the board to the lower layer to provide an extensive ground plane.