Abstract: An antenna system for an array antenna includes an array of radiators formed as patch antenna elements on a dielectric substrate, there being a shielding metallic sheet on a side of the substrate opposite the radiators. A further dielectric substrate and a bottom metallic sheet are disposed on a side of the shielding sheet opposite the radiators. An antenna feed system is disposed in the further sheet. Coupling devices such as orthogonal slots, in one embodiment, or a microwave crossover in a second embodiment, couple electromagnetic power from the feed system to the radiators through the shielding sheet. In the case of the coupling slots, the feed system provides phase quadrature signals for development of circularly polarized radiation. The crossover provides only a linearly polarized wave, and is formed of two coplanar waveguides, one in the shielding sheet and one in the bottom sheet.

Abstract: To an output terminal of a hybrid circuit with output signals mutually phase shifted 90 degrees is connected a half-wave line section while to the second output terminal is connected a low attenuation filtering network having a phase characteristic which is -90 degrees at the center frequency and varies with the frequency like a half-wave line section.

Abstract: A polarization selector system, suitable for use with an antenna for radiating electromagnetic waves at a variety of preselectable polarizations, is formed of an orthogonal mode launcher of electromagnetic waves, and a hybrid coupling assembly for driving the launcher. The coupling assembly has a pair of waveguides sharing a common wall. A set of hybrid couplers of differing coupling ratios, and including a mechanically displaceable gate within each coupler, is disposed serially along the common wall.The gates are individually positionable to provide for coupling of differing amounts of electromagnetic power with 90 degree phase shift between the waveguides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a phase-shifting combiner for electromagnetic waves, the combiner comprising at least one phase-shifting cell constituted by a hybrid coupler (12), an inlet transmission line (10), an outlet transmission line (11), and a loop transmission line (13) connected between the first inlet and the first outlet of the coupler (12), the inlet transmission line (10) being connected to the second inlet of the coupler and the outlet transmission line (11) being connected to the second outlet of the coupler. It is applicable, in particular, to telecommunications.

Abstract: A broadcast switching system includes at least two sources, such as power amplifiers or transmitters; a waste or dummy load; and an antenna. A non-contacting switching arrangement for such a system includes directional or hybrid couplers for suitably cross-coupling portions of the signals from each of the sources. The present system is such that at least two couplers of nominally identical value may be employed regardless of input power ratios and yet, required power levels can be obtained at the outputs by reason of the deployment of phase shifters providing controlled phase delays over the entire range, which phase delays are precisely selectable for a full range of input power ratios. Although a nominal coupling value of -3 dB for the couplers may be utilized, the invention is not necessarily restricted to this value.

Abstract: A quadraphase modulato comprising a first and a second quadrature hybrid, a first and a second phase reversal switch, a selector switch and a switch control means. The quadrature hybrids are connected in tandem by means of two lines connected between the two output ports of the first hybrid and the two input ports of the second hybrid with a phase reversal switch being connected in series with each of these lines. The input port of the quadraphase modulator is one of the input ports of the first hybrid while the output port of the quadraphase modulator is one or the other of the two output ports of the second hybrid. The positions of the phase reversal switches determine the port at which the output signal will appear and its relative phase, which maybe 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees. The switch control means sets the positions of the phase reversal switches and thus the phase of the output signal and the output port of the second hybrid at which the output signal will appear.

Abstract: A radio frequency power and voltage modification arrangement (13) including first and second power channels (28 and 29) both electrically connected between first and second hybrid elements (15 and 16), power in said first and second hybrid elements (15, 16) being subject to respective controllable, oppositely signed phase shifts applied to said respective channels (15, 16), for modifying the power output from the arrangement (13) as a function of the cosine of the applied phase modification, without any phase modification between input and output power and voltage.

Abstract: A variable ratio power divider/combiner includes first and second resonant circuits connected between the input port and the two output ports in the divider configuration. The signals appear at an output port of the divider as determined by the resonant condition of the resonant circuits. The resonance condition is controlled by a control signal that varies a capacitance in the resonant circuit.

Abstract: An assembly of waveguides and coupling apertures located within walls separating the waveguides is formed within a planar configuration. The coupling apertures are arranged either singly or in pairs, with one coupling aperture behind the other coupling aperture, to provide for a division of power between waveguides and to provide for a crossing over of power from one waveguide to another waveguide. The waveguide assembly is reciprocal in operation so that the single coupling apertures may be employed for a distribution as well as for a combination of electromagnetic waves. Phase shifters may also be included to provide a desired phase relationship among waves outputted by various ones of the waveguides. The waveguides, the walls separating the waveguides, the coupling apertures and the phase shifters may all be fabricated in a parallel array within a common metallic plate by automated milling machines for facile, accurate, and reproducible manufacture of the wavguide assembly.

Abstract: An assembly of coaxial tranmission lines and coupling devices, formed of closely spaced center conductors of the coaxial lines, is formed within a planar configuration. The coupling devices are arranged either singly, or in pairs with one coupling device behind the other coupling device, to provide for a division of power between transmission lines and to provide for a crossing over of power from one transmission line to another transmission line. The transmission-line assembly is reciprocal in operation so that the singly arranged coupling devices may be employed for a distribution as well as for a combination of electromagnetic waves. Phase shifters may also be included to provide a desired phase relationship among waves outputted by various ones of the transmission lines.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing passive two terminal devices in the VHF range comprises an electrical signal generator whose frequency is variable over the VHF range, a distributed constant line having a first end connected to the generator and a second end connected to the device to be tested. A resistive .pi. network is connected to the first end of the line to measure directly the values of the incident wave and of the reflected wave or the maxima and the minima of the total wave at the first end of the line are detected, so as to determine the coefficient of reflection of the line connected to the device to be tested.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary microwave joint device comprising a main circular waveguide constituted by two portions (10, 11) situated as extensions to each other and rotatable relative to one another about their axis of symmetry, each of said two portions (10, 11) being provided with at least one access which is orthogonal thereto, and mechanical means enabling a circularly polarized wave to be obtained in the main waveguide. The invention is applicable to space telecommunications.

Abstract: A tap device for use in broadband communications systems includes a circuit board mounted on a cover plate assembly which is removably connected to a base housing. The circuit board includes an RF signal coupling element and an RF signal splitting element. The output of the RF signal coupling element and the input to the RF signal splitting element are each connected to a separate female receptacle positioned on the circuit board. The female receptacles are designed to receive an intermediate circuit which, when inserted into the female receptacles, is electrically connected between the RF signal coupling element output and the RF signal splitting element input. The intermediate circuit may consist of a short circuit feedthrough, or a plug-in fixed or variable degree attenuator.

Abstract: A monopulse comparator is formed by milling grooves in opposed surfaces of aluminum circular blocks. The milled grooves define a number of waveguides, ports and hybrid junctions. A, B, C and D ports are coupled by respective waveguides to respective side branches in first and second hybrid rings. The series branches of these hybrid rings are coupled by respective waveguides to parallel and series branches respectively of a third ring hybrid ring. One side branch of this hybrid ring is coupled to an azimuth differential port by one of the waveguides. The other side branch is coupled to a termination by a waveguide. The parallel branches of the first and second hybrid rings are coupled by respective waveguides to respective side branches of a fourth hybrid ring. The parallel branch of this hybrid ring is coupled by a waveguide to the elevation differential port. The series branch of this hybrid ring is coupled by a waveguide to the sum port.

Abstract: A re-entrant, low-pressure, electrodeless lamp apparatus includes two identical re-entrant center conductors driven in quadrature, resulting in a matched lamp input impedance in both the off and on states nearly independent of incident microwave power.

Abstract: A hybrid power combiner and controller device is disclosed. The device includes a multiple branch hybrid network, with PIN diodes employed to selectively short circuit the midpoints of the branch lines to ground. With the PIN diodes biased to the open circuit condition, the device behaves as a conventional hybrid combiner, for example, to combine the power produced by two input sources at the device output port. With the PIN diodes biased to the conductive condition, thereby shorting the branch line midpoints to ground, the device behaves as a matched multiple stub filter tuned to the desired band. Substantially all the power provided by one input power source will be provided at the device output in this case.

Abstract: A dual band, phased array antenna especially adaptable for tactical radar capable of performing search, track and identification in a hostile jamming environment. The dual band array antenna is essentially two antennas sharing a common antenna aperture. The two antennas possess separate feed system and beam steering control. Thus, the beams for each frequency band can be steered independently and simultaneously. This design utilizes an ultra-wide band radiating element which can operate over approximately an octave bandwidth encompassing two adjacent microwave bands. In particular, the dual band signals can be received efficiently by the radiating element. A dual band coaxial-to-waveguide transition can be used to carry the signals to a diplexer. The dual band signals are separated at the diplexer and can be processed in separate feed networks.

Abstract: A four-way power splitter/combiner apparatus comprises five unbalanced ports, configured as a common port and four other ports, with power introduced into the common port, over a relative wide frequency band, being substantially equally divided between the four other ports, and vice versa. Each of the first and second ports of each pair of the four other ports has a substantially in-phase signal thereat, with the first in-phase pair of ports having a substantially 180.degree. signal phase difference from the substantially in-phase signals at the other pair of ports. Each of the balun and 2-to-1 transformers of the push-pull 4-port apparatus can be fabricated of a magnetically-decoupled coaxial cable assembly, wherein the cables are all of the same characteristic impedance as the load impedance magnitude at each of the five ports.

Abstract: A first multi-port hybrid coupler is formed by n2.sup.n-1 (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) hybrid couplers alone, which are divided into n stages, each including 2.sup.n-1 hybrid couplers. A signal input to any one of N (=2.sup.n) input terminals of the first stage is distributed equally to N output terminals of the nth stage. The N output terminals of the nth stage of the first multi-port hybrid coupler are connected to N amplifiers at the input side thereof, respectively, and the N amplifiers are connected at the output side to a second multi-port hybrid coupler. The second multi-port hybrid coupler is identical in construction with the first multi-port hybrid coupler, but its input terminals and output terminals are reverse from those of the latter and the input terminals of the second multi-port hybrid coupler are connected to the N amplifiers in an order reverse from the order of arrangement of the output terminals of the first multi-port hybrid coupler.

Abstract: A feed system for a microstrip or stripline antenna includes a serpentine traveling feed located in the plane of interleaved arrays along which a first signal propagates. A chain of crossover structures serves as a second traveling feed, extends in coplanar parallel spaced relation to the first feed, and carries a second propagated signal therealong. First and second ports of each structure connect the serpentine feed to a first group of arrays for coupling the first signal therebetween while third and fourth ports of each structure couple the second signal to a second set of arrays without significant interaction therebetween.

Abstract: Isolation is provided to two signal sources whose output signals are combined by the use of an outphasing technique. A first divider divides the signal from a first signal source into two signals and a second divider divides the signal from the second signal source into two additional signals. A first output of the first divider and a first output of the second divider are connected together by an attenuator and delay line which is used to cancel the leakage across a hybrid combiner. A second output of the first divider and second divider is applied to the hybrid combiner where the two signals are combined to obtain a combination signal that has enhanced isolation.

Abstract: A hybrid junction device formed by an intermediate conductor located between and spaced from an outer conductor and a central conductor. The conductors are all about .lambda./4 in length. A first port is connected between the central conductor and the outer conductor at one end of the device and a second port is connected between the intermediate conductor and the outer conductor at the other end of the device. A third port is connected between the intermediate and the outer conductor at one end of the device while a fourth port is connected between the central conductor and outer conductor at the other end. The conductors may be co-axial or stripline type conductors.

Abstract: A broadband TEM mode four-port hybrid in a single-level microwave circuit in a transmission line medium selected from among the stripline, microstrip, airstrip, etc. media. The device employs coupled strip all-pass filter elements to provide a hybrid wherein isolation to the cross ports, power division to the coupled ports, and the 0.degree. and 180.degree. output phase relationships are independent of frequency over substantial frequency bandwidths.

Abstract: A 180.degree. hybrid receptive of a fundamental frequency signal which may be adjusted over a range of frequencies produces the fundamental frequency signal at two output ports phased 180.degree. apart. Each of the output ports is coupled to a non-linear active device which produces the fundamental frequency and odd and even harmonics thereof. A 180.degree. and 0.degree. hybrid is coupled to receive at respective input ports the signal from the active devices and to produce at one output port all the odd harmonics and to produce at the other output port all of the even harmonics of the fundamental frequency. The even and odd harmonics of the fundamental frequency appearing at the two output ports of the 0.degree. and 180.degree. hybrid are isolated from one another.

Abstract: A high power, high frequency attenuator which provides attenuation steps ch are switchable at very high speed, the attenuator implementing a method by which the input signal is split into two separate signals which are then subjected to impedance mismatches in the signal path, so that a portion of the split signals are reflected back to the signal splitter for dissipation there and the remaining portions of the split signal are transmitted to a summing circuit for recombination and output. The value of mismatch imposed determines the degree of attenuation obtained. The splitting of the signal reduces the stress upon the mismatched components as well as permits high switching speeds of the mismatches in and out of the circuit. In one embodiment of the invention directional couplers are used to provide the signal splitting and recombination functions, with the result that high isolation is achieved between the input port and the reflected signal caused by the mismatches.

Abstract: A lossless and matched dual mode network (10) in which the maximum voltage amplitudes (a, b, and c, respectively) appearing at three output ports (11, 12, 13), are preselected and are arbitrary subject only to the constraint that the sum of the squares of any two elements of the set (a, b, c) must be equal to or greater than the square of the third element of this set. The set of complex voltages (A, B, and C, respectively) appearing at the three output ports (11, 12, 13) when an input signal is applied to one of the input ports (1 or 2) is conjugate with the set of output voltages (AA, BB, and CC, respectively) appearing at the three output ports (11, 12, 13) when an input signal is applied to the other input port, which is isolated from the initially selected input port (1 or 2). The network (10), which may be used as a feed network in an antenna (25) system, e.g., as an even/odd mode network, comprises three 90.degree. couplers (31, 32, 33 ) and three phase shifters (41, 42, 43).

Abstract: A reconfigurable dual mode network (10) in which the maximum voltage amplitudes (a, b, and c, respectively) appearing at three output ports (11, 12, 13), are preselected, reconfigurable, and arbitrary subject only to the constraint that the sum of the squares of any two elements of the set (a, b, c) must be equal to or greater than the square of the third element of this set. The set of complex voltages (A, B, and C, respectively) appearing at the three output ports (11, 12, 13) when an input signal is applied to one of the input ports (1 or 2) is conjugate with the set of output voltages (AA, BB, and CC, respectively) appearing at the three output ports (11, 12, 13) when an input signal is applied to the other input port, which is isolated from the initially selected input port (1 or 2). The lossless and matched network (10), which may be used as a feed network in an antenna (25) system, e.g.

Abstract: In orthogonal mode transducers, typically a first rectangular waveguide capable of carrying a signal having a first polarization and a second rectangular waveguide capable of carrying a signal having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization are coupled to a common central waveguide which is capable of carrying signals having both the first and second polarizations. However, in the past, difficulties have been encountered in manufacturing such orthogonal mode transducers because of the necessity of matching these respective waveguides which do not have the same cross-sectional shape and which must be oriented in a particular manner relative to one another to achieve the desired result.

Abstract: A cross polarization compensating system, in which two elliptically polarized waves of opposite polarities are applied to a cascade connection of two successively connected rotatable 90.degree. phase shifters and an Orthomode (Trademark) transducer. Two cross polarized wave components of the two elliptically polarized waves are detected from the two perpendicularly intersecting output terminals of the Orthomode (Trademark) transducer. Two in-phase components of the same phase as their co-polarized components of the two cross-polarized wave components and two orthogonal components each having a phase difference of 90.degree. from corresponding one of the co-polarized waves of the two cross-polarized wave components are detected from the two output terminals of the Orthomode (Trademark) transducer.

Abstract: This invention relates to an analog phase shifter for radio frequency signals that employs a hybrid coupler and biased varactor diodes at its reflection terminals. The diodes are operated so that the normalized reactance is unity (equals the coupler's input impedance) at an intermediate frequency which may be the geometric mean of the end frequencies of a broad bandwidth. The couplers are cascaded in tandem for a 360.degree. phase shift. A balanced configuration of hybrid couplers is used for the phase shifter.

Abstract: Coaxial, impedance-matched, four-port 180.degree. hybrid junctions for multioctave bandwidth operation include a gap in the outer shields of a port and a stub line at their interface for forming a uniform electric field within the gap. This gap and the interconnections between inner conductors and shields of certain ports and the stub, and the lengths of the port and stub lines are such that power input to a first port divides equally and in phase between two other ports with matched impedances and no power is at present at the fourth port. Similarly power fed into the fourth port divides equally, but 180.degree. out of phase, between the two other ports with matched impedances and no power is present at the first port.

Abstract: Microstrip technology is utilized in illustrating new and improved versions of baluns, hybrid junctions and half-wave balanced mixers and full-wave double balanced mixers.

Abstract: A microwave diplexer apparatus for handling simultaneously two independent polarized transmitted signals at one frequency and two independent polarized received signals at a lower frequency. In the transmit mode of operation of the diplexer apparatus, a pair of input signals to be transmitted to a target are applied to a first orthogonal mode transducer wherein the electric fields of the signals are established at right angles to each other. The orthogonal linearly-polarized signals are then transformed by a pin/ridge-loaded circular polarizer device to oppositely-rotating circularly-polarized signals and coupled via an antenna port of a second orthogonal mode transducer to an antenna for transmission to the desired target.

Abstract: A 90 degree phase stepper is described comprising a tandem array of one 90 degree hybrid coupler and one 180 degree hybrid coupler. A phase shifter, capable of introducing either zero or 180 degrees of phase shift, is included in each of the two wavepaths connecting the two couplers. By the appropriate selection of phase shifts, the phase of the output signal can be continuously increased or decreased in 90 degree or 180 degree increments.

Abstract: A crossover for microwave electromagnetic radiation is constructed in a planar configuration for the transference of all of the power of a wave in a first transmission line to a wave in a second transmission line. The crossover is formed of two pairs of cross arms wherein, in each pair, the arms are spaced apart by an electrical length of ninety degrees along the first and the second transmission lines, and couple power of the waves between the first and second transmission lines with an introduction of a quarature phase relationship. The impedance presented to a wave of a cross arm is less than the corresponding impedance of the first and the second transmission lines by a factor of the square root of two to inhibit the generation of relections at junctions between a cross arm and the first or the second transmission line. Each junction provides for a diversion of one-half the power of the wave from the first or the second transmission line to a cross arm.