Abstract: A three-way phase shifting power coupler (20) processes a primary signal (26) to provide first, second, and third secondary signals (32, 38, and 44) of substantially equal amplitudes. The first and second secondary signals (32 and 38) are phase shifted to be in-phase relative to the primary signal (26). The third secondary signal (44) is phase shifted to produce a quarter-wavelength difference between third secondary signal (44) and the first and second secondary signals (32 and 38). First, second, and third secondary signals (32, 38, and 44) are provided for distribution into a multi-stage amplifier (22). The power coupler (20) is preferably implemented in microstrip.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transitioning between opposite sides of adjacent stripline circuit boards. An orthogonal coaxial connection between opposite sides of the stripline circuit boards is provided wherein a center pin of a coax connector is disposed through the first stripline circuit board and the center trace of one of the stripline circuit boards and through the second board. The center pin is soldered or otherwise electrically attached to a small conductor island pad isolated from the ground plane of the second board and to the plated through hole. The ground of the coaxial connector is connected to the ground plane of the second board adjacent to the isolated conductor island pad.

Abstract: A balun structure is formed by stripline or square coaxial transmission ls and stacked dielectric substrates. The invention provides a technique for building a balun that maintaines low insertion loss and good balance for DC-to-GHz applications. The impedance ratio of the balanced transmission line to the unbalanced transmission line is N.sup.2 :1, where N is the number of microstrip transmission lines in the balun. This will prevent the signal loss that occurs when ferrite cores are placed around the transmission lines.

Abstract: A means of connecting a plurality of essentially identical active devices is presented for the purpose of multifunction and multiple function operation. These devices, mounted on a chip, are flip-mounted to a circuit motherboard having large passive elements. A push-pull amplifier is presented as an example in which the multiple function operation is the combining of amplifiers whose active devices are on a single chip. The electromagnetic coupling, impedance matching and signal transmission are variously provided by the use of striplines, slotlines, coplanar waveguides, and a slotline converted into a coplanar waveguide.

Abstract: A radio-frequency power amplifier includes a multiple-FET chip that is flip-mounted on a connection region of a substrate. An input impedance-matching network is also mounted on the substrate. The network includes a coplanar waveguide having an elongate waveguide signal conductor for each gate terminal on the FET chip with a distal end spaced from the connection region and a proximal end in the connection region. The distal ends are connected to a single base input conductor. The proximal ends are flip-mounted to respective ones of gate terminals of the FET chip. A capacitor couples each of the input signal conductor distal ends to an adjacent ground conductor. The signal conductors and capacitors provide a selected impedance at a selected frequency. The capacitors may be on a separate chip flip-mounted to the coplanar transmission line conductors, and may be formed as coplanar waveguides with open-ended signal conductors or as overlay capacitors.

Abstract: A power amplifier (517) for amplifying an operating signal includes an amplifier (538), an amplifier (540), and a power combiner (518) with harmonic selectivity. The power combiner (518) includes a transmission line section (541), a transmission line section (545), and a resistor (554). The transmission line section (541) is coupled to an amplifier output of the amplifier (538), and the transmission line section (545) is coupled to an amplifier output of the amplifier (540) and to the transmission line section (541). A capacitor (546) is coupled in parallel to a transmission line section (542) of the transmission line section (541), and a capacitor (548) is coupled in parallel to a transmission line section (544) of the transmission line section (545).

Abstract: A non-directional tap coupler for use in high power operation over a wide bandwidth is provided. The tap coupler has an input line electrically connectable to a transmission line of a distributed transmission line system, a tap line coupled to the input line and an output line coupled to the input line. The input line, tap line and output line include sections having different characteristic impedances, with all of the different characteristic impedances falling within a practical characteristic impedance range. An electrical junction where the input line electrically joins the tap line and the output line is provided with a predetermined impedance value to ensure that the sections of the tap line and the output line all fall within the practical characteristic impedance range.

Abstract: Microwave power divider/combiners are provided which divide received powers at each of 2.sup.n input ports transmit the divided powers to each of 2.sup.n output ports and combine the transmitted powers at each of the output ports. They have through transmission lines which each couple respective pairs of the input and output ports. In addition, they include shunt transmission lines, an input network of transmission lines which couples the input ports to first ends of the shunt transmission lines and an output network of transmission lines which couples second ends of the shunt transmission lines to the output ports to thereby provide transmission paths from each of the input ports to each of the output ports. The input and output transmission-line networks are configured to be identical and to cause the power divider/combiner to have interport symmetry between the input and output ports and intraport symmetry between any equal sets of input and output ports.

Abstract: A power divider directional coupler comprised of coupled transmission line sections at the beginning of each of a plurality of subdivided transmission lines wherein each subdivided transmission line has a unique characteristic impedance, even mode impedance and odd mode impedance. The coupled transmission line sections are shorted and function as quarter-wave transformers providing a center frequency electrical transmission phase of 90 degrees.

Abstract: An extremely broad band high power termination (10) for microwave and millimeter frequency amplifiers combines a standard resistive low frequency termination (15) with a broad band high frequency absorptive element (13) using an absorptive material such as Eccosorb. A mid-band matching network (14) is provided between the resistive termination (15) and the Eccosorb absorptive element (13). The Eccosorb absorbs the energy of the higher microwave frequencies while the resistor absorbs energy at low frequencies. Accordingly, a much higher power handling capability in a compact planer environment is achieved. This termination (10) is suitable use for use in K-band power amplifier combiners (30) that require high isolation and high power handling capability of the isolated ports (35).

Abstract: A phase splitter includes an input port coupled to receive a modulated carrier having a relatively wide bandwidth and has first and second output ports for supplying, respectively, first and second modulated carrier constituents having a uniform phase angle differential, such as 180.degree., between one another while maintaining a uniform amplitude over the bandwidth for the modulated carrier. A transmission line comprised of one or more individual segments includes first and second conductors respectively coupled to the output ports of the phase splitter to receive the first and second modulated carrier constituents from the phase splitter. A coupler is positioned sufficiently near the transmission line to receive the first and second modulated carrier constituents being applied to any of the individual segments.

Abstract: A method of producing a microwave power divider or combiner having equally matched sections of a split terminating resistor. The method initially matches the resistance value of both sections of the split terminating resistor by identifying which section has a lower resistance value. The ratio of the resistance values of the two sections is determined. The section having the lower resistance value is then trimmed until it is equal to the other. The termination sections may then be equally trimmed to provide a desired final resistance value for the terminating resistor.

Abstract: A fin-line antenna 51 comprises fins 51a and 51b and a fin-line antenna 52 comprises fins 52a and 52b. The fins 51b and 52b are integrated into one body and connected to a ground layer of a strip line 31. The length of each antenna 51 or 52 is one wavelength. A millimetric wave of waveguide mode which is received by one of the antennas 51 and 52 is split into four paths and each split wave is injected into each of four divided portions of a signal line of the strip line 31 comprising series connections of many Josephson junctions. One end of each divided portion is grounded via a termination resistor 38 and a capacitor 39. A summed output of the generated voltage of each Josephson junction is obtained between both ends 42 and 43 of the strip line 31.

Abstract: A printed wiring board having a substrate, a plurality of load circuits formed on the substrate, a drive circuit formed on the substrate, for driving the load circuits, a first wiring pattern formed on the substrate and connected to the load circuits, and a second wiring pattern formed on the substrate, for connecting the drive circuit and the first wiring pattern. The width of the second wiring pattern is set larger than that of the first wiring pattern, so as to eliminate the mismatch between the characteristic impedance of the second wiring pattern and the characteristic impedance of the first wiring pattern.

Abstract: In order to further suppress unwanted waves which may occur when the frequency (flo) of a local oscillation wave is lower than the frequency (fin) of a signal wave, the local oscillation wave is in-phase distributed between unit mixers (2a) and (2b) whereas the signal wave is opposite-phase distributed through a 180 degree distributer (4) to the unit mixers (2a) and (2b). The unit mixers (2a) and (2b) execute frequency mixing of thus distributed local oscillation wave and signal wave, and supply the result through a BRF (16a) or (16b) into a 180 degree combiner (6). The 180 degree combiner (6) effects an opposite-phase combination of outputs of the BRFs (16a) and (16b), and outputs the result.

Abstract: In a CATV housing:the main RF circuit, a coupler circuit and splitter circuit are located respectively on a platform board, coupler board and splitter board respectively. The coupler board is between and perpendicular to the platform board attached to the housing and to the splitter board attached to the lid. The coupler circuit has a main RF circuit input and output near the bottom of the coupler board and a tap output to the splitter at the top of the board. A ground plane on the coupler board approximates, relative to the coupler circuitry, transmission line impedance. In combination with ground planes on the platform board and splitter board, the ground planes provide approximate transmission line impedance to both the main RF path and to the path through the coupler to the splitter output.

Abstract: A power divider/combiner which can be installed flexibly, with small changes either as a divider/combiner or as a lossless transmission line. The configuration of the power divider/combiner into a lossless transmission line is realized by a parallel connection of two non-symmetrical transmission lines which usually have different impedances. One of the transmission lines is a branch present in a Wilkinson divider, and the other is an extra branch formed inside the divider/combiner.

Abstract: A combiner/divider is provided which includes a common output/input port and a plurality of N input/output ports and a plurality of N isolation ports. A 90.degree. phase shifter interconnects each of the N input/output ports with the common port. N transmission line balun transformers are provided with each interconnecting an input/output port with one of the N isolation ports. Each balun transformer serves as a two-way power splitter.

Abstract: A radio frequency power combiner includes a plurality of transmission lines connecting a plurality of input terminals to an output terminal. An RF switch is positioned between each of the input terminals and a transmission line connecting the output terminal to the input terminal. The electrical length between each RF switch and the output terminal is preferably one half of a wavelength at a central frequency, which may be realized by two transmission lines of different impedances in each path, each a quarter wavelength long. When the switches are on, the signal power applied to all of the input terminals is combined at the output terminal. When any given switch is turned off, the RF power incident to the switch is reflected, and the transmission lines connected between that switch and the output terminal appear as an open circuit. The power combiner can also operate as a power divider.

Abstract: An active quadrature power splitter having low power consumption is small in size and is inexpensive, for obtaining two output signals of which the phase difference is 90 degrees. Since the active quadrature power splitter operates as a microwave amplifier for obtaining two amplified microwave outputs having an equal magnitude and a phase difference of 90 degrees by using a matching circuit of the amplifier, a power gain can be obtained. Also, since a single FET or HBT is used and two output signals are generated in an output impedance matching circuit, the circuit becomes simplified. Therefore, the circuit can be easily implemented in a monolithic microwave IC and the chip size can be reduced.

Abstract: A strip line filter has a switching function for being operated without connecting a separate switch to a front end and a back end of the filter for preventing transmission electric power from being lost by a receiving unit, to thereby make the size of the transmitting and receiving system smaller. The strip line filter has a switching function in a transmission line filter, comprising: an inputting unit resonator and an outputting unit resonator, with the inputting unit resonator having a first open stub and a second open stub with the first open stub connected to ground through at least one capacitor; and the outputting unit resonator has a third open stub and a fourth open stub with the third open stub connected to ground through at least one capacitor, and being positioned within a distance of about one wavelength of a pass band frequency from the inputting unit resonator.

Abstract: Microwave apparatus, such as microwave power dividers or combiners, having an adjustable terminating resistor. The present invention allows adjusting or trimming of the resistor and pretesting of substrates on which the apparatus is formed prior to installation of expensive integrated circuit components. The microwave power divider or combiner has a central contact disposed at a midpoint of the terminating resistor. This central contact is thus disposed at the midpoint of the terminating resistor and is coupled to a test point. Outer edges of the central contact are constructed to be parallel to inner edges of impedance paths or traces over which the terminating resistor lies so that each section of the terminating resistor has substantially the same resistance value.

Abstract: In a CATV housing the main RF circuit, a coupler circuit and splitter circuit are located respectively on a platform board, coupler board and splitter board respectively. The coupler board is between and perpendicular to the platform board attached to the housing and to the splitter board attached to the lid. The coupler circuit has a main RF circuit input and output near the bottom of the coupler board and a tap output to the splitter at the top of the board. A ground plane on the coupler board approximates, relative to the coupler circuitry, transmission line impedance. In combination with ground planes on the platform board and splitter board, the ground planes provide approximate transmission line impedance to both the main RF path and to the path through the coupler to the splitter output.

Abstract: A high frequency power distributor/synthesizer includes a first terminal useful as an input or output terminal for high frequency power; second and third terminals useful as outputs or inputs for high frequency power; high frequency transmission lines connected between the first terminal and the second or third terminal; a balance resistor connected between the second and third terminals; and a coil connected between the second and third terminals in parallel to the balance resistor to improve isolation and return loss without substantial influence on insertion loss of the distributor/synthesizer.

Abstract: A computer interconnection backplane bus. The interconnection backplane bus is formed by bus transmission lines and component connection transmission line sections that interconnect components of the computer. The characteristic impedance of the bus transmission lines is stepped so that the number of impedance mismatches on the interconnection bus is minimized. The components of the computer are connected to the bus at the interconnections nodes of the bus transmission lines through terminated component connection transmission line sections. The impedance mismatches that exist on the interconnection backplane bus are strategically placed so that the distortion to a transitioning voltage level edge is in the form of overshoot rather than under shoot or ringing.

Abstract: A hybrid including a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a ground metal, and a second dielectric layer, which are stacked in this order. Transmission lines are formed below and above the ground metal, and a slit is formed in the ground metal at a position corresponding to projection of the transmission lines onto the ground metal. The substrate has a greater dielectric constant than the dielectric layers. This makes it possible to prevent coupling between the upper and lower transmission lines, thereby implementing a high impedance, low loss transmission lines.

Abstract: A transformation network is provided capable of interfacing between an unbalanced port (110) and a plurality of differently phased balanced ports (120, 130). A balun (165) has a choke (140) and connects the unbalanced port (110) to a balanced pair of nodes. An additional node (145) is provided on the balun. First and second unbalanced phase shift transmission lines (150, 155) have a common ground conductor connected to the additional node (145) of the balun (165). A phase-shifted balanced port (130) is thus provided by center conductors of these first and second unbalanced phase shift transmission lines (150, 155) when the other ends of these transmission lines are coupled to the balanced nodes of the balun (165) and the common ground conductor of these transmission lines is connected to the additional node (145) of the balun.

Abstract: A means of connecting a plurality of essentially identical active devices is presented for the purpose of multifunction and multiple function operation. These devices, mounted on a chip, are flip-mounted to a circuit motherboard having large passive elements. A push-pull amplifier is presented as an example in which the multiple function operation is the combining of amplifiers whose active devices are on a single chip. The electromagnetic coupling, impedance matching and signal transmission are variously provided by the use of striplines, slotlines, coplanar waveguides, and a slotline converted into a coplanar waveguide. In particular, a conversion of a split coplanar slotline to dual coplanar waveguides provides signal transmission to a pair of transistors flip-mounted onto the coplanar waveguides.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for forming an advanced ring-network circulator, a plurality of junctions are interconnected by a plurality of non-reciprocal phase shifters. Each junction has a predetermined inductive reactance and capacitive susceptance which renders each junction partially reflective of an incident signal in a predetermined frequency-dependent manner. The junctions are selected such that a predetermined combination of average phase shift and differential phase shift provided between junctions produces substantially ideal circulation about a designated band center, the band center being determined by the selected reactance and susceptance of the junctions. The phase shifters are selected to provide an ideal combination of average phase shift and differential phase shift for providing substantially ideal circulation within a frequency band about the band center in a predetermined frequency dependent manner.

Abstract: A microwave line structure which has a first conducting track applied onto a substrate and a second conducting track which extends, supported on posts, at a distance above the first conducting track, a coplanar line being arranged, in addition to the microstrip line formed by the first conducting track and the second conducting track, on the substrate and coupled to this microstrip line, and the microstrip line extending between the two conducting tracks of the coplanar line, wherein, at one end of the coplanar line, the two conducting tracks of the latter are electrically conductingly connected to one another and to the first conducting track, wherein at the other end of the coplanar line the latter is open, wherein the length of the coplanar line is approximately equal to one quarter of the wavelength of the average operating frequency and wherein an asymmetrical line can be coupled to the first conducting track and the second conducting track at the short-circuited end of the coplanar line and a symmetrica

Abstract: A method and apparatus for power combining or dividing handles high impedance line requirements in n-way combiners (15) and dividers (10) using phase delay networks (12, 14) to transform impedances to a lower, intermediate impedance. Each impedance transformation is accomplished using a stepped impedance or tapered impedance transmission line (26). The method and apparatus provides isolation between input or output ports (11, 22 and 24, 13) in power combining or dividing circuits using an incremental phase delay network (12) of prescribed electrical phase lengths (22, 24) to provide phase cancellation. The power divider (10) and combiner (15) can be used in power amplifiers and in communication devices.

Abstract: A 180.degree. power divider accepts an input signal and splits it into two output signals that are equal in amplitude and differ in phase by 180.degree.. In a first region, an unbalanced input signal travels along a trace on a circuit surface of a substrate. On the opposite surface is a ground plane. In a second region, the ground plane tapers to a width that is substantially equal to the width of the signal trace. As a result, opposite the signal trace is a return signal trace of substantially the same width. In this region, the signal is a balanced signal, and for the current flowing in the signal trace, there is an equal but opposite current flowing in the return signal trace on the opposite side. In a third region, the return signal trace is brought to the circuit surface of the substrate and a second ground plane is provided on the opposite surface. This second ground plane is floating with respect to the first ground plane. The return signal differs in phase from the other signal by 180.degree..

Abstract: An asymmetric reentrant power coupler suitable for microwave and millimeter bands that includes k input terminals, a plurality of m output terminals, where m is greater than k, and a network coupling the k input terminals to the m output terminals, the network defining n signal paths, where n is greater that m. An input coupler divides an input signal into at least two signal paths. An output coupler recombines a fraction less than one of the divided input signal for propagation to an output terminal. A portion of the non-recombined input signal is propagated to another output terminal. The reentrant coupler may be implemented using Wilkinson, ring, branched line or other coupler types. Couplers that are generally planar as well as coupler that are non-planar are presented.

Abstract: A multilayer duplexer package is provided, which includes: two surface-acoustic-wave filter chips having different center pass band frequencies; and at least two phase matching circuits for matching the phase of one filter chip to that of the other filter chip, said phase matching circuits respectively comprising strip lines stacked one above another, and said strip lines each having a characteristic impedance higher than the characteristic impedance of an external circuit to be connected to the duplexer package.

Abstract: A power combiner including a plurality of phasing transmission lines (122) supporting a set of amplifiers (104) coupled thereto, and a plurality of matching transmission lines (124). The set of amplifiers (104) having a selectable number of amplifiers between a minimum and a maximum value. Each of the matching transmission lines (124) is coupled to one of the phasing transmission lines (122) at one end and coupled to a common node (126) at the other end. Each of the matching transmission (124) lines has a substantially equivalent characteristic impedance determined according to a function of the minimum and the maximum number of amplifiers in the set of amplifiers (104).

Abstract: An impedance transforming power divider/combiner includes a first transmission line (60) with a first terminal (65) and N transmission line fingers (65, 66, 68, 70) terminating in N transmission line finger ends. N transmission lines (28, 38, 48, 58) having N first and second ends are positioned in close proximity to the N transmission line fingers (65, 66, 68, 70) in one-to-one correspondences. The N second ends of the N transmission lines (28, 38, 48, 58) are coupled through N individual impedances (20, 30, 40, 50) to N terminals (25, 35, 45, 55). If signal power is provided to the first terminal (64), the signal power is divided into N signal power outputs at the N terminals (25, 35, 45, 55). If signal power is provided to the N terminals (25, 35, 45, 55), a combined signal power results at the first terminal (65).

Abstract: A thick film balanced line multilayered structure having a substrate base of nominal 0.025 or 0.030 inch thick ceramic material, a first metal layer deposited on the substrate base, a nominal 0.003 inch thick dielectric layer deposited over and around the first metal layer, and a second metal layer deposited on top of the dielectric layer in alignment with, and parallel to, the first metal layer. The structure defines a standard circuit cell suitable for use as a balun, a capacitor or an autotransformer, for use in microwave mixers, power splitters, filters, resonators and other microwave devices. The impedance of the cell is controlled by the width of the metal layers, and ranges from 5 ohms to 125 ohms, and the frequency of the cell is controlled by the length of the metal layers.

Abstract: A radio-frequency power amplifier includes a multiple-FET chip that is flip mounted on a connection region of a substrate. An input impedance-matching network is also mounted on the substrate. The network includes a coplanar waveguide having an elongate waveguide signal conductor for each gate terminal on the FET chip with a distal end spaced from the connection region and a proximal end in the connection region. The distal ends are connected to a single base input conductor. The proximal ends are flip mounted to respective ones of gate terminals of the FET chip. A capacitor couples each of the input signal conductor distal ends to an adjacent ground conductor. The signal conductors and capacitors provide a selected impedance at a selected frequency. The capacitors may be on a separate chip flip mounted to the waveguide signal and ground conductors, and may be formed as coplanar waveguides with open-ended signal conductors.

Abstract: A wideband (DC to GHz) PC-board Balun that is disclosed. The balun mainta low insertion loss and good balance for ultra wide band (UWB) applications such as impulse radar. The balun structure is formed by microstrip transmission lines on a dielectric substrate, having at least one inverting and one non-inverting transmission lines. The transmission lines are connected to form balanced transmission lines stacked about a ground plane. N transmission lines can be connected to form a N.sup.2 :1 impedance ratio balun. Ferrite cores placed about the transmission lines and resistor-capacitor circuits improve the low frequency operation of the balun.

Abstract: A power divider has a microstripline circuit with bandpass filters at each output that are lumped element printed bandpass filters. The filters widen the isolation bandwidth of the divider. Power dividers can be reversed for use as power combiners.

Abstract: An adjustable microwave power divider circuit (50), providing the capability of adjusting the power division ratio after the device has been fabricated. The device includes three 90 degree transmission line networks (60, 70, 80) incorporating open transmission line stubs (66, 76, 86), two networks (70, 80) as power division networks, and the third network (60) as an input impedance matching network. A series isolation resistor (90) is connected across the outputs of the power division networks. In operation, an input signal is split between the two power division networks (70, 80) with equal voltage and phase. The power split between the two outputs is adjusted by adjusting the open stub length, thereby varying the characteristic impedance level between the two power division networks. Any signal reflected back into any one of the power divider networks is absorbed by the isolation resistor. The stub length can be trimmed after device fabrication using a laser or abrasion system.

Abstract: An electrical circuit (400) includes a first input means (401) for providing an input signal, a first output means (406) for providing an output signal, and a transmission line device (405) electrically positioned between the first input means (401) and the first output means (406). The first transmission line device includes a first ground plane (409) disposed on a first dielectric substrate (402), a first conductive layer (405-1) enclosing a first area on a second dielectric substrate (403) that is positioned substantially adjacent to the first dielectric substrate (402). The transmission line device (405) further includes a second conductive layer (405-2) that encloses an area corresponding to the first area on a first major surface of a third dielectric substrate (404) that is positioned substantially adjacent to the second dielectric substrate.

Abstract: An N-way power divider/combiner having isolated outputs using printed circuit board geometry that forms a ring of power resistors and output tramsmission lines spiraling around the ring to reduce the size of the circuit is disclosed. Both sides of the printed circuit board are used to achieve further size advantages. The invention thus provides a high-power radio frequency divider/combiner circuit that is much smaller than previous circuits that are able to handle equivalent power levels.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has a parallel conductor transmission line including a plurality of signal paths branching at a node. The signal paths have phase compensation section for obtaining a phase constant of the transfer constant thereof, the phase constant being inversely proportional to the length of the signal paths. The phase compensation section is implemented by covering a microstrip line by a insulator layer having a high dielectric constant or implemented by a second ground conductor disposed opposite to the microstrip conductor with a thin insulator layer of a high dielectric constant. The integrated circuit comprises a plurality of square gate blocks having a plurality of logic gates arranged in an array. A signal source node is connected via respective input signal nodes of the gate blocks to the logic gates in the gate blocks through the respective signal paths having the phase compensation section.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation converter for receiving and converting microwave signals having a circular or linear polarization. The converter comprises a waveguide for transmitting both circularly and linearly polarized signals, and a first mode transducer for converting the vertical component of the microwave signal into a corresponding signal on a microstrip line, a second mode transducer for converting the horizontal component of the microwave signal into a corresponding signal on a microstrip line, and means for combining the outputs of the first and second transducers. When receiving a circularly polarized signal, the combination means adjusts the phase of the vertical and horizontal components of a circularly polarized signal such that the phase of the vertical and horizontal components are equal prior to being combined so as to produce a signal equivalent to the circularly polarized signal originally received.

Abstract: A circuit for communicating electrical signals and assembled at least in part by an automated assembly machine is disclosed. The automated assembly machine is operable to select from a plurality of components. The circuit includes a material having a first and second surface and a length. A strip conductor is positioned along the first surface of the material. A ground structure is disposed along the length of the second surface. Finally, a low impedance device selected from the plurality of components is electrically coupled to the ground structure on opposite sides of the strip conductor, wherein the coupling of the low impedance device to the ground structure forms a circumferential shield around the strip conductor. Various alternative embodiments, as well as fabrication methodology are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical circuit (500) includes an input means (503) for providing an input signal, an output means for providing an output signal, and a transmission line device (421) disposed substantially between the input means (503) and the output means. The transmission line device inludes a first ground plane (505) disposed on a first dielectric substrate (502), and a first conductive layer (421-1) disposed, and enclosing a first area, on a second dielectric substrate (506) that is positioned substantially adjacent to the first dielectric substrate (502). The transmission line device (421) further includes a second conductive layer (421-2) that encloses an area corresponding to the first area on a first major surface of a third dielectric substrate (504) that is positioned substantially adjacent to the second dielectric substrate (506).

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: Provided is a microwave apparatus for dividing input power to plural outputs or, alternatively, combining power from plural inputs to a single output. The apparatus includes a plurality of isolation resistors, removed from the body of the apparatus by means of respective coaxial transmission line segments. This configuration combines the properties of isolation between the various input/output ports, and effective cooling of the isolation resistors to facilitate high power conditions and a bandwidth of at least 1 octave.

Abstract: Wiring topology and hierarchy of transmission line impedances for connecting I/O of semiconductor devices together. This arrangement gives smooth signal shapes for signal rise and fall times as fast as one (1) nsec or faster. The design uses a balanced multi-way branched net with increasing impedance until very close to the end, of the net, where it is a balanced multi-way branched net with unterminated ends. Thus, coming out of the signal driver is a single impedance transmission line. This single impedance transmission line (A) then branches into two impedance transmission lines (B), each having an impedance higher than the single line impedance that feeds it. These lines (B) are used to drive electronic modules. After entering the electronic modules through a connector, each of these lines (B) then branch into two transmission lines (C) having a yet higher impedance value. Each of these lines (C) finally ends in a cluster of four transmission lines (D.