Abstract: An annular rotary RF coupler for installation about a vertical support structure, such as the mast of a ship. Two annuli are divided into circumferential increments providing a cellular structure of individual waveguide cross-sections. A lower annulus (stator) remains fixed, the individual waveguide sections therein being fed from a power-divided, equal-phase, feed configuration. The oppositely facing upper annulus (rotor) rotates with respect to the lower one about the common mechanical center of rotation of a mechanically rotating antenna system. Connection to the rotating waveguide sections may be through power combiner/divider means, or individual subarrays may be discretely connected to one or more waveguide sections in the rotating annulus. For power tapering across an antenna array aperture, the waveguide section dimensions in the circumferential direction within the rotating annulus are appropriately tailored.

Abstract: An annular rotary RF coupler for installation about a vertical support structure, particularly the mast of a ship. Two annular volumes are regularly divided into circumferential increments providing a cellular structure of individual waveguide cross-sections. A first annulus (stator) remains fixed, the individual waveguide sections therein being fed in equal phase from individual solid-state transmit/receive modules. The oppositely facing annulus (rotor) rotates with respect to the first annulus about the common mechanical center of rotation both share with a mechanically rotating antenna system. Connection to the rotating waveguide sections may be through power combiner/divider means (more than one rotor cell per antenna element or subarray), or individual antenna elements or subarrays may be discretely connected to corresponding waveguide sections in the rotor.

Abstract: A radar system for continuously displaying target returns on a conventional television receiver. The radar includes a console connected to a rotating scanner unit through conventional slip rings. The scanner unit contains a radar antenna coupled to a receiver and transmitter, and a power supply generating a multitude of high-voltage and circuit supply voltages from AC power. A position transducer measures the rotary position of the scanner unit and triggers the transmitter as the scanner unit rotates. The return signal is thresholded to generate a video data signal, portions of which are sequentially stored in separate memory locations, each corresponding to a respective range. The set of video data in memory thus corresponds to targets within a predetermined range in a single direction.

Abstract: A rotary coupler for coupling a microwave signal to a rotating antenna is disclosed. The preferred embodiment comprises a section of waveguides formed into a circle and split into two pieces along the long wall of the waveguide. The two sections of waveguide are positioned to rotate with respect to each other with energy coupled into one portion of the waveguide along its narrow wall and coupled out of the second portion along its narrow wall. An isolation element is utilized at both the input and output ports to assure directional coupling into the split wall waveguide. More than one of the coupling devices can be monitored around a ship's mast, for example, to couple a plurality of microwave systems to a single multiple bandwidth rotating antenna.

Abstract: A flat slip ring which is larger in diameter than a conventional slip ring/brush assembly is attached to the rotatable unit concentric with and facing axially with respect to the shaft to carry the conventional slip ring/brush assembly. A circular brush is mounted on the housing of the slip ring/brush assembly concentric with the shaft and facing the flat slip ring. An electrically conductive spring urges the circular brush into contact with the flat slip ring and provides a low impedance ground from the rotatable unit to the housing of the slip ring/brush assembly.

Abstract: An annular rotary antenna feed coupler especially for around-the-mast use, as on shipboard. A housing in the general shape of a cylinder with a central axial opening essentially concentric with the axial center line of the housing contains a circumferential distribution of a number of fixed axially elongated, conductive loops each with a feed port. Radially spaced therefrom, a second, group of elongated conductive loops circumferentially distributed about a circle of different radius as compared to the aforementioned fixed loops is rotatably mounted. A corresponding plurality of ports, one for each rotating loop, is also provided, and input and output combiner/divider devices, one for the fixed and another for the rotating sub-assemblies serve to combine all ports into a single fixed and a single rotating port. Mechanically, the rotating combiner/divider rotates with the antenna array with which it operates.

Abstract: A rotary annular, around-the-mast, radio frequency coupler having two concentric sets of generally axial loops, one fixed (stator set) and the other rotatable (rotor set) for electromagnetically coupling between a fixed and rotatable structure, such as a rotating antenna sub-system.Two methods and corresponding structure are provided for reducing the power transfer ripple occurring during rotation. These are prime related different loop totals between rotor and stator and angular canting of one loop set with respect to the other.

Abstract: A rotatable radar antenna feed and receiver horn having two summing ports d a difference port with a rotatable section having a plurality of susceptor pins to rotate the polarization of the transmitted and received electromagnetic energy to reduce or minimize clutter and to enhance a target.