US3579148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Directional coupler for oversize circular waveguides
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1969-04-10
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Granted: 1971-05-18
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Expires: 1989-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A directional coupler, for use in the propagation of microwave frequency electromagnetic energy, comprises a septum connected diagonally across a right angle junction of two circular waveguides. The septum is a metallic grid comprised of a plurality of substantially parallel electrical conductor of diameter much smaller than the wavelength of the propagated frequency, and the spacing between adjacent parallel conductors is also smaller than the propagation wavelength. The plurality of conductors may form a grid of equal size squares or a series of nested ellipses, and provide uniform complex reflection and transmission coefficients over the entire septum.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan E Blume
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P5/00; H01P5/12; H01P5/16; H01P5/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A directional coupler for circular waveguides comprising a grid of substantially parallel conductors including: a first plurality of parallel cylindrical electrical conductors, a second plurality of parallel cylindrical electrical conductors, the second plurality disposed perpendicular to and substantially coplanar with the first plurality, each conductor of predetermined diameter much smaller than one wavelength lambda of the frequency of the electromagnetic energy being propagated through the waveguides, the spacing between adjacent parallel conductors being predetermined and smaller than one wavelength to provide substantially uniform complex reflection and transmission coefficients over the entire grid, said grid having an elliptical outline for connection diagonally across a right angle junction of two circular waveguides, and means for retaining the conductors in spaced apart relationship, said means adapted for connecting said grid diagonally across the right angle junction of two circular waveguides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A directional coupler for circular waveguides comprising a grid of substantially parallel conductors including: a first plurality of parallel cylindrical electrical conductors, a second plurality of parallel cylindrical electrical conductors, the second plurality disposed perpendicular to and substantially coplanar with the first plurality, each conductor of predetermined diameter much smaller than one wavelength lambda of the frequency of the electromagnetic energy being propagated through the waveguides, the spacing between adjacent parallel conductors being predetermined and smaller than one wavelength to provide substantially uniform complex reflection and transmission coefficients over the entire grid, said grid having an elliptical outline for connection diagonally across a right angle junction of two circular waveguides, and means for retaining the conductors in spaced apart relationship, said means adapted for connecting said grid diagonally across the right angle junction of two circular waveguides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
A directional coupler for circular waveguides comprising a grid of substantially parallel conductors including: a plurality of electrical conductors disposed in a planar grid of nested ellipses, each conductor of predetermined diameter much smaller than one wavelength lambda of the frequency of the electromagnetic energy being propagated through the waveguides, the spacing between adjacent parallel conductors being predetermined and smaller than one wavelength to provide substantially uniform complex reflection and transmission coefficients over the entire grid, said grid having an elliptical outline for connection diagonally across a right angle junction of two circular waveguides, and means for retaining the conductors in spaced apart relationship, said means adapted for connecting said grid diagonally across the right angle junction of two circular waveguides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
121 words
A directional coupler for circular waveguides comprising a grid of substantially parallel conductors including: a plurality of electrical conductors disposed in a planar grid of nested ellipses, each conductor of predetermined diameter much smaller than one wavelength lambda of the frequency of the electromagnetic energy being propagated through the waveguides, the spacing between adjacent parallel conductors being predetermined and smaller than one wavelength to provide substantially uniform complex reflection and transmission coefficients over the entire grid, said grid having an elliptical outline for connection diagonally across a right angle junction of two circular waveguides, and means for retaining the conductors in spaced apart relationship, said means adapted for connecting said grid diagonally across the right angle junction of two circular waveguides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 1 wherein each conductor is of equal diameter, and adjacent conductors in each plurality of conductors is equally spaced to form a substantially planar grid of equal size squares.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 2 wherein adjacent conductors are equally spaced along the major axes of the nested ellipses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 2 wherein each conductor is of variable diameter, each conductor being of a first equal diameter along the major axes of the ellipses and of a second smaller equal diameter along the minor axes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 3 wherein the conductors are in overlapping relationship and in electrical contact at the corners of the squares in the grid of conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 3 wherein the conductors are in overlapping relationship and electrically insulated at the corners of the squares in the grid of conductors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 3 wherein the spacing between adjacent parallel conductors is a maximum of approximately 0.50 lambda wherein lambda is the wavelength of the particular frequency of electromagnetic energy being propagated through the circular waveguides, and the conductor radius is approximately 0.02 lambda for a 3 db. directional coupler.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 4 wherein: adjacent conductors are equally spaced along the minor axes of the nested ellipses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 9 wherein: the spacing between adjacent conductors along the major axes is greater than the spacing along the minor axes,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The 3 db. directional coupler set forth in claim 8 and further comprising: means for cooling the conductors to thereby permit high power propagation through the circular waveguides, the waveguides being oversize to obtain a low attenuation characteristics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
A directional coupler for high power, oversize circular waveguides in which high power electromagnetic energy at x-band frequency is propagated comprising: an elliptically shaped septum connected diagonally across two oversize circular waveguides intersecting at right angles, said septum comprising: a planar grid comprising at least one plurality of substantially parallel, electrical conductors of predetermined diameter much smaller than one wavelength lambda of a particular x-band frequency of the electromagnetic energy being propagated through the waveguides, a predetermined spacing between adjacent parallel conductors being smaller than one wavelength of the propagated x-band frequency to provide substantially uniform complex reflection and transmission coefficients over the entire septum and thereby obtain desired reflection and transmission in the waveguide arms controlled by the directional coupler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
A directional coupler for high power, oversize circular waveguides in which high power electromagnetic energy at x-band frequency is propagated comprising: an elliptically shaped septum connected diagonally across two oversize circular waveguides intersecting at right angles, said septum comprising: a planar grid comprising at least one plurality of substantially parallel, electrical conductors of predetermined diameter much smaller than one wavelength lambda of a particular x-band frequency of the electromagnetic energy being propagated through the waveguides, a predetermined spacing between adjacent parallel conductors being smaller than one wavelength of the propagated x-band frequency to provide substantially uniform complex reflection and transmission coefficients over the entire septum and thereby obtain desired reflection and transmission in the waveguide arms controlled by the directional coupler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 12 wherein said at least one plurality of conductors comprises: a first plurality of parallel conductors which are parallel to the plane including the intersecting longitudinal axes of the two oversize circular waveguides, and a second plurality of parallel conductors which are perpendicular to the first plurality, said directional coupler adapted for waveguide propagation of the TE01*, TE02*- TEOn* modes and the TE11* mode for which the uniform complex reflection and transmission coefficients are preserved.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 12 wherein said at least one plurality of conductors comprises: one plurality of substantially parallel conductors forming a like plurality of nested ellipses, the coincident major axes of the ellipses, being in the plane including the intersecting longitudinal axes of the two oversize circular waveguides, said directional coupler adapted for waveguide propagation of the TE01*, TE02*- TEOn* modes for which the uniform complex reflection and transmission coefficients are preserved.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 13 wherein: each conductor being Of equal diameter of radius approximately equal to 0.02 lambda for a 3 db. coupler, adjacent conductors in each plurality of conductors being equally spaced a maximum of approximately 0.50 lambda for a 3 db. coupler to form a grid of equal size squares.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 14 wherein: adjacent conductors are equally spaced along the major axes of the nested ellipses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 16 wherein: adjacent conductors are equally spaced along the minor axes of the nested ellipses.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The directional coupler set forth in claim 17 and further comprising: means for supporting said plurality of conductors and for retaining adjacent conductors equally spaced along the major and minor axes of the nested ellipses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2834944A
Cited
US2939092A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-17 | 1974-11-16 | 1975-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-17 | 1978-11-16 | 1979-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-17 | 1982-11-16 | 1983-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |