Contradirectional couplers

Claim 3

A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the dissipating means is a resistive load element.

Claim 4

Apparatus for transferring input electromagnetic energy to a plurality of output loads for subsequent transmission in a transmit mode of operation and for processing electromagnetic energy received by said output loads in a receive mode of operation, and for dissipating electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by said output loads, comprising: a first electrically conductive member having a plurality of openings provided therein in a plurality of groups each arranged around a common axis, each of said groups of openings having a number of openings differing from the number of openings of other groups; a second electrically conductive member spaced from the first electrically conductive member; said first and second electrically conductive members being arranged to receive in the region therebetween the the input electromagnetic energy; a plurality of coupler devices arranged in the plurality of openings provided in the first electrically conductive member, one coupler device corresponding to each output load, and each adapted to be connected to a corresponding output load, each of said coupler devices comprising: an electrically conductive coupling member supported in the region between the first and second electrically conductive members and having first and second spaced electrical terminal means; first electrical path means in series with the first electrical terminal means and the corresponding output load; and second electrical path means in series with the second electrical terminal means and including a dissipating means for dissipating electromagnetic energy applied thereto; said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to extract and conduct electromagnetic energy from the region between the first and second electrically conductive members to the asSociated output load during the transmit mode of operation without application of a significant amount of electromagnetic energy to the second electrical path means or to the dissipating means included therein, and said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to conduct substantially all of the electromagnetic energy received by the associated output load during the receive mode of operation to the region between the first and second electrically conductive members; and said first electrical path means, said electrically conductive coupling member, and said second electrical path means being operative to conduct a major portion of any electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by the corresponding output load to the dissipating means, whereby such major portion of the reflected energy is dissipated in the dissipating means.

Claim 5

Apparatus for transferring input electromagnetic energy to a plurality of output loads for subsequent transmission in a transmit mode of operation and for processing electromagnetic energy received by said output loads in a receive mode of operation, and for dissipating electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by said output loads, comprising: a first electrically conductive member having a plurality of openings provided therein in a plurality of groups each arranged around a common axis, each of said groups of openings having a number of openings differing from the number of openings of other groups; a second electrically conductive member spaced from the first electrically conductive member; said first and second electrically conductive members being arranged to receive in the region therebetween the the input electromagnetic energy; a plurality of coupler devices arranged in the plurality of openings provided in the first electrically conductive member, one coupler device corresponding to each output load, and each adapted to be connected to a corresponding output load, each of said coupler devices comprising: an electrically conductive coupling member supported in the region between the first and second electrically conductive members and having first and second spaced electrical terminal means; first electrical path means in series with the first electrical terminal means and the corresponding output load; and second electrical path means in series with the second electrical terminal means and including a dissipating means for dissipating electromagnetic energy applied thereto; said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to extract and conduct electromagnetic energy from the region between the first and second electrically conductive members to the asSociated output load during the transmit mode of operation without application of a significant amount of electromagnetic energy to the second electrical path means or to the dissipating means included therein, and said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to conduct substantially all of the electromagnetic energy received by the associated output load during the receive mode of operation to the region between the first and second electrically conductive members; and said first electrical path means, said electrically conductive coupling member, and said second electrical path means being operative to conduct a major portion of any electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by the corresponding output load to the dissipating means, whereby such major portion of the reflected energy is dissipated in the dissipating means.

Claim 6

An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein each electrically conductive coupling member is a flat, multiedged element.

Claim 7

An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein each electrically conductive coupling member is a flat member having a circular configuration.

Claim 8

An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first and second electrically conductive members are flat members and each of the electrically conductive coupling members is a flat member.

Claim 9

An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first electrical path means in each coupler device includes: an output connector adapted to be connected to the associated output load; and an impedance-matching arrangement connected between the first electrical terminal means of the electrically conductive coupling member and the output connector for impedance matching the value of the impedance looking in the direction of the coupling member to the value of the characteristic impedance of the output connector.

Claim 10

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein the impedance-matching arrangement includes impedance matching transformer sections.

Claim 11

An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein: the dissipating means included in the second electrical path means in each coupler device is a resistive load element; and wherein the second electrical path means further includes: an impedance-matching arrangement in series with the second electrical terminal means of the electrically conductive coupling member and the resistive load element for impedance matching the value of the impedance looking in the direction of the electrically conductive coupling member to the value of the resistive load element.

Claim 12

An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the impedance-matching arrangement includes an impedance-matching transformer section.

Claim 13

An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 further comprising: means associated with the first and second electrically conductive members for removing from the region between the first and second electrically conductive members any electromagnetic energy not extracted and conducted to associated output loads by the plurality of coupler devices.

Claim 14

An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the second electrical path means in each coupler device further includes: a load-matching arrangement in series with the resistive load element for establishing an RF ground for the resistive load element and for eliminating substantially any reactance inherently present in the resistive load element.

Claim 15

An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein: the impedance-matching arrangement included in the first electrical path means and the impedance-matching arrangement and the load-matching arrangement included in the second electrical path means are formed from stripline components; and each coupler device further comprises: first and second flat opposing dielectric members arranged to enclose between opposing surfaces the stripline components; and first and second ground plane members in physical coNtact with the other surfaces of the first and second dielectric members, respectively.

Claim 16

Apparatus for transferring input electromagnetic energy to a plurality of output loads for subsequent transmission in a transmit mode of operation and for processing electromagnetic energy received by said output loads in a receive mode of operation, and for dissipating electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by said output loads, comprising: a first hollow, cylindrical, electrically conductive member having a plurality of openings provided therein in a predetermined pattern; a second hollow, cylindrical, electrically conductive member concentric with the first electrically conductive member; said first and second electrically conductive members being arranged to receive in the region therebetween the input electromagnetic energy; a plurality of coupler devices arranged in the plurality of openings provided in the first electrically conductive member, one coupler device corresponding to each output load, and each adapted to be connected to a corresponding output load, each of said coupler devices comprising: a hollow, cylindrical electrically conductive coupling member supported in the region between the first and second electrically conductive members and concentric with the first and second electrically conductive members, said electrically conductive coupling member having first and second spaced electrical terminal means; first electrical path means in series with the first electrical terminal means and the corresponding output load; and second electrical path means in series with the second electrical terminal means and including a dissipating means for dissipating electromagnetic energy applied thereto; said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to extract and conduct electromagnetic energy from the region between the first and second electrically conductive members to the associated output load during the transmit mode of operation without application of a significant amount of electromagnetic energy to the second electrical path means or to the dissipating means included therein, and said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to conduct substantially all of the electromagnetic energy received by the associated output load during the receive mode of operation to the region between the first and second electrically conductive members; and said first electrical path means, said electrically conductive coupling member, and said second electrical path means being operative to conduct a major portion of any electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by the corresponding output load to the dissipating means, whereby such major portion of the reflected energy is dissipated in the dissipating means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for transferring input electromagnetic energy to a plurality of output loads for subsequent transmission in a transmit mode of operation and for processing electromagnetic energy received by said output loads in a receive mode of operation, and for dissipating electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by said output loads, comprising: a first hollow, cylindrical, electrically conductive member having a plurality of openings provided therein in a predetermined pattern; a second hollow, cylindrical, electrically conductive member concentric with the first electrically conductive member; said first and second electrically conductive members being arranged to receive in the region therebetween the input electromagnetic energy; a plurality of coupler devices arranged in the plurality of openings provided in the first electrically conductive member, one coupler device corresponding to each output load, and each adapted to be connected to a corresponding output load, each of said coupler devices comprising: a hollow, cylindrical electrically conductive coupling member supported in the region between the first and second electrically conductive members and concentric with the first and second electrically conductive members, said electrically conductive coupling member having first and second spaced electrical terminal means; first electrical path means in series with the first electrical terminal means and the corresponding output load; and second electrical path means in series with the second electrical terminal means and including a dissipating means for dissipating electromagnetic energy applied thereto; said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to extract and conduct electromagnetic energy from the region between the first and second electrically conductive members to the associated output load during the transmit mode of operation without application of a significant amount of electromagnetic energy to the second electrical path means or to the dissipating means included therein, and said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to conduct substantially all of the electromagnetic energy received by the associated output load during the receive mode of operation to the region between the first and second electrically conductive members; and said first electrical path means, said electrically conductive coupling member, and said second electrical path means being operative to conduct a major portion of any electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by the corresponding output load to the dissipating means, whereby such major portion of the reflected energy is dissipated in the dissipating means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for transferring input electromagnetic energy to a plurality of output loads for subsequent transmission in a transmit mode of operation and for processing a electromagnetic energy received by said output loads in a receive mode of operation, and for dissipating electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by said output loads, comprising: a first electrically conductive member having a plurality of openings provided therein in a plurality of concentric rings; a second electrically conductive member spaced from the first electrically conductive member; said first and second electrically conductive members being arranged to receive in the region therebetween the input electromagnetic energy; a plurality of coupler devices arranged in the plurality of openings provided in the first electrically conductive member, one coupler device corresponding to each output load, and each adapted to be connected to a corresponding output load, each of said coupler devices comprising: an electrically conductive coupling member supported in the region between the first and second electrically conducTive members and having first and second spaced electrical terminal means; first electrical path means in series with the first electrical terminal means and the corresponding output load; and second electrical path means in series with the second electrical terminal means and including a dissipating means for dissipating electromagnetic energy applied thereto; said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to extract and conduct electromagnetic energy from the region between the first and second electrically conductive members to the associated output load during the transmit mode of operation without application of a significant amount of electromagnetic energy to the second electrical path means or to the dissipating means included therein, and said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to conduct substantially all of the electromagnetic energy received by the associated output load during the receive mode of operation to the region between the first and second electrically conductive members; and said first electrical path means, said electrically conductive coupling member, and said second electrical path means being operative to conduct a major portion of any electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by the corresponding output load to the dissipating means, whereby such major portion of the reflected energy is dissipated in the dissipating means.

Claim 19

Apparatus for transferring input electromagnetic energy to a plurality of output loads for subsequent transmission in a transmit mode of operation and for processing a electromagnetic energy received by said output loads in a receive mode of operation, and for dissipating electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by said output loads, comprising: a first electrically conductive member having a plurality of openings provided therein in a plurality of concentric rings; a second electrically conductive member spaced from the first electrically conductive member; said first and second electrically conductive members being arranged to receive in the region therebetween the input electromagnetic energy; a plurality of coupler devices arranged in the plurality of openings provided in the first electrically conductive member, one coupler device corresponding to each output load, and each adapted to be connected to a corresponding output load, each of said coupler devices comprising: an electrically conductive coupling member supported in the region between the first and second electrically conducTive members and having first and second spaced electrical terminal means; first electrical path means in series with the first electrical terminal means and the corresponding output load; and second electrical path means in series with the second electrical terminal means and including a dissipating means for dissipating electromagnetic energy applied thereto; said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to extract and conduct electromagnetic energy from the region between the first and second electrically conductive members to the associated output load during the transmit mode of operation without application of a significant amount of electromagnetic energy to the second electrical path means or to the dissipating means included therein, and said electrically conductive coupling member and said first electrical path means being operable to conduct substantially all of the electromagnetic energy received by the associated output load during the receive mode of operation to the region between the first and second electrically conductive members; and said first electrical path means, said electrically conductive coupling member, and said second electrical path means being operative to conduct a major portion of any electromagnetic energy reflected undesirably by the corresponding output load to the dissipating means, whereby such major portion of the reflected energy is dissipated in the dissipating means.