US3593216A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reciprocal ferrite film phase shifter having digitally controlled relative phase shift steps
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1969-05-02
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1989-05-02
Abstract
Abstract The phase shifter comprises a ferrite film structured to define a multiple toroid configuration and having deposited on one surface thereof a microwave transmission line defining the direction of propagation of microwave energy. Flux driving means are digitally controlled for selectively driving the film to remanent conditions of magnetization of predetermined orientations relative to the direction of microwave propagation. In a preferred embodiment, the flux driving means includes a conducting film deposited between two layers of the ferrite film, which layers are integrally formed about the boundaries of the conducting film to define the multiple toroid configuration. Energization of selected latching current paths defined by the film provides for the selective flux driving of the film. Where Beta is the propagation constant of the microstrip, relative differential phase shift is expressed as ( Delta Beta / Beta ), and is a function of the remanent field strength in the direction of propagation. Selective current pulsing of the conducting film to establish latching current in selected ones of the current paths permits rapid switching of each step of relative phase shift.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel C Buck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/18; H01P1/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A reciprocal latching phase shifter for microwave transmissions in the T.E.M. mode comprising: a ferrite film, a microwave transmission line associated with said film and defining the direction of microwave propagation with respect to said films a conducting film received within said ferrite film and defining latching current paths therethrough in at least three predetermined orientations with respect to the direction of microwave propagation, and means for selectively energizing said latching current paths for flux driving said ferrite film to magnetization in said orientations, respectively corresponding to minimum, intermediate, and maximum amounts of relative phase shift of a microwave propagated through said associated transmission line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A reciprocal latching phase shifter for microwave transmissions in the T.E.M. mode comprising: a ferrite film, a microwave transmission line associated with said film and defining the direction of microwave propagation with respect to said films a conducting film received within said ferrite film and defining latching current paths therethrough in at least three predetermined orientations with respect to the direction of microwave propagation, and means for selectively energizing said latching current paths for flux driving said ferrite film to magnetization in said orientations, respectively corresponding to minimum, intermediate, and maximum amounts of relative phase shift of a microwave propagated through said associated transmission line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A phase shifter as recited in claim 1 wherein: said conducting film is of planar configuration and integrally formed within said ferrite film to structure said ferrite film in a plurality of toroids associated with said latching current paths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
A phase shifter as recited in claim 1 wherein: said conducting film is formed in parallel relationship with and intermediate lower and upper layers of said ferrite film, said conducting film having boundaries of smaller dimensions than said ferrite film, said conducting film including a plurality of pairs of integral connector tabs, the tabs of each pair being disposed in alignment at opposite boundaries of said conducting film and defining a respectively associated latching current path therethrough, and said tab pairs extending to the perimeters of said ferrite film for electrical connection thereto to permit selective energization of current paths respectively defined thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A phase shifter as recited in claim 3 wherein said layers of said ferrite film are integrally formed in the portions of said film surrounding the boundaries of said conducting film and intermediate adjacent tabs thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A phase shifter as recited in claim 3 wherein said plurality of tab pairs are displaced at unequal angular increments through said orientations thereof to provide for corresponding unequal successive amounts of relative phase shift.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A phase shifter as recited in claim 3 wherein said tab pairs of said conducting film defining said latching current paths are successively displaced through said angular orientations thereof to provide equal successive amounts of relative phase shift of a propagated microwave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A phase shifter as recited in claim 3 wherein: said conducting film includes at least one tab pair defining a current path oriented at an angle intermediate parallel and perpendicular orientations with respect to the direction of microwave propagation and lying within a first set of quadrants defined by said parallel and perpendicular orientations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A phase shifter as recited in claim 7 wherein: said conducting film includes a least a second tab pair intermediate said parallel and perpendicular orientations and of a different orientation than said first tab pair and lying in a second set of quadrants defined by said parallel and perpendicular orientations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A phase shifter as recited in claim 3 wherein said latching current paths of said conducting film are displaced at successive orientations as defined by: theta n sin 1(n pi /2N) where theta n is an angle of orientation of a given current path measured from a parallel orientation with the direction of propagation, n is the number of connector tab pairs and N is the total number of bits desired.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A phase shifter as recited in claim 9 wherein said energizing means provides for selective and sequential energization of said plurality of latching current paths.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3447143A
Cited
US3457525A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |