US3623149A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reciprocal latching ferrite waveguide phase shifter having waveguide stubs energized in phase quadrature
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-12
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1990-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A waveguide phase shifter of the loaded line type using latching ferrite material as the active element. The active ferrite material is fabricated in the shape of thin and low-volume toroids which are disposed in pairs in waveguide stubs that are coupled to a main waveguide by coupling slots formed therein. Means are provided for alternatively energizing the toroids into either a symmetrical state or an antisymmetrical state. The changes in impedance and phase constants between these two different states produce susceptance changes across the coupling slots thereby effecting corresponding changes in the phase of microwave signals propagated over the main waveguide. This phase shift of the signals is reciprocal.
Inventors
- 👤 John Ineson Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/18; H01P1/19; H01P1/195
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
A loaded line ferrite phase shifter adapted for shifting the phase of microwave signals propagated over a main waveguide and comprising: at least two stub waveguides coupled to said main waveguide in such a manner as to be energized in phase quadrature by said microwave signals, said stub waveguides having terminating reactances at the ends thereof adapted to be transformed by said stub waveguides into input susceptances which are presented to said microwave signals for imposing a phase shift thereon when propagated past said stub waveguides, control means adapted for changing said phase shift by changing said reactances, said control means including magnetizing means adapted for providing magnetizing current to each of said stub waveguides for establishing a state of magnetization therein, switching means adapted for alternatively switching said state of magnetization in each of said stub waveguides from one state of magnetization to a different state of magnetization, and maximizing means for maximizing the rapidity of said alternative switching action of said switching means, said maximizing means comprising minimizing means for minimizing the required magnitude of said magnetizing currents, said minimizing means comprising at least four members composed of ferrite material and grouped in two pairs, and adapted to be magnetized by said magnetizing means each of said ferrite members being fabricated in the shape of a thin and low volume toroid, and supporting means for supporting one pair of said ferrite toroids inside one of said stub waveguides and for supporting the other pair of said ferrite toroids inside the other of said stub waveguides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
A loaded line ferrite phase shifter adapted for shifting the phase of microwave signals propagated over a main waveguide and comprising: at least two stub waveguides coupled to said main waveguide in such a manner as to be energized in phase quadrature by said microwave signals, said stub waveguides having terminating reactances at the ends thereof adapted to be transformed by said stub waveguides into input susceptances which are presented to said microwave signals for imposing a phase shift thereon when propagated past said stub waveguides, control means adapted for changing said phase shift by changing said reactances, said control means including magnetizing means adapted for providing magnetizing current to each of said stub waveguides for establishing a state of magnetization therein, switching means adapted for alternatively switching said state of magnetization in each of said stub waveguides from one state of magnetization to a different state of magnetization, and maximizing means for maximizing the rapidity of said alternative switching action of said switching means, said maximizing means comprising minimizing means for minimizing the required magnitude of said magnetizing currents, said minimizing means comprising at least four members composed of ferrite material and grouped in two pairs, and adapted to be magnetized by said magnetizing means each of said ferrite members being fabricated in the shape of a thin and low volume toroid, and supporting means for supporting one pair of said ferrite toroids inside one of said stub waveguides and for supporting the other pair of said ferrite toroids inside the other of said stub waveguides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
A loaded line ferrite phase shifter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said state of magnetization in each of said stub waveguides is localized in the respectively associated pair of thin toroids supported therein, and wherein said one state of magnetization in each of said stub waveguides is constituted by a symmetrical state of magnetization of the respectively associated pair of thin ferrite toroids supported therein, and wherein said different state of magnetization in each of said stub waveguides is constituted by an antisymmetrical state of magnetization of the respectively associated pair of thin ferrite toroids supported therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
A loaded line ferrite phase shifter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said main waveguide has means defining a plurality of slots formed therein with each of said slots being disposed under a respectively different one of said stub waveguides for supplying said microwave signals thereto, wherein each of said thin ferrite toroids in said stub waveguides has means defining a central opening therein, and wherein said supporting means is adapted for supporting each of said thin ferrite toroids in such a manner that its central opening faces toward a respectively associated one of said slots formed in said main waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A loaded line ferrite phase shifter in accordance with claim 2 wherein said main waveguide has a width that is approximately twice as large as its height, and wherein each of said slots formed in said main waveguide has a rectangular shape with a length not in excess of the width of said main waveguide and with a width which is less than one-half the height of said main waveguide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
156 words
A loaded line ferrite phase shifter in accordance with claim 2 wherein said magnetizing means comprise a plurality of electrically conductive leads each being disposed with at least one turn thereof passing through the central opening in a respectively different one of said thin ferrite toroids, each of said leads beiNg connected to a source of magnetizing current for applying said magnetizing current to its respectively associated ferrite toroid, wherein said switching means comprise means for directing the flow of said magnetizing current along said conductive leads in such a direction as to produce a symmetrical state of magnetization in both of said pairs of ferrite toroids in said stub waveguides, and wherein said switching means further include means for alternatively reversing the direction of the flow of said magnetizing current along two of said conductive leads for producing an antisymmetrical state of magnetization in both of said pairs of ferrite toroids in said stub waveguides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A loaded line ferrite phase shifter in accordance with claim 5 wherein said two conductive leads include one lead having at least one turn passing through the central opening of one ferrite toroid in the pair of toroids in one of said stub waveguides, and wherein said two conductive leads further include one lead having at least one turn passing through the central opening of one ferrite toroid in the pair of toroids in the other of said stub waveguides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
212 words
A loaded line ferrite phase shifter adapted for shifting the phase of microwave signals propagated over a main waveguide and comprising: at least two stub waveguides coupled to said main waveguide in such a manner as to be energized in phase quadrature by said microwave signals, phase shifting means for producing a change in the susceptance presented by said stub waveguides to said main waveguide whereby the phase of said microwave signals propagated over said main waveguide is changed, said phase shifting means comprising a first pair of latching ferrite toroids positioned within said first stub waveguide, a second pair of latching ferrite toroids positioned within said second stub waveguide, each of said pairs of toroids having a symmetrical state of magnetization and also alternatively having an antisymmetrical state of magnetization, first electric conduction means extending through said first pair of toroids, second electric conduction means extending through said second pair of toroids, means for energizing said first and second electric conduction means for latching both of said pairs of ferrite toroids in said stub waveguides into said symmetrical state of magnetization, and means for alternatively energizing said first and second electric conduction means for latching both of said pair of toroids in said stub waveguides into said antisymmetrical state of magnetization.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
212 words
A loaded line ferrite phase shifter adapted for shifting the phase of microwave signals propagated over a main waveguide and comprising: at least two stub waveguides coupled to said main waveguide in such a manner as to be energized in phase quadrature by said microwave signals, phase shifting means for producing a change in the susceptance presented by said stub waveguides to said main waveguide whereby the phase of said microwave signals propagated over said main waveguide is changed, said phase shifting means comprising a first pair of latching ferrite toroids positioned within said first stub waveguide, a second pair of latching ferrite toroids positioned within said second stub waveguide, each of said pairs of toroids having a symmetrical state of magnetization and also alternatively having an antisymmetrical state of magnetization, first electric conduction means extending through said first pair of toroids, second electric conduction means extending through said second pair of toroids, means for energizing said first and second electric conduction means for latching both of said pairs of ferrite toroids in said stub waveguides into said symmetrical state of magnetization, and means for alternatively energizing said first and second electric conduction means for latching both of said pair of toroids in said stub waveguides into said antisymmetrical state of magnetization.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2961658A
Cited
US3384841A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |