Patent US3710145A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3710145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improved switching circuitry for semiconductor diodes
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1971-02-01
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1991-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A driver amplifier for p-i-n diodes in the phase shifters of a phased array antenna, such amplifier being arranged so as to produce, in response to a command signal from a beam steering computer, either a forward-bias or a back-bias signal for such diodes, the particular bias signal produced by such amplifier being delayed by substantially the same length of time after application of a command signal.
Inventors
- 👤 R Williamson
- 👤 C Georgopoulos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:06
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/74; H03K17/76; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/30; H01Q3/34; H01Q3/36; H01Q3/38; H01Q3/385; H03K5/00; H03K5/01; H03K5/02; H03K5/13; H03K5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
In a phased array antenna assembly for microwave energy, such assembly incorporating a matrix of antenna elements, each one of such elements having associated therewith a semiconductor-diode phase shifter to change, in accordance with binary control signals, the phase of microwave energy to and from each one of such elements, separate circuitry for selectively forward-biasing and back-biasing the semiconductor diodes in each semiconductordiode phase shifter, each such separate circuitry including: a. first circuit means, including a first resistor, for connecting the semiconductor diodes in an associated semiconductor-diode phase shifter to a terminal; b. second circuit means, including a second resistor, for connecting a source of back-bias voltage to the terminal; c. third circuit means, including a first transistor, for connecting a source of forward-bias voltage to the terminal; and d. fourth circuit means, including a time delay circuit for connecting a source of binary control signals to the first transistor to switch that element from its conducting state to its nonconducting state in accordAnce with the binary control signals, the time delay of the time delay circuit also varying in accordance with the binary control signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a phased array antenna assembly for microwave energy, such assembly incorporating a matrix of antenna elements, each one of such elements having associated therewith a semiconductor-diode phase shifter to change, in accordance with binary control signals, the phase of microwave energy to and from each one of such elements, separate circuitry for selectively forward-biasing and back-biasing the semiconductor diodes in each semiconductordiode phase shifter, each such separate circuitry including: a. first circuit means, including a first resistor, for connecting the semiconductor diodes in an associated semiconductor-diode phase shifter to a terminal; b. second circuit means, including a second resistor, for connecting a source of back-bias voltage to the terminal; c. third circuit means, including a first transistor, for connecting a source of forward-bias voltage to the terminal; and d. fourth circuit means, including a time delay circuit for connecting a source of binary control signals to the first transistor to switch that element from its conducting state to its nonconducting state in accordAnce with the binary control signals, the time delay of the time delay circuit also varying in accordance with the binary control signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
Circuitry as in claim 1 having, additionally: a. a second transistor, such transistor having its collector electrode connected through a third resistor to the source of back-bias voltage, its base electrode connected to the terminal and its emitter electrode connected to a junction in the first circuit means; and b. inductor means, disposed in the first circuit means between the terminal and the junction and responsive to the binary control signals, for momentarily biasing the second transistor into its conductive state during each period of time when the first transistor is changing from its conducting to its nonconducting state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
Circuitry as in claim 2 having additionally: fifth circuit means, including a third transistor, the emitter electrode of such transistor being connected to the base electrode of the first transistor, the collector electrode of such transistor being connected to a discharging load and the base electrode of such transistor being in circuit with the fourth circuit means and the discharging load, the third transistor thereby being biased into its conducting state only during each period of time when the first transistor is changing from its conducting to its nonconducting state.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |