US3750012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cating system for waveguide transmission line utilizing spaced reflectors
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1972-01-01
•
Granted: 1973-07-31
•
Expires: 1992-01-01
Abstract
Abstract Faults having negligible reflectivity but causing substantial signal loss in an overmoded waveguide transmission line can be located by utilizing reflectors spaced at substantially equal intervals along the line. Return loss from these reflectors is measured and faults localized between any two of such reflectors by detecting any departure of the return loss from a linear increase with distance.
Inventors
- 👤 R Fellers
- 👤 L Wardell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:33
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/30; G; G01; G01R; G01R27/00; G01R27/28; G01R27/32; G01R31/00; G01R31/08; G01R31/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for locating faults having negligible reflectivity in an overmoded waveguide transmission line comprising, in combination: means for transmitting a signal in a test mode through said waveguide line, said signal being subject to substantially uniform transmission loss along said waveguide line in the absence of said faults within said line; a plurality of low loss reflectors responsive to said signal in said test mode, but unresponsive to other mode signals, to reflect substantially equal portions thereof located at substantially equal intervals along said waveguide line so that said transmission loss of successive ones of said portions increases by a uniform amount in said absence of said faults; and means for measuring said transmission loss of said successive ones of said portions to detect deviations from said uniform amount whereby said faults can be located.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for locating faults having negligible reflectivity in an overmoded waveguide transmission line comprising, in combination: means for transmitting a signal in a test mode through said waveguide line, said signal being subject to substantially uniform transmission loss along said waveguide line in the absence of said faults within said line; a plurality of low loss reflectors responsive to said signal in said test mode, but unresponsive to other mode signals, to reflect substantially equal portions thereof located at substantially equal intervals along said waveguide line so that said transmission loss of successive ones of said portions increases by a uniform amount in said absence of said faults; and means for measuring said transmission loss of said successive ones of said portions to detect deviations from said uniform amount whereby said faults can be located.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reflectors comprise diaphragms of dielectric material mounted within said waveguide transmission line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said diaphragms form gas tight seals around the inner periphery of said waveguide line thereby dividing said line into compartments defined by said diaphragms so that the ingress of contaminants into said waveguide line caused by one of said faults can be restricted to one of said compartments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reflectors comprise circumferential resonators around the inner periphery of said waveguide line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said waveguide line can transmit a relatively broad band of frequencies, said test signal comprising a relatively narrow band of frequencies within said broad band, said resonators being adapted to have substantial response to said narrow band of frequencies and negligible response to the remainder of said broad band of frequencies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for locating faults having negligible reflectivity in an overmoded waveguide having known values of transmission attenuation along the length thereof, comprising, in combination: means for transmitting a signal in a test mode through said waveguide; low loss reflectors responsive to said signal in said test mode, but unresponsive to other mode signals, mounted along said waveguide for reflecting portions of said signal; and means for measuring the transmission loss of said portions reflected so that deviations of said transmission loss of said portions reflected from said known values along said waveguide can be detected whereby said faults are indicated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for locating faults having negligible reflectivity in an overmoded waveguide having known values of transmission attenuation along the length thereof, comprising, in combination: means for transmitting a signal in a test mode through said waveguide; low loss reflectors responsive to said signal in said test mode, but unresponsive to other mode signals, mounted along said waveguide for reflecting portions of said signal; and means for measuring the transmission loss of said portions reflected so that deviations of said transmission loss of said portions reflected from said known values along said waveguide can be detected whereby said faults are indicated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |