Strip transmission line coupler

Claim 2

IN COMBINATION: FIRST AND SECOND DIELECTRIC PANELS HAVING JUXTAPOSED BROAD SURFACES AND RESPECTIVE OPPOSING BROAD SURFACES; A CENTER STRIP CONDUCTOR DISPOSED BETWEEN THE JUXTAPOSED BROAD SURFACES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND PANELS AND HAVING A TERMINAL PORTION; FIRST AND SECOND GROUND PLANES SUPPORTED ON THE RESPECTIVE OPPOSING BROAD SURFACES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND PANELS; THE FIRST PANEL AND FIRST GROUND PLANE HAVING RESPECTIVE SLOTS THEREIN ALIGNED WITH ONE ANOTHER AND SYMMETRICALLY SPACED FROM THE TERMINAL PORTION OF THE CENTER STRIP CONDUCTOR; THE SECOND PANEL AND SECOND GROUND PLANE HAVING RESPECTIVE OPENINGS THEREIN ALIGNED WITH THE TERMINAL PORTION OF THE CENTER STRIP CONDUCTOR AND HAVING RESPECTIVE SLOTS THEREIN ALIGNED WITH THE SLOTS IN THE FIRST PANEL AND THE FIRST GROUND PLANE; AN ELONGATED CONDUCTIVE MEMBER EXTENDED LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH THE ALIGNED OPENINGS IN THE SECOND PANEL AND THE SECOND GROUND PLANE AND HAVING ONE END PORTION DISPOSED IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE TERMINAL PORTION OF THE CENTER STRIP CONDUCTOR AND AN OPPOSING END PORTION PROTRUDING INSULATINGLY FROM THE SECOND GROUND PLANE; AND A CONDUCTIVE SHELL HAVING A WALL PORTION EXTENDED LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH THE ALIGNED SLOTS IN THE PANELS AND THE GROUND PLANES AND SYMMETRICALLY SPACED FROM THE ELONGATED MEMBER AND THE TERMINAL PORTION OF THE CENTER STRIP CONDUCTOR, THE WALL HAVING A PROTRUDING END PORTION AND AN OPPOSING END, THE SHELL HAVING PRESSURE MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING THE SHELL TO THE FIRST AND SECOND GROUND PLANES AND APERTURE MEANS FOR PERMITTING THE CENTER STRIP CONDUCTOR TO EXTEND INSULATINGLY INTO THE SHELL.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wall is cylindrical and has a cross-sectional configuration conforming to the aligned slots in the panels and ground planes.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the terminal portion of the center strip conductor is an end portion, the slots in the panels and ground planes are each horseshoe-shaped, and the aperture means includes an open-ended slot extending longitudinally in the wall from the protruding end thereof.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pressure means includes fastening means at the protruding end portion of the cylindrical wall and radially extending means adjacent the opposing end thereof.

Claim 6

In combination: first and second dielectric panels having juxtaposed broad surfaces and respective opposing broad surfaces; a center strip conductor disposed between the juxtaposed broad surfaces of the first and second panels and having a terminal portion; first and second ground planes supported on the respective opposing broad surfaces of the first and second panels; the first panel and first ground plane having respective arcuate slots therein aligned with one another and symmetrically spaced from the terminal portion of the center strip conductor; the second panel and second ground plane having respective coaxial openings therein aligned with the terminal portion of the center strip conductor and having respective arcuate slots therein aligned with the slots in the first panel and the first ground plane; a conductive pin extended longitudinally through the coaxial openings in the second panel and the second ground plane and having one end portion disposed in electrical contact with the terminal portion of the center strip conductor and an opposing end portion protruding insulatingly from the second ground plane; and a conductive shell including a cylindrical wall having a cross-sectional configuration conforming to the aligned slots in the panels and the ground planes and extended longitudinally therethrough in symmetrically spaced relationship with the conductive pin and the terminal portion of the center strip conductor, the wall having a protruding end portion and an opposing end, the shell having pressure means for electrically connecting the shell to the first and second ground panels and aperture means for permitting the center strip conductor to extend insulatingly into the shell.

Claim 7

In combination: first and second dielectric panels having juxtaposed broad surfaces and respective opposing broad surfaces; a center strip conductor disposed between the juxtaposed broad surfaces of the first and second panels and having a terminal portion; first and second ground planes supported on the respective opposing broad surfaces of the first and second panels; the first panel and first ground plane having respective arcuate slots therein aligned with one another and symmetrically spaced from the terminal portion of the center strip conductor; the second panel and second ground plane having respective coaxial openings therein aligned with the terminal portion of the center strip conductor and having respective arcuate slots therein aligned with the slots in the first panel and the first ground plane; a conductive pin extended longitudinally through the coaxial openings in the second panel and the second ground plane and having one end portion disposed in electrical contact with the terminal portion of the center strip conductor and an opposing end portion protruding insulatingly from the second ground plane; and a conductive shell including a cylindrical wall having a cross-sectional configuration conforming to the aligned slots in the panels and the ground planes and extended longitudinally therethrough in symmetrically spaced relationship with the conductive pin and the terminal portion of the center strip conductor, the wall having a protruding end portion and an opposing end, the shell having pressure means for electrically connecting the shell to the first and second ground panels and aperture means for permitting the center strip conductor to extend insulatingly into the shell.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein the opening in the second ground plane is larger than the coaxial opening in the second panel.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein the end portion of the wall adjacent the second ground plane is electrically connected to a corresponding conductor of another transmission line.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the protruding end portion of the conductive pin is the center conductor of a coaxial connector and the adjacent end portion of the wall is electrically connected to the concentric outer conductor of the coaxial connector.

Claim 11

The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the protruding end portion of the conductive pin engages the center conductor of the other transmission line.

Claim 12

In combination: first and second dielectric panels having juxtaposed broad surfaces and respective opposing broad surfaces; first and second ground planes supported on the respective opposing broad surfaces of the first and second panels; a first center strip conductor disposed between the juxtaposed broad surfaces of the first and second panels and having a terminal end portion; third and fourth dielectric panels having juxtaposed broad surfaces and respective opposing broad surfaces; third and fourth ground planes supported on the respective opposing broad surfaces of the third and fourth panels, the third ground plane being disposed in juxtaposed relationship with the second plane; first means for conductively connecting the third ground plane to the second ground plane; second means for conductively connecting the second center strip conductor to the first center strip conductor and passing insulatingly through the second and third ground planes; all of said panels and ground planes having respective horseshoe-shaped slots therein aligned with one another in symmetrically spaced relationship with the respective terminal end portions of the first and second center strip conductors; and a conductive shell including a wall having a cross-sectional configuration conforming to the aligned horseshoe-shaped slots and extended longitudinally therethrough, and pressure means disposed at opposing ends of the cylindrical wall for electrically connecting the shell to the ground planes.

Claim 13

In combination: first and second dielectric panels having juxtaposed broad surfaces and respective opposing broad surfaces; first and second ground planes supported on the respective opposing broad surfaces of the first and second panels; a first center strip conductor disposed between the juxtaposed broad surfaces of the first and second panels and having a terminal end portion; third and fourth dielectric panels having juxtaposed broad surfaces and respective opposing broad surfaces; third and fourth ground planes supported on the respective opposing broad surfaces of the third and fourth panels, the third ground plane being disposed in juxtaposed relationship with the second plane; first means for conductively connecting the third ground plane to the second ground plane; second means for conductively connecting the second center strip conductor to the first center strip conductor and passing insulatingly through the second and third ground planes; all of said panels and ground planes having respective horseshoe-shaped slots therein aligned with one another in symmetrically spaced relationship with the respective terminal end portions of the first and second center strip conductors; and a conductive shell including a wall having a cross-sectional configuration conforming to the aligned horseshoe-shaped slots and extended longitudinally therethrough, and pressure means disposed at opposing ends of the cylindrical wall for electrically connecting the shell to the ground planes.