Integrated beacon antenna polarization switch

Claim 2

An integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and rightcircular polarization modes, said switch comprising means for guiding electromagnetic energy along a predetermined path having an input and an output, said path being symmetrical about a center line; means for launching electromagnetic energy along said path in a first mode having a transverse radial electric field and a transverse magnetic field about said center line; means disposed along a first section of said path for controllably rotating said radial electric field in a plane transverse to said center line thereby to transform a controllable portion of said electromagnetic energy from said first mode into a second mode having an electric field disposed around said center line; means disposed along a second section of said path subsequent to said first section for shifting the phase of said electromagnetic energy in said second mode by substantially 90* without affecting the relative phase of said electromagnetic energy in said first mode; and means for directing electromagnetic energy in said first and second modes outwards from said center line in a direction substantially transverse thereto.

Claim 3

The integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular modes as defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined path is oriented in a selected direction and none of said electromagnetic energy in said first mode is transformed into said second mode whereby said electromagnetic energy directed outwards from said center line is polarized in said selected direction.

Claim 4

The integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular modes as defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined path is oriented in a selected direction and substantially all of said electromagnetic energy in said first mode is transformed into said second mode whereby said electromagnetic energy directed outwards from said center line is polarized in a direction normal to said selected direction.

Claim 5

The integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular modes as defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined path is oriented in a selected direction and approximately one-half of said electromagnetic energy in said first mode is transformed into said second mode whereby said electromagnetic energy directed outwards from said center line is left-circularly polarized for a 45* rotation of said radial electric field in one direction and is right-circularly polarized for a 45* rotation of said radial electric field in a direction opposite from said one direction.

Claim 6

An integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes, said switch comprising a predetermined length of cylindrical waveguide; means for launching electromagnetic energy in the TM01 mode into one extremity of said cylindrical waveguide; a Faraday rotator disposed along a first portion of the length of said cylindrical waveguide, said Faraday rotator having a bias current for controllably rotating the electric field of said TM01 mode in plane transverse to the center line of said cylindrical waveguide thereby to progressively transform said TM01 mode to the TE01 mode; a non-reciprocal one-quarter wave plate disposed along a second portion of the length of said cylindrical waveguide; and means disposed at the extremity opposite from said one extremity of said cylindrical waveguide for directing electromagnetic energy propagated thereby from said center line thereof outwards in an outwardly direction thereby providing said vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes as determined by the magnitude and direction of said bias current.

Claim 7

An integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes, said switch comprising a predetermined length of cylindrical waveguide; means for launching electromagnetic energy in the TM01 mode into one extremity of said cylindrical waveguide; a Faraday rotator disposed along a first portion of the length of said cylindrical waveguide, said Faraday rotator having a bias current for controllably rotating the electric field of said TM01 mode in plane transverse to the center line of said cylindrical waveguide thereby to progressively transform said TM01 mode to the TE01 mode; a non-reciprocal one-quarter wave plate disposed along a second portion of the length of said cylindrical waveguide; and means disposed at the extremity opposite from said one extremity of said cylindrical waveguide for directing electromagnetic energy propagated thereby from said center line thereof outwards in an outwardly direction thereby providing said vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes as determined by the magnitude and direction of said bias current.

Claim 8

The integrated antenna polarization switch as defined in claim 5 wherein the operation of said Faraday rotator is non-reciprocal thereby making the operation of said switch reciprocal.

Claim 9

An integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes, said switch comprising a predetermined length of coaxial line; means for launching electromagnetic energy in the TEM mode into one extremity of said coaxial line; a Faraday rotator disposed along a first portion of the length of said coaxial line, said Faraday rotator having a bias current for controllably rotating the electric field of said TEM mode in a plane transverse to the center field of said coaxial line thereby to progressively transform said TEM mode to a circular transverse electric mode; a non-reciprocal one-quarter wave plate disposed along a second portion of the length of said coaxial line; and means disposed at the extremity opposite from said one extremity of said coaxial line for directing electromagnetic energy propagated thereby from said center line thereof outwards in an outwardly direction thereby providing said vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes as determined by the magnitude and direction of said bias current.

Claim 10

An integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes, said switch comprising a predetermined length of coaxial line; means for launching electromagnetic energy in the TEM mode into one extremity of said coaxial line; a Faraday rotator disposed along a first portion of the length of said coaxial line, said Faraday rotator having a bias current for controllably rotating the electric field of said TEM mode in a plane transverse to the center field of said coaxial line thereby to progressively transform said TEM mode to a circular transverse electric mode; a non-reciprocal one-quarter wave plate disposed along a second portion of the length of said coaxial line; and means disposed at the extremity opposite from said one extremity of said coaxial line for directing electromagnetic energy propagated thereby from said center line thereof outwards in an outwardly direction thereby providing said vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes as determined by the magnitude and direction of said bias current.

Claim 11

The integrated antenna polarization switch as defined in claim 5 wherein the operation of said Faraday rotator is non-reciprocal thereby making the operation of said switch reciprocal.

Claim 12

A reciprocal integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-cirCular and right-circular polarization modes, said switch comprising a predetermined length of cylindrical waveguide having an axis of rotation; means for launching electromagnetic energy in the TM01 mode into one extremity of said cylindrical waveguide; a first ferrite cylinder disposed within said cylindrical waveguide along a first portion of said predetermined length adjacent said one extremity symmetrically about said axis of rotation thereof; means for producing a longitudinal magnetic field through said ferrite cylinder that is controllable both in direction and intensity; a second ferrite cylinder disposed symmetrically about said axis of rotation along a second portion of said predetermined length subsequent to said first portion, said second ferrite cylinder being circumferentially magnetized for changing the phase of electromagnetic energy in the TE01 mode by 90*; and means disposed at the extremity opposite said one extremity of said cylindrical waveguide for directing electromagnetic energy propagated thereby from said axis of rotation outwards in an outwardly direction thereby providing said vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes as determined by the direction and intensity of said longitudinal magnetic field through said first ferrite cylinder.

Claim 13

A reciprocal integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-cirCular and right-circular polarization modes, said switch comprising a predetermined length of cylindrical waveguide having an axis of rotation; means for launching electromagnetic energy in the TM01 mode into one extremity of said cylindrical waveguide; a first ferrite cylinder disposed within said cylindrical waveguide along a first portion of said predetermined length adjacent said one extremity symmetrically about said axis of rotation thereof; means for producing a longitudinal magnetic field through said ferrite cylinder that is controllable both in direction and intensity; a second ferrite cylinder disposed symmetrically about said axis of rotation along a second portion of said predetermined length subsequent to said first portion, said second ferrite cylinder being circumferentially magnetized for changing the phase of electromagnetic energy in the TE01 mode by 90*; and means disposed at the extremity opposite said one extremity of said cylindrical waveguide for directing electromagnetic energy propagated thereby from said axis of rotation outwards in an outwardly direction thereby providing said vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes as determined by the direction and intensity of said longitudinal magnetic field through said first ferrite cylinder.

Claim 14

A reciprocal integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes, said switch comprising a predetermined length of coaxial line having an axis of rotation; means for launching electromagnetic energy in the TEM mode into one extremity of said coaxial line; a first ferrite cylinder disposed within said coaxial line along a first portion of said predetermined length adjacent said one extremity symmetrically about said axis of rotation thereof; means for producing a longitudinal magnetic field through said ferrite cylinder that is controllable both in direction and intensity for rotating the radial electric field of said TEM mode in a plane transverse to said axis of rotation to produce a circumferential mode, said coaxial line having an outside to inside diameter ratio capable of supporting said circumferential mode; a second ferrite cylinder disposed symmetrically about said axis of rotation along a second portion of said predetermined length subsequent to said first portion, said second ferrite cylinder being circumferentially magnetized for changing the phase of electrical energy in said circumferential mode by 90*; and means disposed at the extremity opposite said one extremity of said coaxial line for directing electromagnetic energy propagated thereby from said axis of rotation outwards in an outwardly direction thereby providing said vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes as determined by the direction and intensity of said longitudinal magnetic field through said first ferrite cylinder.

Claim 15

A reciprocal integrated antenna polarization switch capable of operating in vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes, said switch comprising a predetermined length of coaxial line having an axis of rotation; means for launching electromagnetic energy in the TEM mode into one extremity of said coaxial line; a first ferrite cylinder disposed within said coaxial line along a first portion of said predetermined length adjacent said one extremity symmetrically about said axis of rotation thereof; means for producing a longitudinal magnetic field through said ferrite cylinder that is controllable both in direction and intensity for rotating the radial electric field of said TEM mode in a plane transverse to said axis of rotation to produce a circumferential mode, said coaxial line having an outside to inside diameter ratio capable of supporting said circumferential mode; a second ferrite cylinder disposed symmetrically about said axis of rotation along a second portion of said predetermined length subsequent to said first portion, said second ferrite cylinder being circumferentially magnetized for changing the phase of electrical energy in said circumferential mode by 90*; and means disposed at the extremity opposite said one extremity of said coaxial line for directing electromagnetic energy propagated thereby from said axis of rotation outwards in an outwardly direction thereby providing said vertical, horizontal, left-circular and right-circular polarization modes as determined by the direction and intensity of said longitudinal magnetic field through said first ferrite cylinder.