Conical spiral conductor for applying low frequency signals to a microwave structure

Claim 2

In a microwave transmission system having a characteristic impedance, a coupling device for supplying low frequency electrical energy to a part of said system and for presenting a large impedance to microwave signals from said system part, said coupling device comprising: an electrical conductor characterized by resistance at microwave operating frequencies a plurality of times greater than said characteristic impedance, said conductor having an aperiodic meander; separate terminal means connected to spaced portions of said meander conductor for receiving said electrical energy and for connection to said system; and means for mounting said conductor with its meander path transverse to the electric field of the transmission system.

Claim 3

In a microwave transmission, a coupling device as recited in claim 1 wherein said conductor is in the form of a conical helix.

Claim 4

In a microwave transmission system including a strip signal conductor, means providing a ground plane and a dielectric therebetween; means for coupling to said strip conductor for passing low frequency signals and for presenting a high impedance to high frequency microwave signals transmitted by said strip conductor, said coupling means including a conical helical conductor having the small diameter end thereof connected to said strip conductor.

Claim 5

In a microwave transmission system including a strip signal conductor, means providing a ground plane and a dielectric therebetween; means for coupling to said strip conductor for passing low frequency signals and for presenting a high impedance to high frequency microwave signals transmitted by said strip conductor, said coupling means including a conical helical conductor having the small diameter end thereof connected to said strip conductor.

Claim 6

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 3 wherein at least a portion of said conical helical conductor is a single-wire transmission line.

Claim 7

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 3 wherein said helical conductor is of magnetic material.

Claim 8

A microwave transmission line as recited in claim 3 wherein the lead angle of each turn of said helical conductor is less than 10*.

Claim 9

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 3, wherein a grounded shield surrounds said coupling conductor over a major fraction of the length thereof.

Claim 10

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 3, wherein said helical conductor is characterized by a resistance at microwave frequencies which is a plurality of times greater than the characteristic impedance of said microwave transmission system.

Claim 11

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 3 wherein the axis of said helical conductor is substantially perpendicular to said strip conductor.

Claim 12

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 9 wherein said helical conductor is connected to the surface of said strip opposite from said ground plane means and extends away from said ground plane means.

Claim 13

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 10 wherein said coupling means includes means at said small helical end having a width less than the width of said strip.

Claim 14

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 3 wherein said coupling means includes a conical member formed of non-conductive material and said helical conductor is wound thereon.

Claim 15

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 12 wherein said coupling means includes resilient means for biasing said conical member toward said strip conductor to connect said helical conductor thereto.

Claim 16

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 12 wherein said conical member has a helical groove around the conical surface thereof, and said helical conductor is embedded within said groove.

Claim 17

A microwave transmission system as recited in claim 12, and further comprising metallic means connected to said ground plane and having a conical opening surrounding a portion of said conical member and of said embedded helical conductor as a shield therefor.

Claim 18

A microwave device comprising input and output means having signal and ground conductors, a trough-shaped metallic housing coupled to said ground conductor, a strip conductor coupled to said signal conductor and extending along the bottom wall of said trough and spaced therefrom by a dielectric and spaced from the side walls of said trough housing, said housing being dimensioned to limit the mode of transmission, a dielectric support member, a resistive coupling conductor aperiodically meandering around said support member for supplying low frequency signals to said strip conductor and extending through said trough and having a resistance at microwave frequencies a plurality of times greater than the characteristic impedance of said microwave device, and a grounded metallic shield spaced from and surrounding said coupling conductor between the walls of said trough and extending along said coupling conductor for a substantial length thereof and spaced from said strip conductor, said shield having an opening for receiving said dielectric support member therein and for positioning said support member and said coupling conductor with respect to said strip conductor.

Claim 19

A microwave device comprising input and output means having signal and ground conductors, a trough-shaped metallic housing coupled to said ground conductor, a strip conductor coupled to said signal conductor and extending along the bottom wall of said trough and spaced therefrom by a dielectric and spaced from the side walls of said trough housing, said housing being dimensioned to limit the mode of transmission, a dielectric support member, a resistive coupling conductor aperiodically meandering around said support member for supplying low frequency signals to said strip conductor and extending through said trough and having a resistance at microwave frequencies a plurality of times greater than the characteristic impedance of said microwave device, and a grounded metallic shield spaced from and surrounding said coupling conductor between the walls of said trough and extending along said coupling conductor for a substantial length thereof and spaced from said strip conductor, said shield having an opening for receiving said dielectric support member therein and for positioning said support member and said coupling conductor with respect to said strip conductor.

Claim 20

A microwave device as recited in claim 16, wherein said dielectric support has grooves around the outer surface thereof approximately parallel to said strip conductor, and said coupling conductor is turned into said grooves.

Claim 21

A microwave device as recited in claim 17, wherein said dielectric support has a conical outer surface, and said shield opening is conical to receive and position said dielectric support.

Claim 22

A microwave device as recited in claim 18, wherein the conical tip of said dielectric support is metallic to provide a conductive contact with a surface of said strip conductor, and said coupling conductor has an end connected to said metallic support tip.

Claim 23

A microwave device as recited in claim 19, and further comprising means for mechanically biasing said dielectric support to maintain contact with the surface of said strip conductor.

Claim 24

A microwave device comprising input and output means having signal and ground conductors, a trough-shaped metallic housing coupled to said ground conductor, a strip conductor coupled to said signal conductor and extending along the bottom wall of said trough and spaced therefrom by a dielectric and spaced from the side walls of said trough housing, said housing being dimensioned to limit the mode of transmission, a coupling conductor for supplying low frequency signals to said strip conductor and extending through said trough, and a grounded metallic shield surrounding said coupling conductor between the walls of said trough and extending along said coupling conductor for a substantial length thereof and spaced from said strip conductor, said coupling conductor being a spiral helix.

Claim 25

A microwave device comprising input and output means having signal and ground conductors, a trough-shaped metallic housing coupled to said ground conductor, a strip conductor coupled to said signal conductor and extending along the bottom wall of said trough and spaced therefrom by a dielectric and spaced from the side walls of said trough housing, said housing being dimensioned to limit the mode of transmission, a coupling conductor for supplying low frequency signals to said strip conductor and extending through said trough, and a grounded metallic shield surrounding said coupling conductor between the walls of said trough and extending along said coupling conductor for a substantial length thereof and spaced from said strip conductor, said coupling conductor being a spiral helix.

Claim 26

A microwave device as recited in claim 21 wherein said shield includes an opening having at least part thereof in a conical shape for surrounding and shielding a portion of said spiral helix.

Claim 27

A microwave device as recited in claim 22 wherein said shield opening includes a cylindrical part surrounding and shielding another portion of said spiral helix and providing a transition between an unshielded portion of said helical conductor and said portion shielded by said conical opening.

Claim 28

In a microwave transmission line including a metallic ground plane housing and a conductor within and spaced from said housing for transmitting microwave signals over a wide band; means for coupling to said microwave conductor to supply low frequency signals thereto, said coupling means having a high impedance to said microwave signals a plurality of times greater than that of the characteristic impedance of said microwave line, and including: a single-conductor transmission line having a resistive conductor extending through the space of said housing to said microwave conductor along an aperiodic meander, and a grounded metallic shield within said housing surrounding said single-conductor transmission line over a substantial length thereof and spaced from said microwave conductor whereby modes of propagation by said single-conductor line are limited.

Claim 29

In a microwave transmission line including a metallic ground plane housing and a conductor within and spaced from said housing for transmitting microwave signals over a wide band; means for coupling to said microwave conductor to supply low frequency signals thereto, said coupling means having a high impedance to said microwave signals a plurality of times greater than that of the characteristic impedance of said microwave line, and including: a single-conductor transmission line having a resistive conductor extending through the space of said housing to said microwave conductor along an aperiodic meander, and a grounded metallic shield within said housing surrounding said single-conductor transmission line over a substantial length thereof and spaced from said microwave conductor whereby modes of propagation by said single-conductor line are limited.

Claim 30

A microwave transmission line as recited in claim 24, wherein said single-conductor transmission line has a substantial resistance at microwave frequencies a plurality of times greater than the characteristic impedance of said microwave conductor.

Claim 31

A microwave transmission line as recited in claim 25, wherein said resistive conductor is a coil.

Claim 32

A microwave transmission line as recited in claim 26, wherein said coil is a spiral helix.