US3886501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Insertion and differential phase-trim method
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-06-03
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and means for phase trimming of ferrimagnetic, latching phase-shifters in a waveguide without any electronic drive adjustments by running the drive-wire of the ferrimagnetic core through a second ferrimagnetic material external to the waveguide. If the insertion phase is too high, this second material is chosen, first, to have a square B/H loop with a low coercive field and second, to have flux excursion from a rest state to saturation which is long enough so that sufficient energy is absorbed initially from the drive-wire energy pulse so that the ferrimagnetic core is only driven to a predetermined reference value and no higher. If the differential phase is too large, this second material is chosen to have approximately the same B/H loop shape and coercive field as the ferrimagnetic microwave core, but with only a fractional energy absorption over the pulse period. This second material is shaped so that the fraction of pulse energy absorbed over the entire pulse period is sufficient to prevent the differential phase from rising above a predetermined reference level.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Louis J Lavedan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/18; H01P1/19; H01P1/195; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/929; Y10T83/9457; Y10T83/9488; Y10T83/949
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for shifting the phase of the energy propagating through a waveguide comprising: phase-shift means with a ferrimagnetic core positioned within said waveguide; electrical driving means coupled to said phase-shift means for setting the phase-shift in said ferrimagnetic core; and energy-absorption means coupled to said electrical driving means external to said waveguide for limiting the amount of energy supplied by said electrical driving means to said ferrimagnetic core to a value such that the phase-shift characteristics of said phase-shift means approximate a predetermined value or set of values, said energy-absorption means being made of ferrimagnetic materials.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for shifting the phase of the energy propagating through a waveguide comprising: phase-shift means with a ferrimagnetic core positioned within said waveguide; electrical driving means coupled to said phase-shift means for setting the phase-shift in said ferrimagnetic core; and energy-absorption means coupled to said electrical driving means external to said waveguide for limiting the amount of energy supplied by said electrical driving means to said ferrimagnetic core to a value such that the phase-shift characteristics of said phase-shift means approximate a predetermined value or set of values, said energy-absorption means being made of ferrimagnetic materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrical driving means comprises: an electronic voltage-pulse generator for generating a constant-voltage pulse, and a drive-wire running from said voltage-pulse generator through both said ferrimagnetic core and said ferrimagnetic energy-absorption means for applying the energy from said constant-voltage pulse to both said ferrimagnetic core and said ferrimagnetic energy-absorption means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for trimming the insertion-phase error in a phase-shifting device within a waveguide comprising: ferrimagnetic-core phase-shifter means positioned witHin said waveguide; electrical driving means coupled to said phase-shifter means for applying energy to said phase-shifter means for setting the phase-shift in its ferrimagnetic core; energy absorption means located external to said waveguide and coupled to said electrical driving means for absorbing initially a block of the energy applied by said electrical driving means to said phase-shifter means before said phase-shifter means reaches the flux excursion section of its B/H loop, wherein said energy-absorption means is made of a ferrimagnetic material with an essentially square B/H loop, with a coercive field that is less than the coercive field of said phase-shifter means material, and wherein the ferrimagnetic material, the cross-sectional area of the energy absorption means, its length, and its coupling to said electrical driving means are chosen so that the energy absorbed initially by said energy absorption means from said electrical driving means is sufficient so that when said phase-shifter means reaches its rapid flux excursion section of its B/H loop, it is only driven to its reference phase and no higher.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for trimming the insertion-phase error in a phase-shifting device within a waveguide comprising: ferrimagnetic-core phase-shifter means positioned witHin said waveguide; electrical driving means coupled to said phase-shifter means for applying energy to said phase-shifter means for setting the phase-shift in its ferrimagnetic core; energy absorption means located external to said waveguide and coupled to said electrical driving means for absorbing initially a block of the energy applied by said electrical driving means to said phase-shifter means before said phase-shifter means reaches the flux excursion section of its B/H loop, wherein said energy-absorption means is made of a ferrimagnetic material with an essentially square B/H loop, with a coercive field that is less than the coercive field of said phase-shifter means material, and wherein the ferrimagnetic material, the cross-sectional area of the energy absorption means, its length, and its coupling to said electrical driving means are chosen so that the energy absorbed initially by said energy absorption means from said electrical driving means is sufficient so that when said phase-shifter means reaches its rapid flux excursion section of its B/H loop, it is only driven to its reference phase and no higher.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said electrical driving means comprises an electronic voltage-pulse generator for generating a constant-voltage pulse and wherein the coupling of said electrical driving means to said phase-shifter means and to said energy absorption means comprises the running of a drive-wire from said electrical driving means through the ferrimagnetic core of said phase-shifter means and through the ferrimagnetic material of said energy-absorption means for applying the energy from said voltage pulse to said phase-shifter means and to said energy absorption means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said phase-shifter means and said energy-absorption means are coupled by said drive-wire to said electrical driving means so that said phase-shifter means and said energy-absorption means are in electrical series with each other.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for trimming the differential phase of a phase-shifting device within a waveguide comprising: ferrimagnetic-core phase-shifter means positioned within said waveguide; electrical driving means coupled to said phase-shifter means for applying a constant voltage pulse to said phase-shifter means for setting the phase-shift in its ferrimagnetic core; energy absorption means located external to said waveguide and coupled to said electrical driving means for absorbing a steadily increasing amount of energy over the entire constant-voltage pulse-length so as to trim the differential phase of said phase-shifter means, wherein said energy absorption means is made of a ferrimagnetic material with a B/H loop and coercive field almost identical to those for the ferrimagnetic core of said phase-shifter means, but with a saturation point slightly higher than the saturation point of said phase-shifter means, and wherein the ferrimagnetic material, the cross-sectional area, the length, and the electrical coupling of said energy absorption means are chosen so that only enough energy is absorbed over the constant voltage pulse period so that the differential phase of said phase-shifter is trimmed to a predetermined reference.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for trimming the differential phase of a phase-shifting device within a waveguide comprising: ferrimagnetic-core phase-shifter means positioned within said waveguide; electrical driving means coupled to said phase-shifter means for applying a constant voltage pulse to said phase-shifter means for setting the phase-shift in its ferrimagnetic core; energy absorption means located external to said waveguide and coupled to said electrical driving means for absorbing a steadily increasing amount of energy over the entire constant-voltage pulse-length so as to trim the differential phase of said phase-shifter means, wherein said energy absorption means is made of a ferrimagnetic material with a B/H loop and coercive field almost identical to those for the ferrimagnetic core of said phase-shifter means, but with a saturation point slightly higher than the saturation point of said phase-shifter means, and wherein the ferrimagnetic material, the cross-sectional area, the length, and the electrical coupling of said energy absorption means are chosen so that only enough energy is absorbed over the constant voltage pulse period so that the differential phase of said phase-shifter is trimmed to a predetermined reference.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said electrical driving means comprises an electronic voltage-pulse generator for generating a constant-voltage pulse and wherein the coupling of said electrical driving means to said phase-shifter means and to said energy absorption means comprises the running of a drive-wire from said electrical driving means through the ferrimagnetic core of said phase-shifter means and through the ferrimagnetic material of said energy-absorption means for applying the energy from said voltage pulse to said phase-shifter means and to said energy absorption means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said phase-shifter means and said energy-absorption means are coupled by said drive-wire to said electrical driving means so that said phase-shifter means and said energy-absorption means are in electrical series with each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said phase-shifter means and said energy absorption means are coupled by said drive-wire to said electrical driving means such that said phase-shifter means and said energy absorption means are in electrical parallel connection with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a signalling system employing a waveguide containing therein a ferrimagnetic core which is supplied by a drive-wire with electrical pulse energy for effecting a phase-shift of the signals passing through said waveguide, a method for insertion and differential phase trimming comprising the steps of: determining the phase-shift characteristics obtained from said core in response to the application of a constant electrical energy pulse; determining a desired set of reference values for said phase-shift characteristics; placing a ferrimagnetic energy absorbing material in electrical connection with said phase-shifter but external to said waveguide so that an amount of the energy in said electrical energy pulse is absorbed sufficient to drive said ferrimagnetic phase-shifter only to said set of reference values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a signalling system employing a waveguide containing therein a ferrimagnetic core which is supplied by a drive-wire with electrical pulse energy for effecting a phase-shift of the signals passing through said waveguide, a method for insertion and differential phase trimming comprising the steps of: determining the phase-shift characteristics obtained from said core in response to the application of a constant electrical energy pulse; determining a desired set of reference values for said phase-shift characteristics; placing a ferrimagnetic energy absorbing material in electrical connection with said phase-shifter but external to said waveguide so that an amount of the energy in said electrical energy pulse is absorbed sufficient to drive said ferrimagnetic phase-shifter only to said set of reference values.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising the steps of: selecting said energy absorbing material to have a square B/H loop with a coercive field smaller in value than the coercive field of said ferrimagnetic core; choosing the ferrimagnetic material, the length, the cross-sectional area of the energy absorbing material, and the means of coupling the energy absorbing material to said core so that the energy which said energy absorbing material absorbs from said electrical energy pulse during its flux excursion from a rest state to flux saturation is sufficient so that said ferrimagnetic core is only driven to its reference value phase-shift and not beyond.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
A method as in claim 10, further comprising the steps of: selecting said ferrimagnetic energy-absorbing material to have a B/H loop which approximates the B/H loop of the ferrimagnetic phase-shifter core in both shape and coercive field; choosing the ferrimagnetic material, the length, the cross-sectional area, and the electrical coupling of said energy absorption material so that the portion of the electrical pulse energy continuously absorbed over the flux excursion of said energy absorption material is sufficient so that the remaining energy applied to said ferrimagnetic core only drives up the phase-shift of said ferrimagnetic core at a reference slope rate thus effecting a differential trimming of said phase-shifter.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for shifting the phase of energy propagating through a waveguide comprising: means with a ferrimagnetic core positioned with said waveguide for shifting the phase of the energy propagating therein; electrical driving means coupled by a conductor to said phaseshifting means for generating a voltage pulse and applying it by way of said conductor to said phase-shifting means to set its phase shift characteristics; and energy-absorption means external to said waveguide and surrounding a portion of said coupling conductor for absorbing energy from said voltage pulse as it is applied through said conductor to drive said phase-shifting means in order to decrease the phase-shift characteristics of said phase-shifting means to approximate a predetermined value or set of values.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for shifting the phase of energy propagating through a waveguide comprising: means with a ferrimagnetic core positioned with said waveguide for shifting the phase of the energy propagating therein; electrical driving means coupled by a conductor to said phaseshifting means for generating a voltage pulse and applying it by way of said conductor to said phase-shifting means to set its phase shift characteristics; and energy-absorption means external to said waveguide and surrounding a portion of said coupling conductor for absorbing energy from said voltage pulse as it is applied through said conductor to drive said phase-shifting means in order to decrease the phase-shift characteristics of said phase-shifting means to approximate a predetermined value or set of values.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said energy-absorption means is ferrimagnetic material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3425003A
Cited
US3699584A
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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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |