Acoustic surface wave signal processors

Claim 2

Signal propagation apparatus for processing acoustic signals flowing as discrete acoustic wave beams having individual frequency bands comprising: substrate means for propagating said discrete acoustic wave beams along a surface thereof, signal frequency band combining means including a plurality of stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said discrete surface acoustic wave beams for forming a single surface wave acoustic beam of predetermined width, additional stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said single surface wave acoustic beam for substantially decreasing the predetermined width of said beam, lineal multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said decreased width surface wave acoustic beam for generating first and second side-by-side surface acoustic waves, reflecting multiple conductor coupler means for reversing the direction of propagation of said first side-by-side surface acoustic wave, and surface wave acoustic transducer means at said surface for receiving said second and reflected first side-by-side surface acoustic waves for generating a corresponding electrical output.

Claim 3

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said signal frequency band combining means includes at leAst a first stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to a pair of said discrete acoustic wave beams.

Claim 4

Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said signal frequency band combining means includes at least a second stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to at least two of said first stepped multiple coupler means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said signal frequency band combining means includes at least a third stepped multiple conductor means responsive to at least two of said second stepped multiple coupler means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said additional stepped multiple conductor coupler means is directly responsive at least to said third stepped multiple conductor means.

Claim 7

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said substrate means comprises a piezoelectric medium.

Claim 8

Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said piezoelectric medium comprises lithium niobate.

Claim 9

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said plural surface wave transducer means comprises plural spaced electroacoustic means for launching said discrete surface acoustic wave beams in substantially mutually parallel relation.

Claim 10

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said discrete acoustic wave beams having individual frequency bands are generated by a plurality of surface wave transducer means at said surface.

Claim 11

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said discrete acoustic wave beams having individual frequency bands are generated by acoustic surface wave demultiplexer means.

Claim 12

Signal propagation apparatus comprising: substrate means for propagating acoustic waves at a surface thereof, first surface acoustic wave transducer means at said surface for generating first and second surface acoustic waves, reflecting multiple conductor means for reversing the direction of propagation of said first surface acoustic wave, lineal multiple conductor means for combining said second and reflected first surface acoustic waves for forming a composite surface acoustic wave beam having a plurality of signal frequency bands and a predetermined beam width, stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said composite surface acoustic wave beam for substantially increasing the predetermined width of said beam, and signal frequency band separation means including plurality of additional stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said increased width beam for separating said signal frequency bands and for generating corresponding discrete, nonoverlapping beams.

Claim 13

Signal propagation apparatus comprising: substrate means for propagating acoustic waves at a surface thereof, first surface acoustic wave transducer means at said surface for generating first and second surface acoustic waves, reflecting multiple conductor means for reversing the direction of propagation of said first surface acoustic wave, lineal multiple conductor means for combining said second and reflected first surface acoustic waves for forming a composite surface acoustic wave beam having a plurality of signal frequency bands and a predetermined beam width, stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said composite surface acoustic wave beam for substantially increasing the predetermined width of said beam, and signal frequency band separation means including plurality of additional stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said increased width beam for separating said signal frequency bands and for generating corresponding discrete, nonoverlapping beams.

Claim 14

Apparatus as described in claim 11 additionally including surface acoustic wave transducer means responsive to said discrete, non-overlapping beams for generating corresponding electrical outputs.

Claim 15

Apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said signal band frequency separation means comprises a first stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said increased width beam.

Claim 16

Apparatus as described in claim 13 additionally including at least a first pair of stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said first stepped multiple conductor coupler means.

Claim 17

Apparatus as described in claim 14 additionally including at least a second pair of stepped multiple conductor coupler means, responsive to said first pair of stepped multiple conductor means for producing said discrete, non-overlapping beams.

Claim 18

Apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said substrate means comprises a piezoelectric medium.

Claim 19

Apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said piezoelectric medium comprises lithium niobate.

Claim 20

Acoustic wave processor means comprising: substrate means for propagating acoustic waves on a surface thereof, electrically excitable surface acoustic wave transducer means at said surface for generating first and second side-by-side surface waves, first lineal multiple conductor coupler means for combining said first and second surface acoustic waves for forming a composite surface acoustic wave beam having a plurality of signal frequency bands and a predetermined beam width, stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said composite surface acoustic wave beam for substantially increasing the predetermined width of said beam, signal frequency band separation means including a plurality of additional stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said increased width beam for separating said signal frequency bands into discrete, non-overlapping surface acoustic wave beams, signal frequency band combining means including a second additional plurality of stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said discrete non-overlapping surface acoustic wave beams for forming a single surface wave acoustic beam of predetermined width, second additional stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said single surface wave acoustic beam for substantially decreasing the predetermined width of said beam, second lineal multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said decreased width surface wave acoustic beam for generating third and fourth side-by-side surface acoustic waves, and second surface acoustic wave transducer means at said surface for receiving said third and fourth side-by-side surface acoustic waves for generating a corresponding electrical output.

Claim 21

Acoustic wave processor means comprising: substrate means for propagating acoustic waves on a surface thereof, electrically excitable surface acoustic wave transducer means at said surface for generating first and second side-by-side surface waves, first lineal multiple conductor coupler means for combining said first and second surface acoustic waves for forming a composite surface acoustic wave beam having a plurality of signal frequency bands and a predetermined beam width, stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said composite surface acoustic wave beam for substantially increasing the predetermined width of said beam, signal frequency band separation means including a plurality of additional stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said increased width beam for separating said signal frequency bands into discrete, non-overlapping surface acoustic wave beams, signal frequency band combining means including a second additional plurality of stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said discrete non-overlapping surface acoustic wave beams for forming a single surface wave acoustic beam of predetermined width, second additional stepped multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said single surface wave acoustic beam for substantially decreasing the predetermined width of said beam, second lineal multiple conductor coupler means responsive to said decreased width surface wave acoustic beam for generating third and fourth side-by-side surface acoustic waves, and second surface acoustic wave transducer means at said surface for receiving said third and fourth side-by-side surface acoustic waves for generating a corresponding electrical output.

Claim 22

Apparatus as described in claim 18 additionally including energy propagation means interposed between said signal frequency band separation means and said signal frequency band combining means.

Claim 23

Apparatus as described in claim 19 additionally including electrical switch means for controlling electromagnetic wave propagation within said energy propagation means.

Claim 24

Apparatus as described in claim 20 additionally including means for preventing flow of acoustic wave energy in said substrate surface at said energy propagation means.

Claim 25

Apparatus as described in claim 18 additionally including acoustic wave amplifier means inserted between said signal frequency band separation means and said signal frequency band combining means.

Claim 26

Apparatus as described in claim 22 wherein said acoustic wave amplifier means may be adjusted to alter acoustic waves passing there through.