US4146896A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
180° Phase shifter for microwaves supplied to a load such as a radiating element
Assignee: Thales SA
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Filing: 1977-05-23
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Granted: 1979-03-27
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Expires: 1997-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A microstrip line, formed on a dielectric substrate by a conductor strip and a ground-plane layer or a pair of flanking coplanar layers, is electrically coupled to a slot line on that substrate with the aid of supplemental conductors establishing alternate microwave transmission paths between a terminal portion of the strip and respective slot edges. The supplemental conductors include a pair of diodes which are rendered selectively conductive to unblock one or the other transmission path, thereby enabling a 180° shifting of the phase of oscillations transmitted by the slot line to a load upon energization of the microstrip line by a source of microwaves. The load may be a radiating element of an electronically scanning antenna.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Baril
- 👤 Jacques Legendre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P5/00; H01P5/08; H01P5/10; H01P5/1007; H01P1/00; H01P1/18; H01P1/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
In an assembly for the propagation of microwaves, in combination: a dielectric substrate; a first transmission line of symmetrical field structure comprising first conductor means forming a strip on said substrate, said first transmission line having input connections to a source of microwaves; a second transmission line of asymmetrical field structure comprising second conductor means on said substrate forming a slot codirectional with said strip, said slot and said strip having closely juxtaposed terminal portions, said second transmission line having output connections to a load; supplemental conductor means on said substrate for facilitating the transmission of microwaves between said terminal portions, said supplemental conductor means including a pair of diodes inserted between said strip and respective lateral edges of said slot; and biasing means separate from said input and output connections for selectively blocking either one of said diodes while rendering the other diode conductive to establish a high-impedance path from said strip to one of said lateral edges and a low-impedance path from said strip to the other of said lateral edges, said biasing means being reversible to shift the phase of a load current by 180°.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
In an assembly for the propagation of microwaves, in combination: a dielectric substrate; a first transmission line of symmetrical field structure comprising first conductor means forming a strip on said substrate, said first transmission line having input connections to a source of microwaves; a second transmission line of asymmetrical field structure comprising second conductor means on said substrate forming a slot codirectional with said strip, said slot and said strip having closely juxtaposed terminal portions, said second transmission line having output connections to a load; supplemental conductor means on said substrate for facilitating the transmission of microwaves between said terminal portions, said supplemental conductor means including a pair of diodes inserted between said strip and respective lateral edges of said slot; and biasing means separate from said input and output connections for selectively blocking either one of said diodes while rendering the other diode conductive to establish a high-impedance path from said strip to one of said lateral edges and a low-impedance path from said strip to the other of said lateral edges, said biasing means being reversible to shift the phase of a load current by 180°.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second conductor means are disposed on a common substrate surface, said first conductor means further including extensions of said second conductor means flanking said strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination defined in claim 2 wherein each of said diodes is in series with a respective capacitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said extensions are bridged by a short-circuiting connection at a location spaced from the region of said diodes by a quarter-wavelength at the frequency of said microwaves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said substrate is a flat plate with a pair of major surfaces, said strip lying on one of said major surfaces, said second conductor means being a ground-plane layer common to both said transmission lines disposed on the other of said major surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said supplemental conductor means comprises a lead in series with each diode traversing said substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said supplemental conductor means comprises a pair of ancillary conductors extending laterally on said one of said major surfaces from the vicinity of said strip, each of said ancillary conductors forming with said ground-plane layer an open-circuited ancillary line of a quarter-wavelength at the frequency of said microwaves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said ancillary conductors are sector-shaped layers each having a vertex adjacent said strip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination defined in claim 8 wherein each of said diodes is inserted between said strip and the vertex of the respective sector-shaped layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said terminal portions overlap for a quarter-wavelength at the frequency of said microwaves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said load is a radiating element of an electronically scanning antenna.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-26 | 1982-09-25 | 1983-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-26 | 1986-09-25 | 1987-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-26 | 1990-09-25 | 1991-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |