US4187470A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Dielectric-loaded waveguide circulator for cryogenically cooled and cascaded maser waveguide structures
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1978-02-09
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Granted: 1980-02-05
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Expires: 1998-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A dielectrically loaded four-port waveguide circulator is used with a reflected-wave maser connected to a second port between first and third ports to form one of a plurality of cascaded maser waveguide structures. The fourth port is connected to a waveguide loaded with microwave energy absorbing material. The third (output signal) port of one maser waveguide structure is connected by a waveguide loaded with dielectric material to the first (input) port of an adjacent maser waveguide structure, and the second port is connected to a reflected-wave maser by a matching transformer which passes the signal to be amplified into and out of the reflected-wavemaser and blocks pumping energy in the reflected-wave maser from entering the circulator. A number of cascaded maser waveguide structures may thus be housed in a relatively small volume of conductive material placed within a cryogenically cooled magnet assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 with respect to an invention of Frosch Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 👤 Robert C. Clauss
- 👤 Rex B. Quinn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S1/00; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/32; H01P1/38; H01P1/383; H01P1/39; H01P5/00; H01P5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A dielectrically loaded four-port waveguide circulator for use with a reflected-wave maser connected to a second port opposite a fourth port between first and third ports thereof to form one of a plurality of cascaded maser waveguide structures, wherein said fourth port is connected to a waveguide loaded with microwave energy absorbing material, said third port of one maser waveguide structure is connected by a waveguide loaded with dielectric material to the first port of an adjacent maser waveguide structure, and the second port is connected to a reflected-wave maser by coupling means which passes the signal energy to be amplified into and out of the reflected-wave maser and blocks pumping energy in the reflected-wave maser from entering the circulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A dielectrically loaded four-port waveguide circulator for use with a reflected-wave maser connected to a second port opposite a fourth port between first and third ports thereof to form one of a plurality of cascaded maser waveguide structures, wherein said fourth port is connected to a waveguide loaded with microwave energy absorbing material, said third port of one maser waveguide structure is connected by a waveguide loaded with dielectric material to the first port of an adjacent maser waveguide structure, and the second port is connected to a reflected-wave maser by coupling means which passes the signal energy to be amplified into and out of the reflected-wave maser and blocks pumping energy in the reflected-wave maser from entering the circulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said coupling means is comprised of two rectangular pieces of dielectric material with a rectangular sheet of conductive material in between, said rectangular pieces of dielectric material and rectangular sheet of conductive material being pressed closely together to fill a waveguide connecting said second port to said reflected-wave maser with the conductive sheet parallel to the electric field direction for the pumping energy and normal to the electric field direction of the signal energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
A plurality of cascaded reflected-wave maser structures are disposed side by side in a housing, each with a four-port circulator having a dielectrically loaded input waveguide of finite length connected to a first port and a dielectrically loaded output waveguide of finite length connected to the first port of the next circulator, each maser structure being connected to the second port of a circulator by coupling means which passes the signal energy to be amplified into and out of the reflected-wave maser and blocks pumping energy from entering the connected circulator, and absorbing material loading the fourth port of each circulator, whereby reflected-wave maser structures may be placed very close to each other for a reduction in total volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
A plurality of cascaded reflected-wave maser structures are disposed side by side in a housing, each with a four-port circulator having a dielectrically loaded input waveguide of finite length connected to a first port and a dielectrically loaded output waveguide of finite length connected to the first port of the next circulator, each maser structure being connected to the second port of a circulator by coupling means which passes the signal energy to be amplified into and out of the reflected-wave maser and blocks pumping energy from entering the connected circulator, and absorbing material loading the fourth port of each circulator, whereby reflected-wave maser structures may be placed very close to each other for a reduction in total volume.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said coupling means is comprised of two rectangular pieces of dielectric material with a rectangular sheet of conductive material in between, said rectangular pieces of dielectric material and rectangular sheet of conductive material being pressed closely together to fill a waveguide connecting said second port to said reflected-wave maser with the conductive sheet parallel to the electric field direction for the pumping energy and normal to the electric field direction of the signal energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a cryogenically cooled maser system, a plurality of cascaded reflected-wave maser structures disposed side by side in a housing, each maser being coupled to a four-port circulator, and each circulator having separate waveguides of finite length connected to each port: an input waveguide connected to a first port, a second waveguide coupling a reflected-wave maser to a second port, an output waveguide of finite length connected to a third port, and a fourth waveguide connected to a fourth port, said fourth waveguide being filled with microwave energy absorbing material to terminate said fourth port, and said input and output waveguides and said second waveguide being loaded with a dielectric material, with the output waveguide of one circulator connected as the input waveguide of another circulator in cascade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a cryogenically cooled maser system, a plurality of cascaded reflected-wave maser structures disposed side by side in a housing, each maser being coupled to a four-port circulator, and each circulator having separate waveguides of finite length connected to each port: an input waveguide connected to a first port, a second waveguide coupling a reflected-wave maser to a second port, an output waveguide of finite length connected to a third port, and a fourth waveguide connected to a fourth port, said fourth waveguide being filled with microwave energy absorbing material to terminate said fourth port, and said input and output waveguides and said second waveguide being loaded with a dielectric material, with the output waveguide of one circulator connected as the input waveguide of another circulator in cascade.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said dielectric material loading said second waveguide is formed in two rectangular pieces of dielectric material with a rectangular sheet of conductive material in between, said rectangular pieces of dielectric material and rectangular sheet of conductive material being pressed closely together to fill said second waveguide with the conductive sheet parallel to the electric field direction for the pumping energy and normal to the electric field direction of the signal energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
An assembly of cascaded reflected-wave masers between pole faces of a cryogenically cooled magnet, said reflected-wave masers being disposed side by side in a housing, each maser being associated with a four-port circulator having a dielectrically loaded input waveguide of finite length connected to a first port and a dielectrically loaded output waveguide of finite length connected to the third port of one circulator and to the first port of the circulator of the next maser in cascade, each maser structure being connected to the second port of its associated circulator by coupling means which passes the signal energy to be amplified into and out of the reflected-wave maser and blocks pumping energy from entering the circulator, and the fourth port of each circulator being loaded with absorbing material to assure that the signal being amplified travels in only one direction between reflectedwave maser structures, and a channel in said housing for distributing pumping energy to all masers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
An assembly of cascaded reflected-wave masers between pole faces of a cryogenically cooled magnet, said reflected-wave masers being disposed side by side in a housing, each maser being associated with a four-port circulator having a dielectrically loaded input waveguide of finite length connected to a first port and a dielectrically loaded output waveguide of finite length connected to the third port of one circulator and to the first port of the circulator of the next maser in cascade, each maser structure being connected to the second port of its associated circulator by coupling means which passes the signal energy to be amplified into and out of the reflected-wave maser and blocks pumping energy from entering the circulator, and the fourth port of each circulator being loaded with absorbing material to assure that the signal being amplified travels in only one direction between reflectedwave maser structures, and a channel in said housing for distributing pumping energy to all masers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
An assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said masers are disposed in said housing in parallel with minimum housing structure between them for support and wherein a dielectrically loaded input waveguide of one maser connected in cascade is the dielectrically loaded output waveguide of the preceding maser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
An assembly as defined in claim 8 in combination with a second nearly identical assembly, each assembly being made in separate ones of two plates of conductive material with one side of said waveguides, masers, and circulators open to fit component parts thereof, and a septum having a broad opening substantially congruent with the distribution channels of pumping energy in each assembly, each of said two plates of conductive material being fitted with open sides against said septum to form two closed assemblies of cascaded masers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
An assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein a port is provided in said plate of conductive material for only one assembly to couple pumping energy into the distribution channel of said one assembly, with pumping energy from said one assembly then being distributed through said broad opening in said septum into the distribution channel of the other assembly.
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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) | 1983-02-04 | 1983-08-06 | 1984-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-02-04 | 1987-08-06 | 1988-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-02-04 | 1991-08-06 | 1992-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |