US4232399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuously variable phase shift network
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1978-10-05
•
Granted: 1980-11-04
•
Expires: 1998-10-05
Abstract
Abstract Continuously variable phase shift is obtained by means of two variable phase shifters (20,21) located in two separate, switchable parallel wavepaths (18, 19). The first phase shifter (20) is variable over, at least, the range between zero and 180 degrees. The second phase shifter (21) is variable over, at least, the range between 180 degrees and 360 degrees. Switching means (22, 23) are provided for switching the signal to one or the other phase shifter. A control circuit (16) simultaneously causing the phase shift through the two phase shifters to vary in the opposite sense. When maximum phase shift is reached, the control circuit switches the signal from one phase shifter to the other, thereby providing continuously variable phase shift through the network.
Inventors
- 👤 George L. Heiter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/04; H04B7/08; H04B7/0837; H04B7/084; H03; H03H; H03H11/00; H03H11/02; H03H11/16; H03H11/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A continuously variable phase shift network having input and output ports for use in a space diversity antenna system having two antennas, each for receiving an incoming signal characterized in that said network comprises: a first wavepath (18) including a first phase shifter (20) for producing a continuously variable phase shift between zero and at least 180 degrees; a second wavepath (19) including a second phase shifter (21) for producing a continuously variable phase shift between 180 and at least 360 degrees; an input switch (22) and an output switch (23) for connecting one or the other of said wavepaths between the input and output ports (24,25) of said network; and a control circuit (16) for controlling the phase shift through said network in response to a signal that is a function of the phase difference between the two signals received by said space diversity antenna system (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A continuously variable phase shift network having input and output ports for use in a space diversity antenna system having two antennas, each for receiving an incoming signal characterized in that said network comprises: a first wavepath (18) including a first phase shifter (20) for producing a continuously variable phase shift between zero and at least 180 degrees; a second wavepath (19) including a second phase shifter (21) for producing a continuously variable phase shift between 180 and at least 360 degrees; an input switch (22) and an output switch (23) for connecting one or the other of said wavepaths between the input and output ports (24,25) of said network; and a control circuit (16) for controlling the phase shift through said network in response to a signal that is a function of the phase difference between the two signals received by said space diversity antenna system (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The network according to claim 1 characterized in that said control circuit (16) causes the phase shift through said network to vary continuously; and in that the sense of said phase variation changes in response to the phase difference function signal received from said antenna system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The network according to claim 1 characterized in that said control circuit is disabled when said phase shift network reduces the phase difference between said two signals to less than a given amount.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The network according to claim 1 characterized in that said control circuit causes the phase shift through said network to vary in incremental steps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
A variable phase shift network having an input port (1) and an output port (2) including: a first wavepath (10) including first phase shifting means (11) capable of producing a phase shift that is continuously variable between at least 0 and 180 degrees; a second wavepath (12) including second phase shifting means (13) capable of producing a phase shift that is continuously variable at least between 180 and 360 degrees; characterized by: switching means (14) for connecting one or the other of said wavepaths (10 or 12) between the input port (1) and the output port (2) of said network; and a control circuit (15) for causing the phase shifts simultaneously produced by said phase shifting means (11, 13) to vary oppositely to each other, and for activating said switching means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
A variable phase shift network having an input port (1) and an output port (2) including: a first wavepath (10) including first phase shifting means (11) capable of producing a phase shift that is continuously variable between at least 0 and 180 degrees; a second wavepath (12) including second phase shifting means (13) capable of producing a phase shift that is continuously variable at least between 180 and 360 degrees; characterized by: switching means (14) for connecting one or the other of said wavepaths (10 or 12) between the input port (1) and the output port (2) of said network; and a control circuit (15) for causing the phase shifts simultaneously produced by said phase shifting means (11, 13) to vary oppositely to each other, and for activating said switching means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The phase shift network according to claim 5 wherein said control circuit (15) causes said phase shifting means (11, 13) to change in incremental steps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The phase shift network according to claim 5 wherein said control circuit (15) causes said phase shifting means (11, 13) to vary continuously over their respective ranges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The phase shift network according to claim 5 wherein said control circuit (15) switches from said first to said second wavepaths (10, 12) when said first phase shifting means (11) reaches the limit of its phase shift range, and switches from said second to said first wavepath when said second phase shifting means (13) reaches the limit of its phase shift range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2786133A
Cited
US2951996A
Cited
US2931981A
Cited
US3356947A
Cited
US3419823A
Cited
US3582790A
Cited
US3571765A
Cited
US3629715A
Cited
US3718873A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-04 | 1984-05-05 | 1984-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-04 | 1988-05-05 | 1988-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-04 | 1992-05-05 | 1992-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |