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US4580092A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pocket size antenna match indicator for VSWR measurement

Assignee: United States, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE THE, Secretary of
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Filing: 1983-06-22
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2003-06-22
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Abstract

Abstract A pocket size antenna match indicator is described having a self contained modulated low level RF signal source which is applied to an antenna or other load under test through a dual directional coupler. Sampled RF reflected signals are detected, filtered and amplified to provide a DC voltage directly proportional to antenna mismatch. Easy to read measurement of VSWR is derived from the DC voltage by means of a dot display driver connected to a LED display.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gerald K. Squire

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 13:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R27/00; G01R27/02; G01R27/04; H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/02; H04B1/04; H04B1/0458

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 174 words
A self contained pocket size antenna match indicating device that provides an instantaneous measurement of voltage standing wave radio (VSWR), said device comprising: oscillator means for generating a modulated low level RF power signal; means for connecting said signal to a load under test, said means including dual directional coupler means for sampling the forward and reflected flow of said power signal; means including a diode and a low pass filter for detecting modulated reflected flow of said power signal and to produce a voltage directly proportional to load mismatch, the detecting means having an output applied to a narrowband active filter amplifier circuit means which amplifies the modulated component of the reflected power and blocks interfering signals; a rectifying diode coupled to said narrowband active filter amplifier circuit means and converting the modulated component of the reflected flow to a DC voltage directly related to the square of the voltage reflection coefficient (ρ), and digital display means connected to the rectifying diode for converting said DC voltage to a visual indication of VSWR.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 174 words
A self contained pocket size antenna match indicating device that provides an instantaneous measurement of voltage standing wave radio (VSWR), said device comprising: oscillator means for generating a modulated low level RF power signal; means for connecting said signal to a load under test, said means including dual directional coupler means for sampling the forward and reflected flow of said power signal; means including a diode and a low pass filter for detecting modulated reflected flow of said power signal and to produce a voltage directly proportional to load mismatch, the detecting means having an output applied to a narrowband active filter amplifier circuit means which amplifies the modulated component of the reflected power and blocks interfering signals; a rectifying diode coupled to said narrowband active filter amplifier circuit means and converting the modulated component of the reflected flow to a DC voltage directly related to the square of the voltage reflection coefficient (ρ), and digital display means connected to the rectifying diode for converting said DC voltage to a visual indication of VSWR.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
The indicating device of claim 1, wherein said oscillator means includes an oscillator circuit coupled to a buffer amplifier, said oscillator circuit producing a low level RF signal which is supplied to said buffer amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The indicating device of claim 2, wherein said oscillator circuit and said buffer amplifier include dual gate MOSFET devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The indicating device of claim 2, further including a square wave generating means coupled to said buffer amplifier for modulating the RF signal produced by said oscillator circuit to produce said modulated low level RF power signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The indicating device of claim 1, wherein said oscillator means is isolated from said load under test by an attenuating pad.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The indicating device of claim 1, wherein said narrowband active filter amplifier circuit means includes three operational amplifiers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
The indicating device of claim 1, wherein said digital display means includes a multiple output terminal dot display driver means, said driver means calibrated in terms of VSWR to provide a signal on a different one of said output terminals depending on the value of said DC voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The indicating device of claim 7, wherein said multiple output dot display driver means increments a different output terminal every 3 dB change in DC voltage signal level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 48 words
The device of claim 8, further including a multi segment light emitting diode (LED) display connected to said multiple output terminal dot display driver means, individual segments of said multiple segment LED display being connected to different output terminals and illuminated by a signal on said output terminals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The device of claim 9, wherein individual segments of said multi segment LED display provide a readout of VSWR values.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 36 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said individual segments comprise a moving dot display representing a range of VSWR measurements decreasing in ratio moving in one direction and increasing in ratio moving in a second direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 44 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said device is contained in a housing having an opening therein for said digital display means, and wherein said means for connecting said signal to said load under test includes a transmission line connection means on said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 131 words
A self contained pocket size antenna match indicating device that provides an instantaneous measurement of voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), said device comprising: oscillator means for generating a modulated low level RF power signal; means for connecting said signal to a load under test, said means including dual directional coupler means for sampling the forward and reflected flow of said power signal; means for detecting modulated reflected flow of said power signal to produce a voltage directly proportional to load mismatch; digital display means connected to the detecting means for converting said voltage to a visual indication of VSWR; and means for adjusting the frequency of said RF power signal, said last mentioned means including switch means for selectively altering said oscillator means to produce a continuous wave (CW) RF signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 131 words
A self contained pocket size antenna match indicating device that provides an instantaneous measurement of voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), said device comprising: oscillator means for generating a modulated low level RF power signal; means for connecting said signal to a load under test, said means including dual directional coupler means for sampling the forward and reflected flow of said power signal; means for detecting modulated reflected flow of said power signal to produce a voltage directly proportional to load mismatch; digital display means connected to the detecting means for converting said voltage to a visual indication of VSWR; and means for adjusting the frequency of said RF power signal, said last mentioned means including switch means for selectively altering said oscillator means to produce a continuous wave (CW) RF signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3031615A Cited
US4034289A Cited
US4110685A Cited
US4196394A Cited
US4290009A Cited
US4479087A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-03-31 1989-09-30 1990-04-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-03-31 1993-09-30 1994-04-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-03-31 1997-09-30 1998-04-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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