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US4598262A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Quasi-optical waveguide filter

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1983-06-08
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Granted: 1986-07-01
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Expires: 2003-06-08
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Abstract

Abstract A waveguide filter particularly well suited for use in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelength range of the spectrum. The filter includes a number of uniformly spaced gratings installed in a waveguide section and having grating strip patterns contoured to conform with a selected waveguide mode, such as the circular TE 11 mode. The gratings are angularly oriented in the manner of a free-space plane-wave quasi-optical filter and provide similar desired frequency characteristics, but without the disadvantages of large size and the need for planewave launchers.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ming H. Chen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 15:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/20; H01P1/207

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 175 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter, comprising: a waveguide section, having an axis of energy propagation, and including means for coupling said section to other elements of a waveguide system; a plurality of gratings installed in said waveguide section at uniform intervals along the axis of propagation and substantially perpendicular to it, each of said gratings having a pattern of conductive strips formed on an insulating layer, the pattern conforming to the contours of a selected waveguide mode, whereby each of said gratings is operative to selectively transmit a first wave in the selected waveguide mode, linearly polarized in a direction parallel with the strip pattern on a first one of said gratings, and a second wave in the selected waveguide mode, linearly polarized in a direction perpendicular to the first wave; wherein the angular orientation of the first of said gratings is aligned with the direction of linear polarization with the first wave and the angular orientations of said gratings with respect to each other are selected to provide a selected frequency characteristic to said filter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 175 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter, comprising: a waveguide section, having an axis of energy propagation, and including means for coupling said section to other elements of a waveguide system; a plurality of gratings installed in said waveguide section at uniform intervals along the axis of propagation and substantially perpendicular to it, each of said gratings having a pattern of conductive strips formed on an insulating layer, the pattern conforming to the contours of a selected waveguide mode, whereby each of said gratings is operative to selectively transmit a first wave in the selected waveguide mode, linearly polarized in a direction parallel with the strip pattern on a first one of said gratings, and a second wave in the selected waveguide mode, linearly polarized in a direction perpendicular to the first wave; wherein the angular orientation of the first of said gratings is aligned with the direction of linear polarization with the first wave and the angular orientations of said gratings with respect to each other are selected to provide a selected frequency characteristic to said filter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 70 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said waveguide section is formed in part as a plurality of frame elements, each having a central aperture, and means for fastening said frame elements together to form a tube; said gratings are secured in said apertures of said frame elements; and said waveguide section further includes means for aligning and fastening said frame elements in said waveguide section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said frame elements are circular in shape; the selected waveguide mode is the TE 11 mode; and said filter includes means for adjusting the angular orientations of said gratings in said frame elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said frame elements are square in shape; and the selected waveguide mode is the TE 10 mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said means for coupling said waveguide section to other elements of a waveguide system include tapered waveguide means, whereby said waveguide section can be made of oversize parts for ease of manufacturing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said means for coupling said waveguide section to other elements of a waveguide system include tapered waveguide means, whereby said waveguide section can be made of oversize parts for ease of manufacturing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 44 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter as set forth in claim 3, wherein: there are at least three of said gratings arrayed at quarter-wavelength intervals or odd multiples thereof; and said gratings are angularly oriented in such a manner as to provide a passband filter characteristic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 44 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter as set forth in claim 4, wherein: there are at least three of said gratings arrayed at quarter-wavelength intervals or odd multiples thereof; and said gratings are angularly oriented in such a manner as to provide a passband filter characteristic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 162 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter, comprising: a waveguide section having a longitudinal center axis extending therethrough; and a plurality of gratings installed in said waveguide section at uniform intervals along said longitudinal axis and extending transversely with respect to said longitudinal axis, each of said gratings having a conductive layer which is patterned in accordance with the contours of a selected waveguide mode, and each of said gratings is operative to selectively transmit a first wave in the selected waveguide mode, linearly polarized in a direction parallel with the strip pattern on a first one of said gratings, and a second wave in the selected waveguide mode, linearly polarized in a direction perpendicular to the first wave; and wherein the angular orientation of the conductive layer contours on each of said gratings about said longitudinal axis corresponds to a selected bandwidth of said filter, and said uniform intervals are directly proportional to the wavelength corresponding to a selected center frequency of the filter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 162 words
A quasi-optical waveguide filter, comprising: a waveguide section having a longitudinal center axis extending therethrough; and a plurality of gratings installed in said waveguide section at uniform intervals along said longitudinal axis and extending transversely with respect to said longitudinal axis, each of said gratings having a conductive layer which is patterned in accordance with the contours of a selected waveguide mode, and each of said gratings is operative to selectively transmit a first wave in the selected waveguide mode, linearly polarized in a direction parallel with the strip pattern on a first one of said gratings, and a second wave in the selected waveguide mode, linearly polarized in a direction perpendicular to the first wave; and wherein the angular orientation of the conductive layer contours on each of said gratings about said longitudinal axis corresponds to a selected bandwidth of said filter, and said uniform intervals are directly proportional to the wavelength corresponding to a selected center frequency of the filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The quasi-optical waveguide filter of claim 9, wherein said uniform intervals correspond to a quarter wavelength at the center frequency or an odd multiple of a quarter wavelength.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
The quasi-optical waveguide filter of claim 9 further comprising means for selectively rotating individual ones of said gratings about said longitudinal axis.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2476034A Cited
US2985850A Cited
US3146414A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-06-30 1989-12-30 1990-07-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-06-30 1993-12-30 1994-07-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-06-30 1997-12-30 1998-07-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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