US4630228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transmission line analyzer for automatically identifying the severities and locations of multiple mismatches
Assignee: ST SYSTRON DONNER Corp
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Filing: 1982-06-28
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Granted: 1986-12-16
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Expires: 2002-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A transmission line analyzer for automatically identifying the severities and locations of multiple mismatches generates a ripple waveform which is digitally analyzed by a fast fourier transform method. Foreign and harmonic signals are rejected, and return loss at each mismatch accurately determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Zoltan Tarczy-Hornoch
- 👤 Asad M. Madni
- 👤 Joseph Fala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/08; G01R31/11; G01R23/00; G01R23/16; G01R23/163; H; H04; H04B; H04B3/00; H04B3/02; H04B3/46; H04B3/493
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A transmission line analyzer for automatically sensing at least the location of discontinuities in said transmission line to be tested comprising: means for sweeping a radio frequency signal over a predetermined bandwidth for a predetermined one sweep time and connectable to said line to be tested; frequency domain reflectometer means for providing a complex, composite, time-varying signal which is a swept frequency interference pattern containing said location information; fast fourier transform means for automatically processing said complex signal to determine spectral peaks; means for converting said spectral peaks to said location of said discontinuities; means for changing said one sweep time to another sweep time;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A transmission line analyzer for automatically sensing at least the location of discontinuities in said transmission line to be tested comprising: means for sweeping a radio frequency signal over a predetermined bandwidth for a predetermined one sweep time and connectable to said line to be tested; frequency domain reflectometer means for providing a complex, composite, time-varying signal which is a swept frequency interference pattern containing said location information; fast fourier transform means for automatically processing said complex signal to determine spectral peaks; means for converting said spectral peaks to said location of said discontinuities; means for changing said one sweep time to another sweep time;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
means for storing spectral peaks for each said sweep time; and means for rejecting all spectral peaks that do not have a matching peak for each sweep time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
means for storing spectral peaks for each said sweep time; and means for rejecting all spectral peaks that do not have a matching peak for each sweep time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
A transmission line analyzer for automatically sensing at least the location of discontinuities in said transmisson line to be tested comprising: means for sweeping a radio frequency signal over at least two predetermined and different bandwidths; frequency domain reflectometer means for providing a complex, composite, time-varying signal which is a swept frequency interference pattern containing said location information; fast fourier transform means for automatically processing said complex signal to determine spectral peaks; means for converting said spectral peaks to said location of said discontinuities; means for storing spectral peaks for each said bandwidth; and means for retaining all spectral peaks that shift in a ratio equivalent to the ratio of said bandwidths and for rejecting all spectral peaks that have a matching peak for each bandwidth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
A transmission line analyzer for automatically sensing at least the location of discontinuities in said transmisson line to be tested comprising: means for sweeping a radio frequency signal over at least two predetermined and different bandwidths; frequency domain reflectometer means for providing a complex, composite, time-varying signal which is a swept frequency interference pattern containing said location information; fast fourier transform means for automatically processing said complex signal to determine spectral peaks; means for converting said spectral peaks to said location of said discontinuities; means for storing spectral peaks for each said bandwidth; and means for retaining all spectral peaks that shift in a ratio equivalent to the ratio of said bandwidths and for rejecting all spectral peaks that have a matching peak for each bandwidth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
A transmission line analyzer for automatically sensing at least the location of discontinuities in said transmission line to be tested and eliminating harmonic signals comprising: frequency domain reflectometer means for providing a complex, composite, time-varying signal containing said location information; fast fourier transform means for automatically processing said complex signal to determine spectral peaks; a reference cable of predetermined length; p1 means for storing first spectral peaks with said cable physically added to said transmission line; means for storing second spectral peaks without said cable added; means for comparing said first spectral peaks with said second spectral peaks, with the equivalent length of said reference cable arithmetically added, and rejecting all peaks that do not have a corresponding peak; and means for converting said remaining spectral peaks to said locations of said discontinuities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
A transmission line analyzer for automatically sensing at least the location of discontinuities in said transmission line to be tested and eliminating harmonic signals comprising: frequency domain reflectometer means for providing a complex, composite, time-varying signal containing said location information; fast fourier transform means for automatically processing said complex signal to determine spectral peaks; a reference cable of predetermined length; p1 means for storing first spectral peaks with said cable physically added to said transmission line; means for storing second spectral peaks without said cable added; means for comparing said first spectral peaks with said second spectral peaks, with the equivalent length of said reference cable arithmetically added, and rejecting all peaks that do not have a corresponding peak; and means for converting said remaining spectral peaks to said locations of said discontinuities.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A transmission line analyzing method for automatically sensing at least the location of discontinuities in said transmission line to be tested and eliminating harmonic signals comprising: using a frequency domain reflectometer method for providing a complex, composite, time-varying signal containing said location information; by the fast fourier transform method automatically processing said complex signal to determine spectral peaks; providingg a reference cable of predetermined length; storing first spectral peaks with said cable physically added to said transmission line; storing second spectral peaks without said cable added; comparing said first spectral peaks with said second spectral peaks, with the equivalent length of said reference cable arithmetically added, and rejecting all peaks that do not have a corresponding peak; and converting said remaining spectral peaks to said locations of said discontinuities.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A transmission line analyzing method for automatically sensing at least the location of discontinuities in said transmission line to be tested and eliminating harmonic signals comprising: using a frequency domain reflectometer method for providing a complex, composite, time-varying signal containing said location information; by the fast fourier transform method automatically processing said complex signal to determine spectral peaks; providingg a reference cable of predetermined length; storing first spectral peaks with said cable physically added to said transmission line; storing second spectral peaks without said cable added; comparing said first spectral peaks with said second spectral peaks, with the equivalent length of said reference cable arithmetically added, and rejecting all peaks that do not have a corresponding peak; and converting said remaining spectral peaks to said locations of said discontinuities.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 4 including the step of electrically shorting said reference cable to provide a spectral peak representing said equivalent length.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4313169A
Cited
US4440985A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-15 | 1990-06-16 | 1990-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-15 | 1994-06-16 | 1994-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-15 | 1998-06-16 | 1998-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |