Ceramic transmitter combiner with variable electrical length tuning stub and coupling loop interface

Claim 2

Tuning circuitry having a variable input impedance, comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; tuning transmission line means having an input, having a predetermined length, disposed on the first side of said substrate means, and being terminated by a predetermined terminating impedance; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input impedance of said tuning circuitry having a predetermined input impedance when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input impedance of said tuning circuitry over a range centered about the predetermined input impedance; said adjusting means further including housing means for enclosing said tuning circuitry, and cover plate means coupled to said housing means for positioning said dielectric plate means and forcing said dielectric plate means against said tuning transmission line means; and said cover plate means further including two posts extending therefrom, spring means, and block means having two holes for accepting said posts and another hole for accepting said spring means, said dielectric plate means being fixedly attached to said block means.

Claim 3

The tuning circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said tuning transmission line means comprises a transmission line having a serpentine shape and being terminated by a short circuit.

Claim 4

Apparatus for combining at least two radio frequency (RF) signals having different predetermined frequencies and being generated by separate signal sources to produce a composite output signal, said RF signal combining apparatus comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; junction means disposed on the first side of said substrate means and producing the composite output signal; a plurality of transmission line means each being coupled to said junction means and having an input coupled to a corresponding RF signal; and tuning circuitry having a variable input impedance, comprising: tuning transmission line means having an input coupled to said junction means, having a predetermined length, disposed on the first side of said substrate means and being terminated by a predetermined terminating impedance; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input impedance of said tuning circuitry having a predetermined input impedance when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; and means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input impedance of said tuning circuitry over a range centered about the predetermined input impedance.

Claim 5

Apparatus for combining at least two radio frequency (RF) signals having different predetermined frequencies and being generated by separate signal sources to produce a composite output signal, said RF signal combining apparatus comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; junction means disposed on the first side of said substrate means and producing the composite output signal; a plurality of transmission line means each being coupled to said junction means and having an input coupled to a corresponding RF signal; and tuning circuitry having a variable input impedance, comprising: tuning transmission line means having an input coupled to said junction means, having a predetermined length, disposed on the first side of said substrate means and being terminated by a predetermined terminating impedance; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input impedance of said tuning circuitry having a predetermined input impedance when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; and means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input impedance of said tuning circuitry over a range centered about the predetermined input impedance.

Claim 6

The combining apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said tuning transmission line means comprises a transmission line having a serpentine shape and being terminated by a short circuit.

Claim 7

The combining apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said adjusting means comprises: housing means for enclosing said combining apparatus; and cover plate means coupled to said housing means for positioning said dielectric plate means and forcing said dielectric plate means against said tuning transmission line means.

Claim 8

The combining apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said cover plate means further includes two posts extending therefrom, spring means and block means having two holes for accepting said posts and another hole for accepting said spring means, said dielectric tuning plate being fixedly attached to said block means.

Claim 9

Radio frequency (RF) signal combining apparatus, comprising: antenna means; a plurality of RF signal transmitters each having a different predetermined frequency and producing an RF signal; a plurality of filtering means each coupled to a different one of said RF signals and producing an output signal; and combining means comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; junction means disposed on the first side of said substrate means and being coupled to said antenna means; a plurality of transmission line means each having an output coupled to said junction means and having an input coupled to a corresponding filtering means output signal; and tuning transmission line means having an input coupled to said junction means, having a variable input impedance, having a predetermined length, being disposed on the first side of said substrate means, and being terminated by a predetermined terminating impedance; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input impedance of said tuning transmission line means having a predetermined input impedance when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; and means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input impedance of said tuning transmission line means over a range centered about the predetermined input impedance.

Claim 10

Radio frequency (RF) signal combining apparatus, comprising: antenna means; a plurality of RF signal transmitters each having a different predetermined frequency and producing an RF signal; a plurality of filtering means each coupled to a different one of said RF signals and producing an output signal; and combining means comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; junction means disposed on the first side of said substrate means and being coupled to said antenna means; a plurality of transmission line means each having an output coupled to said junction means and having an input coupled to a corresponding filtering means output signal; and tuning transmission line means having an input coupled to said junction means, having a variable input impedance, having a predetermined length, being disposed on the first side of said substrate means, and being terminated by a predetermined terminating impedance; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input impedance of said tuning transmission line means having a predetermined input impedance when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; and means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input impedance of said tuning transmission line means over a range centered about the predetermined input impedance.

Claim 11

The RF signal combining apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said tuning transmission line means comprises a transmission line having a serpentine shape and being terminated by a short circuit.

Claim 12

The RF signal combining apparatus according to claim 7, further including a plurality of coupling circuit boards each having a coupling loop thereon, each of said coupling loops coupled to a corresponding one of said transmission line means and terminated by a short circuit for receiving the output signal form a corresponding one of said filtering means.

Claim 13

The RF signal combining apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting means comprises: housing means for enclosing said combining means; and cover plate means coupled to said housing means for positioning said dielectric plate means and forcing said dielectric plate means against said tuning transmission line means.

Claim 14

The RF signal combining apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said cover plate means further includes two posts extending therefrom, spring means and block means having two holes for accepting said posts and another hole for accepting said spring means, said dielectric tuning plate being fixedly attached to said block means.

Claim 15

The RF signal combining apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said filtering means each comprises: resonating means having top and bottom surfaces and being comprised of a ceramic material having a predetermined thermal conductivity; first and second compensating means each having top and bottom surfaces and being disposed above and below the resonating means, respectively, the bottom surface of the first compensating means and the top surface of the second compensating means being thermally coupled to the top and bottom surfaces of the resonating means, respectively, and the first and second compensating means being comprised of a dielectric material having a thermal conductivity greater than the the thermal conductivity of air; first and second shield means being comprised of a metallic material and being thermally coupled to and disposed above and below the the first and second compensating means, respectively, for producing a low-loss electromagnetic path above and below said resonating means; housing means being comprised of a metallic material having an electrical conductivity less than that of the metallic material of said first and second shield means and further including top, bottom and side surfaces; input coupling means and output coupling means disposed on the side surface of said housing means opposite to said resonating means and at a pre-selected distance form one another, said input coupling means coupled to a corresponding one of said RF signals, and said output coupling means coupled to a corresponding one of the transmission line means of said combining means; and said housing means substantially enclosing and retaining the resonating means between the first and second compensating means and the first and second shield means, the top and bottom surfaces of the housing means being thermally coupled to the first and second shield means, respectively, whereby a low thermal resistance path is produced between the resonating means, first and second compensating means, first and second shield means and the housing means for conducting away form said resonating means heat dissipated therein thereby minimizing the temperature rise of said resonating means due to power dissipation.

Claim 16

The RF signal combining apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said output coupling means each comprises a coupling circuit board having a coupling loop thereon coupled to a corresponding one of said transmission line means and terminated by a short circuit for receiving the output signal form a corresponding one of said filtering means.

Claim 17

The RF signal combining apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said adjusting means comprises: housing means for enclosing said combining means; and cover plate means coupled to said housing means for positioning said dielectric plate means and forcing said dielectric plate means against said tuning transmission line means.

Claim 18

The RF signal combining apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said cover plate means further includes two posts extending therefrom, spring means and block means having two holes for accepting said posts and another hole for accepting said spring means, said dielectric tuning plate being fixedly attached to said block means.

Claim 19

Tuning circuitry having a variable input reactance, comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; tuning transmission line means having an input and a predetermined length, disposed on the first side of said substrate means, and being terminated by a short circuit; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input reactance of said tuning circuitry having a substantially infinite magnitude when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input reactance of said tuning circuitry between a predetermined inductive reactance and a predetermined capacitive reactance; said adjusting means further including housing means for enclosing said tuning circuitry, and cover plate means coupled to said housing means for positioning said dielectric plate means and forcing said dielectric plate means against said tuning transmission line means; and said cover plate means further including two posts extending therefrom, spring means, and block means having two holes for accepting said posts and another hole for accepting said spring means, said dielectric plate means being fixedly attached to said block means.

Claim 20

Tuning circuitry having a variable input reactance, comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; tuning transmission line means having an input and a predetermined length, disposed on the first side of said substrate means, and being terminated by a short circuit; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input reactance of said tuning circuitry having a substantially infinite magnitude when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input reactance of said tuning circuitry between a predetermined inductive reactance and a predetermined capacitive reactance; said adjusting means further including housing means for enclosing said tuning circuitry, and cover plate means coupled to said housing means for positioning said dielectric plate means and forcing said dielectric plate means against said tuning transmission line means; and said cover plate means further including two posts extending therefrom, spring means, and block means having two holes for accepting said posts and another hole for accepting said spring means, said dielectric plate means being fixedly attached to said block means.

Claim 21

The tuning circuitry according to claim 16, wherein said tuning transmission line means comprises a transmission line having a serpentine shape.

Claim 22

Tuning circuitry having a variable input reactance, comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; tuning transmission line means having an input and a predetermined length, disposed on the first side of said substrate means, and being terminated by a predetermined terminating impedance having no resistive component; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input reactance of said tuning circuitry having a substantially infinite magnitude when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input reactance of said tuning circuitry between a predetermined inductive reactance and a predetermined capacitive reactance; said adjusting means further including housing means for enclosing said tuning circuitry, and cover plate means coupled to said housing means for positioning said dielectric plate means and forcing said dielectric plate means against said tuning transmission line means; and said cover plate means further including two posts extending therefrom, spring means, and block means having two holes for accepting said posts and another hole for accepting said spring means, said dielectric plate means being fixedly attached to said block means.

Claim 23

Tuning circuitry having a variable input reactance, comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; tuning transmission line means having an input and a predetermined length, disposed on the first side of said substrate means, and being terminated by a predetermined terminating impedance having no resistive component; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input reactance of said tuning circuitry having a substantially infinite magnitude when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input reactance of said tuning circuitry between a predetermined inductive reactance and a predetermined capacitive reactance; said adjusting means further including housing means for enclosing said tuning circuitry, and cover plate means coupled to said housing means for positioning said dielectric plate means and forcing said dielectric plate means against said tuning transmission line means; and said cover plate means further including two posts extending therefrom, spring means, and block means having two holes for accepting said posts and another hole for accepting said spring means, said dielectric plate means being fixedly attached to said block means.

Claim 24

The tuning circuitry according to claim 18, wherein said tuning transmission line means comprises a transmission line having a serpentine shape and being terminated by a short circuit.

Claim 25

Apparatus for combining at least two radio frequency (RF) signals having different predetermined frequencies and being generated by separate signal sources to produce a composite output signal, said RF signal combining apparatus comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; junction means disposed on the first side of said substrate means and producing the composite output signal; a plurality of transmission line means each being coupled to said junction means and having an input coupled to a corresponding RF signal; and tuning circuitry having a variable input reactance, comprising: tuning transmission line means having an input coupled to said junction means, having a predetermined length, disposed on the first side of said substrate means and being terminated by a short circuit; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input reactance of said tuning circuitry having a substantially infinite magnitude when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; and means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input reactance of said tuning circuitry between a predetermined inductive reactance and a predetermined capacitive reactance.

Claim 26

Apparatus for combining at least two radio frequency (RF) signals having different predetermined frequencies and being generated by separate signal sources to produce a composite output signal, said RF signal combining apparatus comprising: substrate means having a first side and a second side, said second side having metallic plating thereon; junction means disposed on the first side of said substrate means and producing the composite output signal; a plurality of transmission line means each being coupled to said junction means and having an input coupled to a corresponding RF signal; and tuning circuitry having a variable input reactance, comprising: tuning transmission line means having an input coupled to said junction means, having a predetermined length, disposed on the first side of said substrate means and being terminated by a short circuit; dielectric plate means having a predetermined dielectric constant for covering said tuning transmission line means, the input reactance of said tuning circuitry having a substantially infinite magnitude when said dielectric plate means covers one-half of said tuning transmission line means; and means for adjusting the amount by which said dielectric plate means covers said tuning transmission line means to vary the input reactance of said tuning circuitry between a predetermined inductive reactance and a predetermined capacitive reactance.