Non-contacting signal coupling device

Claim 2

Apparatus for coupling a high frequency signal from a signal source to a unit under test at at least one workstation, comprising: a first pair of substantially parallel conductors forming a first balanced transmission line located at said workstation; first coupling means for coupling said high frequency signal from said signal source to between said conductors of said first transmission lines; said first coupling means including a coaxial cable coupled to said signal source and a balun coupled between said coaxial cable and said first transmission line; a second pair of substantially parallel conductors forming a second balanced transmission line; second coupling means for coupling said second pair of conductors to said unit under test; and moving means for moving said second transmission line with respect to said first transmission line to position each conductor of said second pair of conductors into an overlying but non-contacting relationship with a respective conductor of said first pair of conductors so that said high frequency signal from said signal source is capacitively coupled from each conductor of said first pair of conductors of said first transmission line to a respective conductor of said second pair of conductors of said second transmission line to develop a test signal for said unit under test between said conductors of said second transmission line when said unit under test is moved to said workstation.

Claim 3

The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein: said first transmission line has a first end to which said signal source is directly coupled by said first coupling means and a second end to which a first terminating element is coupled.

Claim 4

The apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein: said first terminating element is a resistive element having a value substantially equal to the value of the characteristic impedance of said first transmission line.

Claim 5

The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein: said second transmission line has a first end to which said unit under test is directly coupled by said second coupling means and a second end to which a second terminating element is coupled.

Claim 6

The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein: said second terminating element is a resistive element having a value substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of said second transmission line.

Claim 7

The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein: said second coupling means includes a balun coupled to said second transmission line and a coaxial cable coupled between said balun and said unit under test.

Claim 8

The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein: said second coupling means includes a third pair of conductors having a third transmission line connected to respective connection points along respective ones of said conductors of said second transmission line.

Claim 9

The apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein: said connection points are substantially midway along respective ones of said conductors of said second transmission line.

Claim 10

The apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein: said connection points are substantially at the ends of respective ones of said conductors of said second transmission line.

Claim 11

The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein: said conductors of one of said first and second transmission lines are longer than said conductors of the other one of said first and second transmission lines.

Claim 12

The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein: said conductors of said first transmission line are longer than said conductors of said second transmission lines.

Claim 13

The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein: said conductors of said second transmission line are approximately three inches (or 7.6 centimeters) long.

Claim 14

The apparatus recited in claim 12 wherein: said conductors of said first transmission line are approximately four inches (or 10.2 centimeters) long.

Claim 15

Apparatus for coupling a high frequency signal from a signal source to a unit under test at at least one workstation, comprising: a first pair of conductors; one conductor of said first pair of conductors of said first transmission line partially surrounding the other one conductor of said first pair of conductors in a coaxial configuration to form a first unbalanced transmission line; said one conductor of said pair of conductors of said first transmission line comprising a body having a cavity with a generally rectangular opening defining longitudinal walls and said other one conductor of said first pair of conductors being axially located substantially midway between said longitudinal walls of said cavity; first coupling means for coupling said high frequency signal from said signal source to between said conductors of said first transmission lines; a second pair of conductors; one conductor of said second pair of conductors of said second transmission line partially surrounding the other one conductor of said second pair of conductors in a coaxial configuration to form a second unbalanced transmission line; said one conductor of said second pair of conductors of said second transmission line comprising a body having a cavity with a generally rectangular opening defining longitudinal walls and said other one conductor of said pair of conductors being axially located substantially midway between said longitudinal walls of said cavity; second coupling means for coupling said second pair of conductors to said unit under test; and moving means for moving said second transmission line with respect to said first transmission line to position each conductor of said second pair of conductors into an overlying but non-contacting relationship with a respective conductor of said first pair of conductors so that said high frequency signal from said signal source is capacitively coupled from each conductor of said first pair of conductors of said first transmission line to a respective conductor of said second pair of conductors of said second transmission line to develop a test signal for said unit under test between said conductors of said second transmission line when said unit under test is moved to said workstation.

Claim 16

Apparatus for coupling a high frequency signal from a signal source to a unit under test at at least one workstation, comprising: a first pair of conductors; one conductor of said first pair of conductors of said first transmission line partially surrounding the other one conductor of said first pair of conductors in a coaxial configuration to form a first unbalanced transmission line; said one conductor of said pair of conductors of said first transmission line comprising a body having a cavity with a generally rectangular opening defining longitudinal walls and said other one conductor of said first pair of conductors being axially located substantially midway between said longitudinal walls of said cavity; first coupling means for coupling said high frequency signal from said signal source to between said conductors of said first transmission lines; a second pair of conductors; one conductor of said second pair of conductors of said second transmission line partially surrounding the other one conductor of said second pair of conductors in a coaxial configuration to form a second unbalanced transmission line; said one conductor of said second pair of conductors of said second transmission line comprising a body having a cavity with a generally rectangular opening defining longitudinal walls and said other one conductor of said pair of conductors being axially located substantially midway between said longitudinal walls of said cavity; second coupling means for coupling said second pair of conductors to said unit under test; and moving means for moving said second transmission line with respect to said first transmission line to position each conductor of said second pair of conductors into an overlying but non-contacting relationship with a respective conductor of said first pair of conductors so that said high frequency signal from said signal source is capacitively coupled from each conductor of said first pair of conductors of said first transmission line to a respective conductor of said second pair of conductors of said second transmission line to develop a test signal for said unit under test between said conductors of said second transmission line when said unit under test is moved to said workstation.

Claim 17

The apparatus recited in claim 14 wherein: said first coupling means includes a first coaxial connector connected to said first transmission line, said connector having an outer conductor connected to said body of said first transmission line and an inner conductor connected to said other one of said pair of conductors of said first transmission line; and said second coupling means includes a second coaxial connector connected to said second transmission line, said connector having an outer conductor connected to said body of said second transmission line and an inner conductor connected to said other one of said pair of conductors of said second transmission line.

Claim 18

The apparatus recited in claim 15 wherein: said other one of said pair of conductors of said first transmission line is a conductors of a printed circuit board mounted at said opening of said cavity of said first transmission line; and said other one of said pair of conductors of said second transmission line is a conductors of a printed circuit board mounted at said opening of said cavity of said second transmission line.