Patent US4706050A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4706050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microstrip devices
Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
•
Filing: 1985-09-04
•
Granted: 1987-11-10
•
Expires: 2005-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A microstrip antenna or other microstrip device has a planar electrically-conductive region on the surface of a dielectric board. The device is tuned by silk-screen printing one or more layers of a dielectric ink/paint over the surface of the device. This produces layers of a predetermined thickness which each reduce the frequency of tuning of the device by a predetermined amount until the desired frequency is achieved.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank P. Andrews
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/20; H01P1/201; H01P1/203; H01Q; H01Q9/00; H01Q9/04; H01Q9/0407; H01Q9/0442; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of tuning a microstrip device of the kind comprising a dielectric substrate and a planar electrically-conductive region on a surface of the substrate, wherein the frequency of tuning of the device is initially measured, and wherein a part at least of a surface of the device is thereafter coated by a silk-screen process with a plurality of layers of dielectric ink or paint, each of which layers has the same predetermined thickness, superimposed directly on top of one another so as thereby to increase the thickness of the dielectric coating in a plurality of equal steps thereby to reduce the frequency of tuning of the device progressively from its initially measured value to a desired final value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of tuning a microstrip device of the kind comprising a dielectric substrate and a planar electrically-conductive region on a surface of the substrate, wherein the frequency of tuning of the device is initially measured, and wherein a part at least of a surface of the device is thereafter coated by a silk-screen process with a plurality of layers of dielectric ink or paint, each of which layers has the same predetermined thickness, superimposed directly on top of one another so as thereby to increase the thickness of the dielectric coating in a plurality of equal steps thereby to reduce the frequency of tuning of the device progressively from its initially measured value to a desired final value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said microstrip device comprises an antenna array that is defined by a portion of said electrically concentric region, and a microstrip filter interconnected to said antenna array and defined by a further portion of said electrically conductive region, the number of said layers which are coated over the antenna array portion of said region being different from the number of said layers which are coated over the microstrip filter portion of said region.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of tuning a microstrip antenna of the kind comprising a dielectric substrate and a planar electrically-conductive region on a surface of the substrate, wherein the frequency of tuning of the antenna is initially measured, and wherein a part at least of a surface of the antenna is thereafter coated by a silk-screen process with a plurality of layers of dielectric ink or paint, each of the same predetermined thickness, superimposed directly on top of one another thereby to increase the thickness of the dielectric coating in steps so as to reduce the frequency of tuning of the antenna progressively from its initially measured value to a desired final value.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of tuning a microstrip antenna of the kind comprising a dielectric substrate and a planar electrically-conductive region on a surface of the substrate, wherein the frequency of tuning of the antenna is initially measured, and wherein a part at least of a surface of the antenna is thereafter coated by a silk-screen process with a plurality of layers of dielectric ink or paint, each of the same predetermined thickness, superimposed directly on top of one another thereby to increase the thickness of the dielectric coating in steps so as to reduce the frequency of tuning of the antenna progressively from its initially measured value to a desired final value.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of tuning a microstrip filter of the kind comprising a dielectric substrate and a planar electrically-conductive region on a surface of the substrate, wherein the frequency of tuning of the filter is initially measured, and wherein a part at least of a surface of the filter is thereafter coated by a silk-screen process with a plurality of layers of dielectric ink or paint, each of the same predetermined thickness, superimposed directly on top of one another so as thereby to increase the thickness of the ink or paint coating in steps and thereby reduce the frequency of tuning of the filter progressively from its initially measured value to a desired final value.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of tuning a microstrip filter of the kind comprising a dielectric substrate and a planar electrically-conductive region on a surface of the substrate, wherein the frequency of tuning of the filter is initially measured, and wherein a part at least of a surface of the filter is thereafter coated by a silk-screen process with a plurality of layers of dielectric ink or paint, each of the same predetermined thickness, superimposed directly on top of one another so as thereby to increase the thickness of the ink or paint coating in steps and thereby reduce the frequency of tuning of the filter progressively from its initially measured value to a desired final value.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of manufacture of a microstrip device comprising the steps of: providing a dielectric substrate having a surface thereon; forming on said surface a planar electrically-conductive region; measuring the frequency of tuning of the device so formed; and thereafter coating by a silk-screen process a part at least of a surface of the device with a plurality of layers of dielectric ink or paint, each of the same predetermined thickness, superimposed directly on top of one another so as thereby to increase the thickness of the coating in steps and thereby reduce the frequency of tuning of the device progressively from its previously measured value to a desired lesser value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of manufacture of a microstrip device comprising the steps of: providing a dielectric substrate having a surface thereon; forming on said surface a planar electrically-conductive region; measuring the frequency of tuning of the device so formed; and thereafter coating by a silk-screen process a part at least of a surface of the device with a plurality of layers of dielectric ink or paint, each of the same predetermined thickness, superimposed directly on top of one another so as thereby to increase the thickness of the coating in steps and thereby reduce the frequency of tuning of the device progressively from its previously measured value to a desired lesser value.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to one of claims 1 through 5, wherein each said layer is applied to substantially the entire surface of the device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2915716A
Cited
US3350498A
Cited
US4010475A
Cited
US4063245A
Cited
US4063246A
Cited
US4187480A
Cited
JPS5413981A
Cited
US4638271A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-09 | 1991-05-11 | 1991-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-09 | 1995-05-11 | 1995-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-09 | 1999-05-11 | 1999-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |