US4768001A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microwave phase shifter with piezoelectric control
Assignee: Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales
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Filing: 1986-04-29
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Granted: 1988-08-30
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Expires: 2006-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A microwave phase shifter comprise a dielectric waveguide having a flat side and a moving conductor plane member substantially parallel to the waveguide side. Piezoelectric means are provided to move the plane member with respect to the waveguide side between a portion relatively remote from the waveguide side and an other position substantially in contact with the waveguide side. The piezoelectric means consists preferably of a stack of piezoelectric members supplied by a variable d.c. power source. Owing to the piezoelectric means for moving the conductor plane member, a variable phase shift is continuously adjusted. Such a phase shifter can be as an antenna network when the dielectric waveguide contains groups of radiator perturbations, such as conductor strips, respectively controlled by one or several piezoelectric means carrying conductor plates facing waveguide portions including the perturbations groups.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Chan-Son-Lint
- 👤 Pierre Borderies
- 👤 Christian J. Pouit
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/18; H01P1/182; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/30; H01Q3/32; H01Q3/44; H01Q3/443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side and periodic spaced perturbations for transforming said waveguide into an antenna, a moving conductor plane member substantially parallel to said flat side of said waveguide and movable in relation to an area in said waveguide containing said perturbations, means for moving said plane member in relation to said waveguide between a remote position from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side, said moving means including a piezoelectric means carrying said conductor plane member, and variable power means supplying said piezoelectric means for varying at least a dimension of said piezoelectric means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side and periodic spaced perturbations for transforming said waveguide into an antenna, a moving conductor plane member substantially parallel to said flat side of said waveguide and movable in relation to an area in said waveguide containing said perturbations, means for moving said plane member in relation to said waveguide between a remote position from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side, said moving means including a piezoelectric means carrying said conductor plane member, and variable power means supplying said piezoelectric means for varying at least a dimension of said piezoelectric means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The phase shifter claimed in claim 1 wherein said perturbations are conductor strips on said dielectric waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The phase shifter claimed in claim 1 wherein said perturbations are corrugations of said dielectric waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
144 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor plane member substantially parallel to said flat side of said waveguide, and means for moving said plane member in relation to said waveguide between a remote position from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side, said moving means including a piezoelectric means carrying said conductor plane member, said piezoelectric means including a piezoelectric biplate having two piezoelectric members activated by equal and opposing electric fields, one of said piezoelectric members carrying said conductor plane member as a top element of the biplate, said conductor plane member being formed through metallization of a face of one of said two piezoelectric biplate members facing said waveguide, and a variable power means supplying said piezoelectric means for varying at least a dimension of said piezoelectric means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor plane member substantially parallel to said flat side of said waveguide, and means for moving said plane member in relation to said waveguide between a remote position from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side, said moving means including a piezoelectric means carrying said conductor plane member, said piezoelectric means including a piezoelectric biplate having two piezoelectric members activated by equal and opposing electric fields, one of said piezoelectric members carrying said conductor plane member as a top element of the biplate, said conductor plane member being formed through metallization of a face of one of said two piezoelectric biplate members facing said waveguide, and a variable power means supplying said piezoelectric means for varying at least a dimension of said piezoelectric means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor plate parallel to said flat side of said waveguide, a stack of piezoelectric members, an upper member of said stack carrying said conductor plate, a variable voltage supply means for supplying said piezoelectric members, the supply means voltage being adjustable to modify at least a dimension of said piezoelectric members to thereby move said conductor plate between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side, and conductor strips on and transverse to said waveguide and equally distributed in a waveguide portion facing said conductor plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor plate parallel to said flat side of said waveguide, a stack of piezoelectric members, an upper member of said stack carrying said conductor plate, a variable voltage supply means for supplying said piezoelectric members, the supply means voltage being adjustable to modify at least a dimension of said piezoelectric members to thereby move said conductor plate between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side, and conductor strips on and transverse to said waveguide and equally distributed in a waveguide portion facing said conductor plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor plate parallel to said flat side of said waveguide, a stack of piezoelectric members, an upper member of said stack carrying said conductor plate, a variable voltage supply means for supplying said piezoelectric members, the supply means voltage being adjustable to modify at least a dimension of said piezoelectric members to thereby move said conductor plate between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side, and periodic corrugations lodged in a waveguide area facing said conductor plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor plate parallel to said flat side of said waveguide, a stack of piezoelectric members, an upper member of said stack carrying said conductor plate, a variable voltage supply means for supplying said piezoelectric members, the supply means voltage being adjustable to modify at least a dimension of said piezoelectric members to thereby move said conductor plate between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side, and periodic corrugations lodged in a waveguide area facing said conductor plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor member substantially flat and parallel to said waveguide side, conductor strips on and transverse to said waveguide area facing said conductor member, two stacked piezoelectric members facing a piezoelectric biplate, one of said piezoelectric members facing said waveguide side and carrying said conductor member, and a variable voltage supply means activating said two piezoelectric members by equal and opposing electric fields, the supply means voltage being adjustable to modify curvature of said biplate thereby moving said conductor member between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor member substantially flat and parallel to said waveguide side, conductor strips on and transverse to said waveguide area facing said conductor member, two stacked piezoelectric members facing a piezoelectric biplate, one of said piezoelectric members facing said waveguide side and carrying said conductor member, and a variable voltage supply means activating said two piezoelectric members by equal and opposing electric fields, the supply means voltage being adjustable to modify curvature of said biplate thereby moving said conductor member between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The phase shifter claimed in claim 7 wherein said conductor member includes a conductor plate secured substantially to the centre of said piezoelectric member facing said waveguide side.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The phase shifter claimed in claim 8 wherein said conductor member comprises a metallic deposit on a face of said piezoelectric member facing said waveguide side.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor member substantially flat and parallel to said waveguide side, periodic corrugations in a waveguide position facing said conductor member, two stacked piezoelectric members facing a piezoelectric biplate, one of said piezoelectric members facing said waveguide side and carrying said conductor member, and a variable voltage supply means for activating said two piezoelectric members by equal and opposing electric fields, the supply means voltage being adjustable to modify curvature of said biplate thereby moving said conductor member between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side, a moving conductor member substantially flat and parallel to said waveguide side, periodic corrugations in a waveguide position facing said conductor member, two stacked piezoelectric members facing a piezoelectric biplate, one of said piezoelectric members facing said waveguide side and carrying said conductor member, and a variable voltage supply means for activating said two piezoelectric members by equal and opposing electric fields, the supply means voltage being adjustable to modify curvature of said biplate thereby moving said conductor member between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The phase shifter claimed in claim 10 wherein said conductor member includes a conductor plate secured substantially to the centre of said piezoelectric member facing said waveguide side.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The phase shifter claimed in claim 11 wherein said conductor member includes a metallic deposit on a face of said piezoelectric member facing said waveguide side.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
129 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side a plurality of moving conductor plane members substantially parallel to and facing said waveguide side, a plurality of piezoelectric member stacks carrying said conductor plane members respectively, a plurality of perturbation groups disposed in waveguide positions facing to said conductor planes respectively, said perturbations in each of said groups being equispaced by a predetermined distance, and a plurality of variable voltage supply means supplying said piezoelectric member stacks respectively, the voltage of each of said supply means being adjustable to modify at least a dimension of the piezoelectric members in the respective stack thereby moving the respective conductor member between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
129 words
A microwave phase shifter comprising a dielectric waveguide having a flat side a plurality of moving conductor plane members substantially parallel to and facing said waveguide side, a plurality of piezoelectric member stacks carrying said conductor plane members respectively, a plurality of perturbation groups disposed in waveguide positions facing to said conductor planes respectively, said perturbations in each of said groups being equispaced by a predetermined distance, and a plurality of variable voltage supply means supplying said piezoelectric member stacks respectively, the voltage of each of said supply means being adjustable to modify at least a dimension of the piezoelectric members in the respective stack thereby moving the respective conductor member between a position remote from said waveguide side and another position substantially in contact with said waveguide side.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The phase shifter claimed in claim 13 wherein said perturbations in each of said groups are parallel conductor strips on said waveguide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The phase shifter claimed in claim 13 wherein said perturbations in each of said groups are corrugations in said waveguide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
94 words
An antenna network comprising a plurality of parallel dielectric waveguides having coplanar flat sides, a moving conductor plane member substantially parallel to and facing said coplanar waveguide sides, at least one piezoelectric means carrying said conductor plane member, a plurality of radiator perturbation groups disposed in waveguide portions facing to said conductor plane, said radiator perturbations in each of said waveguides being equispaced by predetermined distance, and a variable voltage supply means supplying said piezoelectric means with a variable voltage that is adjustable thereby moving said conductor member with respect to said waveguide sides.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
An antenna network comprising a plurality of parallel dielectric waveguides having coplanar flat sides, a moving conductor plane member substantially parallel to and facing said coplanar waveguide sides, at least one piezoelectric means carrying said conductor plane member, a plurality of radiator perturbation groups disposed in waveguide portions facing to said conductor plane, said radiator perturbations in each of said waveguides being equispaced by predetermined distance, and a variable voltage supply means supplying said piezoelectric means with a variable voltage that is adjustable thereby moving said conductor member with respect to said waveguide sides.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna network claimed in claim 16 wherein said radiator perturbations are parallel conductor strips transverse to said waveguide portions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The antenna network claimed in claim 16 wherein said radiator perturbations are corrugations formed in said waveguide portions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The antenna network claimed in claim 16 wherein said piezoelectric means is a stack of piezoelectric members supplied by said supply means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The antenna network claimed in claim 16 wherein said piezoelectric means includes two stacked piezoelectric members supplied by said supply means to be activated by equal and opposing electric fields.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The antenna network claimed in claim 20 wherein said conductor member has a centre area secured to one of said piezoelectric members.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The antenna network claimed in claim 20 wherein said conductor member is a metallic deposit on a face of one of said piezoelectric members.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The antenna network claimed in claim 16 wherein said piezoelectric means comprise three piezoelectric member stacks carrying said conductor plane member, and said variable voltage means comprise three d.c. power sources supplying said piezoelectric member stacks respectively.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
70 words
An antenna network as claimed in claim 16 comprising microwave power distributing means for supplying said dielectric waveguides, and a plurality of variable phase shifters interconnected between said microwave power distributing means and ends of said dielectric waveguides respectively, said plurality of variable phase shifter including a plurality of second coplanar dielectric waveguides, a metal plate and a second piezoelectric means carrying said metal plate facing said second dielectric waveguides.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The antenna network claimed in claim 24 wherein said second waveguides have portions facing portions of said metal plate having different lengths respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4575697A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-30 | 1992-02-29 | 1992-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-30 | 1996-02-29 | 1996-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-30 | 2000-02-29 | 2000-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |