Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An electromagnetic wave transmission line comprising: (a) a dielectric substrate layer of permittivity ε s and having first and second parallel surfaces; (b) a conducting coating on said substrate layer second surface; (c) a dielectric guiding slab layer of permittivity ε g where ε g >ε s , having first and second parallel surfaces of a predetermined dimension, said guiding slab layer having its second surface attached to said substrate layer first surface; (d) an elongated dielectric strip of permittivity ε 1 where ε g >ε 1 , having first and second parallel surfaces which are substantially narrower than said predetermined dimension, said dielectric strip having its second surface contiguous to said first surface of said guiding slab layer, the elongated dimension of said dielectric strip defining the electromagnetic wave direction of transmission; (e) a conducting coating on said dielectric strip first surface, whereby single mode propagation is permitted over a relatively wide band and propagation of undesired modes in said substrate layer is suppressed and the characteristic impedance varies relatively little over a wide frequency range; and (f) means located at one terminal end of said dielectric strip for coupling electromagnetic energy to and from free space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An electromagnetic wave transmission line comprising: (a) a dielectric substrate layer of permittivity ε s and having first and second parallel surfaces; (b) a conducting coating on said substrate layer second surface; (c) a dielectric guiding slab layer of permittivity ε g where ε g >ε s , having first and second parallel surfaces of a predetermined dimension, said guiding slab layer having its second surface attached to said substrate layer first surface; (d) an elongated dielectric strip of permittivity ε 1 where ε g >ε 1 , having first and second parallel surfaces which are substantially narrower than said predetermined dimension, said dielectric strip having its second surface contiguous to said first surface of said guiding slab layer, the elongated dimension of said dielectric strip defining the electromagnetic wave direction of transmission; (e) a conducting coating on said dielectric strip first surface, whereby single mode propagation is permitted over a relatively wide band and propagation of undesired modes in said substrate layer is suppressed and the characteristic impedance varies relatively little over a wide frequency range; and (f) means located at one terminal end of said dielectric strip for coupling electromagnetic energy to and from free space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The transmission line structure of claim 1 wherein said means for coupling electromagnetic energy to and from free space includes a region at said one terminal end of said strip having a reduced thickness with respect to the remainder of said strip whereby energy propagating along said guiding slab layer couples to said region of reduced thickness and a conductive pattern distinct from said conductive coating on the outer surface of said strip at said region of reduced thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The transmission line structure of claim 2 wherein said conductive pattern comprises a diffraction grating formed of a plurality of elongated conductive strips arranged with their long dimension extending transversely across the width of said dielectric strip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The transmission line structure of claim 1 wherein means for coupling electromagnetic energy to and from free space includes said one terminal end having a permittivity ε rad , where ε rad >ε g , ε s and ε l , whereby energy propagating along said guiding layer is substantially coupled to said one terminal end of said strip, said terminal end additionally having a shape for coupling electromagnetic energy to or therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transmission line structure of claim 4 wherein said terminal end includes a tapered section for coupling electromagnetic energy to or therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The transmission line structure of claim 5 wherein said tapered section extends beyond the underlying guiding and substrate layers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transmission line structure of claim 4 wherein said terminal end is devoid of said conductive coating.