Patent US4965607A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4965607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Antenna coupler
Assignee: BR Communications Inc
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Filing: 1987-04-30
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Granted: 1990-10-23
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Expires: 2007-04-30
Abstract
Abstract An automatic antenna coupler is disclosed. The antenna coupler automatically matches the output impedance of a 50-ohm transmitter to the input impedance of a non-broad-band antenna, such as a whip, dipole or long wire. The resulting increase in transmit coupling efficiency provides greater radiative power than that available from an unmatched antenna.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark L. Wilkins
- 👤 Alvin O. Wong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/02; H04B1/04; H04B1/0458; H03; H03H; H03H11/00; H03H11/02; H03H11/28; H03H11/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
An antenna coupler comprising: adjustable impedance matching network means for matching the output impedance of a transmitter at a radio frequency (RF) input to the input impedance of a non-broadband antenna, means for tracking a swept, transmitted signal at said RF input, and processor means responsive to the tracked signal for automatically adjusting said impedance matching network means to provide an impedance match between said output impedance and said input impedance wherein said processor means includes means for dividing the swept frequency range into discrete bands, means for determining the frequency of said input signal to be matched for each of said bands, and for determining any changes in the frequency of said input signal, means for measuring and quantifying the value of the impedance itself at said antenna for each of the determined frequencies, means for calculating the amount of adjustment needed to match said output impedances and said input impedances based upon measured value of impedance for each of said determined frequencies, so as to provide an impedance match for each of said discrete bands.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
An antenna coupler comprising: adjustable impedance matching network means for matching the output impedance of a transmitter at a radio frequency (RF) input to the input impedance of a non-broadband antenna, means for tracking a swept, transmitted signal at said RF input, and processor means responsive to the tracked signal for automatically adjusting said impedance matching network means to provide an impedance match between said output impedance and said input impedance wherein said processor means includes means for dividing the swept frequency range into discrete bands, means for determining the frequency of said input signal to be matched for each of said bands, and for determining any changes in the frequency of said input signal, means for measuring and quantifying the value of the impedance itself at said antenna for each of the determined frequencies, means for calculating the amount of adjustment needed to match said output impedances and said input impedances based upon measured value of impedance for each of said determined frequencies, so as to provide an impedance match for each of said discrete bands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The coupler as in claim 1 wherein the range of said swept transmitted signal is approximately 1.6 MHz to 30 MHz.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The coupler as in claim 1 wherein the range of said swept transmitted signal is approximately 1.6 MHz to 16 MHz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The coupler as in claim 1 wherein said processor means includes means for storing said values of the required impedance for each of said discrete bands, and means for recalling said stored values for each of said discrete bands.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
An antenna coupler comprising adjustable impedance matching network means for matching the output impedance of a transmitter at a radio frequency (RF) input to the input impedance of a non-broadband antenna, means for detecting changes in said output impedance when an RF signal is transmitted to said RF input, means for measuring and quantifying the value of the impedance itself at said antenna, means for calculating the amount of adjustment needed to match said output impedances and said input impedances based upon the measured value of impedance, means for rematching said output impedance to said input impedance if the detected changes vary from a certain predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
An antenna coupler comprising adjustable impedance matching network means for matching the output impedance of a transmitter at a radio frequency (RF) input to the input impedance of a non-broadband antenna, means for detecting changes in said output impedance when an RF signal is transmitted to said RF input, means for measuring and quantifying the value of the impedance itself at said antenna, means for calculating the amount of adjustment needed to match said output impedances and said input impedances based upon the measured value of impedance, means for rematching said output impedance to said input impedance if the detected changes vary from a certain predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The coupler as in claim 5 wherein said transmitted signal is a fixed frequency RF signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The coupler as in claim 5 wherein said transmitted signal is a swept transmitted signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
An antenna coupler comprising adjustable impedance matching network means for matching the output impedance of a transmitter at a radio frequency (RF) input to the input impedance of a non-broadband antenna, means for measuring and quantifying the impedance value itself of said antenna, means for calculating the amount of adjustment needed to match said output impedances and said input impedances based upon the measured impedance value, and means for adjusting said adjustable impedance matching network means to match said output and input impedances.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
An antenna coupler comprising adjustable impedance matching network means for matching the output impedance of a transmitter at a radio frequency (RF) input to the input impedance of a non-broadband antenna, means for measuring and quantifying the impedance value itself of said antenna, means for calculating the amount of adjustment needed to match said output impedances and said input impedances based upon the measured impedance value, and means for adjusting said adjustable impedance matching network means to match said output and input impedances.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The coupler as in claim 8 wherein said transmitted frequency is a fixed RF frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The coupler as in claim 8 wherein said transmitted frequency is a swept transmitted RF signal and wherein said processor means includes means for dividing said swept frequency range into discrete bands.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The coupler as in claim 10 including storage means for storing values representing the calculated amount of adjustment for each of said discrete bands.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The coupler as in claim 11 including means for recalling said stored values for each of said discrete bands.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-22 | 1994-04-23 | 1994-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-22 | 1998-04-23 | 1998-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-22 | 2002-04-23 | 2002-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |