US5373299A — Low-profile wideband mode forming network

Claim 1

Independent Claim 136 words

A low-profile microwave antenna modeforming feed network comprising: input means coupled to a plurality of stacked circuit layers for receiving M feed control signals; said plurality of stacked circuit layers having electrical circuitry formed thereon, each circuit layer including a dielectric board having circuitry formed on top and bottom surfaces thereof, said electrical circuitry provided in an offset coupled arrangement; first and second dielectric layers disposed on the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of each dielectric board and the associated circuitry so as to form a low-profile tri-plate circuit arrangement; a conductive ground plane formed between each of said tri-plate circuit arrangements and isolated therefrom; interconnect means for providing electrical connections between the electrical circuitry on different circuit layers; and output means coupled to said plurality of stacked circuit layers for communicating with N feed elements.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 136 words

A low-profile microwave antenna modeforming feed network comprising: input means coupled to a plurality of stacked circuit layers for receiving M feed control signals; said plurality of stacked circuit layers having electrical circuitry formed thereon, each circuit layer including a dielectric board having circuitry formed on top and bottom surfaces thereof, said electrical circuitry provided in an offset coupled arrangement; first and second dielectric layers disposed on the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of each dielectric board and the associated circuitry so as to form a low-profile tri-plate circuit arrangement; a conductive ground plane formed between each of said tri-plate circuit arrangements and isolated therefrom; interconnect means for providing electrical connections between the electrical circuitry on different circuit layers; and output means coupled to said plurality of stacked circuit layers for communicating with N feed elements.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The network as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a plurality of couplers, phase shifters and transmission lines forming a feed matrix.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The network as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical circuitry on each of said circuit layers comprises single layer microwave stripline circuit traces which do not overlap one another on any given surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

The network as defined in claim 1 wherein said interconnect means comprises a conductive pin disposed at a right angle between a first signal path on one of said circuit layers and a second signal path on another of said circuit layers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

The network as defined in claim 4 wherein said conductive pin comprises a recessed chamber formed in both ends thereof, each chamber having a springy conductive means compressed therein and forming a low-profile electrical contact with the associated conductive path.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 64 words

The network as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said couplers has a variable overlapped line geometry which comprises: a first transmission path formed on the top surface of said dielectric board; and a second transmission path formed on the bottom surface of said dielectric board and at least partially overlapping said first transmission path so as to provide a high coupling ratio.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

The network as defined in claim 6 wherein said first and second transmission paths include smoothly-tapered edges forming undulations so as to minimize internal electromagnetic reflections.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 97 words

The network as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said phase shifters has a variable overlapped line geometry which comprises: a first transmission path formed on the top surface of said dielectric board; a second transmission path formed on the bottom surface of said dielectric board and offset from said first transmission path; a conductive member electrically coupled between said first and second transmission paths; and mode suppression means including a conductive shell at least partially surrounding said conductive member and coupled to said ground plane so as to terminate unwanted modes of electromagnetic wave propagation.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The network as defined in claim 8 wherein said conductive element comprises a conductive ribbon.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The network as defined in claim 8 wherein said first and second transmission paths include smoothly-tapered edges forming undulations so as to enhance high frequency operations.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 151 words

A low-profile multiple simultaneous microwave antenna modeforming network such as a Butler matrix which provides a multioctave frequency bandwidth and at least a ten-to-one ratio comprising: input means coupled to a plurality of stacked circuit layers for receiving M mode control signals; said plurality of stacked circuit layers having electrical circuitry, which includes a plurality of couplers and fixed phase shifters, said circuit layers each including a dielectric board having said circuitry, formed on top and bottom surfaces thereof; first and second dielectric layers disposed on the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of each of said circuit layers so as to provide tri-plate circuit layers; a ground plane disposed between each of said tri-plate circuit layers; interconnect means for providing electrical connections between said circuitry on different circuit layers; and output means coupled to said plurality of stacked circuit layers including N ports for feeding N elements of an antenna system.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 151 words

A low-profile multiple simultaneous microwave antenna modeforming network such as a Butler matrix which provides a multioctave frequency bandwidth and at least a ten-to-one ratio comprising: input means coupled to a plurality of stacked circuit layers for receiving M mode control signals; said plurality of stacked circuit layers having electrical circuitry, which includes a plurality of couplers and fixed phase shifters, said circuit layers each including a dielectric board having said circuitry, formed on top and bottom surfaces thereof; first and second dielectric layers disposed on the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of each of said circuit layers so as to provide tri-plate circuit layers; a ground plane disposed between each of said tri-plate circuit layers; interconnect means for providing electrical connections between said circuitry on different circuit layers; and output means coupled to said plurality of stacked circuit layers including N ports for feeding N elements of an antenna system.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 56 words

The network as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said couplers has a variable overlapped line geometry which comprises: a first transmission path formed on the top surface of said dielectric board; and a second transmission path formed on the bottom surface of said dielectric board and at least partially overlapping said first transmission path.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The network as defined in claim 12 wherein said first and second transmission paths include smoothly-tapered edges forming undulations so as to minimize internal electromagnetic reflections.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 97 words

The network as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said phase shifters has a variable overlapped line geometry which comprises: a first transmission path formed on the top surface of said dielectric board; a second transmission path formed on the bottom surface of said dielectric board and offset from said first transmission path; a conductive ribbon electrically coupled between said first and second transmission paths; and mode suppression means including a conductive shell at least partially surrounding said conductive ribbon and coupled to said ground plane so as to terminate unwanted modes of electromagnetic wave propagation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The network as defined in claim 14 wherein said first and second transmission paths include smoothly-tapered edges forming undulations so as to enhance high frequency operations.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 45 words

The network as defined in claim 11 wherein said interconnect means comprises a conductive pin which contacts circuitry of one of said circuit layers at a substantially right angle and further contacts circuitry of a second of said circuit layers at a substantially right angle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

The network as defined in claim 16 wherein said conductive pin comprises a recessed chamber formed in both ends thereof, each chamber having a springy conductive means compressed therein and forming a low-profile electrical contact with the associated conductive path.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The network as defined in claim 11 wherein said electrical circuity on each of said plurality of circuity layers comprises single layer microwave stripline circuit traces which do not overlap one another on any given surface.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 144 words

A method for forming a low-profile stripline microwave matrix feed network with a multioctave frequency bandwidth comprising: forming a plurality of circuit layers, each circuit layer having a dielectric board with electrical circuitry, formed on top and bottom surfaces thereof and having single layered circuit traces formed in an offset coupled arrangement; coupling input means to said plurality of stacked circuit layers for receiving M feed control signals; disposing each of said circuit layers between first and second dielectric layers to form tri-plate circuit layers; stacking said tri-plate circuit layers so one layer is above another layer; forming conductive ground planes between each of said tri-plate circuit layers so as to provide stripline circuitry; forming electrical right angle interconnects between selected circuitry, located on different circuit layers; and coupling output means to said plurality of stacked circuit layers for communicating with N feed elements.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 144 words

A method for forming a low-profile stripline microwave matrix feed network with a multioctave frequency bandwidth comprising: forming a plurality of circuit layers, each circuit layer having a dielectric board with electrical circuitry, formed on top and bottom surfaces thereof and having single layered circuit traces formed in an offset coupled arrangement; coupling input means to said plurality of stacked circuit layers for receiving M feed control signals; disposing each of said circuit layers between first and second dielectric layers to form tri-plate circuit layers; stacking said tri-plate circuit layers so one layer is above another layer; forming conductive ground planes between each of said tri-plate circuit layers so as to provide stripline circuitry; forming electrical right angle interconnects between selected circuitry, located on different circuit layers; and coupling output means to said plurality of stacked circuit layers for communicating with N feed elements.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method as defined in claim 19 wherein said electrical circuitry, includes: a plurality of couplers; a plurality of phase shifters; and transmission lines interconnecting said circuitry.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-12-12	1998-06-13	1998-12-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-12-12	2002-06-13	2002-12-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-12-12	2006-06-13	2006-12-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Low-profile wideband mode forming network

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