Tunable stripline devices

Claim 2

A stripline device comprising at least one strip conductor; at least one ground plane positioned adjacent to and separated from said at least one strip conductor by a dielectric substrate; and means for moving said at least one ground plane relative to said at least one strip conductor so as to change the propagation velocity of said stripline device, wherein said moving means comprises a layer of piezoelectric material positioned effectively adjacent said at least one ground plane; first and second layers of conductive material positioned on opposite sides of said layer of piezoelectric material; and a voltage source connected to said first and second layers of conductive material for applying a voltage across said piezoelectric material, said piezoelectric material changing its shape in response to changes in voltage from said voltage source so as to change the propagation velocity in response to changes in said voltage.

Claim 3

A stripline device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one ground plane is a single ground plane and a change in the shape of said piezoelectric layer produces an air gap between said dielectric substrate and said single ground plane, the size of said air gap changing in response to changes in said voltage.

Claim 4

A stripline device in accordance with claim 2, and further including a layer of non-expandable material positioned between and affixed to said single ground plane and said first layer of conductive material.

Claim 5

A stripline device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one ground plane includes an upper ground plane positioned adjacent an upper side of said at least one strip conductor and separated therefrom by said dielectric substrate and a lower ground plane positioned adjacent a lower side of said at least one strip conductor and separated therefrom by a second dielectric substrate, said layer of piezoelectric material being positioned adjacent to one of said upper and lower ground planes.

Claim 6

A stripline device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said layer of piezoelectric material is positioned effectively adjacent said lower ground plane.

Claim 7

A stripline device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said layer of piezoelectric material is positioned effectively adjacent said upper ground plane.

Claim 8

A stripline device in accordance with claims 2 or 3, wherein said single lower ground plane is adjacent a lower side of said at least one strip conductor and is separated therefrom by said dielectric substrate, said layer of piezoelectric material being positioned effectively adjacent said single lower ground plane.

Claim 9

A stripline device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one ground plane is a lower ground plane positioned adjacent a lower side of said at least one strip conductor and separated therefrom by said dielectric substrate and further including an upper ground plane positioned adjacent an upper side of said at least one strip conductor and separated therefrom by a further dielectric substrate; said moving means moving said lower ground plane relative to said at least one strip conductor.

Claim 10

A stripline device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the change in the shape of said piezoelectric layer produces an air gap between said dielectric substrate and said at least one ground plane, the size of said air gap changing in response to changes in said voltage.

Claim 11

A stripline device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one strip conductor comprises a single strip conductor.

Claim 12

A stripline device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one strip conductor comprises a plurality of strip conductors.

Claim 13

A stripline device comprising at least one strip conductor; a first layer of conductive material positioned adjacent to and separated from said at least one strip conductor by a dielectric substrate, said first layer of conductive material forming at least one ground plane; a first layer of piezoelectric material positioned adjacent to said first layer of conductive material; a second layer of conductive material positioned adjacent said first layer of piezoelectric material; a second layer of piezoelectric material positioned adjacent said second layer of conductive material; a third layer of conductive material positioned adjacent said second layer of piezoelectric material; a voltage source connected to said first layer of conductive material and said third layer of conductive material whereby said layers of piezoelectric material change their shapes in response to changes in voltage from said voltage source for moving said first layer of conductive material relative to said at least one strip conductor so as to change the propagation velocity of said stripline device in response to changes in said voltage.

Claim 14

A stripline device comprising at least one strip conductor; a first layer of conductive material positioned adjacent to and separated from said at least one strip conductor by a dielectric substrate, said first layer of conductive material forming at least one ground plane; a first layer of piezoelectric material positioned adjacent to said first layer of conductive material; a second layer of conductive material positioned adjacent said first layer of piezoelectric material; a second layer of piezoelectric material positioned adjacent said second layer of conductive material; a third layer of conductive material positioned adjacent said second layer of piezoelectric material; a voltage source connected to said first layer of conductive material and said third layer of conductive material whereby said layers of piezoelectric material change their shapes in response to changes in voltage from said voltage source for moving said first layer of conductive material relative to said at least one strip conductor so as to change the propagation velocity of said stripline device in response to changes in said voltage.

Claim 15

A stripline device in accordance with claim 12 wherein said first layer of conductive material forms an upper ground plane positioned adjacent an upper side of said at least one strip conductor and separated therefrom by said dielectric substrate and further including a lower ground plane positioned adjacent a lower side of said at least one strip conductor and separated therefrom by a second dielectric substrate, and further wherein said first layer of piezoelectric material, said second layer of conductive material, and said second layer of piezoelectric material are provided effectively adjacent to said upper or lower ground planes.

Claim 16

A strip line device in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first layer of piezoelectric material and said second layer of piezoelectric material are positioned effectively adjacent said lower ground plane.

Claim 17

A strip line device in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first layer of piezoelectric material and said second layer of piezoelectric material are positioned effectively adjacent said upper ground plane.

Claim 18

A stripline device comprising at least one strip conductor; an upper and lower ground plane positioned above and below said at least one strip conductor and separated therefrom by respective dielectric substrates, one of said substrates being adjacent said at least one strip conductor; a moving means including one or more piezoelectric elements positioned between said dielectric substrates so that one of said substrates is adjacent said at least one strip conductor and the other of said substrates is separated from said at least one strip conductor by an air gap; a voltage source connected across said one or more piezoelectric elements, said one or more piezoelectric elements changing their dimensions in response to changes in voltage from said voltage source so as to change the dimensions of said air gap to change the propagation velocity of the stripline device.

Claim 19

A stripline device comprising at least one strip conductor; an upper and lower ground plane positioned above and below said at least one strip conductor and separated therefrom by respective dielectric substrates, one of said substrates being adjacent said at least one strip conductor; a moving means including one or more piezoelectric elements positioned between said dielectric substrates so that one of said substrates is adjacent said at least one strip conductor and the other of said substrates is separated from said at least one strip conductor by an air gap; a voltage source connected across said one or more piezoelectric elements, said one or more piezoelectric elements changing their dimensions in response to changes in voltage from said voltage source so as to change the dimensions of said air gap to change the propagation velocity of the stripline device.

Claim 20

A stripline device in accordance with claim 16 wherein said one or more piezoelectric elements comprise two said elements, said voltage source being connected in parallel across said elements so as to cause them to elongate when said voltage is applied thereto.