Wave transmission lines and networks – Plural channel systems – Having branched circuits
Patent
1993-05-14
1994-11-29
Gensler, Paul
Wave transmission lines and networks
Plural channel systems
Having branched circuits
333 26, 333 33, 333260, H01P 508
Patent
active
053693809
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a microwave connector for connecting microwave energy between two substrates in orthogonal or near-orthogonal planes that are not electrically connected.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Such a connector finds use for example in phased array radar systems where a large number of antenna modules must be driven from a single local oscillator with equal or near equal amplitude and phase. This is achieved by successive dividers. If the divider network is manufactured from stripline (triplate) or microstrip, it is necessary to use surface launch, right angle, connectors from the stripline to each of the modules. This is expensive, time consuming, and at times difficult to implement.
Microstrip circuits are a known type of device. They comprise a flat plate-like insulating substrate carrying conducting tracks on one surface with a ground electrode covering the opposite face. The conducting track can be shaped into many standard forms to give couplers, circulators, dividers, etc. Slotline circuits are a known type of device. They comprise a plate-like insulating substrate covered on one surface with a sheet electrode that is selectively removed to provide a narrow slot of exposed substrate; it is similar to but the inverse of microstrip. A variation on microstrip is triplate which is effectively two microstrip circuits glued face to face. Triplate comprises two insulating substrates face to face with a conducting strip circuit between them. The reverse faces carry sheet ground electrodes. Known microwave connectors include simple surface launch connectors. These need to be firmly fixed onto the stripline substrate, requiring the use of screws or bolts, and so can be an expensive construction method in production. This structure is very rigid and allows no stress relief. Another known connector uses a customized surface launch connector as described in Microwaves and RF, August, 1989, pages 137-143, S. S. Horwitz and G. W. Bull. It employs a pin connection requiring a connecting pin and welding of a gold ribbon from the stripline track to the pin. The connector has a horseshoe shaped body that passes through a shaped aperture in the stripline track and is fixed by a single nut. Both of these connectors output the microwave signal in a coaxial line, requiring the use of another connector if the signal is to be launched into microstrip. They can also require a large amount of expensive metal work.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The connector of the present invention provides a simple microwave connector not requiring electrical connection, and is insensitive, in amplitude and phase to vibration and strain.
According to this invention a microwave connector comprises a first substrate and a second substrate arranged with the first substrate within an aperture in the second substrate in substantially orthogonal, or within 45.degree. of being orthogonal, planes; the first substrate being a microstrip circuit including a taper section leading from a microstrip component to a pseudo parallel plate transmission line having a length of approximately half wavelength long terminating in a short circuit to the ground plane; the second substrate being a slotline circuit having a slotline component terminating in a short circuit element, and a slot aperture adjacent to the short circuit element of length approximately half the slotline wavelength long sufficient to accommodate the first substrate pseudo parallel plate transmission line and width less than the slotline width; the arrangement being such that the two substrates are electrically unconnected and that energy transfer occurs between the two substrates due to electromagnetic coupling between the parallel plate transmission line and the slotline.
The two substrates preferably lie in orthogonal planes but may be up to plus or minus 45.degree. from this condition with consequential loss in performance.
The second substrate may further include a conventional slotline to microstrip or triplate transition
REFERENCES:
patent: 3573670 (1971-04-01), Skobern
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 14, No. 511, (E-99) Nov. 1990 & JP,A,2 213 201 (Fujitsu Ltd.) 24 Aug. 1990.
IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 37, No. 3, Mar. 1989, New York US pp. 519-525, J. J. Burke et al.
IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 36, No. 8, Aug. 1988, New York US pp. 1272-1282; B. Schuppert: `Microstrip/ et al.
Ball Gregory J.
Dean Michael
Hume Andrew L.
Gensler Paul
The Secretary of State of Defence in Her Majesty's Government of
LandOfFree
Microwave connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Microwave connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Microwave connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-76151