Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

J Douglas Adam

Harvey C Nathanson

Carl Baldwin Freidhoff

James E Degenford

Thomas J Smith, Jr

F William Hopwood

An electronically steerable antenna array which includes time delay units connected to individual antenna elements for time delaying a microwave signal to and/or from the antenna elements. Each time delay unit includes small mercury wetted switches for controlling signal flow via a time delay path or a bypass path, through the time delay unit from a signal input to a signal output.

Antenna system using time delays with mercury wetted switches

A switch having spaced apart conductors with a high resistivity gate member therebetween. First and second mercury droplets are respectively connected to the ends of the conductors. When a control signal is applied to the gate member, the mercury droplets are drawn to it and establish electrical connection between the conductors to close the switch. Upon removal of the control signal the mercury droplets separate and assume their initial droplet form thus opening the switch.

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Murrysville, PA, United States of America

J Douglas Adam