Rca Inc.

Martin Marietta Corporation

General Electric Company

Norman R Landry

Ashok K Agrawal

Michael Perry

Robert L Schelhorn

Robert Michael Reese

Leonard H Yorinks

Willard T Patton

Samuel L Williams

David L Thomas

Joseph A Mattioli

Edward J Kent

Amedeo DeLuca

James E Gentry, Sr

The electrical length of a strip transmission line structure is adjusted by adding conductive projections from the ground planar conductors which extend in depth toward the strip conductor and in length along the strip conductor. These projections may preferably be formed by inward deformation of the ground planes at the desired locations. In strip transmission lines having the strip conductor positioned between two ground planes, projections are preferably added in aligned pairs with each ground plane providing one of the projections of the pair.

Phase trimmed strip transmission lines and method for trimming

An active array antenna, which may be used for radar, includes antenna elements (antelements) supported in a two-dimensional array. The fronts of the elements are protected by a cover. In order to allow easy repair, each column of antelements is associated with a slide-in carrier which simultaneously mates with all antelements of a column. Each carrier has a transmit-receive (TR) module for each antelement with which it mates, and a column beamformer. Each carrier also has logic modules and power supplies for the TR modules. The total width of each slide-in carrier with its TR modules, beamformer, logic and power supplies, is less than or equal to the column-to-column spacing. Each carrier can be slid out from the rear to expose all the active components for each column of antelements, so maintenance can be performed without environmental exposure.

Active array antenna radar structure

A short horn antenna (10) adapted for array use includes a rectangular waveguide with broad upper (12) and lower (14) walls and narrow side walls (16, 18), defining a radiating aperture (20) and a feed end closed off by a shorting plate (22). A stepped upper ridge (26) has a slot (50) adjacent the shorting plate, and a shorter stepped lower ridge (46) has a corresponding slot. An unbalanced transmission line (75) extends through the shorting wall, and the smaller conductor (76) extends into the waveguide as an electric probe (60). The probe includes a first portion (64), extending parallel to the waveguide axis (8) and into the slot in the upper ridge. The probe (60) also includes a second portion (66) extending at an angle (90.degree.) relative to the first portion (64) of the probe (60).

Broadband short-horn antenna

An antenna array (10) includes a plurality of antenna elements (12), each of which is associated with a transmit-receive TR module (14). The antenna elements and their associated TR modules are grouped into sets, which in the illustrated embodiment are sets of four. Each set of four TR module/antenna elements is associated with one phase and gain controller (18.sub.X), which is part of a distributed phase and gain controller. The beam direction is commanded by a central radar control computer (RCC) (22), which transmits beam direction and other information to all the separate phase/gain controllers. Each separate phase/gain controller accesses local memory to obtain data relating to the location within the array of those antenna elements which it controls. Each phase/gain controller then calculates the necessary phase shift for each antenna element it controls, taking into account the phase and gain errors associated with the TR module associated therewith. The calculation is performed separately for the transmit and receive modes. While the described controller calculates for both transmit and receive modules, in a transmit-only or receive-only system, only transmit or receive-mode values, respectively, need be calculated.

Phased array antenna with distributed beam steering

A monopulse antenna array arrangement includes a transmit-receive processor (TR Proc) associated with each antenna element. Each TR Proc has a port associated with the radiating element and at least two further ports, one for a sum beamformer and another for a difference beamformer. Within each TR Proc, a switching arrangement allows transmitter signal to flow through a phase shifter and transmit amp during transmission, and allows received signal to flow through a low-noise amp and the same phase shifter on reception. Each TR Proc includes a coupling arrangement with a second phase shifter and a second output port, adapted to be coupled to a difference beamformer during reception.

Monopulse phased array antenna with plural transmit-receive module phase

A corrosion resistant resilient electrically conductive gasket is comprised of a metal-containing conductive elastomer which has had any exposed metal coated with a protective conductive coating. The metal may be silver and the coating may be tin-lead solder applied by immersing the gasket into a molten solder bath.

Corrosion resistant conductive elastomers

A waveguide dimensioned for fundamental mode operation over a given frequency range is rendered substantially dispersionless by including within the waveguide a thin dielectric slab extending parallel to the E-field of the fundamental mode and having a dielectric constant of at least 4 and a thickness across the E-field ranging between 0.01 and 0.25 guide wavelengths at the center frequency of the given range. Appropriate thicknesses for a dielectric member having a given dielectric constant can be selected to provide overcompensation. The series connection of appropriate lengths of an overcompensated waveguide and uncompensated waveguide yield an overall waveguide having a substantially dispersionless characteristic.

Dispersion correcting waveguide

The power handling capacity of a matched coaxial transmission line power divider is increased with a minimum increase in losses by mounting the isolation resistor(s) within the dielectric volume of the coaxial transmission line and on an electrically-insulating resistor contact portion of a thermally-conducting heat sink. A low dielectric constant region is located between the resistor contact portion of the heat sink and the directly adjacent portion of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line.

High power coaxial power divider

A coaxial transmission line is coupled to a dielectrically loaded rectangular waveguide by an E-plane probe which extends through a broad wall of the waveguide and into a slot in the body of loading dielectric. The slot and probe are positioned substantially laterally off-center in the body of dielectric material.

Coax to rectangular waveguide coupler

Substantial weight reduction and size reduction in phased array radiators are obtained by coupling a dielectrically loaded waveguide directly to a short horn radiator whose electrical length is less than one half wavelength at an operating frequency. Coupling is obtained by positioning the waveguide with its end in the interior of the short horn radiator and by causing the dielectric material of the waveguide to protrude beyond the end of the waveguide and to terminate inside the horn.

Short horn radiator assembly

A thick film resistor element capable of dissipating relatively large amounts of microwave energy comprises several distinct layers of resistive material overlying an electrically insulating thermally conducting substrate. The final dimensions of the element can be made comparatively small with respect to a conventional element having comparable dissipation capability. The element has a coating of a crossover dielectric material which provides a moisture barrier between the element and the ambient.

Thick film resistor element and method of fabricating

The rear wall of a horn antenna is a substrate with a phase shifter circuit thereon. Power from the phase shifter is radiated by the horn via a probe that has the general shape of a hook.

Growing community of inventors

Mount Laurel, NJ, United States of America

Norman R Landry