Raytheon Company

Hughes Aircraft Company

Hughes Electronics Corporation

William L Lange

Stan W Livingston

Kuan M Lee

J J Lee

Donald A Charlton

Ted C Schmidt

Robert Boubion

Jeffrey T Bayorgeon

An RF connector comprising a coaxial transmission structure that transmits RF power at RF and microwave frequencies through a dielectric seal. Portions of the connector on either side of the seal do not make metal to metal contact. The connector has input and output connector portions having outer conductors coaxially disposed around inner conductors with dielectric material disposed therebetween. Impedance matching transition portions abut each side of the dielectric seal that have a relatively large diameter adjacent the dielectric seal that transitions to a relatively small diameter distal from the dielectric seal. Tapered and stepped impedance matching transition portions may be employed. A shunt capacitance is disposed approximately one quarter wavelength from each side of the dielectric seal in the stepped transition version. RF energy transmitted by way of the input connector portion is capacitively coupled through the dielectric seal to the output connector portion.

Noncontact RF connector

A waveguide seal (16) which provides reliable mechanical contact and which reduces the electrical breakdown in the area of a waveguide joint (10). The seal (16) includes a dovetailed groove (40) into which is inserted a helical coil (30). During assembly, flanges (18) of the interconnected waveguides (12, 14) are then compressed against the helical coils (30) on each side of the seal (16). The helical coil (30) is then partially compressed and provides reliable mechanical connection between the waveguides (12, 14) and the interposed seal (16). Further, a gap (58) in predefined areas between the seal (16) and the waveguide flanges (18) provides for significantly reduced electrical breakdown in the joint area, thereby providing a better electrical connection.

High power waveguide RF seal

A compact, dual series waveguide feed network is disclosed which has application to monopulse radar antennas and is usable in applications requiring compact and light weight feed networks. The network in accordance with the invention uses phase shifters at the phase reversal points of the secondary (42) feed lines to establish a 180.degree. relative phase difference with the corresponding phase reversal point of the primary feed line. No phase shifters are used in the crossguide feed lines (44). Because of the invention's phase shifter arrangement, crossguide lines (44) may be located directly opposite each other instead of being staggered as in prior techniques; hence the size of the network is reduced and resolution is increased. Also, the primary and secondary feed lines may be located closer together because there are no phase shifters with associated matching and transition devices located in the crossguide feed lines. Tuning is simplified because of the fewer number of phase shifters used and simple waveguide tuning screws may be used in one embodiment.

Compact dual series waveguide feed

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Placentia, CA, United States of America

William L Lange