US3639863A - Radiofrequency feedthrough - Google Patents

Radiofrequency feedthrough Download PDF

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Publication number
US3639863A
US3639863A US48233A US3639863DA US3639863A US 3639863 A US3639863 A US 3639863A US 48233 A US48233 A US 48233A US 3639863D A US3639863D A US 3639863DA US 3639863 A US3639863 A US 3639863A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
feedthrough
transmission line
wall
radiofrequency
waveguide
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US48233A
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English (en)
Inventor
Stephen R Monaghan
Jerome D Hanfling
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Raytheon Co
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Raytheon Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Raytheon Co filed Critical Raytheon Co
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Publication of US3639863A publication Critical patent/US3639863A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
    • H01P1/18—Phase-shifters
    • H01P1/19—Phase-shifters using a ferromagnetic device
    • H01P1/195—Phase-shifters using a ferromagnetic device having a toroidal shape
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture
    • H01Q3/30—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array
    • H01Q3/34—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by electrical means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/44—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
    • H01Q3/46—Active lenses or reflecting arrays

Definitions

  • the body of thc feedthrough is made from a lossy dielectric material and is formed so that its outer portion overlies the outer wall of the waveguide.
  • the outer surface of the feedthrough supports a metallic film which in combination with the outer surface of the waveguide forms a radial transmission line.
  • the dimensions of the feedthrough are such as to form a low Q resonant cavity for the resonant frequency field.
  • a collimated beam of radiofrequency energy may be formed and steered by controlling the phase of the energy radiated from each one of a plurality of radiating elements in an array thereof.
  • a critical component of each element in such an array is the variable phase shifter required for collimation and steering. For satisfactory operation, variations between individual ones of such components must be minimized.
  • the magnitude of the problem of reducing variations between the phase shifters in an antenna array is greater when it is desired to propagate a relatively narrow beam of radiofrequency energy.
  • a relatively narrow beam of radiofrequency energy For example, in an antenna array for a beamwidth of 1, approximately 10,000 radiating elements and phase shifters are required. With such a large number of phase shifters it is required that each one have no appreciable effect on the radiofrequency energy being propagated or received other than the desired effect of shifting phase. Obviously, therefore, side effects such as leakage of radiofrequency energy at the phase shifters must be eliminated or at least minimized.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved phase shifter which isolates the microwave energy in a microwave waveguide.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved feedthrough for a phase shifter in a waveguide which reduces insertion loss spikes without attenuating radiofrequency signals in the waveguide.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved phase shifter which may be easily and economically fabricated.
  • FIG; 1 is a simplified sketch of a radar system in which an array of radiating elements, each connected to a ferrite phase shifter according to this invention, is space-fed to radiate a collimated beam of radiofrequency energy and to receive echo signals from targets illuminated by such radiated energy; and
  • FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of the ferrite phase shifter shown in FIG. 1, such partial cross section being taken to illustrate in detail the design and fabrication of the feedthrough contemplated by this invention.
  • an antenna 10 includes a number of phase shifters 11 (here of the digital latching type) each having associated with it a driver 13.
  • the phase shifters and drivers may be mounted in any conventional manner (not shown in detail) to form aspace-fed planar array. Appropriate connections are made asliindicated between each driver 13 and the conductor for each ferrite toroid (shown in FIG. 2) of each phase shifter 11 to set and reset" each phase shifter 11 in accordance with control signals from a beam steering computer 15.
  • radiofrequency energy from a feed horn 17 may so be collimated and directed in a beam as desired and echo signals returning to the individual phase shifters of the antenna array may be focused on the feed horn 17.
  • the feed horn 17 is connected in any convenient manner by waveguide (not numbered) to a transmitter/receiver 19.
  • the operation of the latter element and the beam steering computer 15 is controlled by a conventional synchronizer 21.
  • Each one of the phase shifters 11 includes a section of waveguide 23 with the ends thereof matched to free space by conventional matching devices 25, 25.
  • each one of the phase shifters II includes three serially arranged ferrite toroids 26a, 26b, 260 (FIG. 2) to provide for a three-bit control signal.
  • Two control wires 27r, 27r are provided for each one of the ferrite toroids 26a, 26b, 260, one of such wiresbeing energized during the transmit portion and the other one being energized during the receive portion of each radar sweep as required when a nonreciprocal latching phase shifter is used. As is more clearly shown in FIG.
  • each one of the control wires 26!, 26r for each one of the ferrite toroids 26a, 26b, 26c is led through a feedthrough 30 mounted in a wall of the Waveguide 23 to thread through its associated ferrite toroid 26a, 26b, 26c.
  • the body of each feedthrough 30 is a molded cap-shaped member 31, or plug, of a dielectric material, as equivalent to MF-1l7, (an iron loaded epoxy), manufactured by Emerson-Cummings, Canton, Mass. mounted in any convenient manner, as by cementing (not shown), to a wall of the waveguide 23.
  • a control wire 27r, 27r is led centrally of the body of the feedthrough 30 as indicated.
  • the free surface of the body of the feedthrough 31 is covered, as by plating, with a metallic film 32, each control wire 27r, 27r being connected, as by solder, thereto as indicated.
  • a dielectric separator 33, as magnesium titanate, having its ends formed to accommodate the control wires as shown, may be included to complete the illustrated phase shifter 11. The entire assembly may be secured in the waveguide 23 by cementing (not shown).
  • the dimensions of the feedthrough 30 are dependent upon the frequency of the radiofrequency energy propagated through the waveguide 23 so that the feedthrough acts as a resonant radial transmission line for such energy.
  • the metallic film 32 and the underlying portion of the molded cap-shaped member 31 are of such diameter that a low impedance appears at the plane where such wire passes through the inner surface of the waveguide 23. In other words, such diameter is equal to one-quarter of the wavelength of the radiofrequency energy being propagated through the waveguide.
  • the spacing between the outer surface of the waveguide 23 and the metallic film 32 is made as small as is convenient so that the impedance of the radial line formed by such elements is high at the open end of such line without weakening the physical strength of the structure too much.
  • the spacing between the metallic film 32 and the outside of the waveguide 23 may be in the order of 0.010 inches and the diameter of the metallic film 32 may be in the order of 0.350 inches to 0.700 inches.
  • a VSWR between 500 and 1,000 occurs.
  • the corresponding isolation with such a structure is between 46 and 49 db.
  • the dielectric material in the feedthrough may be changed, provided only that a material which has a relatively high loss tangent for the radiofrequency signals being propagated is used.
  • the disclosed feedthrough may be used with types of radiofrequency transmission lines other than waveguide and with components other than digital latching ferrite phase shifters. it is also obvious that the dimensions and shape of the disclosed feedthrough may be changed for different shapes of transmission lines and different frequencies.
  • a feedthrough for a wire passing through a circular opening formed in a wall ofa shielded radiofrequency transmission line and coupling with a field of radiofrequency energy within such line, such feedthrough comprising:
  • an electrically conductive disclike member affixed orthogonally to the wire the curvature of such member corresponding to the curvature of the outside of the shielded radiofrequency transmission line and the radius of such member being an odd integral multiple of onequarter wavelength of the radiofrequency energy within the shielded radiofre uency transmission line; and, b. mounting means fort e wire and the electrically conductive disclike member affixed thereto, such means cooperating between at least the wire and the wall of the shielded radiofrequency transmission line to electrically insulate the wire and the electrically conductive disclike member from the wall of the shielded radiofrequency transmission line and to form a radial transmission line between such member and such wall.
  • the mounting means includes a solid dielectric plug having at least a first portion, the curvature and radius of such plug corresponding, respectively, to the curvature and radius of the electrically conductive disclike member and the thickness of such first portion corresponding to the spacing between such member and the wall ofthe shielded radiofrequency transmission line.
  • a feedthrough as in claim 3 wherein the solid dielectric plug includes a second portion, such second portion having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the opening in the wall of the shielded radiofrequency transmission line and a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of such wall.

Landscapes

  • Waveguide Aerials (AREA)
  • Waveguide Switches, Polarizers, And Phase Shifters (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
US48233A 1970-06-22 1970-06-22 Radiofrequency feedthrough Expired - Lifetime US3639863A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US4823370A 1970-06-22 1970-06-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3639863A true US3639863A (en) 1972-02-01

Family

ID=21953428

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US48233A Expired - Lifetime US3639863A (en) 1970-06-22 1970-06-22 Radiofrequency feedthrough

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3639863A (cs)
JP (1) JPS5116096B1 (cs)
CA (1) CA918260A (cs)
GB (1) GB1320612A (cs)
NL (1) NL7108578A (cs)
SE (1) SE370594B (cs)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20220034961A1 (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-02-03 Rohde & Schwarz Gmbh & Co. Kg Antenna assembly, test system and method of establishing a test system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2994841A (en) * 1959-05-28 1961-08-01 Gen Precision Inc High-speed microwave modulator
US3320557A (en) * 1963-04-02 1967-05-16 Globe Union Inc Feed-through capacitor
US3324426A (en) * 1964-10-08 1967-06-06 Brueckmann Helmut Variable impedance transmission line
US3435387A (en) * 1965-09-01 1969-03-25 Allen Bradley Co Solderless mounting filter connection
US3483419A (en) * 1967-12-18 1969-12-09 Varian Associates Velocity modulation tube with r.f. lossy leads to the beam focusing lenses

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2994841A (en) * 1959-05-28 1961-08-01 Gen Precision Inc High-speed microwave modulator
US3320557A (en) * 1963-04-02 1967-05-16 Globe Union Inc Feed-through capacitor
US3324426A (en) * 1964-10-08 1967-06-06 Brueckmann Helmut Variable impedance transmission line
US3435387A (en) * 1965-09-01 1969-03-25 Allen Bradley Co Solderless mounting filter connection
US3483419A (en) * 1967-12-18 1969-12-09 Varian Associates Velocity modulation tube with r.f. lossy leads to the beam focusing lenses

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20220034961A1 (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-02-03 Rohde & Schwarz Gmbh & Co. Kg Antenna assembly, test system and method of establishing a test system
US11789068B2 (en) * 2020-07-29 2023-10-17 Rohde & Schwarz Gmbh & Co. Kg Antenna assembly, test system and method of establishing a test system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA918260A (en) 1973-01-02
SE370594B (cs) 1974-10-21
GB1320612A (en) 1973-06-20
NL7108578A (cs) 1971-12-24
JPS5116096B1 (cs) 1976-05-21

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