Broadband probes for impedance tuners
AssigneeMaury Microwave, Inc.
InventorsM. Tekamül Büber, Sathya Padmanabhan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-section probe and a tapered probe for impedance tuners to broaden the band width of the probes and hence the band width of the tuners. Each section of the multi-section probe has a nominal length equal to one quarter wavelength at a midpoint of the operating band. The tapered probe has a length equivalent to a plurality of one quarter wavelengths of the frequency midpoint. The multi-section probe and the tapered probe are configured to transform the characteristic impedance of the tuner transmission line step-by-step or continuously to a target impedance value.
Claims28
1-4. (canceled)
A probe for a slab line impedance tuner system operable over a frequency bandwidth, the tuner system including opposed slab conductor planes and a center conductor disposed between the slab conductor planes, a probe carriage and a drive system for moving the probe carriage in a longitudinal direction parallel to the center conductor, the probe comprising:
- a tapered electrically conductive probe section having a nominal length dimension along the longitudinal direction, wherein the tapered probe section has a cross-sectional profile defining a trough configured to straddle the center conductor as the probe is moved transversely toward the center conductor;
- wherein the probe section is supported for movement along the center conductor and in a direction transverse to the center conductor;
- and
- wherein the nominal length dimension is sufficient to provide a desired characteristic impedance transformation for the frequency bandwidth, wherein the characteristic impedance of the tuner system is transformed continuously by the probe to intermediate impedance values to reach a target impedance value.
9-11. (canceled)
A slab line impedance tuner system operable over a frequency bandwidth, the tuner system comprising:
- a slab line transmission including opposed slab conductor planes and a center conductor disposed between the slab conductor planes;
- a probe;
- a probe carriage carrying the probe;
- a carriage drive system for moving the probe carriage in a longitudinal direction parallel to the center conductor;
- a probe drive system for moving the probe in a transverse direction relative to the center conductor to position the probe closer to or further away from the center conductor;
- and
- wherein the probe includes:
- a tapered conductive probe section having a nominal length dimension along the longitudinal direction, wherein the tapered probe has a cross-sectional profile defining a trough configured to straddle the center conductor as the probe is moved transversely toward the center conductor;
- wherein the probe section is supported for movement along the center conductor and in a direction transverse to the center conductor;
- and
- wherein the nominal length dimension is sufficient to provide a desired characteristic impedance transformation for the frequency bandwidth, wherein the characteristic impedance of the tuner system is transformed continuously by the probe to intermediate impedance values to reach a target impedance value.
A probe for a slab line impedance tuner system operable over a frequency bandwidth, the tuner system including opposed slab conductor planes and a center conductor disposed between the slab conductor planes, a probe carriage and a drive system for moving the probe carriage in a longitudinal direction parallel to the center conductor, the probe comprising:
- a tapered probe section having a nominal length dimension along the longitudinal direction, wherein the taper is such that the characteristic impedance of the probe varies smoothly along the longitudinal direction from a first end of the probe section to a second end of the probe section;
- wherein the probe section is supported for movement along the center conductor and in a direction transverse to the center conductor;
- and
- wherein the length dimension of the probe section is sufficient to provide a desired characteristic impedance transformation for the frequency bandwidth, wherein the characteristic impedance of the tuner system is transformed continuously along the probe to intermediate impedance values to reach a target impedance value.
A slab line impedance tuner system operable over a frequency bandwidth, the tuner system comprising:
- a slab line transmission including opposed slab conductor planes and a center conductor disposed between the slab conductor planes;
- a probe;
- a probe carriage carrying the probe;
- a carriage drive system for moving the probe carriage in a longitudinal direction parallel to the center conductor;
- a probe drive system for moving the probe in a transverse direction relative to the center conductor to position the probe closer to or further away from the center conductor;
- and
- wherein the probe includes:
- a tapered probe section having a nominal length dimension along the longitudinal direction, wherein the taper is such that the characteristic impedance of the probe varies smoothly along the longitudinal direction from a first end of the probe section to a second end of the probe section;
- wherein the probe section is supported for movement along the center conductor and in a direction transverse to the center conductor;
- and
- wherein the length dimension of the probe section is sufficient to provide a desired characteristic impedance transformation for the frequency bandwidth, wherein the characteristic impedance of the tuner system is transformed continuously along the probe to intermediate impedance values to reach a target impedance value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.