Waveguide switch
AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorsThomas Hudspeth, Harmon H. Keeling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A simplified waveguide switch is disclosed having a rotatable quarter wave plate for generating selected amounts of right hand and left-hand circular polarized waves. A linearly polarized signal, in the TE.sub.11 mode, is launched into a cylindrical waveguide member. A quarter-wave plate is disposed within the cylindrical waveguide and imparts a right or left-hand circular polarization to the linear wave depending upon the orientation of the quarter wave plate with respect to the linear wave. The rotation angle of the quarter wave plate is adjusted by a stepping motor.
Claims7
An improved microwave switch for generating circularly polarized waves in response to linear waves, comprising:
- waveguide means being cylindrically shaped, having an aperture and having a closed end;
- input probe means being radially mounted within said waveguide means and comprising first and second probes being disposed 180 degrees to each other for generating linear waves having a first polarity;
- quarter-wave plate means rotatably disposed within said waveguide means between said input probe means and said aperture for generating selected right and left hand circular polarized waves in response to said linear waves;
- and
- rotating means coupled to said quarter-wave plate means.
An improved microwave switch for generating circularly polarized waves in response to linear waves, comprising:
- waveguide means being cylindrically shaped, having an aperture and having a closed end;
- input probe means being radially mounted within said waveguide means and comprising first and second probes being disposed 180.degree. to each other for generating linear waves having a first polarity;
- quarter-wave plate means rotatably disposed within said waveguide means between said input probe means and said aperture for generating selected right and left hand circular polarized waves in response to said linear waves;
- rotating means coupled to said quarter-wave plate means;
- first support means for coupling said rotating means and said quarter-wave plate means and for supporting said quarter-wave plate means;
- and
- second support means for supporting said first support means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.