US 4,743,916 AGranted

Method and apparatus for proportional RF radiation from surface wave transmission line

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorGreg A. Bengeult

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Abstract

In a system for launching RF energy as a traveling surface wave onto a single wire transmission line and causing such energy to be radiated away from the line at a downstream location, a series of window radiators of annular shape are spaced along the line, coaxial therewith, each for radiating a portion of the surface wave energy. Each radiator has a conductive component that causes decoupling and radiation of a portion of the RF energy, and a dielectric window that allows the remaining portion of RF energy to pass therethrough and continue, as an attached surface wave, downstream to a succeeding, similarly formed radiator where the decoupling and partial radiation occurs again. Thus, from the same surface wave transmission line system, it is possible to radiate RF energy from two or more discrete locations along the line.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A radio frequency transmission and radiation system comprising:

a surface wave transmission line adapted for transmission of a radio frequency surface wave along said line;
an annular electrically conductive radiator extending outwardly from and surrounding a predetermined length of said surface wave transmission line;
said annular electrically conductive radiator having a first end region upon which said radio frequency surface wave impinges, at least a portion of said first end region increasing in cross-sectional area relative to distance along said surface wave transmission line taken in the direction in which a radio frequency surface wave travels along said surface wave transmission line said first end region including a surface wave transmitting window through which said surface wave transmission line passes, said surface wave transmitting window being dimensioned for passage of a predetermined portion of the energy in a radio frequency surface wave transmitted along said line with said predetermined portion remaining coupled to said line, said annular electrically conductive radiator radiating substantially all of said energy other than said predetermined transmitted portion;
and,
dielectric support means for supporting said annular electrically conductive radiator in coaxial spaced-apart relationship with said surface wave transmission line.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.