Dielectric loaded adjustable phase shifting apparatus

A phase shifting apparatus for selectively imparting, in response to at least first and second input commands, a plurality of non-zero phase shifts to a microwave signal being transmitted along a transverse electromagnetic transmission line of the type including an inner conductor, a coaxial outer conductor, and a gas or vacuum dielectric located between the conductors, the inner and outer conductors both having substantially square cross-sections, the apparatus comprising:

• a body having an elongated cavity therein which forms part of the outer conductor;
• cover means, attached to the body, for forming part of the outer conductor, having at least first and second spaced pairs of elongated openings which respectively provide access to first and second spaced portions of the cavity, with each elongated opening spaced closely to and extending generally parallel to the other opening of its pair;
• first phase changes means for selectively altering, in response to the first command, the phase of the signal as the signal passes through the first portion of the cavity, the first phase change means including a movable structure having at least a first section provided with a support region and at least two thin elongated projections including dielectric material which extend transversely from the support region and into respective openings of the first pair of openings in the cove rmeans and into a position respectively on opposite sides of the inner conductor so that the inner conductor is received between said projections, the projections being movable between two distinct positions with respect to the first portion of the cavity in a direction transverse to the direction of the signal as it passed through the first portion of the cavity to alter the phase of the signal;
• and
• second phase change means for selectively altering, in response to the second command, the phase of the signal as the signal passes through the second portion of the cavity, the second phase change means including a movable structure having at elast a first section provided with a support region and two thin elongated projections including dielectric material which extend transversely from the support region and into respective openings of the second pair of openings in the cove rmeans, the projections of the second phase change means being movable between two distinct positions with respect to the second portion of the cavity in a direction transverse to the direction of the signal as it passes through the second portion of the cavity to alter the phase of the signal.

An adjustable phase-shifting apparatus controllable in an analgo manner for use in shifting the phase of a microwave signal being transmitted along a transverse electromagnetic transmission line of the type including an inner conductor, a coaxial outer conductor, and a gas or vacuum dielectric located between the conductors, the inner and outer conductors both having substantially square cross-sections, the apparatus comprising:

• a structure having an elongated cavity therein which forms at least part of the outer conductor through which at least a first segment of the inner conductor passes and having at least a first elongated opening therein which provides access to at least a first portion of the cavity;
• first means for altering the phase of the signal as it passes through the first portion of the cavity, the first means being provided with at least a first section including dielectric material that is movable with respect to the first portion of the cavity through multiple positions forming a substantially continuous range of positions to alter the phase of the signal, with such movement being in a direction transverse to the direction of the signal as it passes through the first portion, the first section of the first means being elongated and having at least one pair of thin elongated projections parallel and spaced from each other which are insertable on opposite sides of at least a part of the first segment of the inner conductor located within the first portion of the cavity;
• and
• control means for selectively placing the first section of the first member means in any predetermined one of the positions within the substantially continuous range of positions in response to an external command specifying such predetermined position.

In a phased array antenna system of the type having an array of radiating elements spaced for one another in a predetermined manner, and a signal distribution network having a first port and a plurality of second ports, an improved phase-shifting mechanism for use in simultaneously shifting the phase of at least first and second microwave signals being transmitted between the first port and the array of elements along at least first and second distince tranverse electromagnetic transmission lines of the type including an inner conductor, a coaxial outer conductor, and a dielectric located between the conductors, the improvement comprising in combination ;

• (a) a first phase-shifting apparatus including (1) a first structure through which at least a first portion of the first transmission line passes, provided with at least a first opening providing access to at least a part of the volume of the first portion of the first transmission line and (2) first means for altering the phase of the first signal as it passes through the first portion of the first transmission line, the first means being provided with at least a first section including dielectric material that is movable with respect to the first portion of the first line in a first direction transverse to the direction of the first signal as it passes therethrough, said first section including a pair of projections movable into a position respectively on opposite sides of the inner conductor;
• (b) a second phase-shifting apparatus including (1) a first structure through which at least a first portion of the second transmission line passes, provided with at least a first opening providing access to at least a part of the volume of the first portion of the second transmission line, and (2) first means for altering the phase of the second signal as it passes through the first portion of the second transmission line, the second member means being provided with at least a first section including dielectric material that is movable with respect to the first portion of the second line in a second direction transverse to the direction of the second signal as it passes therethrough;
• and
• (c) mechanical means for connecting the first and second means together for simultaneous movement so that changes in phase shifts in the first and second signals passing through the first and second portions are substantially equal but opposite to one another.

An adjustable phase-shifting apparatus for use in shiftint the phase of a microwave signal being transmitted along a transverse electromagnetic tranmission line of the type including an inner conductor, a coaxial outer condutor, and a first dielectrlocated between the conductors, the apparatus comprising:

• a body having an elongated cavity therein which forms at least a part of the outer conductor;
• cover means, attached to the body, for forming at least part of the outer conductor, and having at least a first elongated opening therein which provides access to at least a first portion of the cavity;
• first member means for altering the phase of the signal as it passes through the first portion of the cavity, the first member means being provided with at least a first section including a second dielectric that is movable with respect to the first portion of the cavity in a direction transverse to the direction of the signal as it passes through the first portion to alter the phase of the signal,
• the body means having at least a second elongated portion spaced from the first elongated portion thereof, and the cover means having at least a second elongated opening therein which provides access to the second portion of the cavity;
• second member means for altering the phase of the signal as it passes through the second portion of the cavity, the second member means being provided with at least a first section including dielectric material that is movable with respect to the second portion of the cavity in a direction transverse to the direction of the signal as it passes through the second portion of the cavity to alter the phase of the signal;
• first actuating means for moving at least a first section of the first member means between two distinct positions which alter the phase of the signal by differing amounts;
• and
• second actuating means for moving at least the first section of the second member means between two distinct positions which alter the phase of the signal by differing amounts,
• whereby the apparatus is operable to provide at least three distinct states of phase shift to the signal.

An adjustable phase-shifting apparatus for use in shifting the phase of a microwave signal being transmitted along a transverse electromagnetic transmission line of the type including an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a first dielectric located between the conductors, comprising:

• a body having an elongated cavity therein within which the inner conductor is disposed,
• said body having an opening therein providing access to at least a portion of the cavity within said body;
• and,
• means for altering the phase of the signal as it passes through said cavity, including a second dielectric movable through said opening and in a direction transverse to the direction of the signal as it passesx through the cavity to alter the phase of the signal, said dielectric including a pair of spaced apart projections respectively insertable through said opening into a position on opposite sides of at least a portion of the inner conductor, so that the inner conductor is received between the projections.