Gas tube RF antenna
AssigneePatriot Scientific Corporation
InventorsElwood G. Norris, David W. O'Bryant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An antenna device for transmitting a short pulse duration signal of predetermined radio frequency that eliminates a trailing antenna resonance signal. The device includes a gas filled tube; a voltage source for developing an electrically conductive path along a length of the tube corresponding to a resonant wavelength multiple of the predetermined radio frequency; and a signal transmission source coupled to the tube for supplying a radio frequency signal to the conductive path for antenna transmission. A method for transmitting a short pulse signal without a trailing residual signal is also provided.
Claims48
An antenna device for transmitting a short pulse duration signal of predetermined radio frequency, said device comprising:
- a gas filled tube;
- means for generating an electrically conductive path along a length of the gas filled tube corresponding to a resonant multiple of a wavelength of the predetermined radio frequency;
- means for decoupling from the electrically conductive path along a length of the gas filled tube any undesired radio frequency signals that might be produced by a power source generating the electrically conductive path;
- and
- a radio frequency signal transmission means coupled to the gas filled tube for supplying the short pulse radio frequency signal to the electrically conductive path for transmission by the antenna.
An antenna device for enabling transmission of short bursts of radio frequency signals without occurrence of trailing resonance signals, said device comprising:
- a gas filled tube having opposing electrodes for activating an electrically conducting state of gas contained within the gas filled tube, said state of gas creating an electrically conductive path having a length approximately equal to a resonant multiple of a wavelength of the radio frequency signal to be transmitted;
- trigger means coupled to the gas filled tube for initiating the electrically conducting state of gas;
- a power source coupled to the opposing electrodes for supplying sufficient voltage to maintain the electrically conducting state of gas for a controlled period of time;
- a means of decoupling undesired radio frequency transmissions from the electrically conducting state of gas, produced by the power source that generates the electrically conductive path;
- and
- a source of radio frequency signals coupled to the tube for enabling transmission through the electrically conducting state of gas as a short duration antenna.
A method for generating a momentary antenna for transmission of short pulse, radio frequency signals with no trailing resonant transmissions, comprising the steps of:
- a) selecting a gas filled tube with a length corresponding to a resonant multiple of a wavelength of the radio frequency signals to be transmitted;
- b) momentarily transforming the gas in the gas filled tube to an electrically conductive state;
- c) transmitting the short pulse, radio frequency signals to the gas filled tube;
- and
- d) immediately terminating the electrically conductive state of the gas in the gas filled tube following transmission of the short pulse, radio frequency signals.
A method for transmission of discrete, radio frequency signals suitable for use as digital data, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) selecting a gas filled tube with a length corresponding to a resonant multiple of a wavelength of the radio frequency signals to be transmitted;
- b) selecting a gas sealed within the gas filled tube that has a sufficiently short rise and fall time to enable transmission of discrete, radio frequency signals;
- c) momentarily transforming said gas sealed in the gas filled tube to an electrically conductive state;
- d) transmitting the discrete, radio frequency signals to the gas filled tube;
- and
- e) immediately terminating the electrically conductive state of the gas in said gas filled tube following transmission of the discrete, radio frequency signals.
A method for reception of discrete, radio frequency signals suitable for use as digital data, said method comprising the step of selecting an antenna with a length corresponding to a resonant multiple of a wavelength of the radio frequency signals to be received.
An antenna means for transmitting a discrete signal of predetermined radio frequency suitable for use as digital data, said antenna means comprising:
- a gas filled tube;
- means for generating an electrically conductive path along a length of the gas filled tube corresponding to a resonant multiple of a wavelength of the predetermined radio frequency;
- means for decoupling from the electrically conductive path any undesired radio frequency signals produced by a power source generating the electrically conductive path;
- a signal transmission means coupled to the gas filled tube for supplying a radio frequency signal to the electrically conductive path for transmission by the antenna;
- means for coupling said signal transmission means to a trigger, said trigger terminating the electrically conductive path to enable transmission of discrete radio frequency signals with no trailing resonant transmissions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.