Radiating coaxial cable having helically diposed slots and radio communication system using same
AssigneeAndrew Corporation
InventorsCharles M. Knop, Gregory S. Orseno
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radiating coaxial cable having a longitudinal axis comprises an inner conductor having a longitudinal axis wherein the axis of the inner conductor defines the axis of the cable. A dielectric material surrounds the inner conductor. A continuous outer conductor surrounds the dielectric in direct contact therewith and is spaced from the inner conductor. The outer conductor has a plurality of slots disposed therein. Adjacent slots are spaced in the axial direction a distance S. One or more adjacent slots are grouped together in a cell. The cable has a plurality of cells. Adjacent cells are angularly disposed from each other by an angle α.
Claims45
A radiating coaxial cable having a longitudinal axis comprising:
- an inner conductor having a longitudinal axis, the axis of the inner conductor defining the axis of the cable;
- a dielectric material surrounding the inner conductor;
- a continuous outer conductor surrounding the dielectric in direct contact therewith and spaced from the inner conductor, the outer conductor having a plurality of openings disposed therein, one or more adjacent openings being grouped into a cell, the cable having a plurality of cells, adjacent openings being spaced in the axial direction by a center-to-center axial distance S, the cells being helically disposed in the circumferential direction, adjacent cells being angularly disposed from each other by an angle α.
A radiating coaxial cable having a longitudinal axis and adapted for use in communication systems requiring long lengths of cable, the cable comprising:
- an elongated smooth-surfaced, cylindrical inner conductor having a longitudinal axis, the axis of the inner conductor defining the axis of the cable;
- a dielectric material surrounding the inner conductor;
- a continuous outer conductor surrounding the dielectric in direct contact therewith and spaced from the inner conductor;
- the outer conductor having a plurality of slots disposed therein, one or more adjacent slots being grouped into a cell, the cable having a plurality of cells, the cells being helically disposed in the circumferential direction, adjacent cells being angularly disposed from each other by an angle α, adjacent slots being dimensioned and spaced to produce a signal having a substantially flat frequency response in the near field along a length of cable when the cable is fed with electromagnetic energy, the slots being spaced from each other by a center-to-center slot axial direction spacing, S.
A method of communicating among a multiplicity of radio units selected from the group consisting of transmitters, receivers, and transceivers located within a prescribed area, the method comprising:
- locating an elongated coaxial cable having a longitudinal axis within or adjacent to the prescribed area for transmitting radiated signals to, and receiving radiated signals from, the multiplicity of radio units along a length of the cable and having a near field encompassing the prescribed area containing the multiplicity of radio units,
- the cable comprising
- an elongated smooth-surfaced, cylindrical inner conductor having a longitudinal axis, the axis of the inner conductor defining the axis of the cable,
- a dielectric material surrounding the inner conductor,
- a continuous outer conductor surrounding the dielectric in direct contact therewith and spaced from the inner conductor, the outer conductor having disposed therein a plurality of slots, one or more adjacent slots being grouped into a cell, the cable having a plurality of cells, the cells being helically disposed in the circumferential direction, adjacent cells being angularly disposed from each other by an angle α, the slots being located and dimensioned to produce a signal having a substantially flat frequency response in the near field along a length of the cable.
A digital communication system having the capability of two-way transmission of digital signals at high data rates with negligible bit error rates, the system comprising:
- a multiplicity of radio units selected from the group consisting of transmitters, receivers, and transceivers located within a prescribed area;
- an elongated coaxial cable having a longitudinal axis and located within or adjacent to the prescribed area for transmitting radiated signals to, and receiving radiated signals from, the multiplicity of radio units along a length of the cable,
- the cable comprising
- an elongated smooth-surfaced, cylindrical inner conductor having a longitudinal axis, the axis of the inner conductor defining the axis of the cable,
- a dielectric material surrounding the inner conductor,
- a continuous outer conductor surrounding the dielectric in direct contact therewith and spaced from the inner conductor, the outer conductor having disposed therein a plurality of slots, one or more adjacent slots being group into a cell, the cable having a plurality of cells, the cells being helically disposed in the circumferential direction, adjacent cells being angular disposed from each other by an angle α, the slots being dimensioned and spaced to produce a near field encompassing the prescribed area containing the multiplicity of radio units, and having a near-field pattern having an amplitude that is substantially constant, at a given frequency, along a length of the cable, and wherein the near-field pattern has an amplitude that is substantially constant at a given distance along the cable for the given frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.