Launcher for surface wave transmission lines
US4730172A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1986 |
| Grant date | Mar 8, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01P3/10
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a surface signal launcher for coupling RF signals between a coaxial cable in a single-wire surface wave transmission line. The signal launcher includes a shell-like, electrically conductive launcher horn that is installed at the juncture of the coaxial cable and the surface wave transmission line with the launcher horn concentrically surrunding the portion of the surface wave transmission line that is immediately adjacent the coaxial cable. The coaxial cable outer conductor is electrically connected to the forward end of the launcher horn with the center conductor of the coaxial cable being connected to one end of the surface wave transmission line. To prevent signal reflection at the interface between the coaxial cable and the launcher horn, the diameter of the launcher horn forward end is established to provide an impedance that is equal to the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable. Aft of the forward end, the diameter of the launcher horn smoothly increases as a function of axial distance in a manner that establishes an impedance/axial distance relationship that corresponds to a Chebyshev impedance taper.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.