Triggered-plasma microwave switch and method
US5663694A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01P1/14
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microwave switch selectively directs a microwave signal along first and second signal paths. The switch includes a microwave transmission member, a microwave chamber formed by the transmission member for containing an ionizable gas, input and output ports formed by the transmission member to communicate with the microwave chamber and a triggered plasma generator which is configured to generate, in response to a voltage trigger signal, a trigger electron density N.sub.t in the gas. The microwave signal increases the trigger electron density N.sub.t to a reflective electron density N.sub.r. Consequently, the microwave signal is reflected along a first path from the input port when the trigger electron density N.sub.t is present and is directed along a second path to the output port when the trigger electron density N.sub.t is absent. A plurality of these microwave switches is arranged to form a tunable microwave short.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.