US3790906A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for stabilizing cable phase delay utilizing a coaxial cable under pressure
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1973-02-23
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1993-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A system for stabilizing the phase delay of signals passing through a pressurizable coaxial cable is disclosed. Signals from an appropriate source at a selected frequency, e.g., 100 MHz, are sent through the controlled cable from a first cable end to a second cable end which, electrically, is open or heavily mismatched at 100 MHz, thereby reflecting 100 MHz signals back to the first cable end. Thereat, the phase difference between the reflected-back signals and the signals from the source is detected by a phase detector. The output of the latter is used to control the flow of gas to or from the cable, thereby controlling the cable pressure, which in turn affects the cable phase delay. At the start of a period over which the cable phase delay is to be stabilized, the signals from the source which are supplied to the phase detector are phase shifted by a phase shifter until the detector''s output is 0 volt, thereby inhibiting gas to flow either to or from the cable. Under these conditions, the cable phase delay represents an initial phase delay which is to be maintained constant over the period of interest. During the period any change in the cable phase delay from the initial phase delay results in an output of the phase detector which is other than 0 volt. The output is used to control gas to flow to or from the cable thereby vary the cable pressure until the output of the detector is again 0 volt, which indicates that the cable phase delay is again equal to the initial phase delay.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fletcher
- 👤 P Clements
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B3/00; H04B3/02; H04B3/04; H04B3/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A system comprising: a first source of signals of preselected frequencies; a pressurizable coaxial cable having first and second opposite ends; first receiver means; first and second means for connecting said first receiver and said first source means respectively to opposite ends of said cable whereby signals from said first source pass through said cable to said first receiver means; a second source of signals at a selected frequency other than any of the frequencies of the signals from said first source; third means including hybrid junction means coupled to said second source and to said first means for directing signals from said second source into said cable; fourth means coupled to said second means and responsive to signals from said second source carried by said cable from said first means for reflecting back said signals to said hybrid junCtion means through said first means; fifth means including a phase detector coupled to said hybrid junction for providing an output signal as a function of the phase difference between signals from said second source and the signals reflected back by said fourth means; and pressure control means coupled to said cable and to said phase detector for controlling the pressure in said cable as a function of the output signal of said phase detector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
214 words
A system comprising: a first source of signals of preselected frequencies; a pressurizable coaxial cable having first and second opposite ends; first receiver means; first and second means for connecting said first receiver and said first source means respectively to opposite ends of said cable whereby signals from said first source pass through said cable to said first receiver means; a second source of signals at a selected frequency other than any of the frequencies of the signals from said first source; third means including hybrid junction means coupled to said second source and to said first means for directing signals from said second source into said cable; fourth means coupled to said second means and responsive to signals from said second source carried by said cable from said first means for reflecting back said signals to said hybrid junCtion means through said first means; fifth means including a phase detector coupled to said hybrid junction for providing an output signal as a function of the phase difference between signals from said second source and the signals reflected back by said fourth means; and pressure control means coupled to said cable and to said phase detector for controlling the pressure in said cable as a function of the output signal of said phase detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said first means includes a first diplex filter for inhibiting signals at said selected frequency from reaching said first receiver means, and for inhibiting signals at other than said selected frequency from reaching said hybrid junction means, and wherein sadi second means includes a second diplex filter for inhibiting signals at said selected frequency from reaching said first source and for inhibiting signals at other than said selected frequency from reaching said fourth means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system as described in claim 2 wherein said pressure control means include a source of gas and gas flow regulating means for controlling the pressure in said cable by regulating the flow of gas to and from said cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The system as described in claim 3 wherein the output signal of said phase detector is a D.C signal applied to said gas flow regulating means, and wherein said gas flow regulating means inhibits the flow of gas to or from said cable when the amplitude of the D.C. output signal of said phase detector is zero, controls gas to flow to said cable when the D.C. output signal of said phase detector is of a first polarity, and further controls gas to flow out of said cable when the D.C. output signal of said phase detector is of a second polarity opposite said first polarity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system as described in claim 4 wherein said fifth means includes a phase shifter coupled between said hybrid junction means and said phase detector for selectively shifting the phase of the signals from said second source supplied to said phase detector through said hybrid junction means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
253 words
An arrangement comprising: a source of signals at a selected frequency; a pressurizable coaxial cable having first and second ends; first means coupled to said source and to the cable first end for applying signals from said source to said cable, said signals propagating to the cable second end; second means coupled to said cable at said second end for reflecting the signals from said source back toward said first end, said first means including hybrid junction means coupled between said source and said cable first end for directing the signals from said source to said cable first end and to a first output port thereof and for directing the signals reflected back by said second means to a second output port of said hybrid junction means; phase shift means coupled to said first port of said hybrid junction means for selectively shifting the phase of the signals from said source present at said first port; phase detector means coupled to the phase shift means and to said second port for providing an output signal as a function of the phase difference between the output signals from said phase shift means which represent the signals from said source phase shifted by said phase shift means and the signals reflected back to said first end by said second means; and pressure control means coupled to said first cable end and to said phase detector means for controlling the pressure in said cable as a function of the output signal of said phase detector means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
253 words
An arrangement comprising: a source of signals at a selected frequency; a pressurizable coaxial cable having first and second ends; first means coupled to said source and to the cable first end for applying signals from said source to said cable, said signals propagating to the cable second end; second means coupled to said cable at said second end for reflecting the signals from said source back toward said first end, said first means including hybrid junction means coupled between said source and said cable first end for directing the signals from said source to said cable first end and to a first output port thereof and for directing the signals reflected back by said second means to a second output port of said hybrid junction means; phase shift means coupled to said first port of said hybrid junction means for selectively shifting the phase of the signals from said source present at said first port; phase detector means coupled to the phase shift means and to said second port for providing an output signal as a function of the phase difference between the output signals from said phase shift means which represent the signals from said source phase shifted by said phase shift means and the signals reflected back to said first end by said second means; and pressure control means coupled to said first cable end and to said phase detector means for controlling the pressure in said cable as a function of the output signal of said phase detector means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The arrangement as described in claim 6 wherein said pressure control means include a source of gas and gas flow regulating means for controlling the pressure in said cable by regulating the flow of gas to and from said cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
The arrangement as described in claim 7 wherein the output signal of said phase detector means is a D.C. signal applied to said gas flow regulating means, and wherein saiD gas flow regulating means inhibits the flow of gas to or from said cable when the amplitude of the D.C. output signal of said phase detector means is zero, controls gas to flow to said cable when the D.C. output signal of said phase detector means is of a first polarity, thereby increasing cable pressure, and further controls gas to flow out of said cable when the D.C. output signal of said phase detector means is of a second polarity opposite said first polarity, thereby reducing cable pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
247 words
An arrangement for maintaining during a selected time period, the phase delay of a pressurizable coaxial cable having first and second ends substantially constant and equal to an initial phase delay which is the cable phase delay at the start of said period, comprising: a source of signals at a selected frequency; a pressurizable coaxial cable having first and second ends; first means coupled to said source and to said cable first end for applying the signals at said selected frequency to said cable; second means coupled to the cable second end for reflecting signals at said selected frequency back to said cable first end to which said first means is coupled, said first means including phase detector means to which signals from said source and the signals reflected back from said second means are applied for providing an output signal which is a function of the phase difference between the signals applied thereto; and pressure control means coupled to said cable and responsive to the output signal of said phase detector means for controlling the pressure in said cable as a function of the output signal of said phase detector means, said first means further including phase shift means for selectively shifting the phase of the signals from said source which are supplied to said phase detector means at the start of said period so that the output signal of said phase shifting means controls said pressure control means to inhibit the cable pressure from changing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
247 words
An arrangement for maintaining during a selected time period, the phase delay of a pressurizable coaxial cable having first and second ends substantially constant and equal to an initial phase delay which is the cable phase delay at the start of said period, comprising: a source of signals at a selected frequency; a pressurizable coaxial cable having first and second ends; first means coupled to said source and to said cable first end for applying the signals at said selected frequency to said cable; second means coupled to the cable second end for reflecting signals at said selected frequency back to said cable first end to which said first means is coupled, said first means including phase detector means to which signals from said source and the signals reflected back from said second means are applied for providing an output signal which is a function of the phase difference between the signals applied thereto; and pressure control means coupled to said cable and responsive to the output signal of said phase detector means for controlling the pressure in said cable as a function of the output signal of said phase detector means, said first means further including phase shift means for selectively shifting the phase of the signals from said source which are supplied to said phase detector means at the start of said period so that the output signal of said phase shifting means controls said pressure control means to inhibit the cable pressure from changing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
130 words
An arrangement as described in claim 9 wherein said phase shift means is manually controllable at the start of said period to selectively shift the phase of the signals from said source to the phase detector means so that the output signal of the latter is of substantially zero amplitude, and said pressure control means include a source of gas and gas flow regulatng means responsive to the output signal of said phase detector means for inhibiting gas to flow either to or from said cable when the amplitude of the output signal of said phase detector means is zero, said gas flow regulating means controlling gas to flow either to or from said cable as a function of the polarity of the output signal of said phase detector means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3434061A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |