US3818386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid-state modular microwave system
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1971-04-28
•
Granted: 1974-06-18
•
Expires: 1991-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A solid-state, modular microwave transmitter-receiver assembly made up of a large number of transmit-receive modules each having an antenna. Each of the modules has functional electronic blocks mounted on both sides of a center mounting plate contained within a hermetically sealed package. The module packages generally conform to the center mounting plate and are elongated, with a greater width than thickness. The antenna extends from the front end of the module and connectors extend from the rear end. The connectors are plugged into a rear support structure and are retained in place by a series of retaining plates fastened by long screws to the rear support structure. The retaining plates also form the ground plane for the antenna array. The antennae are arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns, and the module packages are arranged in rows extending diagonally of the antenna rows and columns with the edges of the packages in each row abutting. A cooling fluid duct is formed between each adjacent pair of module rows by the walls of the module packages, the retaining plates and the rear support structure. A manifold and header assembly directs cooling fluid in opposite directions through alternate cooling fluid ducts. The antenna assembly of each module provides a hermetically sealed coupling between the antenna and the interior of the package, supports the dipole elements, and provides impedance and balun transforming. The functional electronic blocks are easily secured on the mounting plate by spot welded brackets and are replaceable. The hermetically sealed antenna assembly and coaxial input and output connections are connected to microstrip lines within the module by spot welded straps of solid ribbon or woven metal wire fabric, as are adjacent microstrip lines on adjacent abutting functional electronic blocks. Connections are made between functional electronic blocks on opposite faces of the mounting plate by a special coaxial structure extending through the mounting plate.
Inventors
- 👤 D Granberry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/0006; H01Q21/0025; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/02; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/061; H01Q21/062; H01Q9/00; H01Q9/04; H01Q9/16; H01Q9/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
In a microwave module, the combination of: a hermetically sealed package having a mounting plate with a sidewall disposed generally normal thereto, a hermetically sealed transmission line extending through the sidewall having a center conductor terminating within the package, a functional circuit block mounted on the mounting plate having a microstrip transmission line terminating adjacent the end of the center conductor, and a metal strap interconnecting the micrOstrip transmission line and the center conductor, the metal strap having a width selected to substantially match the characteristic impedance of the coaxial transmission line with the characteristic impedance of the microstrip transmission line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a microwave module, the combination of: a hermetically sealed package having a mounting plate with a sidewall disposed generally normal thereto, a hermetically sealed transmission line extending through the sidewall having a center conductor terminating within the package, a functional circuit block mounted on the mounting plate having a microstrip transmission line terminating adjacent the end of the center conductor, and a metal strap interconnecting the micrOstrip transmission line and the center conductor, the metal strap having a width selected to substantially match the characteristic impedance of the coaxial transmission line with the characteristic impedance of the microstrip transmission line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
146 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the package is further characterized by: a second sidewall disposed generally normal to the mounting plate, a second hermetically sealed coaxial transmission line extending through the second side wall having a center conductor terminating within the package, a second circuit block mounted on the mounting plate having a microstrip transmission line extending to a point adjacent the end of the center conductor of the second coaxial transmission line, and a second metal strap interconnecting the end of the center conductor of the second coaxial transmission line and the end of the second microstrip transmission line, the width of the metal strap being selected to substantially match the characteristic impedance of the second coaxial transmission line to the impedance of the second microstrip transmission line, the circuits on the first and second circuit blocks being interconnected by microstrip transmission lines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the microstrip transmission line interconnecting the circuits on the first and second circuit blocks includes at least one joint comprising: a pair of microstrip transmission lines extending to the respective adjacent edges of a pair of circuit blocks and a metal strap spanning the gap between the circuit blocks and connected to each of the microstrip transmission lines, the width of the metal strap being selected to substantially match the characteristic impedance of one of the microstrip transmission lines to the characteristic impedance of the other microstrip transmission line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said strap is a solid metal ribbon having a width substantially greater than its thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said strap is woven wire fabric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
In a microwave module, the combination of: a metal mounting plate, first and second circuit blocks mounted on the mounting plate in edge-to-edge relationship, first and second microstrip transmission lines on the first and second circuit blocks, respectively, extending to adjacent points at the edges of the respective circuit blocks, and a metal strap bridging the gap between the circuit blocks and extending over the first and second microstrip lines, the metal strap being welded to each of the underlying microstrip lines, the width of the metal strap being selected to substantially match the characteristic impedance of the first microstrip transmission line and the characteristic impedance of the second microstrip transmission line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
In a microwave module, the combination of: a metal mounting plate, first and second circuit blocks mounted on the mounting plate in edge-to-edge relationship, first and second microstrip transmission lines on the first and second circuit blocks, respectively, extending to adjacent points at the edges of the respective circuit blocks, and a metal strap bridging the gap between the circuit blocks and extending over the first and second microstrip lines, the metal strap being welded to each of the underlying microstrip lines, the width of the metal strap being selected to substantially match the characteristic impedance of the first microstrip transmission line and the characteristic impedance of the second microstrip transmission line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination defined in claim 6 wherein: the metal strap comprises a solid metal ribbon having a width substantially greater than its thickness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination defined in claim 6 wherein: the metal strap comprises a woven wire fabric.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a microwave module, the combination of: a mounting plate having opposite mounting surfaces, a circuit block mounted on each of the opposite mounting surfaces, a bore extending through the mounting plate and disposed adjacent an edge of each of the circuit blocks, an insulating sleeve disposed in the bore, a metallic film coating the outer surface of the insulating sleeve, the metallic film terminating before reaching the top surface of either circuit block, a microstrip transmission line formed on the top surface of each of the circuit blocks and terminating adjacent the bore, and a conductor extending through the insulating sleeve and over the ends of the microstrip transmission lines and bonded to each to interconnect the microstrip transmission lines, the length of the metallized film on the sleeve, the size of the sleeve, and the siZe of the conductor being selected to substantially match the characteristic impedance of one of the microstrip transmission lines to the characteristic impedance of the other microstrip transmission line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a microwave module, the combination of: a mounting plate having opposite mounting surfaces, a circuit block mounted on each of the opposite mounting surfaces, a bore extending through the mounting plate and disposed adjacent an edge of each of the circuit blocks, an insulating sleeve disposed in the bore, a metallic film coating the outer surface of the insulating sleeve, the metallic film terminating before reaching the top surface of either circuit block, a microstrip transmission line formed on the top surface of each of the circuit blocks and terminating adjacent the bore, and a conductor extending through the insulating sleeve and over the ends of the microstrip transmission lines and bonded to each to interconnect the microstrip transmission lines, the length of the metallized film on the sleeve, the size of the sleeve, and the siZe of the conductor being selected to substantially match the characteristic impedance of one of the microstrip transmission lines to the characteristic impedance of the other microstrip transmission line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination defined in claim 9 wherein the sleeve is tubular and the conductor is cylindrical.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination defined in claim 9 wherein the edge of one of the circuit blocks adjacent the bore is formed by a bore through the circuit block.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2485930A
Cited
US2863093A
Cited
US2794174A
Cited
US2903695A
Cited
US2983884A
Cited
US3307188A
Cited
US3041605A
Cited
US3013227A
Cited
US3201721A
Cited
US3325752A
Cited
US3587110A
Cited
US3594812A
Cited
US3622915A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |