Phase shifting device with rotatable cylindrical case having driver means on the end walls

• US 5,877,660 A
• Filed: 07/24/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nihon Dengyo Kosaku Co., Ltd., NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nihon Dengyo Kosaku Co., Ltd., NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Tohru, Karikomi, Masahiro, Ebine, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Summons, Barbara
• Application Number:
  US08/898,459
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 333/21 A, 333/117, 333/125, 333/156, 333/159, 333/161, 333/256, 333/257, 333/261
• US Class Current: 333/159
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/165 for rotating the plane of polarisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/18 Phase-shifters H01P1/165 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/32 by mechanical means

Abstract

Input is applied to a two-partition circuit that substantially equally distributes input power into two partitions having a phase difference of 90°, and the thus-distributed output is applied to a first driver that generates circularly polarized wave. The two outputs of the second driver, in which the circularly polarized waves generated from the first driver are coupled, are combined in a combining circuit. The end portion of the opening of the sealed case incorporating the first driver fits together with the end portion of the opening of the sealed case incorporating the second driver such that the two sealed cases together with the first and second drivers may rotate relative to each other around their cylindrical axis. The phase difference between the input of the two-partition circuit and the output of the combining circuit changes according to the relative angle of rotation around the cylindrical axis between first and second drivers.

Claims

1. A phase shifting device comprising:

two-partition circuit means for partitioning input power into two substantially equal portions having a mutual phase difference of substantially 90°

;

first driver means for generating a circularly polarized wave that is driven by two-partitioned output of said two-partition circuit means;

second driver means for receiving said circularly polarized wave generated by said first driver means;

a sealed case comprising first and second cylinders each having one cylindrical side wall and one closed end on which one of said first and second driver means is installed;

an end portion of said side wall of said first cylinder fitting with an end portion of said side wall of said second cylinder;

said first and second cylinders being rotatable relative to each other around their cylindrical axis;

inner diameters of said first and second cylinders giving cutoff modes at the frequency of the wave driven by said first driver means; and

combining circuit means for combining linearly polarized orthogonal components generated from said circularly polarized wave received by said second driver means.

5. A phase shifting device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein said first and second driver means each comprise microstrip antennas.

6. A phase shifting device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein said first and second driver means each comprise slot antennas.

7. A phase shifting device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein said combining circuit means comprises a 90°

3-dB hybrid circuit.

8. A phase shifting device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein said combining circuit means comprises a two-branch terminal circuit.

2. A phase shifting device comprising:

two-partition circuit means for partitioning input power into two substantially equal portions having a mutual phase difference of substantially 90°

;

first driver means for generating a circularly polarized wave that is driven by two-partitioned output of said two-partition circuit means;

second driver means for receiving said circularly polarized wave generated by said first driver means;

a sealed case comprising a cylinder with one cylindrical side wall and one closed end on which either one of said first and second driver means is installed, and a disk-shaped cover having one circular end which fits with an end portion of said side wall of said cylinder and upon the inner surface of which is attached the other of said first and second driver means,

said cylinder and said cover being rotatable relative to each other around a cylindrical axis of said cylinder,

an inner diameter of said cylinder giving cutoff modes at the frequency of the wave driven by said first driver means; and

combining circuit means for combining linearly polarized orthogonal components generated from said circularly polarized wave received by said second driver means.

3. A phase shifting device comprising:

an input terminal;

first driver means for generating a linearly polarized wave that is driven by an input applied to said input terminal;

second driver means for receiving said orthogonal components of said linearly polarized wave generated by said first driver means;

a sealed case comprising first and second cylinders each having one cylindrical side wall and one closed end on which one of said first and second driver means is installed;

an end portion of said side wall of said first cylinder fitting with an end portion of said side wall of said second cylinder;

said first and second cylinders being rotatable relative to each other around their cylindrical axis;

inner diameters of said first and second cylinders giving cutoff modes at the frequency of the wave driven by said first driver means; and

combining circuit means for combining two outputs generated from two orthogonal components of said linearly polarized wave received by said second driver means.

4. A phase shifting device comprising:

an input terminal;

first driver means for generating a linearly polarized wave that is driven by an input applied to said input terminal;

second driver means for receiving said orthogonal components of said linearly polarized wave generated by said first driver means;

a sealed case comprising a cylinder with one cylindrical side wall and one closed end on which either one of said first and second driver means is installed, and a disk-shaped cover having one circular end which fits with an end portion of said side wall of said cylinder and upon the inner surface of which is attached the other of said first and second driver means,

said cylinder and said cover being rotatable relative to each other around a cylindrical axis of said cylinder,

an inner diameter of said cylinder giving cutoff modes at the frequency of the wave driven by said first driver means; and

combining circuit means for combining two outputs generated from two orthogonal components linearly polarized wave received by said second driver means.