Spiral surface electromagnetic wave dispersive delay line

• US 9,059,488 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ami Research & Development, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ami Research & Development, LLC
• Inventors: Apostolos, John T., Mouyos, William, McMahon, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, BENNY T
• Application Number:
  US14/207,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 333/157, 333/162, 333/163, 333/242
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/18 Phase-shifters H01P1/165 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 9/00 Delay lines of the waveguide type

Abstract

Dispersive properties of a linear dispersive delay line are retained in a spiral configuration by constraining the radius of curvature depending on a desired propagation mode. The compact form factor spiral can be either a continuous spiral or a piecewise linear approximation. The spiral comprises a highly dielectric waveguide such as titanium dioxide or barium tetratitanate. Preferably, a spacer with a low dielectric constant and a microstrip are disposed on the top surface. The microstrip prevents attenuation of low frequencies, thereby increasing the operating frequency range. A second dielectric spacer and a second microstrip can be deposited on the bottom surface of the waveguide. Alternatively, the bottom surface of the waveguide can face a ground plane. The waveguide can be fed by horns or half-horns.

Claims

1. A surface electromagnetic wave dispersive delay line, comprising:

a waveguide manufactured from a dielectric material, the waveguide having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a first microstrip disposed on the top surface of the waveguide, separated from the top surface of the waveguide by a dielectric spacer;

feed elements coupled to the waveguide; and

wherein the dispersive delay line is arranged in a spiral following a curvature defined by a desired transmission mode.

2. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein the feed elements are horn antennas.

3. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein the dispersive delay line is disposed on a ground plane.

4. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein a second microstrip is disposed on the bottom surface of the waveguide, separated from the bottom surface of the waveguide by a second dielectric spacer.

5. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein the desired transmission mode is an HE11 transmission mode.

6. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material of the waveguide is titanium dioxide.

7. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material of the waveguide is barium tetratitanate.

8. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein the spiral is an Archimedean spiral.

9. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein the dispersive delay line is constructed in a continuous fashion.

10. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein the dispersive delay line is constructed from linear slabs of the dielectric material in a piecewise linear fashion, the arrangement of the slabs following the curvature defined by the desired transmission mode.

11. The dispersive delay line of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the dispersive delay line is constant over a length of the waveguide.