Method and apparatus for proportional RF radiation from surface wave transmission line
First Claim
1. A radio frequency transmission and radiation system comprising:
- a surface wave transmission line adapted for transmission of a radio frequency surface wave along said line;
an annular electrically conductive radiator extending outwardly from and surrounding a predetermined length of said surface wave transmission line;
said annular electrically conductive radiator having a first end region upon which said radio frequency surface wave impinges, at least a portion of said first end region increasing in cross-sectional area relative to distance along said surface wave transmission line taken in the direction in which a radio frequency surface wave travels along said surface wave transmission line said first end region including a surface wave transmitting window through which said surface wave transmission line passes, said surface wave transmitting window being dimensioned for passage of a predetermined portion of the energy in a radio frequency surface wave transmitted along said line with said predetermined portion remaining coupled to said line, said annular electrically conductive radiator radiating substantially all of said energy other than said predetermined transmitted portion; and
,dielectric support means for supporting said annular electrically conductive radiator in coaxial spaced-apart relationship with said surface wave transmission line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a system for launching RF energy as a traveling surface wave onto a single wire transmission line and causing such energy to be radiated away from the line at a downstream location, a series of window radiators of annular shape are spaced along the line, coaxial therewith, each for radiating a portion of the surface wave energy. Each radiator has a conductive component that causes decoupling and radiation of a portion of the RF energy, and a dielectric window that allows the remaining portion of RF energy to pass therethrough and continue, as an attached surface wave, downstream to a succeeding, similarly formed radiator where the decoupling and partial radiation occurs again. Thus, from the same surface wave transmission line system, it is possible to radiate RF energy from two or more discrete locations along the line.
278 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A radio frequency transmission and radiation system comprising:
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a surface wave transmission line adapted for transmission of a radio frequency surface wave along said line; an annular electrically conductive radiator extending outwardly from and surrounding a predetermined length of said surface wave transmission line;
said annular electrically conductive radiator having a first end region upon which said radio frequency surface wave impinges, at least a portion of said first end region increasing in cross-sectional area relative to distance along said surface wave transmission line taken in the direction in which a radio frequency surface wave travels along said surface wave transmission line said first end region including a surface wave transmitting window through which said surface wave transmission line passes, said surface wave transmitting window being dimensioned for passage of a predetermined portion of the energy in a radio frequency surface wave transmitted along said line with said predetermined portion remaining coupled to said line, said annular electrically conductive radiator radiating substantially all of said energy other than said predetermined transmitted portion; and
,dielectric support means for supporting said annular electrically conductive radiator in coaxial spaced-apart relationship with said surface wave transmission line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A radiator and a surface wave transmission line comprising:
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a radiating annular electrical conductor disposed along a length of a surface wave transmission line and remote from a surface wave launcher and having a shape that corresponds to a surface of revolution that is defined by rotation of a two-dimensional line segment about a predetermined axis, said annular electrical conductor including a surface wave transmitting window through which said predetermined axis extends; and dielectric support means adapted to support said annular electrical conductor in coaxial spaced-apart relationship with said surface wave transmission line that extends through said surface wave transmitting window and along said predetermined axis with said surface wave transmission line being spaced apart from boundaries of said surface wave transmitting window such that surface waves radiated from said launcher and traveling along said surface wave transmission line are partially detached from said transmission line and radiated outwardly therefrom by said electrical conductor and are partially transmitted through said surface wave transmitting window to continue along said surface wave transmission line as an attached surface wave. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A radio frequency transmission and radiation system comprising:
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a Goubau line for surface wave transmission of electromagnetic energy from a first end of said Goubau line toward a second end of said Goubau line; and
,a plurality of annular radiators, each disposed coaxially on said Goubau line, said annular radiators for radiating electromagnetic energy traveling along said Goubau line and being spaced apart form one another by a distance substantially greater than one wavelength;
at least the annular radiator located nearest said first end of said Goubau line including an electromagnetic transmissive window for passage of a portion of the incident electromagnetic energy for continued transmission toward said second end of said Goubau line, the portion of said electromagnetic energy not passing through said electromagnetic transmissive window being radiated away from said Goubau line;
said Goubau line passing through said electromagnetic transmissive window and being spaced apart from the boundaries of said electromagnetic transmissive window. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification