Coaxial-waveguide rotary coupling assemblage

• US 5,434,548 A
• Filed: 03/28/1994
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Pierce, Thomas R., Thompson, James H., Standke, Randolph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Frank
• Assistant Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T. H.
• Application Number:
  US08/218,169
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 385/26, 385/25, 385/27, 385/100, 385/101, 385/102, 333/256, 333/257, 333/261, 333/26, 333/248, 343/763, 370/104.1
• US Class Current: 333/261
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/066 with an unlimited angle of rotation
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/103 Hollow-waveguide/coaxial-line transitions

Abstract

A coaxial-waveguide assemblage is disclosed herein of the invention includes a first coaxial transmission line having a first inner and a first outer conductor. The inventive assemblage further includes a waveguide electromagnetically coupled to the first coaxial transmission line, where an inner surface of the waveguide bounds a signal propagation space. The waveguide is also electromagnetically coupled to a second coaxial transmission having a second inner and a second outer conductor. The inner conductor of the second coaxial transmission line is disposed to rotate about a first vertical axis, thereby enabling the second coaxial transmission line to be connected to a rotating antenna. In a particular implementation the coaxial-waveguide assemblage is disposed within a rotary joint operative to couple electromagnetic energy between first and second signal ports. An axially elongated dielectric sleeve, disposed about the second inner conductor, will preferably be dimensioned to extend into the waveguide propagation space. The rotary joint will generally include a bearing arrangement interposed between the second outer conductor and the axially elongated dielectric sleeve of the second coaxial transmission line. Tuning of the coaxial-waveguide assemblage is facilitated by a tuning cavity in communication with the propagation space.

Claims

1. A coaxial-waveguide assemblage, comprising:

a first coaxial transmission line having a first inner and a first outer conductor;

a waveguide, electromagnetically coupled to said first coaxial transmission line, said waveguide having an inner surface bounding a signal propagation space;

a second coaxial transmission line electromagnetically coupled to said waveguide, said second coaxial transmission line having a second inner and a second outer conductor and being disposed to rotate about a first vertical axis; and

said signal propagation space extending between said first and second coaxial transmission lines.

2. The assemblage of claim 1 wherein said first coaxial transmission line includes a first axially elongated dielectric sleeve disposed about said first inner conductor and extending into said propagation space.

3. The assemblage of claim 2 wherein a first end of said first outer conductor defines a first waveguide aperture upon said inner surface of said waveguide.

4. The assemblage of claim 3 wherein said inner surface of said waveguide defines a second waveguide aperture through which protrudes said second inner conductor of said second coaxial transmission line.

5. The assemblage of claim 4 wherein said second transmission line includes a second axially elongated dielectric sleeve disposed about said second inner conductor.

6. The assemblage of claim 5 further including bearing means, said bearing means contacting an outer surface of said second outer conductor, for facilitating rotation of said second transmission line about said vertical axis.

7. The assemblage of claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said waveguide defines a ridge transverse to said first vertical axis.

8. The assemblage of claim 7 wherein said ridge is of a first height between said first and second inner conductors and is of a second height between said first inner conductor and a first end of said waveguide.

9. The assemblage of claim 7 wherein said inner surface of said waveguide defines a first bore within an upper conductor of said waveguide, said first inner conductor extending into said bore so as to form a first open-circuited section of coaxial transmission line.

10. The assemblage of claim 7 wherein said inner surface of said waveguide defines a second bore within said ridge of said waveguide, said second inner conductor extending into said bore so as to form a second open-circuited section of coaxial transmission line.

11. The assemblage of claim 9 wherein said inner surface of said waveguide defines a second aperture in said upper conductor of said waveguide opposite said ridge of said waveguide, said second inner conductor protruding through said second aperture into said propagation space.

12. The assemblage of claim 1 wherein said second transmission line includes an axially elongated dielectric sleeve interposed between said second inner and outer conductors, said second inner conductor and said axially elongated dielectric sleeve extending into said propagation space.

13. The assemblage of claim 1 further including a short choke tuning member, said short choke tuning member being defined by an annular surface circumscribing a section of said second outer conductor, said annular surface being electrically connected to said inner surface of said waveguide.

14. The assemblage of claim 13 wherein said section of said second outer conductor extends less than a quarter of a predefined carrier wavelength in a direction parallel to said vertical axis.

15. A coaxial-waveguide rotary joint assemblage for coupling electromagnetic energy between first and second signal ports, comprising:

a first coaxial transmission line connected to said first signal port, said first coaxial transmission line having a first inner and a first outer conductor;

a waveguide, electromagnetically coupled to said first coaxial transmission line, said waveguide having an inner surface defining a first ridge of a first height and a second ridge of a second height;

a second coaxial transmission line connected to said second signal port and rotatable about a vertical axis relative to said first transmission line, said second coaxial transmission line being electromagnetically coupled to said waveguide, said second coaxial transmission line having a second inner and a second outer conductor; and

a bearing arrangement, interposed between said second outer conductor and said first outer conductor, for facilitating rotation of said second coaxial transmission line about said vertical axis.

16. The rotary joint assemblage of claim 15, wherein said waveguide defines a propagation space and said second transmission line includes an axially elongated dielectric sleeve disposed about said second inner conductor, said axially elongated dielectric sleeve extending into said propagation space through a waveguide aperture defined by said inner surface of said waveguide.

17. The rotary joint assemblage of claim 16 further including a short choke tuning member, said short choke tuning member defining an annular surface circumscribing a section of said second outer conductor proximate said waveguide aperture.

18. The rotary joint assemblage of claim 17 wherein said section of said second outer conductor extends less than a quarter of a predefined carrier wavelength in a direction parallel to said vertical axis.

19. The rotary joint assemblage of claim 15 wherein said inner surface bounds a propagation space and has an end wall, and said second ridge is included within a tuning cavity defined by said inner surface of said waveguide, said tuning cavity being interposed between a section of said inner conductor extending into said waveguide propagation space and said end wall of said waveguide.