Device for coupling radio frequency energy from various transmission lines using variable impedance transmission lines

• US 6,771,143 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norstan Communications Incorporated (Black Box Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: InnerWireless Incorporated (Black Box Ltd.)
• Inventors: McCoy, James W., Stein, Richard P., English, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US10/099,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 331/25, 33/27, 33/33
• US Class Current: 333/125
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/02 with invariable factor of coupling H01P5/12 takes precedence choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/08 for linking dissimilar lines or devices H01P1/16, H01P5/04 take precedence; linking lines of the same kind but with different dimensions H01P5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/12 Coupling devices having more than two ports H01P5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/44 comprising impedance matching means

Abstract

An apparatus and method for coupling energy from a transmission line is provided. The apparatus includes a contact designed to “tap” into an inner conductor of the transmission line 100 through an aperture in an outer conductor of the transmission line. A portion of the contact may be coiled (e.g., a spring) and the coil'"'"'s characteristics may be varied to control the insertion loss and coupling loss of the apparatus. For example, the wire size, coil diameter, number of turns, and pitch design of the coil may be controlled. The apparatus may also include a secondary transmission line connected to the coil and the secondary transmission line may allow additional control over the coupled energy.

Claims

1. A coupling device for obtaining energy from a transmission line, the coupling device comprising:

a contact for contacting an inner conductor of said transmission line through an aperture in an outer conductor of said transmission line, wherein at least a portion of the contact includes a coil of a preselected configuration, said configuration defining at least one property of the transferred energy; and

a connector having an inner conductor coupled to said contact.

2. The coupling device of claim 1 further including a wire of a preselected configuration positioned between said contact and said connector, wherein said wire is spaced from a ground plane to create a selected parasitic capacitance, said configuration of said wire operable to at least partially define a center frequency of said coupling device.

3. The coupling device of claim 2 wherein the wire is a passive component.

4. The coupling device of claim 1 further including:

a housing; and

a cavity located in said housing proximate to the contact, wherein said cavity is operable to effect the parasitic capacitance.

5. The coupling device of claim 1 further including an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the coil, wherein said enclosure mechanically restrains the enclosed portion of the coil.

6. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein said coil has a variable pitch.

7. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein said coil has a variable diameter.

8. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the at least one energy property defined by the coil configuration is selected from the group consisting of a frequency, a coupling loss, and an insertion loss.

9. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the contact further includes a first straight end and a second straight end positioned on opposite ends of said coil, wherein said first straight end engages said transmission line and said second straight end is coupled to said inner connector.

10. A radio frequency coupling device comprising:

a circuit, the circuit comprising;

a contact operable to engage a transmission line for transferring energy, the contact including a coiled portion configured to define at least one property of the transferred energy;

a conductor pin coupled to the contact; and

an interface connector coupled to the conductor pin; and

a housing formed around at least a portion of the circuit.

11. The radio frequency coupling device of claim 10 wherein the housing further includes an extension extending from the radio frequency coupling device into the transmission line, the extension at least partially surrounding the contact and operable to limit a lateral movement of the contact relative to the housing.

12. The radio frequency coupling device of claim 11 wherein the extension is tubular.

13. The radio frequency coupling device of claim 11 wherein the extension is operable to prevent rotation of the radio frequency coupling device relative to the transmission line.

14. The radio frequency coupling device of claim 10 further including a wire positioned between the contact and the conductor pin, the wire separated at least in part from a ground plane by an air gap and configured to further define at least one property of the transferred energy.

15. The radio frequency coupling device of claim 10 further including a cavity located in the housing proximate to the contact, wherein the cavity is sized to adjust a parasitic capacitance of the radio frequency coupling device.

16. A method of coupling energy from a transmission line having separated inner and outer conductors, the method comprising:

forming an aperture through the outer conductor of the transmission line to expose a portion of the inner conductor;

inserting a coiled contact through the aperture;

altering the position of the coiled contact relative to the inner conductor to engage the inner conductor, the alteration occurring automatically due to the coiled contact;

and electrically coupling the coiled contact with an interface.

17. The method of claim 16 further including inserting an extension into the transmission line.

18. The method of claim 16 further including altering at least one property of the transferred energy using the coil.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein electrically coupling the coiled contact with the interface includes providing a wire positioned between the coiled contact and the interface.

20. A coupling device for obtaining energy from a transmission line, the coupling device comprising:

a contact for contacting an inner conductor of said transmission line through an aperture in an outer conductor of said transmission line, wherein at least a portion of the contact includes a coil of a preselected configuration, said coil having a variable pitch, said configuration defining at least one property of the transferred energy; and

a connector having an inner conductor coupled to said contact.

21. A coupling device for obtaining energy from a transmission line, the coupling device comprising:

a contact for contacting an inner conductor of said transmission line through an aperture in an outer conductor of said transmission line, wherein at least a portion of the contact includes a coil of a preselected configuration, said coil having a variable diameter, said configuration defining at least one property of the transferred energy; and

a connector having an inner conductor coupled to said contact.

22. A radio frequency coupling device comprising:

a circuit, the circuit comprising;

a contact operable to engage a transmission line for transferring energy, the contact including a coiled portion configured to define at least one property of the transferred energy;

a conductor pin coupled to the contact; and

an interface connector coupled to the conductor pin; and

a housing formed around at least a portion of the circuit, the housing including an extension extending from the radio frequency coupling device into the transmission line, the extension at least partially surrounding the contact and operable to limit a lateral movement of the contact relative to the housing and to prevent rotation of the radio frequency coupling device relative to the transmission line.

23. A radio frequency coupling device comprising:

a circuit, the circuit comprising;

a contact operable to engage a transmission line for transferring energy, the contact including a coiled portion configured to define at least one property of the transferred energy;

a conductor pin coupled to the contact; and

an interface connector coupled to the conductor pin; and

a housing formed around at least a portion of the circuit and including a cavity located in the housing, proximate to the contact, wherein the cavity is sized to adjust a parasitic capacitance of the radio frequency coupling device.