Coaxial adjustable wave probe
View Patent ↗Wideband coaxial low loss signal couplers use an electro-magnetic loop placed perpendicularly in a mantle hole of the external wall of the coaxial airline. The signal coupling factor increases with frequency thus favoring detection of harmonic components generated by the nonlinearly operated RF transistors. In order to adapt also to various power levels and associated harmonic receiver sensitivity the coupling factor can be adjusted either by controlling the penetration of the loop inside the airline cavity or by rotating the loop around its vertical axis.
1. A signal coupler comprising a coaxial airline, input port, output port, coupled port and isolated port and an electromagnetic “U” form loop sensor, said sensor having a bottom section and two branches,
wherein
the branches of the loop sensor extend into forming the center conductor of coaxial cables,
one branch terminating as coupled port and the other branch terminating as isolated port, and wherein
the loop sensor is inserted perpendicularly through a hole in a mantle of the airline.
2. An assembly comprising the signal coupler as in claim 1 and an impedance tuner, said tuner comprising at least
coaxial test and idle ports, and
a slotted airline (slabline) with two sidewalls and a center conductor between the ports,
wherein the signal coupler forms a coaxial-to-slabline adapter connected to the test or idle ports.
3. The signal coupler as in claim 1 ,
wherein
the coupling factor is adjustable.
4. The signal coupler as in claim 1 ,
wherein
the distance between the loop sensor and a center conductor of the coaxial airline is adjustable.
5. The signal coupler of claim 1
wherein
the loop sensor has a surface and a rotation axis,
said rotation axis being perpendicular to the bottom section of the loop and parallel to and
centered between the two branches of the loop,
and wherein
the angle between the surface of the loop sensor and an axis of the airline is adjustable.