Polarized signal receiver system

Abstract

A rotatable polarized signal receiver in a system for receiving linearly polarized electromagnetic signals includes a signal conductor having a receiver probe portion, oriented in a circular waveguide parallel to the polarization of the incident signal, and signal launch probe portion extending into the rectangular waveguide orthogonal to the direction of signal transmission therein, mounted concentrically in an insulator rod through perpendicular coupling of the circular and rectangular waveguides.

I claim: 
     
       1. A polarized signal receiver comprising: a first waveguide for transmitting polarized signals;   a circular waveguide for receiving polarized signals at one end and coupled to the first waveguide at the other end, said other end having a rear wall;   an insulator rod, rotatably mounted through said other end of the circular waveguide; and   signal conducting means, fixedly mounted in the insulator rod concentric with the axis of rotation thereof having a receiver probe portion oriented in the circular waveguide orthogonal to the axis of said circular waveguide for receiving one polarization of the incident signal, a launch probe portion concentric with the insulator rod and extending into the first waveguide for launching said signal therein, and a transmission line portion, having a first section contoured to the inside surface of the circular wall, and substantially parallel to the axis, of the circular waveguide, and having a second section contoured to the inside surface, and substantially parallel to the plane, of the rear wall of the circular waveguide, for connecting the receiver probe portion to the launch probe portion.   
     
     
       2. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 further including a feed horn for receiving incident polarized signals, coaxially coupled to said one end of the circular waveguide.   
     
     
       3. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 further including remotely controllable motor means coupled to the insulator rod for selectively rotating the signal conducting means mounted therein. 
     
     
       4. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the inside surfaces of the rear and circular walls of the circular waveguide form waveguide walls and the ground plane element of the transmission line portion. 
     
     
       5. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the launch probe is orthogonal to the direction of signal transmission in the first waveguide. 
     
     
       6. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first waveguide is a rectangular waveguide. 
     
     
       7. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first waveguide is a circular waveguide. 
     
     
       8. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first waveguide is a square waveguide. 
     
     
       9. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first waveguide is an elliptical waveguide. 
     
     
       10. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the signal conducting means is a single continuous electrical conductor. 
     
     
       11. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 or 3 wherein the receiver probe portion is approximately one-quarter waveguide long. 
     
     
       12. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 or 3 wherein the signal conducting means is selectably rotatable to orient the receiver probe for receiving different polarizations of incident signal. 
     
     
       13. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 12 wherein the impedance of the launch probe and transmission line portions is substantially unaffected by the orientation of the receiver probe portion around the axis of the circular waveguide. 
     
     
       14. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 wherein the first and second sections of the transmission line portion and the launch probe portion all have substantially uniform impedance at the frequency of the signal received. 
     
     
       15. A polarized signal receiver as in claim 1 wherein said first section of the transmission line portion is generally parallel to the axis and near the surface of the circular wall of the circular waveguide and said second section of the transmission line portion is generally parallel to the plane, and near the surface, of the rear wall of the circular waveguide, said circular waveguide walls forming the ground plane of said transmission line portion. .Iadd. 
     
     
       16.  A polarized signal receiver comprising: first and second waveguides adapted to enable propagation therein along their respective longitudinal axes of signals comprised of polarized electric fields within a predetermined range of frequencies;   a launch probe in said first waveguide and a receiver probe in said second waveguide, each said probe oriented substantially normal to the direction of propagation of the signal comprised of the electric field in the respective waveguide; and   a conductive element interconnecting said probes and entering said second waveguide in one direction through a point of entry surrounded by a first interior wall surface, said first interior wall surface facing in said one direction, said conductive element having a first portion displaced laterally from said point of entry to overlie said first interior wall surface and extending toward a second interior wall surface to a point closer to said second interior wall surface than to said point of entry, said conducting element having a second portion overlying said second interior wall surface, said second interior wall surface facing inwardly of said second waveguide in a direction different than said one direction, said conductive element cooperating with each of said interior wall surfaces as the ground plane therefor such that said conductive element and said interior wall surfaces constitute a single wire above a ground plane transmission line within said second waveguide for said predetermined range of frequencies. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The polarized signal receiver of claim 16 in which said second portion of said conductive element extends generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said second waveguide and conductively couples said first portion and said receiver probe. .Iadd.18. The polarized signal receiver of claim 16 in which said first interior wall surface comprises an end wall of said second waveguide and said second interior wall surface comprises a sidewall of said second waveguide, said point of entry for said conductive element being substantially the center of said end wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The polarized signal receiver of claim 16 in which said conductive element and said probes are rotatable. .Iadd.20. The polarized signal receiver of claim 16 in which said probes are arranged in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of said second waveguide. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The polarized signal receiver of claim 16 in which said receiver probe is open circuited and terminates in proximity to said longitudinal axis of said second waveguide. .Iadd.22. The polarized signal receiver of claim 16 in which the length of said first portion of said conductive element is substantially equal to the length of said receiver probe. .Iadd.23. A polarized signal receiver comprising:   first and second waveguides adapted to enable propagation therein along their respective longitudinal axes of signals comprised of polarized electric fields, said second waveguide having an end wall and a sidewall;   a launch probe in said first waveguide and a receiver probe in said second waveguide, each of said probes oriented substantially normal to the direction of propagation of the signal comprised of the polarized electric field in its corresponding waveguide; and   a conductive element passing through said end wall and interconnecting said probes, said element being displaced toward said sidewall and having a first section which overlies said end wall and a second section which is coupled to said first section at a point closer to said sidewall than to the longitudinal axis of said second waveguide, said second section extending over said sidewall generally in the direction of said longitudinal axis and conductively coupling said first section and said receiver probe so that said conductive element together with said end wall and sidewall acting as the ground plane for said conductive element constitute a single wire above a ground plane transmission line within said second waveguide. .Iaddend.