Fred J Dietrich

US Patent:

48476250, Jul 11, 1989

Filed:

Feb 16, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/156259

Inventors:

Fred J. Dietrich - Palo Alto CA
Chich-Hsing A. Tsao - Saratoga CA
Francis J. Kilburg - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

Ford Aerospace Corporation - Newport Beach CA

International Classification:

H01Q 138

US Classification:

343700MS

Abstract:

A wideband, aperture-coupled microstrip antenna comprising a multilayer structure and including a feed layer, a ground plane including an aperture therethrough, a plurality of tuning layers formed of dielectric material, at least one of the tuning layers including therein a tuning element in the form of an electrically-conductive material, herein called a tuning patch, and final radiating layer including a radiating patch. The multiple tuning layers serve to extend the operational bandwidth of the antenna as compared to other microstrip antennas. Aperture coupling allows realization of the antenna using integrated circuit fabication techniques without the shortcoming of direct physical connections between the feedline and the radiator, and thus providing simple, yet reliable coupling between the feedline and the antenna.

US Patent:

53003691, Apr 5, 1994

Filed:

Jul 22, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/918549

Inventors:

Fred J. Dietrich - Palo Alto CA
John C. Hall - Saratoga CA

Assignee:

Space Systems/Loral - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

H01M 1034

US Classification:

429 7

Abstract:

An electrochemical energy cell for use in a satellite or other environment where failure of the cell can cause great harm or inconvenience is disclosed in which the cell operates within a sealed pressure vessel in which a gas is maintained under high pressure and which is subject to bombardment by meteorites which can cause holes or cracks in the pressure vessel, thereby rendering the cell incapable of conducting an electric current therethrough, which in turn renders a battery of such cells useless. To prevent this, a pressure sensitive switch is provided in each cell which is connected in a circuit which by-passes the current generating discs of the cell when the switch is closed. The switch is normally maintained open by the pressure within the vessel, and is biased to close in the event that the pressure in the vessel drops below a predetermined minimum, so that the damaged cell will still conduct current therethrough to maintain the integrity of the entire battery.

US Patent:

49030337, Feb 20, 1990

Filed:

Apr 1, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/176581

Inventors:

Chich-Hsing Tsao - Saratoga CA
Francis J. Kilburg - Mountain View CA
Fred J. Dietrich - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Ford Aerospace Corporation - Newport Beach CA

International Classification:

H01Q 138

US Classification:

343700MS

Abstract:

A microwave-frequency microstrip antenna (10) simultaneously usable for both transmitting and receiving microwave-frequency signals that have dual orthogonally polarized components. The components may be either linearly or circularly polarized. A radiating patch (26) is mounted on a first dielectric (12). A ground plane (20) abuts the first dielectric (12) and has two elongated coupling apertures (32,31) at right angles to each other. A second dielectric (22) abuts the ground plane (20) and has embedded thereon two substantially identical conductive planar feed networks (52,51) that are disposed at right angles to each other. At least one additional optional dielectric layer (16,18) having a conductive patch (36,34) may be interposed between the first dielectric (12) and the ground plane (20) for purposes of broadening the bandwidth of the antenna (10). A meanderline polarizer (45) or a 3 dB 90. degree. hybrid coupler (40) may be used for converting from linear polarization to circular polarization.