Microwave detection instrument

Claim 2

A passive field instrument for detecting microwave electromagnetic radiation and measuring the power density thereof regardless of any modulation thereof and while consuming only the power thereof, said instrument comprising an array of diode detectors each having a pair of output condUctors and each having an effective square-law response region wherein the diode detector output is proportional to the power density of the incident microwave electromagnetic radiation, the extent of said effective square-law response region varying generally inversely with the D.C. load impedence of said diode detector, means connected to the output conductors of each of said diode detectors for measuring the additive total rectified output of said diode detectors, and a plurality of ferrite members equal in number to said diode detectors and respectively coupled directly thereto and disposed between said diode detectors and said measuring means for presenting a high R.F. impedance and a low D.C. impedance to the retified output of said diode detectors, both of said output conductors of each diode detector passing directly through the associated one of said ferrite members thereby to maximize the extent of said effective square-law response region, and means interconnecting said diode detectors, said diode detectors being interconnected only bewtween said measuring means and said ferrite members, whereby the output of said instrument is proportional to the power density of the incident microwave electromagnetic radiation over a range of power densities sufficiently wide to render said instrument substantially insensitive to modulation up to a peak to average ratio of 5 to 1 of the microwave electromagnetic field.

Claim 3

The instrument set forth in claim 1, wherein said fererite members include a plurality of sets of ferrite members with said sets being equal in number to said diode detectors and respectively coupled thereto, both of the output conductors of each of said diode detectors passing through all ferrite members of the associated set of ferrite members.

Claim 4

A non-directional passive field instrument for detecting microwave electromagnetic radiation and measuring the power density thereof while consuming only the power thereof, said instrument comprising a plurality of first interconnected diode detectors for detecting electromagnetic radiation of a first microwave frequency, each of said first diode detectors including a pair of substantially collinear conductors of a first predetermined length forming a dipole antenna, a plurality of second interconnected diode detectors for detecting the electromagnetic radiation of a second predetermined microwave frequency, each of said second diode detectors including a pair of substantially collinear conductors of a second predetermined length forming a dipole antenna, each of said diode detectors having an effective square-law response region wherein the diode detector output is proportional to the power density of the incident microwave electromagnetic radiation, the extent of the effective square-law response region varying generally inversely with the D.C. load impedance of said diode detector, said first diode detectors being disposed in a first array with the conductors thereof all disposed in a common plane and arranged symmetrically with respect to a common axis normal to said plane, said second diode detectors being disposed in a second array with the conductors thereof all disposed in said plane and arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis, a first plurality of ferrite members equal in number to said first diode detectors and respectively coupled directly thereto for presenting a high R.F. impedance and a low D.C. impedance to the rectified outputs of said first diode detectors, each of said first diode detectors having a pair of output conductors both passing directly through the associated one of said first ferrite members thereby to maximize the extent of the effective square-law response region, a second plurality of ferrite members equal in number to said second diode detectors and respectively coupled directly thereto for presenting a high R.F. impedance and a low D.C. impedance to the rectified outputs of said second diode detectors, each of said second diode detectors haVing a pair of output conductors both passing directly through the associated one of said second ferrite members thereby to maximize the extent of the effective square-law response region, measuring means, a switch connected to said measuring means and said first and second impedance means for connecting said measuring means across a selected one of said first and second impedance means for providing a measurement of the additive total rectified output of the associated array of diode detectors which is relatively insensitive to polarization or modulation of the electromagnetic radiation.

Claim 5

A non-directional passive field instrument for detecting microwave electromagnetic radiation and measuring the power density thereof while consuming only the power thereof, said instrument comprising a plurality of first interconnected diode detectors for detecting electromagnetic radiation of a first microwave frequency, each of said first diode detectors including a pair of substantially collinear conductors of a first predetermined length forming a dipole antenna, a plurality of second interconnected diode detectors for detecting the electromagnetic radiation of a second predetermined microwave frequency, each of said second diode detectors including a pair of substantially collinear conductors of a second predetermined length forming a dipole antenna, each of said diode detectors having an effective square-law response region wherein the diode detector output is proportional to the power density of the incident microwave electromagnetic radiation, the extent of the effective square-law response region varying generally inversely with the D.C. load impedance of said diode detector, said first diode detectors being disposed in a first array with the conductors thereof all disposed in a common plane and arranged symmetrically with respect to a common axis normal to said plane, said second diode detectors being disposed in a second array with the conductors thereof all disposed in said plane and arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis, a first plurality of ferrite members equal in number to said first diode detectors and respectively coupled directly thereto for presenting a high R.F. impedance and a low D.C. impedance to the rectified outputs of said first diode detectors, each of said first diode detectors having a pair of output conductors both passing directly through the associated one of said first ferrite members thereby to maximize the extent of the effective square-law response region, a second plurality of ferrite members equal in number to said second diode detectors and respectively coupled directly thereto for presenting a high R.F. impedance and a low D.C. impedance to the rectified outputs of said second diode detectors, each of said second diode detectors haVing a pair of output conductors both passing directly through the associated one of said second ferrite members thereby to maximize the extent of the effective square-law response region, measuring means, a switch connected to said measuring means and said first and second impedance means for connecting said measuring means across a selected one of said first and second impedance means for providing a measurement of the additive total rectified output of the associated array of diode detectors which is relatively insensitive to polarization or modulation of the electromagnetic radiation.

Claim 6

The non-directional instrument set forth in claim 3, wherein said first array of diode detectors comprises a predetermined number of first diode detectors spaced equiangularly about said axis with said conductors of said first diode detectors disposed perpendicular to said axis, said second array of diode detectors including said predetermined number of second diode detectors spaced equiangularly about said axis with said conductors of said second diode detectors being disposed perpendicular to said axis, said first diode detectors alternating with said second diode detectors.

Claim 7

The non-directional instrument set forth in claim 3, wherein said first array of diode detectors comprises four first diode detectors spaced equiangularly about said axis with said conductors of said first diode detectors disposed perpendicular to said axis, said second array of diode detectors comprising four second diode detectors arranged substantially in a square configuration, said conductors of said first diode detectors lying along the diagonals of said square.

Claim 8

The non-directional instrument set forth in claim 3, and further including first and second variable calibration resistors respectively connected to said first and second arrays of diode detectors and adapted for connection in parallel with said measuring means.

Claim 9

The non-directional instrument set forth in claim 3, wherein said first and second arrays of diode detectors are embedded in a sphere of material transparent to microwaves with said axis passing through the center of said sphere.

Claim 10

The instrument set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said diode detectors includes a pair of substantially collinear antenna conductors respectively connected to said output conductors and cooperating to form a dipole antenna.

Claim 11

The instrument set forth in claim 3, and further including a circuit mounting board, said conductors of said diode detectors being etched on said circuit mounting board.