Wave transmission lines and networks – Resonators – Dielectric type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-05-15
Pascal, Robert (Department: 2817)
Wave transmission lines and networks
Resonators
Dielectric type
C333S204000, C333S134000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06232854
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dielectric resonator such as a dielectric filter for use in the microwave band or millimeter wave band, an oscillator, a sharing device, and a communication device each including the dielectric resonator.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to realize advanced mobile communication services and multi-media communication services, it is necessary to transmit a large quantity of information at an ultra high speed. For this purpose, the millimeter wave band having a wide band width is suitable. As new uses utilizing effectively the characteristics of the millimeter wave band, in addition to the uses of communication, a motorcar radar for preventing collisions is an example. It is much expected that the millimeter wave radar serves the assurance of safety required particularly when it mists or snows, for which a conventional laser radar utilizing light is ineffective.
If a conventional circuit configuration formed mainly of microstrip lines is used in the millimeter wave band, Q is reduced with the loss increased. Further, as regards a TE
01&dgr;
dielectric resonator, used widely conventionally, a great amount of resonant energy is leaked to the outside of the resonator. For this reason, in the case of the resonator and the circuit used in the millimeter wave band and having a small relative size, there is the problem that lines are undesirably coupled to each other, and the design and the reproducibility of the characteristics become difficult.
To solve this problem, the inventors have devised PDIC™ (Planar Dielectric Integrated Circuit), and proposed a millimeter wave band module using this technique.
An example of the planar circuit type dielectric resonator incorporated in the module is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-265015.
FIG. 19
shows the configuration of the dielectric resonator device. In
FIG. 19
, there is shown a dielectric plate
3
, and on the opposite main faces of the dielectric plate
3
, electrodes are formed with electrode-non-formation sections which are circular, have a predetermined size, and are opposite to each other, and the upper electrode of the dielectric plate
3
is shown at a numeral
1
and the electrode non-formation sections at numerals
4
a
and
4
b
. With this configuration, the section of the dielectric resonator device, sandwiched between the electrode-non-formation sections, is used as the dielectric resonator section.
In a device employing the planar circuit dielectric resonator as shown in
FIG. 19
, metallic adjusting screws are provided for a shield case
24
in such a manner that the insertion amount of the screws in the shield case can be adjusted. With the adjusting screws, the resonant frequency of the dielectric resonator sections and the coupling factor between the adjacent dielectric resonator sections can be adjusted.
However, in the case of the metallic adjusting screws used, an insertion loss is produced in the adjusting screws with the unloaded Q reduced, when the adjusting screws are near to the resonator sections. For this reason, there is the problem that when the dielectric resonator device is used as a filter, its filter characteristics are deteriorated. Further, there is caused the problem that the outside size of the device is large since the adjusting screws are partially projected to be on the outside of the shield case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dielectric resonator device of which the characteristics can be adjusted without its unloaded Q reduced.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a transmission-reception sharing device and a communication device each including the dielectric resonator device, which are small in size, and have excellent characteristics.
According to the present invention, there is provided a dielectric resonator device which comprises electrodes formed on the opposite main faces of a dielectric plate, the electrodes having at least one pair of electrode non-formation sections opposite to each other and having substantially the same shape and size, in which the section of the dielectric resonator device, sandwiched between the electrode non-formation sections opposite to each other, acts as the dielectric resonator section, wherein a dielectric chip is attached to the dielectric resonator section or between adjacent dielectric resonator sections. The resonant frequency of the resonator section, the coupling factor between the adjacent dielectric resonator sections, the external Q factor, and the spurious characteristic are adjusted by the attachment position, the dielectric constant, the size, and the shape of the dielectric chip.
According to another aspect of the invention, a portion of the dielectric resonator device having a different dielectric constant from the dielectric plate may be provided in the dielectric plate in the dielectric resonator section or in the dielectric plate between the adjacent dielectric resonator sections. Thus, the resonant frequency of the resonator section, the coupling factor between the adjacent dielectric resonator sections, the external Q factor, and the spurious characteristic are adjusted.
A dielectric filter may be formed of a signal input-output means for inputting or outputting a signal, provided in the dielectric resonator section. The resonant frequency of the resonator section, the coupling factor between the adjacent dielectric resonator sections, the external Q factor, and the spurious characteristic are determined by the attachment position, the dielectric constant, the size, and the shape of the dielectric chip. Thus, the dielectric filter having characteristics predetermined as described above may be formed.
Further, an oscillator may be formed of a negative characteristic resistance circuit connected to the coupling line coupled to the dielectric resonator section. As described above, the resonant frequency of the resonator section, the coupling factor between the adjacent dielectric resonator sections, the external Q factor, and the spurious characteristic are determined by the attachment position, the dielectric constant, the size, and the shape of the dielectric chip attached to the dielectric plate, or by the size and shape of a portion of the dielectric plate having a different dielectric constant. Thus, the oscillator having characteristics predetermined as described above may be formed.
According to the present invention, a sharing device may be formed of at least one of the signal input-output means being connected to a plurality of the dielectric resonator sections. For example, a duplexer provided with a transmitting filter and a receiving filter, and a multiplexer provided with at least three filters may be formed. Thus, the sharing device with a lower insertion loss and excellent branching characteristics can be attained.
Further, an electronic apparatus such as a communication device or the like may be formed, including in its high frequency circuit section one of the dielectric resonator device, the dielectric filter, and the sharing device. Thus, the electronic apparatus having the high frequency circuit with low loss and spurious characteristic can be attained.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5786740 (1998-07-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 6016090 (2000-01-01), Iio et al.
patent: 6052087 (2000-04-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 0734088 (1996-09-01), None
patent: 0764996 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 7142912 (1995-06-01), None
UK Search Report dated Oct. 6, 1999.
UK Search Report dated Feb. 4, 2000.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP 07142912A.
German Office Action dated Sep. 12, 2000 & English language translation.
Hiratsuka Toshiro
Ida Yutaka
Kanagawa Kiyoshi
Mikami Shigeyuki
Sonoda Tomiya
Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Nguyen Patricia T.
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
Pascal Robert
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