The present disclosure relates to a non-reciprocal circuit.
Non-reciprocal circuits, such as circulators and isolators, are used for transmission and reception circuits of communication equipment, and so on. Non-reciprocal circuits typically have a frequency characteristic of transmitting high frequency signals in a transmission direction almost without attenuating the high frequency signals while greatly attenuating high frequency signals in an opposite direction.
In recent years, there has been a demand for non-reciprocal circuits which can be mounted in a dielectric substrate for the purpose of thickness reduction and cost reduction. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a non-reciprocal circuit in which a penetrating hole is provided in a dielectric substrate and a permanent magnet is disposed inside the penetrating hole, thereby making it possible to make a thickness reduction and a cost reduction.
A problem with the conventional non-reciprocal circuit described in Patent Literature 1 is that it is necessary to provide the hole for disposing the permanent magnet in the dielectric substrate, and the strength of the dielectric substrate degrades.
The present disclosure is made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a non-reciprocal circuit which can operate throughout a wide frequency band without degrading the strength of a dielectric substrate.
A non-reciprocal circuit according to the present disclosure is characterized in that the non-reciprocal circuit includes: a magnetic substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface; a first ground conductor disposed on the first main surface of the magnetic substrate; a central conductor disposed on the second main surface of the magnetic substrate; multiple first input and output terminals electrically connected to the central conductor, on the second main surface of the magnetic substrate; a second ground conductor disposed on the second main surface of the magnetic substrate; a conductor connection portion to electrically connect the first ground conductor and the second ground conductor; a first permanent magnet disposed in such a way as to face the central conductor; a second permanent magnet disposed in such a way as to face the first permanent magnet across the magnetic substrate; a dielectric substrate having a third main surface and a fourth main surface opposite to the third main surface; multiple second input and output terminals disposed on the third main surface of the dielectric substrate; a third ground conductor disposed on the third main surface of the dielectric substrate; a ground conductor removal portion in which a part of the third ground conductor is removed; first metal connection portions disposed between the magnetic substrate and the dielectric substrate, to electrically connect the multiple first input and output terminals and the respective multiple second input and output terminals; and a second metal connection portion disposed between the magnetic substrate and the dielectric substrate, to electrically connect the second ground conductor and the third ground conductor, the ground conductor removal portion is disposed at a position at which the ground conductor removal portion faces the second permanent magnet, on the dielectric substrate, and the second permanent magnet has a thickness thinner than the height of each of the first metal connection portions and the height of the second metal connection portion.
According to the present disclosure, because the thickness of the second permanent magnet is thinner than the height of the first metal connection portion and the height of the second metal connection portion, a hole for disposing the second permanent magnet is unnecessary when disposing the second permanent magnet above the dielectric substrate. Therefore, the strength of the dielectric substrate is prevented from degrading.
Further, because a hole for disposing the permanent magnet is unnecessary, the surface of the second permanent magnet which faces the dielectric substrate can be made to have an area which is large enough to uniformly apply a uniform bias magnetic field to the central conductor. In addition, because a cavity formed in the non-reciprocal circuit 1 can be made to be smaller than the propagation wavelength of high frequency signals, the frequency of the cavity resonance shifts to a higher frequency.
As a result, the non-reciprocal circuit according to the present disclosure can operate throughout a wide frequency band without degrading the strength of the dielectric substrate.
The magnetic substrate 21 has the first main surface and the second main surface opposite to the first main surface. The ground conductor 22a is a first ground conductor disposed on the first main surface of the magnetic substrate 21. As shown in
The central conductor 23 is a circle-shaped conductor which is disposed on the second main surface of the magnetic substrate 21, and through which a high frequency signal in a used frequency band propagates. The input and output terminals 24a, 24b, and 24c are multiple first input and output terminals electrically connected to the central conductor 23, on the second main surface of the magnetic substrate 21. The input and output terminals 24a, 24b, and 24c are transmission lines extending radially from the central conductor 23, as shown in
The permanent magnet 27a is a first one which is disposed in such a way as to face the permanent magnet 27b across the magnetic substrate 21. The permanent magnet 27a is fixed onto the ground conductor 22a using an adhesive 28. The permanent magnet 27b is a second one which is disposed in such a way as to face the permanent magnet 27a across the magnetic substrate 21. The permanent magnet 27b is fixed onto the central conductor 23 using an adhesive 28. In the non-reciprocal circuit 1, the thickness of the permanent magnet 27b is thinner than the heights of the solder connection portions 36a, 36b, 36c, and 41, as shown in
The dielectric substrate 3 is the multilayer substrate 30 which has the third main surface and a fourth main surface opposite to the third main surface, and which includes a dielectric layered structure. The ground conductor 32a is a third ground conductor disposed on the third main surface of the dielectric substrate 3. As shown in
The ground conductor 32b is a fourth ground conductor disposed on the fourth main surface of the dielectric substrate 3, and is a conductor pattern uniformly formed on the fourth main surface of the dielectric substrate 3. The ground conductor removal portion 40 is a portion in which a part of the ground conductor 32a disposed on the third main surface of the dielectric substrate 3 is removed. As shown in
The input and output terminals 31a, 31b, and 31c are multiple second input and output terminals which are disposed on the third main surface of the dielectric substrate 3, and which are electrically connected, respectively, to the input and output terminals 24a, 24b, and 24c via the solder connection portions 36a, 36b, and 36c, as shown in
The multiple through holes 35 are second conductor connection portions which penetrate the dielectric substrate 3 to electrically connect the ground conductor 32a and the ground conductor 32b. As shown in
The non-reciprocal circuit element 2 is mounted on the dielectric substrate 3 with the second main surface of the magnetic substrate 21 being defined as the mounting surface. In the state where the non-reciprocal circuit element 2 is placed on the third main surface of the dielectric substrate 3, the permanent magnet 27b is placed above the ground conductor removal portion 40 formed on the third main surface of the dielectric substrate 3. When producing the non-reciprocal circuit 1, multiple solder balls are arranged between the non-reciprocal circuit element 2 and the dielectric substrate 3. Concretely, multiple solder balls are arranged between the input and output terminals 24a, 24b, and 24c and the input and output terminals 31a, 31b, and 31c. In addition, multiple solder balls are arranged between the ground conductor 22b and the ground conductor 32a in such a way as to surround the central conductor 23 in which the input and output terminals 24a, 24b, and 24c are formed integrally.
In the state where the non-reciprocal circuit element 2 is placed on the third main surface of the dielectric substrate 3, the solder balls are heated and melt in a reflow oven, and are then cooled and solidified, so that the solder connection portions 36a, 36b, 36c, and 41 are formed. As shown in
Further, the cavity 50 is formed in a portion enclosed and denoted by an alternate long and short dash line in
For convenience in explanation, it is assumed that the ground conductor removal portion 40 is a perfect circle, and the diameter of the cylindrical cavity 50 is D, as shown in
The TM010 resonance has a relation between the diameter D and the resonant wavelength Ac, which is shown by the following equation (1), as described in, for example, Reference literature 1 and Reference literature 2.
The TM010 resonance is generally an unnecessary resonance which interferes with the operation of the non-reciprocal circuit. In order to suppress the unnecessary resonance, the diameter D of the cavity 50 in the non-reciprocal circuit 1 is set to less than approximately 0.8 (approximately four-fifths) of the propagation wavelength λh at the high frequency end of the used frequency band in which the non-reciprocal circuit 1 is made to operate, as shown in the following equation (2). By providing the diameter D as shown above, the frequency at which the unnecessary resonance occurs shifts to a higher one in the non-reciprocal circuit 1.
Next, the operation of the non-reciprocal circuit 1 will be explained.
In the non-reciprocal circuit 1, a bias magnetic field which is a DC magnetic field is applied to the magnetic substrate 21 by the permanent magnet 27a and the permanent magnet 27b. The permanent magnet 27a and the permanent magnet 27b apply the magnetic field to the magnetic substrate 21 only along a single direction of the magnetic substrate, so that a high frequency signal which has propagated through one of the signal conductors 33a, 33b, and 33c is outputted from an input and output terminal in a specific direction out of the input and output terminals 24a, 24b, and 24c.
For example, a high frequency signal inputted to the input and output terminal 24a propagates through the central conductor 23 almost without attenuating, and is outputted from the input and output terminal 24b. A high frequency signal to be outputted from the input and output terminal 24c, out of high frequency signals inputted to the input and output terminal 24a, attenuates greatly while propagating through the central conductor 23.
Further, a high frequency signal inputted to the input and output terminal 24b propagates through the central conductor 23 almost without attenuating, and is outputted from the input and output terminal 24c. A high frequency signal to be outputted from the input and output terminal 24a, out of high frequency signals inputted to the input and output terminal 24b, attenuates greatly while propagating through the central conductor 23.
In addition, a high frequency signal inputted to the input and output terminal 24c propagates through the central conductor 23 almost without attenuating, and is outputted from the input and output terminal 24a. A high frequency signal to be outputted from the input and output terminal 24b, out of high frequency signals inputted to the input and output terminal 24c, attenuates greatly while propagating through the central conductor 23.
As mentioned above, the non-reciprocal circuit 1 has a characteristic of hardly attenuating high frequency signals in the transmission direction, but greatly attenuating high frequency signals in the opposite direction.
As mentioned above, the non-reciprocal circuit 1 according to Embodiment 1 includes: the non-reciprocal circuit element 2 having the magnetic substrate 21, the ground conductor 22a, the central conductor 23, the input and output terminals 24a, 24b, and 24c, the ground conductor 22b, the through holes 25, the permanent magnet 27a, and the permanent magnet 27b; and the dielectric substrate 3 having the input and output terminals 31a, 31b, and 31c, the ground conductor 32a, the ground conductor removal portion 40, and the solder connection portions 36a, 36b, 36c, and 41. The ground conductor removal portion 40 is disposed at a position at which the ground conductor removal portion 40 faces the permanent magnet 27b, on the dielectric substrate 3. The permanent magnet 27b has a thickness thinner than the heights of the solder connection portions 36a, 36b, 36c, and 41. Therefore, because when disposing the permanent magnet 27b above the dielectric substrate 3, a hole for disposing the permanent magnet is unnecessary, the strength of the dielectric substrate 3 is prevented from degrading.
Further, because the hole for disposing the permanent magnet 27b is unnecessary, the surface of the permanent magnet 27b which faces the dielectric substrate 3 can be made to have an area which is large enough to uniformly apply a uniform bias magnetic field to the central conductor 23.
In addition, because the cavity 50 formed in the non-reciprocal circuit 1 can be made to be smaller than the propagation wavelength λh of high frequency signals, the frequency of the cavity resonance (TM010 resonance) shifts to a higher frequency.
As a result, the non-reciprocal circuit 1 can operate throughout a wide frequency band without degrading the strength of the dielectric substrate 3.
In the non-reciprocal circuit 1 according to Embodiment 1, the ground conductor 22b is disposed in the surroundings of the central conductor 23 on the magnetic substrate 21. The multiple through holes 25 electrically connect the ground conductor 22a and the ground conductor 22b. The ground conductor 32a is disposed in the surroundings of the ground conductor removal portion 40 of the dielectric substrate 3, and in the surroundings of each of the input and output terminals 31a, 31b, and 31c. The solder connection portions 41 are disposed in the surroundings of the central conductor 23, and electrically connect the ground conductor 22b and the ground conductor 32a.
In addition, the non-reciprocal circuit 1 includes: the signal conductors 33a, 33b, and 33c which are disposed in the inner layer of the dielectric substrate 3, and which are electrically connected, respectively, to the input and output terminals 31a, 31b, and 31c; the ground conductor 32b disposed on the dielectric substrate 3; and the through holes 35 which electrically connect the ground conductor 32a and the ground conductor 32b.
Because the non-reciprocal circuit has these components, the cavity 50 formed in the non-reciprocal circuit 1 can be configured into the one whose size is smaller than the propagation wavelength λh of high frequency signals, and in which the frequency of the TM010 resonance is shifted to a higher frequency.
In the non-reciprocal circuit 1 according to Embodiment 1, the ground conductor removal portion 40 has a circular shape, and has a diameter less than or equal to four-fifths of the propagation wavelength in the used frequency band. Because the non-reciprocal circuit 1 is configured in this way, the cavity 50 formed in the non-reciprocal circuit 1 can be configured into the one whose size is smaller than the propagation wavelength λh of high frequency signals, and in which the frequency of the TM010 resonance is shifted to a higher frequency.
The resin fixing portion 60 is configured by placing a resin material on a third main surface of the dielectric substrate 3 in such a way that the resin material surrounds an end portion of the magnetic substrate 21. The resin fixing portion 60 is formed by applying a liquid curable resin to a side portion of the end portion of the magnetic substrate 21, and heating the liquid curable resin to cure this liquid curable resin, so that the magnetic substrate 21 is fixed to the dielectric substrate 3. By disposing the resin fixing portion 60, the degree of adhesion between the non-reciprocal circuit element 2 and the dielectric substrate 3 is strengthened.
As mentioned above, the non-reciprocal circuit 1A according to Embodiment 2 includes the resin fixing portion 60 which is made of the resin material disposed at the end portion of the magnetic substrate 21, on the dielectric substrate 3, and which fixes the magnetic substrate 21 to the dielectric substrate 3. Because the resin fixing portion 60 strengthens the degree of adhesion between the non-reciprocal circuit element 2 and the dielectric substrate 3, breakage or lack of solder connection portions 36a, 36b, 36c, and 41 which is caused by a thermal stress or vibrations is reduced. As a result, the durability of the non-reciprocal circuit 1A is improved, and its reliability is also improved.
It is to be understood that a combination of embodiments can be made, a change can be made to any component in each of the embodiments, or any component in each of the embodiments can be omitted.
The non-reciprocal circuit according to the present disclosure can be used as, for example, a circulator or an isolator which communication equipment includes.
1, 1A non-reciprocal circuit, 2 non-reciprocal circuit element, 3 dielectric substrate, 21 magnetic substrate, 22a, 22b, 32a, 32b ground conductor, 23 central conductor, 24a, 24b, 24c, 31a, 31b, 31c input and output terminal, 25, 35 through hole, 27a, 27b permanent magnet, 28 adhesive, 30 multilayer substrate, 33a, 33b, 33c signal conductor, 34a, 34b, 34c via hole, 36a, 36b, 36c, 41 solder connection portion, 40 ground conductor removal portion, 50 cavity, and 60 resin fixing portion.
This application is a Continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2022/008016, filed on Feb. 25, 2022, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/JP2022/008016 | Feb 2022 | WO |
Child | 18783137 | US |