Exemplary embodiments relate to a resonator for radio frequency, RF, signals.
Further exemplary embodiments relate to a filter for RF signals.
Further exemplary embodiments relate to a method of filtering RF signals.
Resonators for RF signals may be used to provide filters for RF signals.
Exemplary embodiments relate to a resonator for radio frequency, RF, signals, said resonator comprising a cavity having a longitudinal axis, a first wall, at least one side wall, and a lid arranged opposite the first wall, wherein said resonator further comprises a guiding device which is arranged at said at least one side wall and is configured to guide an axial movement of said lid along said longitudinal axis. This enables an efficient tuning of the resonator, particularly of a resonant frequency of said resonator. Thus, no further, separate tuning elements as known from conventional systems are required for tuning said resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said first wall may be a bottom wall of the resonator, and/or said lid may be a top wall of the resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said cavity may comprise a rectangular cross-section. According to further exemplary embodiments, said cavity may comprise a circular cross-section.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said guiding device comprises a first thread, preferably an internal (i.e., female) thread, and said lid comprises a second thread, preferably an external (i.e., male) thread that fits to said first thread of said guiding device. Thus, a precise tuning of the resonator's resonant frequency is enabled by rotating said lid within the guiding device. In these embodiments, the guiding device is configured to guide both a rotational movement and said axial movement of the lid with respect to the resonator's cavity.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said guiding device comprises a first serrated surface, and said lid comprises a second serrated surface that fits to said first serrated surface of said guiding device. This enables a stepwise axial movement of said lid relative to said cavity, i.e. without rotation of said lid. According to further exemplary embodiments, the serrated surfaces may be provided in the form of a “step slide”, or generally by any structure enabling—at least to some extent—form closure between the lid and the side wall(s) to retain the lid in its place in the absence of external forces. However, if an external force is applied, e.g. in an axial direction, said force exceeding a predetermined threshold (e.g. the retention force of the form closure), the lid may be moved axially to effect tuning.
According to further exemplary embodiments, a step size of said stepwise axial movement (and/or a force required to effect said movement, i.e. to at least temporarily overcome said form closure) may be controlled by providing the serrated surfaces with a corresponding geometry. According to further exemplary embodiments, guiding means comprising said serrated surfaces may be used with rectangular and/or circular cross-section of said cavity, while according to other exemplary embodiments guiding means comprising threads are preferably used with a circular cross-section of said cavity.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said guiding device is arranged in a first axial end section of said cavity (having rectangular or circular cross-section, e.g.), and said first wall (for example, bottom wall) is arranged in a second axial end section of said side wall.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said first wall comprises at least one resonator post extending into said cavity (preferably perpendicular to an inner surface of said first wall). According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post comprises a circular cylindrical shape. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post comprises a hollow (circular) cylindrical shape. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post is arranged coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cavity.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said lid comprises at least one resonator post extending into said cavity, preferably perpendicular to an inner surface of said lid. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post of said lid comprises a circular cylindrical shape. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post comprises a hollow (circular) cylindrical shape.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post is arranged coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cavity and/or an optional resonator post extending from said first wall into said cavity.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said first wall comprises at least one opening, which enables to exchange RF signals and/or generally electromagnetic energy with an adjacent volume such as an optional neighboring further resonator and/or any other component or system configured to be coupled to said resonator. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one opening of said first wall comprises a circular (and/or circular ring) shape, preferably arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the cavity of said resonator. According to further exemplary embodiments, a plurality of openings may be provided in said first wall, wherein preferably said plurality of openings is arranged circumferentially around said longitudinal axis of the cavity. According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one of said plurality of openings may comprise a rectangular shape, preferably with rounded edges.
According to further embodiments, said at least one lid comprises a profile, e.g. screw profile, for example a hexagonal profile, e.g. similar to a hex nut, which facilitates driving a rotational movement of said lid, e.g. for tuning the resonator cavity associated with said lid. According to further embodiments, said profile is provided on a surface of said lid, preferably an outer surface of said lid, to enable easy access from the outside of the resonator.
Further exemplary embodiments relate to an apparatus comprising a first resonator according to at least one of the preceding claims and at least one further resonator for radio frequency, RF, signals which is preferably coupled with said first resonator. This way, a compact and mechanically stable configuration having two resonators may be provided, wherein at least the first resonator is efficiently tunable regarding its resonant frequency by means of at least axially moving its lid.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one further resonator of said apparatus may be a resonator according to the embodiments. This way, a compact and mechanically stable configuration having two resonators may be provided, wherein at least the first resonator and the further resonator are efficiently tunable regarding their resonant frequency by means of at least axially moving the respective lid.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one further resonator may be a conventional resonator. According to further exemplary embodiments, said first resonator and said at least one further resonator (or their respective cavities) are not coupled with each other.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one further resonator is a second resonator, wherein said second resonator comprises a configuration according to the embodiments. I.e., according to further exemplary embodiments, said second resonator comprises a cavity having a longitudinal axis, a first wall, at least one side wall, and a lid arranged opposite the first wall, wherein said second resonator further comprises a guiding device which is arranged at said at least one side wall and is configured to guide an axial movement of said lid along said longitudinal axis (preferably at least an axial movement, in case of e.g. serrated surfaces, and both a rotational and an axial movement in case of a thread connection between the guiding device and the lid).
According to further exemplary embodiments, the first wall of the first resonator and the first wall of the second resonator are adjacent to each other forming a common wall which at least partly (e.g., apart from one or more optional openings for RF signal coupling) separates the cavity of the first resonator and the cavity of the second resonator from each other, wherein preferably said common wall comprises at least one opening. This enables a particularly small configuration of the apparatus, which may also be referred to as “stacked configuration”, because the first resonator and the second resonator may be arranged together along the longitudinal axis of their cavities. According to further exemplary embodiments, the first resonator and the second resonator are arranged relative to each other such that the longitudinal axes of their respective cavities are collinear.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one opening of said common wall comprises a circular (and/or circular ring) shape, preferably arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis of at least one adjacent cavity. According to further exemplary embodiments, a plurality of openings may be provided in said common wall, wherein preferably said plurality of openings is arranged circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of said at least one adjacent cavity. According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one of said plurality of openings may comprise a rectangular shape, preferably with rounded edges.
According to further exemplary embodiments, the cavity of the first resonator may have a first geometry, e.g. particular cross-section (shape and/or size), and the cavity of the second resonator may have a second geometry, e.g. particular cross-section, wherein said second geometry is different from said first geometry. According to further exemplary embodiments, the second geometry may be similar or identical to the first geometry.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one side wall of the first resonator and said at least one side wall of the second resonator are made of one piece forming a common side wall for both said first cavity and said second cavity, which yields a particularly compact configuration with high mechanical stability.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said common wall and said common side wall are made of one piece.
According to further exemplary embodiments, a third resonator with a cavity is provided, wherein said third resonator comprises at least one side wall and is arranged such that a first axial end section of its cavity faces a first axial end section of the cavity of the second resonator, wherein a common lid is provided between the second resonator and the third resonator, said common lid at least partly, preferably fully, covering the cavity of the second resonator and the cavity of the third resonator. This way, a compact and mechanically stable configuration having three resonators may be provided, wherein at least the first resonator is efficiently tunable regarding its resonant frequency by means of at least axially moving its lid.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said apparatus further comprises a fourth resonator with a cavity, a first wall, and at least one side wall, wherein a first wall of the third resonator and the first wall of the fourth resonator are adjacent to each other forming a further common wall which at least partly (e.g., apart from one or more optional openings for RF signal coupling) separates the cavity of the third resonator and the cavity of the fourth resonator from each other. This way, a compact and mechanically stable configuration having four resonators may be provided, wherein at least the first resonator and/or the further resonator are efficiently tunable regarding their resonant frequency by means of at least axially moving their respective lid.
According to further exemplary embodiments, the shape of said fourth resonator is similar or identical to the shape of the first and/or second resonator. As an example, the fourth resonator may also comprise an (at least) axially movable lid opposing said further common wall, which enables individual tuning of the resonant frequency of said fourth resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said further common wall comprises at least one opening, which enables RF signal coupling between the cavity of the third resonator and the cavity of the fourth resonator. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one opening of said further common wall comprises a circular (and/or circular ring) shape, preferably arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis of at least one adjacent cavity.
According to further exemplary embodiments, a plurality of openings may be provided in said further common wall, wherein preferably said plurality of openings is arranged circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of said at least one adjacent cavity. According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one of said plurality of openings may comprise a rectangular shape, preferably with rounded edges.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one side wall of the third resonator and said at least one side wall of the fourth resonator are made of one piece forming a further common side wall for both the cavity of the third resonator and the cavity of the fourth resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said further common wall and said further common side wall are made of one piece, which enables a mechanically stable and yet compact design.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said second resonator comprises a guiding device which is arranged at a first axial end section of said cavity of the second resonator and is configured to guide an axial movement of said common lid with respect to said cavity of the second resonator along a longitudinal axis of said cavity of the second resonator. This enables to tune the resonant frequency of the cavity of the second resonator by means of at least axially moving its lid.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said guiding device of said second resonator may have a configuration similar or identical to the guiding device of the first resonator. This way, by axially moving the lid of the first resonator, the resonant frequency of the cavity of the first resonator may be tuned, and by axially moving the common lid relative to the cavity of the second resonator, the resonant frequency of the cavity of the second resonator may be tuned.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said third resonator comprises a guiding device which is arranged at a first axial end section of said cavity of the third resonator and is configured to guide an axial movement of said common lid with respect to said cavity of the third resonator along a longitudinal axis of said cavity of the third resonator. This enables to tune the resonant frequency of the cavity of the third resonator by means of at least axially moving the common lid relative to the cavity of the third resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said piece comprising said further common wall and said further common side wall may be moved, together with said common lid (i.e., there is no relative movement between said piece and said common lid), axially with respect to the second resonator, whereby the resonant frequency of the cavity of the second resonator may be tuned, whereas the resonant frequency of the cavity of the third resonator is not altered as the common lid is not moved axially with respect to said cavity of the third resonator while tuning said second resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said piece comprising said further common wall and said further common side wall may be moved axially with respect to the common lid, whereby the resonant frequency of the cavity of the third resonator may be tuned, whereas the resonant frequency of the cavity of the second resonator, which is adjacent to said common lid, is not altered as the common lid is not required to be moved axially with respect to said cavity of the second resonator while tuning said third resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said guiding device of the second resonator comprises a thread, preferably an inner (i.e., female) thread, wherein said common lid also comprises a thread, preferably an outer (i.e., male) thread that fits to said thread of said guiding device of the second resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said guiding device of the third resonator comprises a thread, preferably an inner (i.e., female) thread, wherein said common lid also comprises a thread, preferably an outer (i.e., male) thread that fits to said thread of said guiding device of the third resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one lid of said resonator comprises a circular cylindric shape, e.g. circular disc shape.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said common lid comprises a circular cylindric shape, e.g. circular disc shape. According to further exemplary embodiments, said common lid may comprise a radially outer section of said circular cylindric shape, where an outer (i.e., male) thread is provided which fits to the inner thread of said guiding device of the second resonator and/or the guiding device of the third resonator. According to further exemplary embodiments, said common lid is designed such that its outer thread can be screwed into both the inner thread of the guiding device of the second resonator and the inner thread of the guiding device of the third resonator at the same time.
According to further exemplary embodiments, an axial length (i.e., as seen parallel to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus and/or at least one of its resonator cavities) of said outer thread of the common lid is chosen such that a) it can be screwed into both the inner thread of the guiding device of the second resonator and the inner thread of the guiding device of the third resonator at the same time, thus mechanically coupling the second resonator and the third resonator with each other, and b) tuning of the second and/or third resonator is still possible, i.e. by screwing the common lid further into/out of the second and/or third resonator or the respective guiding devices of said resonators.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said common lid comprises at least one resonator post extending into at least one cavity adjacent to said common lid. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post of said common lid may be arranged on a first surface of said common lid facing the cavity of the second resonator, such that said at least one resonator post of the common lid extends into said cavity of the second resonator. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post of said common lid may be arranged on a second surface of said common lid facing the cavity of the third resonator, such that said at least one resonator post of the common lid extends into said cavity of the third resonator. According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one resonator post of said common lid may be arranged on said first surface of said common lid, and at least one (further) resonator post of said common lid may be arranged on said second surface.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post of said common lid comprises a circular cylindrical shape. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post of said common lid comprises a hollow (circular) cylindrical shape. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post of said common lid is arranged coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis of an adjacent cavity (i.e., of the second and/or third resonator) and/or with respect to an optional resonator post extending from another wall of said second and/or third resonator (i.e., the common wall and/or the further common wall and/or a first wall of the second resonator and/or a first wall of the third resonator) into the respective cavity.
According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one of said walls (e.g., first wall and/or side wall and/or common wall and/or further common wall and/or common side wall and/or further common side wall) and or said lids (lid of a resonator and/or common lid) of any of said resonators may comprise or be made of electrically conductive material such as copper, and/or may at least comprise an electrically conductive surface.
According to further exemplary embodiments, the principle of vertically (i.e., along a longitudinal axis) stacking of resonators may be extended to greater numbers of resonators, i.e. 5 or more.
Further exemplary embodiments relate to a filter for radio frequency, RF, signals comprising at least one resonator according to the embodiments and/or at least one apparatus according to the embodiments.
Further exemplary embodiments relate to a method of filtering a radio frequency, RF, signal, comprising passing said RF signal through a filter according to the embodiments.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said method further comprises tuning at least one resonator (e.g., its resonant frequency) of said filter by at least axially moving said lid (i.e., the lid of the resonator cavity and/or a common lid arranged between two cavities) with respect to said at least one cavity facing said (common) lid.
Some exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The resonator 100 comprises a cavity 110 having a longitudinal axis 110′, a first wall 120, at least one side wall 130, and a lid 140 arranged opposite the first wall 120, wherein said resonator 100 further comprises a guiding device 150 which is arranged at said at least one side wall 130 and is configured to guide an axial movement A1 of said lid 140 along said longitudinal axis 110′. This enables an efficient tuning of the resonator 100, particularly of a resonant frequency of said resonator 100. Thus, no further, separate tuning elements as known from conventional systems are required for tuning said resonator 100.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said first wall 120 may be a bottom wall of the resonator 100, and/or said lid 140 may be a top wall of the resonator 100. Presently, the guiding means 150 is arranged in a first axial end section 110a of the cavity 110, and the first wall 120 is arranged in a second axial end section 110b of the cavity 110.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said cavity 110 may comprise a rectangular cross-section (in this case, e.g. four side walls pairwise parallel to each other may be provided). According to further exemplary embodiments, said cavity 110 may comprise a circular cross-section (in this case, e.g. said (single) side wall 130 may be provided, which may e.g. comprise a basically hollow circular cylindrical shape).
According to further exemplary embodiments, cf. the resonator 100a of
According to further embodiments, said lid 140 comprises a profile 144, e.g. screw profile, for example a hexagonal profile similar to a hex nut, which facilitates driving a rotational movement of said lid 140, e.g. for tuning the resonator cavity 110 associated with said lid 140. According to further embodiments, said profile 144 is provided on a surface of said lid 144, preferably an outer surface of said lid, to enable easy access from the outside of the resonator 100a.
According to further embodiments, said guiding device 150a of the resonator 100a of
According to further exemplary embodiments, cf. the resonator 100c of
According to further exemplary embodiments, guiding means 150c comprising said serrated surfaces 154 may be used with rectangular and/or circular cross-sections of said cavity 110, while according to other exemplary embodiments guiding means 150a (FIG. 2A) comprising threads are preferably used with a circular cross-section of said cavity 110.
According to further exemplary embodiments, cf. the resonator 100d of
According to further exemplary embodiments, said lid 140 comprises at least one resonator post 146 extending into said cavity 110, preferably perpendicular to an inner surface of said lid 140. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post 146 of said lid 140 comprises a circular cylindrical shape. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post 146 comprises a hollow (circular) cylindrical shape, as exemplarily depicted by
According to further exemplary embodiments, cf. the resonator 100e of
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one opening 124 of said first wall 120, comprises a circular (and/or circular ring) shape, preferably arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cavity 110 of said resonator 100f.
According to further exemplary embodiments, cf. the resonator 100g of
Further exemplary embodiments, cf.
According to further exemplary embodiments, more than two resonators 1100, 1100′ may also be arranged together, preferably along their axial direction, e.g. in a stacked configuration, wherein at least two resonators of said configuration may be coupled with each other. However, according to further exemplary embodiments, two or more resonators 1100, 1100′ may also be arranged together, preferably along their axial direction, e.g. in a stacked configuration, wherein no coupling between adjacent (or non-adjacent or between any) resonators of such stack may be provided.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one further resonator 1100′ of said apparatus 1000 (
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one further resonator 1100′ may be a conventional resonator. According to further exemplary embodiments, said first resonator and said at least one further resonator (or their respective cavities) are not coupled with each other.
According to further exemplary embodiments, cf. the apparatus 1000a of
According to further exemplary embodiments, the first wall 120 of the first resonator 1100 and the first wall 220 of the second resonator 1200 are adjacent to each other forming a common wall 1020 of the apparatus 1000a which at least partly (e.g., apart from one or more optional openings 1024 for RF signal coupling A3) separates the cavity 110 of the first resonator 1100 and the cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200 from each other, wherein preferably said common wall 1020 comprises at least one opening 1024. This enables a particularly small configuration of the apparatus 1000a, which may also be referred to as “stacked configuration”, because the first resonator 1100 and the second resonator 1200 may be arranged together along the longitudinal axes 110′, 210′ of their cavities. According to further exemplary embodiments, the first resonator 1100 and the second resonator 1200 are arranged relative to each other such that the longitudinal axes 110′, 210′ of their respective cavities 110, 210 are collinear.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one opening 1024 of said common wall 1020 comprises a circular (and/or circular ring) shape, preferably arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis 110′, 210′ of at least one adjacent cavity 110, 210. According to further exemplary embodiments, a plurality of openings (not depicted in
According to further exemplary embodiments, the cavity 110 of the first resonator 1100 may have a first geometry, e.g. particular cross-section (shape and/or size), and the cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200 may have a second geometry, e.g. particular cross-section, wherein said second geometry is different from said first geometry.
According to further exemplary embodiments, the second geometry may be similar or identical to the first geometry.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one side wall 130 of the first resonator 1100 and said at least one side wall 230 of the second resonator 1200 are made of one piece forming a common side wall 1030 for both said first cavity 110 and said second cavity 210, which yields a particularly compact configuration with high mechanical stability.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said common wall 1020 and said common side wall 1030 are made of one piece 1040.
According to further exemplary embodiments, in a first axial end section 1040a of said piece 1040 (corresponding with a first axial end section 110a of the first resonator 1100), a first guiding device 150 is provided enabling at least axial movement Ala of the lid 140 of the first resonator 1100 and thus individual tuning of the resonant frequency of the first resonator 1100.
Similarly, according to further exemplary embodiments, in a second axial end section 1040b of said piece 1040 (corresponding with a first axial end section 210a of the second resonator 1200), a second guiding device 250 is provided enabling at least axial movement A1b of the lid 250 of the second resonator 1200 and thus individual tuning of the resonant frequency of the second resonator 1200. This way, the resonant frequencies of both resonators 1100, 1200 can efficiently be tuned from outside the apparatus 1000a (and independently from each other) by moving at least one of the lids 140, 240, while the cavities 110, 210 are at least partly separated from each other by means of the common wall 1020 arranged in respective second axial end sections 110b, 210b of the cavities 110, 210.
According to further exemplary embodiments, the common wall 1020 comprises resonator posts 1022 extending into both adjacent cavities 110, 210, wherein said resonator posts 1022 presently comprise hollow circular cylindrical shape, similar to the resonator posts 122 of
According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one of the lids 140, 240 may also comprise at least one resonator post 146, 246, e.g. similar to the embodiments exemplarily depicted by
In contrast, the further RF filter 2000′ of
In the following, further exemplary embodiments are explained with reference to the apparatus 1000d of
According to further exemplary embodiments, said third resonator 1300 comprises a first wall 320 in a second axial end section 310b of the cavity 310, which may optionally comprise at least one resonator post 322 extending into the cavity 310, e.g. similar to resonator post 122 of
According to further exemplary embodiments, said second resonator 1200 comprises a guiding device 250 which is arranged at a first axial end section 210a of said cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200 and is configured to guide an axial movement A5 of said common lid 1060 with respect to said cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200 along a longitudinal axis 210′ of said cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200. This enables to tune the resonant frequency of the cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200 by means of at least axially moving the common lid 1060.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said guiding device 250 of said second resonator 1200 may have a configuration similar or identical to the guiding device 150 of the first resonator 1100. This way, by axially moving the lid 140 of the first resonator 1100, the resonant frequency of the cavity 110 of the first resonator 1100 may be tuned, and by axially moving the common lid 1060 relative to the cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200, the resonant frequency of the cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200 may be tuned.
According to further exemplary embodiments, different resonators of an apparatus 1000d, however, may comprise different types of guiding devices. As an example, a first guiding device associated with a first cavity may comprise a thread mechanism 150a (
According to further exemplary embodiments, said third resonator 1300 (
According to further exemplary embodiments, said piece 1040 comprising said common wall 1020 and said common side wall 1030 may be moved, together with said common lid 1060 (i.e., there is no relative movement between said piece 1040 and said common lid 1060), (at least) axially with respect to the third resonator 1300, whereby the resonant frequency of the cavity 310 of the third resonator 1300 may be tuned, whereas the resonant frequency of the cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200 is not altered as the common lid 1060 is not moved axially with respect to said cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200 while tuning said third resonator 1300.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said piece 1040 comprising said common wall 1020 and said common side wall 1030 may be moved axially with respect to the common lid 1060, whereby the resonant frequency of the cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200 of the apparatus 1000d may be tuned, whereas the resonant frequency of the cavity 310 of the third resonator 1300, which is adjacent to said common lid 1060, is not altered as the common lid 1060 is not required to be moved axially with respect to said cavity 310 of the third resonator 1300 while tuning said second resonator 1200.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said guiding device 250 of the second resonator 1200 comprises a thread 252, preferably an inner (i.e., female) thread 252, wherein said common lid 1060 also comprises a thread, preferably an outer (i.e., male) thread 1062a arranged at a radially outer section 1062 of the common lid 1060, wherein said male thread 1062a of the common lid 1060 fits to said thread 252 of said guiding device 250 of the second resonator 1200.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said guiding device 350 of the third resonator 1300 comprises a thread 352, preferably an inner (i.e., female) thread 352, wherein said common lid 1060 comprises said male thread 1062a that also fits to said thread 352 of said guiding device 350 of the third resonator 130. This way, axial (and rotational) movement of the common lid 1060 with respect to both adjacent resonators 1200, 1300 may be effected.
According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one lid 140, 1060 of said apparatus 1000d comprises a circular cylindric shape, e.g. circular disc shape.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said common lid 1060 (
According to further exemplary embodiments, an axial length (i.e., as seen parallel to a longitudinal axis 210′, 310′ of the apparatus 1000d and/or at least one of its resonator cavities 210, 310) of said outer thread 1062a of the common lid 1060 is chosen such that a) it can be screwed into both the inner thread 252 of the guiding device 250 of the second resonator 1200 and the inner thread 352 of the guiding device 350 of the third resonator 1300 at the same time, thus mechanically coupling the second resonator 1200 and the third resonator 1300 with each other, and b) tuning of the second and/or third resonator is still possible, i.e. by screwing the common lid 1060 further into/out of the second and/or third resonator or the respective guiding devices 250, 350 of said resonators 1200, 1300.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said common lid 1060 comprises at least one resonator post 1064, 1064 extending into at least one cavity 210, 310 adjacent to said common lid 1060. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post 1064 of said common lid 1060 may be arranged on a first surface 1061a of said common lid 1060 facing the cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200, such that said at least one resonator post 1064 of the common lid 1060 extends into said cavity 210 of the second resonator 1200. According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one resonator post 1065 of said common lid 1060 may be arranged on a second surface 1061b of said common lid 1060 facing the cavity 310 of the third resonator 1300, such that said resonator post 1065 of the common lid 1060 extends into said cavity 310 of the third resonator 1300. According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one resonator post 1064, 1065 of said common lid 1060 may be arranged on said first surface 1061a of said common lid 1060, and at least one (further) resonator post 1065 of said common lid 1060 may be arranged on said second surface 1061b.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post 1064, 1065 of said common lid 1060 comprises a circular cylindrical shape. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one resonator post 1064, 1065 of said common lid 1060 comprises a hollow (circular) cylindrical shape, cf.
According to further embodiments, at least one of the guiding devices 150, 250, 350 may also comprise an outer thread (not shown), and the (common) lid 140, 1060 may comprise a corresponding inner thread (or two inner threads) (not shown) that fit(s) to said outer thread(s). As an example, according to further embodiments, the guiding devices 250, 350 may comprise outer threads (not shown), and the radially outer section 1062 of the common lid 1060 may comprise inner threads (not shown) to cooperate with one of said outer threads of the guiding devices 250, 350 each.
According to further exemplary embodiments, cf. the apparatus 1000e of
Further, as can be seen from
According to further exemplary embodiments, the shape of said fourth resonator 1400 is similar or identical to the shape of the first and/or second resonator 1200. As an example, the fourth resonator 1400 may also comprise an (at least) axially movable lid 440 opposing said further common wall 1021, which enables individual tuning of the resonant frequency of said fourth resonator.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said further common wall 1021 comprises at least one opening 1025, which enables RF signal coupling between the cavity 310 of the third resonator 1300 and the cavity 410 of the fourth resonator 1400. According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one opening 1025 of said further common wall 1021 comprises a circular (and/or circular ring) shape, preferably arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis 310′, 410′ of at least one adjacent cavity.
According to further exemplary embodiments, a plurality of openings (not shown) may be provided in said further common wall 1021, wherein preferably said plurality of openings is arranged circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of said at least one adjacent cavity. According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one of said plurality of openings may comprise a rectangular shape, preferably with rounded edges.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said at least one side wall 330 of the third resonator 1300 and said at least one side wall 430 of the fourth resonator 1400 are made of one piece forming a further common side wall 1031 for both the cavity 310 of the third resonator 1300 and the cavity 410 of the fourth resonator 1400.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said further common wall 1021 and said further common side wall 1031 are made of one piece 1041, which enables a mechanically stable and yet compact design.
According to further exemplary embodiments, said one piece 1041 is similar to said one piece 1040 comprising the first and second resonators 1100, 1200, so that common parts 1040, 1041 may be provided to form the pairs 1100, 1200 and 1300, 1400 of resonators.
Tuning of any of the resonators 1100, 1200, 1300 of the apparatus 1000e of
According to further exemplary embodiments, it is also possible to provide a fixed first wall (not shown) instead of the lid 440 for the fourth resonator 1400.
According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one of said walls (e.g., first wall 120, 220, 320, 420 and/or side wall 130, 230, 330, 430 and/or common wall 1020 and/or further common wall 1021 and/or common side wall 1030 and/or further common side wall 1031) and or said lids (lid 140, 240, 340, 440 of a resonator and/or common lid 1060) of any of said resonators may comprise or be made of electrically conductive material such as copper, and/or may at least comprise an electrically conductive surface, e.g. a metallized surface.
Further exemplary embodiments relate to a filter for radio frequency, RF, signals comprising at least one resonator according to the embodiments and/or at least one apparatus according to the embodiments. Exemplary filters 2000, 2000′ have already been explained above with reference to
According to further exemplary embodiments, at least one of said common walls 2102, 2104, 2106 comprises one or more openings 124a, . . . to enable coupling of RF energy between adjacent cavities, wherein said openings may be similar or identical to the openings 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d explained above with reference to
According to further exemplary embodiments, the common walls 2102, 2104, 2106 of the filter 2000a of
According to further exemplary embodiments, guiding means comprising serrated surfaces 154 (
Further exemplary embodiments relate to a method of filtering a radio frequency, RF, signal, comprising passing said RF signal through a filter according to the embodiments.
The method comprises a step 510 of passing an RF input signal is (
According to further exemplary embodiments, said method further comprises at least one optional step 500, 520 of tuning at least one resonator (e.g., its resonant frequency) of said filter 2000a by at least axially moving a lid 140 (
According to further exemplary embodiments, the filter 2000 of
According to further exemplary embodiments, the tuning principle based on the (common) lid 140, 1060 may be applied to any type of cavity resonator, e.g. air-filled resonators and/or dielectric-filled resonators.
Further exemplary embodiments enable to provide resonators and filters for RF signals that comprise at least one of the following advantages: compact size, low cost, low loss, easily tunable, without sacrificing performance, enabling a compact integration with a target system such as an antenna and/or transceiver.
Further exemplary embodiments are particularly suited for use with 5G (fifth generation) communications systems, which are e.g. based on massive MIMO (multi-input multi-output) techniques that may require that one or two transceivers are provided per one or two or more antenna elements, which may drastically increase the number of transceivers required—as compared to other radio communications systems. According to further exemplary embodiments, in order to provide an antenna (system) with a great number of radiating elements closely spaced together, the transceivers supporting each antenna element may be physically placed behind each antenna element (with respect to a main direction of radiation, e.g. a main lobe of the antenna characteristic). In this context, according to further exemplary embodiments, RF filters for the antenna(s) may be physically arranged behind the radiating element(s) of the antenna(s), wherein such compact integration is facilitated by the RF resonators and RF filters according to further exemplary embodiments.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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18209445.8 | Nov 2018 | EP | regional |