Claims
- 1. A tunable electrical filter comprising:
(a) an input locus for receiving input signals to the filter; said input locus being coupled with at least one conductive member; (b) an output locus for presenting output signals from the filter; said output locus being coupled with said at least one conductive member; (c) a plurality of resonator units; said plurality of resonator units being coupled with said at least one conductive member; and (d) at least one tunable dielectric varactor unit; each respective tunable dielectric varactor unit of said at least one tunable dielectric varactor unit being coupled with said at least one conductive member at a respective intermediate locus; each said respective intermediate locus being situated between a respective pair of said plurality of resonator units.
- 2. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claim 1 wherein respective resonator units of said plurality of resonator units comprise one of a coaxial cavity, a transmission line, a dielectric resonator or a waveguide.
- 3. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claim 1 wherein the tunable electrical filter further comprises:
(e) at least one access tunable dielectric varactor unit; a respective access tunable dielectric varactor unit of said at least one access tunable dielectric varactor unit being coupled with at least one of said input locus and said output locus.
- 4. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of resonator units are a plurality of microstrip units; said at least one conductive member being one conductive member; said plurality of microstrip units being coupled in series between said input locus and said output locus.
- 5. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claim 1 wherein each respective resonator unit of said plurality of resonator units is coupled in parallel from a respective first connection locus at a first conductive member of said at least one conductive member and a respective second connection locus at a second conductive member of said at least one conductive member.
- 6. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claim 4 wherein the tunable electrical filter further comprises:
(e) at least one access tunable dielectric varactor unit; a respective access tunable dielectric varactor unit of said at least one access tunable dielectric varactor unit being coupled with at least one of said input locus and said output locus.
- 7. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claim 5 wherein the tunable electrical filter further comprises:
(e) at least one access tunable dielectric varactor unit; a respective access tunable dielectric varactor unit of said at least one access tunable dielectric varactor unit being coupled with at least one of said input locus and said output locus.
- 8. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claims 1-7 wherein each respective tunable dielectric varactor unit of said at least one tunable dielectric varactor unit and each respective access tunable dielectric varactor unit of said at least one access tunable dielectric varactor unit comprises a substrate; a layer of voltage tunable dielectric material established in a first land on said substrate; a first electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a second land on said first land; a second electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a third land on said first land; said first land and said second land being separated by a gap.
- 9. A tunable electrical filter comprising:
(a) a plurality of resonator units coupled between an input locus and an output locus; and (b) a plurality of tunable dielectric varactor units; respective individual varactor units of said plurality of varactor units being coupled between respective pairs of said plurality of resonator units, coupled between said plurality of resonator units and said input locus, and coupled between said plurality of resonator units and said output locus.
- 10. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claim 9 wherein respective resonator units of said plurality of resonator units comprise one of a coaxial cavity, a transmission line, a dielectric resonator or a waveguide.
- 11. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claim 9 wherein each respective tunable dielectric varactor unit of said plurality of tunable dielectric varactor units comprises a substrate; a layer of voltage tunable dielectric material established in a first land on said substrate; a first electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a second land on said first land; a second electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a third land on said first land; said first land and said second land being separated by a gap.
- 12. A tunable electrical filter as recited in claim 10 wherein each respective tunable dielectric varactor unit of said plurality of tunable dielectric varactor units comprises a substrate; a layer of voltage tunable dielectric material established in a first land on said substrate; a first electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a second land on said first land; a second electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a third land on said first land; said first land and said second land being separated by a gap.
- 13. A method for delaying an electrical signal comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of resonator units coupled between an input locus and an output locus; (b) providing a plurality of tunable dielectric varactor units; respective individual varactor units of said plurality of varactor units being coupled between respective pairs of said plurality of resonator units, coupled between said plurality of resonator units and said input locus, and coupled between said plurality of resonator units and said output locus; each said respective individual varactor unit comprising a substrate; a layer of voltage tunable dielectric material established in a first land on said substrate; a first electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a second land on said first land; a second electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a third land on said first land; said first land and said second land being separated by a gap; (c) applying said electrical signal to said input locus; (d) applying a respective tuning voltage to said first electrode structure and said second electrode structure of each said respective varactor unit; each said respective varactor unit exhibiting a respective capacitance; said respective capacitance varying in response to said respective tuning voltage; and (e) receiving an output signal at said output locus; said output signal being delayed with respect to said electrical signal.
- 14. A method for delaying an electrical signal as recited in claim 13 wherein respective resonator units of said plurality of resonator units comprise one of a coaxial cavity, a transmission line, a dielectric resonator or a waveguide.
- 15. A feed forward amplifier comprising:
(a) an input port; said input port receiving an input signal; (b) a signal splitter coupled with said input port; said signal splitter receiving said input signal and producing first and second signals; (c) a signal amplifier coupled with said signal splitter; said signal amplifier receiving said first signal and amplifying said first signal to produce an amplified first signal; (d) a voltage tunable dielectric varactor delay filter coupled with said signal splitter; said voltage tunable dielectric varactor delay filter receiving said second signal and delaying said second signal to produce a delayed second signal; (e) a first combiner coupled with said signal amplifier and coupled with said voltage tunable dielectric varactor delay filter; said first combiner receiving said amplified first signal and said delayed second signal and combining at least a portion of said amplified first signal with said delayed second signal to produce an error signal; (f) an error amplifier coupled with said first combiner; said error amplifier receiving said error signal and amplifying said error signal to produce an amplified error signal; and (g) a second combiner coupled with said signal amplifier and coupled with said error amplifier; said second combiner receiving said amplified first signal and receiving said amplified error signal; said second combiner combining said amplified first signal and said amplified error signal to produce an output signal.
- 16. A feed forward amplifier as recited in claim 15 wherein said voltage tunable dielectric varactor delay filter comprises a plurality of resonator units coupled between an input locus and an output locus; and a plurality of tunable dielectric varactor units; respective individual varactor units of said plurality of varactor units being coupled between respective pairs of said plurality of resonator units, coupled between said plurality of resonator units and said input locus, and coupled between said plurality of resonator units and said output locus.
- 17. A feed forward amplifier as recited in claim 16 wherein respective resonator units of said plurality of resonator units comprise one of a coaxial cavity, a transmission line, a dielectric resonator or a waveguide.
- 18. A feed forward amplifier as recited in claim 16 wherein each respective tunable dielectric varactor unit of said plurality of tunable dielectric varactor units comprises a substrate; a layer of voltage tunable dielectric material established in a first land on said substrate; a first electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a second land on said first land; a second electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a third land on said first land; said first land and said second land being separated by a gap.
- 19. A feed forward amplifier as recited in claim 17 wherein each respective tunable dielectric varactor unit of said plurality of tunable dielectric varactor units comprises a substrate; a layer of voltage tunable dielectric material established in a first land on said substrate; a first electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a second land on said first land; a second electrode structure for receiving an electrical signal established in a third land on said first land; said first land and said second land being separated by a gap.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims benefit of prior filed copending Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/323,729, filed Sep. 20, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60323729 |
Sep 2001 |
US |