The invention relates to a waveguide system with a differential waveguide. Waveguide systems of this kind are required, for example, for the transmission of a test signal from a probe to a measuring instrument, for example, a spectrum analyzer, a network analyzer or an oscilloscope.
A waveguide system with a coaxial line is known, for example, from EP 1 605 588 A2. The waveguide disclosed in this document is not a differential waveguide, but a differential signal is transmitted via two separate coaxial lines and then supplied to an operational amplifier acting as an input amplifier. An input network is disposed at the front-end of each coaxial line, and a terminating network is disposed at the rear end of each coaxial line facing towards the operational amplifier. The networks are formed by ohmic resistors and capacitors.
One disadvantage of the two de-coupled, earthed waveguides according to EP 1 605 588 A2 is that a relatively-large structure is present, and the handling of the two cables by the user is awkward and impracticable. Moreover, in practice, it is difficult to manufacture two individual waveguides of exactly the same length. Even 1 mm difference in length leads to a time displacement of the differential signals relative to one another by approximately 5 ps. In the case of typical signals with a build-up time of 35 ps (equivalent to 10 GHz bandwidth), this leads to considerable signal distortions and transition from common mode to differential mode and vice versa. Moreover, with the two earthed lines, it is difficult to connect the earths to one another at both ends with low-inductance. In general, this can only be achieved in an inadequate manner, which means that the differential current at the cable input cannot flow freely, and undesirable external modes are excited.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a waveguide system for differential signals, which provides only extremely-small delay-time differences and a small structure, and which guarantees an adequate attenuation of the common mode.
This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The dependent claims specify advantageous further developments of the invention.
A differential waveguide, of which the signal conductors are coupled to one another within the waveguide and, preferably but not necessarily, separated from the common earth conductor, is used according to the invention. The divider network is subdivided into front network elements, which are disposed at the front end of the waveguide, and rear network elements, which are disposed at the rear end of the waveguide.
In this context, the front network elements preferably have parallel elements, which extend from the first or respectively second signal conductor in the direction towards the common earth conductor and/or between the two signal conductors.
By comparison with the use of two de-coupled and separately earthed waveguides, the use of a differential waveguide provides the initial advantage of a smaller structure. This advantage is particularly evident, if striplines are used instead of coaxial waveguides. Since the waveguides cannot be shielded completely from one another in the latter context, large safety distances must be observed between the waveguides when two separate waveguides are used in order to avoid a coupling. With the use of a differential waveguide, however, the coupling is in fact desirable and necessary. A special safety distance need not be observed. On the contrary, the waveguides must be positioned relatively close to one another.
Moreover, identical lengths for the signal conductors of the waveguide are achieved automatically. The two signal conductors are subjected to the same thermal expansion because of their spatially-adjacent arrangement, which is not the case with individual conductors, if one of the two conductors is disposed in the proximity of a heat source, such as a power component.
One particular advantage, however, is that a common earth conductor is present, and not two individual earths, which must then be connected to one another. The problem of the low-inductance connection of two individual earths therefore does not occur at all with the differential waveguide according to the invention. Furthermore, differential waveguides can be designed in such a manner that the undesirable common mode is subjected to a very high attenuation. Accordingly, undesirable common-mode interference can already be absorbed in the divider. With the use of a parallel element in the front network element of the divider, especially low-frequency, common-mode interference, for example, a 50 Hz or 60 Hz humming signal from the power supply network, is not coupled into the waveguide in the first place, but already absorbed upstream of the waveguide.
By preference, the differential waveguide has a resistance load per unit length, that is to say, the first signal conductor and/or the second signal conductor and/or the earth conductor has an ohmic resistance different from zero. This helps to attenuate and therefore to suppress undesirable multiple reflections more strongly.
As indicated in the dependent claims, the special topological design of the front network elements and the rear network elements with ohmic resistors and capacitors and their special dimensions leads to a waveguide system with particularly-favorable properties and a frequency-independent voltage amplification for the differential mode across almost the entire usable bandwidth.
Different configurations are possible for the waveguide system according to the invention. In principle, a double coaxial line, for example, in the form of two coaxial lines or one coaxial line with two internal conductors, which may, for example, be twisted, is also conceivable; however, an embodiment by means of a flexible or rigid stripline, especially using coplanar technology (coplanar), earthed coplanar (grounded coplanar), microstripline technology and/or triplate technology, is preferable.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described by way of example below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are as follows:
Before a more detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention is provided, the following paragraphs initially outline the principle of differential waveguides. Differential waveguides according to the invention are used in order to transmit differential signals over relatively-long distances. In general, these consist of an earth conductor and two signal conductors.
Since an interaction occurs in the case of differential waveguides both between the signal conductor and the earth conductor and also between the two signal conductors, they are described by two independent waveguide modes, each with its own characteristic impedance and its own propagation constant. In many cases, a description through an even and an odd mode is meaningful. The associated impedances are then referred to as Zeven and Zodd. In this context, Zeven and Zodd describe the relationship between the voltage of a signal conductor relative to the reference earth and the current along this conductor for in-phase or respectively anti-phase excitation of both signal conductors. Alternatively, a description via a differential mode and a common mode with the impedances ZDM=2·Zodd and ZCM=Zeven/2 is possible. In order to terminate both the common mode and also the differential mode in a reflection-free manner, a network A of three elements 1, 2 with Z1 and 3 with Z2, as shown in
Accordingly, the following relationships apply for the reflection-free terminal:
Z1=Zodd (1)
Z2=0.5.(Zeven−Zodd) (2)
In this context, the impedances Z1 or Z2 are generally complex values, if the impedance levels Zeven and Zodd are complex values. In every case, as also for the earthed line, the terminal network A can be seen directly at the input T1 of a differential, especially a lossy line, if it is terminated according to
The network of differential waveguide and terminal network described above can now be expanded, as illustrated in
At the output Out+, Out− of the divider, the same voltage is provided as at the input P+, P− of the waveguide WL, because it is a waveguide terminated in a reflection-free manner. In the case of a lossy waveguide, its attenuation must also be taken into consideration in the division ratio.
The following example serves to explain the factual situation without restricting the claim to generality. An infinitesimal section of the differential waveguide is characterized by the equivalent circuit diagram in
In this context, the length-specific series inductances Ls coupled via the coupling inductance Lm have a value of, for example, Ls=236 nH/m; the value of the length-specific coupling inductance Lm is, for example, Lm=Ls/2. The values of the length-specific capacitances Cp to earth and the coupling capacitance Cm are, for example, Cp=Cm=94.3 pF/m.
Additionally, the losses of the heating resistor are contained through a resistance load per unit length of, for example, R=750 ohms/m. In general, the following relationships apply for differential waveguides (DM=differential mode, CM=common mode, even=even mode, odd=odd mode):
Furthermore, a divider network with front network elements VN disposed at a front end of the waveguide WL in the signal-flow direction and with rear network elements HN disposed at the rear end of the waveguide WL in the signal-flow direction is provided. The divider network with its rear network elements is used on one hand for termination of the waveguide WL. In this context, because of the complex impedance levels Zeven, Zodd, a combination of resistive and reactive components is required. On the other hand, it represents a compensation network. In this context, with appropriate dimensioning, a differential input voltage present between the input connections In+ and In− in a fixed divider ratio, which is substantially dependent upon the frequency, is converted into an output voltage present between the output connections Out+ and Out−.
A frequency-independent divider ratio of this kind is necessary especially in the case of probes for oscilloscopes.
The front network elements VN comprise a first parallel element R4, which extends from the first signal conductor S1 to the earth conductor ML, and a second parallel element R4′, which extends from the second signal conductor S2 to the common earth conductor ML. The first parallel element R4 and the second parallel element R4′ are preferably formed as a first and second ohmic resistor R4, R4′, wherein the resistance value of the first and second ohmic resistor R4 and R4′ is preferably within the range from 1 kohm to 10 kohms, by preference within the range from 4.5 kohms to 5.5 kohms. One particularly preferred value determined by simulation is disposed at 5.0 kohms.
Within the framework of the present patent application, the term series element should be understand to mean a network element or a group of network elements, which is connected in the signal path between one of the input connections In+ and In− and the output connections Out+ and Out− and has no connection to the circuit earth M. The term parallel element should be understood within the framework of this patent application to mean that it is not disposed in this signal path, but refers to network element or a group of network elements, across which one of the signal paths is connected directly or indirectly to the circuit earth M or the other signal path.
Furthermore, the front network elements VN comprise first series elements R1, C1, R3, which connect the first input connection In+ to the first signal conductor S1. Moreover, further series elements R1′, C1′, R3′ are present, which connect the second input connection In− to the second signal conductor S2. In this context, the first series elements preferably consist of a series wiring of a third ohmic resistor R1 with a parallel wiring of a fourth ohmic resistor R3 and a first capacitor C1. In a corresponding manner, the two series elements preferably consist of a series wiring of a fifth ohmic resistor R1′ with a parallel wiring of a sixth ohmic resistor R3′ and a second capacitor C1′.
The resistance value of the third ohmic resistor R1 and of the fifth ohmic resistor R1′ is preferably disposed within the range from 50 ohms to 200 ohms, by preference within the range from 70 ohms to 150 ohms. It has been determined by simulation that the value 100 ohms is particularly suitable.
The resistance value of the fourth ohmic resistor R3 and of the sixth ohmic resistor R3′ is preferably disposed within the range from 10 kohms to 100 kohms, by preference within the range from 30 kohms to 60 kohms. In this context, it has been shown by simulation that the value of 45 kohms is particularly advantageous.
The capacitance value of the first capacitor C1 and of the second capacitor C1′ is preferably within the range from 0.1 pF to 5 pF, by preference within the range from 0.5 pF to 1 pF. A value of 0.64 pF has proved particularly suitable in simulation.
Although the series wiring of the series elements can also be replaced in principle, it has proved advantageous, if the first capacitor C1 and the fourth resistor R3 are connected to the first signal conductor S1 of the differential waveguide WL and to the first resistor R1. In a corresponding manner, the second capacitor C1′ and the sixth resistor R3′ are connected to the second signal conductor S2 of the differential waveguide WL and to the second resistor R4′.
The rear network elements HN preferably consist of a series wiring of a third capacitor C2 and a seventh ohmic resistor R2 and a fourth capacitor C2′ and an eighth ohmic resistor R2′ and a ninth ohmic resistor R5. In this context, the first signal conductor S1 of the waveguide WL is connected to a common node K via the series wiring of the third capacitor C2 and the seventh ohmic resistor R2, while the second signal conductor S2 of the waveguide WL is connected to the common node K via the series wiring of the fourth capacitor C2′ and the eighth ohmic resistor R2′. The common node K is then connected to the circuit earth M via the ninth ohmic resistor.
The capacitance of the third capacitor C2 and of the fourth capacitor C2′ is preferably disposed within the range from 0.5 pF to 15 pF, by particular preference within the range from 1 pF to 5 pF. In this context, it has been shown by simulation, that a value of 1.5 pF leads to particularly good results.
The values of the seventh to the ninth resistors R2, R2′ and R5 result from the condition for the reflection-free termination of a differential conductor from Formula (1) and (2). The preferred values: Zodd=20.5Ω, Zeven=61.5Ω can be determined from
The resistance value of the seventh ohmic resistor R2 and of the eighth ohmic resistor R2′ is preferably disposed within the range from 10 ohms to 250 ohms, by particular preference within the range from 75 ohms to 150 ohms. In this context, a value of approximately 125 ohms has proved particularly appropriate.
The resistance value of the ninth ohmic resistor R5 is also preferably disposed within the range from 1 ohm to 100 ohms, wherein a range from 10 ohms to 30 ohms is particularly preferred. Here also, a value of 20.5 ohms has proved particularly suitable.
The series wiring of the parallel elements in the rear network elements HN in the exemplary embodiment illustrated is arranged in such a manner that, on one hand, the third capacitor C2 is connected to the first signal conductor S1 of the differential waveguide WL and to the first output connection Out+ and, on the other hand, the fourth capacitor C2′ is connected to the second signal conductor S2 and the second output connection Out−. By contrast, the ohmic resistors R2 and R2′ are connected to the common node K. However, the inverse sequence is also possible.
With appropriate dimensioning of the individual network elements, a characteristic of the differential voltage amplification is obtained largely independent of frequency, as illustrated in
The resulting, almost frequency-independent divider ratio can be visualized very roughly as follows: at low input frequencies or respectively with a direct current between the input connections In+ and In−, the duty factor is determined by the ratio (R1+R3)/R4. In the middle frequency range, the duty factor is substantially determined by the ratio of the reactances of the capacitors C1 or respectively C1′ to C2 or respectively C2′. In the high-frequency range, the capacitors C1 and C1′ short-circuit the resistors R3 and R3′, and the resistors R2 and R2′ are activated on the first signal conductor S1 and on the second signal conductor S2. Accordingly, in the high-frequency range, the duty factor is determined by the ratio of the resistors R1 or respectively R1′ to the parallel wiring of R4 and R2 or respectively R4′ and R2′, which is characterized by the low resistance value of R2 or respectively R2′. However, the above explanation is extremely simplified and serves only for the purpose of visualization.
Accordingly, the waveguide system according to the invention has a compensated, differential divider network, which provides a high input resistance and a low input capacitance, and which can, however, be extended over a spatially-large region by a waveguide. A waveguide system of this kind is advantageous for many applications, in which spatial conditions require the bridging of a large distance, while electrical requirements demand minimum extension. The formerly-conventional requirement, that a concentrated divider network must be smaller than 1/10 of the wavelength, so that propagation effects do not play a role, is therefore overcome.
Instead of the coaxial, differential waveguide presented in
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Common-mode interference can be absorbed through the annular core 46, because waves traveling in the common mode through the waveguide WL, in which the currents in the signal conductors S1 and S2 are not directed towards one another, as in the differential mode, but rather in the same flow direction, generate an induction in the annular core 46, so that the common-mode wave is absorbed. However, the differential wave can pass unhindered through the annular core. The annular core 46 can also be disposed within the housing of a measuring instrument, from which the waveguide WL is guided, so that the annular core 46 is not visible towards the outside and does not impair handling.
The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments presented. Alongside the exemplary embodiments of the differential waveguide WL shown in
The resistor R3 or respectively R3′ in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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DE 10-2007-016-06 | Mar 2007 | DE | national |
10-2007-027-155.9 | Jun 2007 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP08/01328 | 2/20/2008 | WO | 00 | 3/10/2009 |