MAGNETIC STRUCTURE FOR AN ELECTROMAGNETIC RESONATOR, ELECTROMAGNETIC RESONATOR, OSCILLATOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC STRUCTURE

Abstract

A magnetic structure for an electromagnetic resonator is provided. The magnetic structure comprises at least a solenoid and a permanent magnet, wherein the solenoid and the permanent magnet are concentrically arranged to each other such that the magnetic field lines provided by the permanent magnet are at least essentially perpendicular to magnetic field lines of a magnetic field generated by the solenoid. The arrangement of the permanent magnet and the solenoid may be housed by an element with a high magnetic permeability.

Claims

1. A magnetic structure for an electromagnetic resonator, the magnetic structure comprising: a housing element having a high magnetic permeability; a solenoid; and a first permanent magnet; wherein the solenoid and the first permanent magnet are housed in the housing element and the solenoid and the first permanent magnet are arranged concentrically to each other with respect to a predetermined axis; and wherein magnetic field lines of the first permanent magnet are essentially perpendicular to magnetic field lines of a magnetic field generated by the solenoid at least in an inner area of the concentrically arranged solenoid and first permanent magnet.

2. The magnetic structure of claim 1, wherein at least the solenoid and the first permanent magnet have a rotationally symmetric shape.

3. The magnetic structure of claim 1, wherein the magnetic structure has a rotationally symmetric shape.

4. The magnetic structure of claim 1, wherein the magnetic structure comprises a free space in an inner area of the housing element accommodating the solenoid and the first permanent magnet.

5. The magnetic structure of claim 4, comprising an oscillator circuit or a filter circuit, wherein the oscillator circuit or filter circuit is arranged in the free space of the magnetic structure.

6. The magnetic structure of claim 1, comprising a center element having a high magnetic permeability, wherein the center element is arranged in the inner area of the concentrically arranged solenoid and first permanent magnet.

7. The magnetic structure of claim 6, comprising a gap between the center element and the housing element.

8. The magnetic structure of claim 7, comprising an yttrium iron garnet sphere disposed in the gap.

9. The magnetic structure of claim 7, comprising a second permanent magnet arranged between the center element and the housing element.

10. The magnetic structure of claim 9, wherein the gap is located at a side of the center element opposite the side facing towards the second permanent magnet.

11. The magnetic structure of claim 9, wherein a diameter of the second permanent magnet is larger than a diameter of the center element.

12. The magnetic structure of claim 1, wherein a position of the first permanent magnet is adjustable in a direction parallel to a symmetry axis of the solenoid.

13. The magnetic structure of claim 1, wherein the first permanent has a shape of a toroid.

14. The magnetic structure of claim 1, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises multiple segment magnets.

15. The magnetic structure of claim 1, wherein the first permanent magnet provides a magnetic field having radial oriented field lines.

16. The magnetic structure of claim 1, wherein the housing element comprises a ferromagnetic material, in particular iron, nickel, cobalt or an alloy thereof.

17. An electromagnetic resonator comprising the magnetic structure of claim 1.

18. An oscillator comprising the magnetic structure of claim 1.

19. A method for manufacturing a magnetic structure for an electromagnetic resonator, the method comprising: providing a housing element having a high magnetic permeability; providing a solenoid and a first permanent magnet; arranging the solenoid and a first permanent magnet in the housing element, wherein the solenoid and the first permanent magnet are arranged concentrically to each other with respect to a predetermined axis; and wherein magnetic field lines of the first permanent magnet are essentially perpendicular to magnetic field lines of a magnetic field generated by the solenoid at least in an inner area of the concentrically arranged solenoid and first permanent magnet.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising adjusting a position of the first permanent magnet in a direction parallel to a symmetry axis of the solenoid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] For a more complete understanding of the present invention and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taking in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments, which are specified in the schematic figures and the drawings, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1: shows a schematic drawing of a top view of a magnetic structure according to an embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 2: shows a schematic drawing of a cross section of a magnetic structure according to an embodiment;

[0042] FIG. 3: shows a cross section of a magnetic structure according to an embodiment;

[0043] FIG. 4: shows a schematic equivalent circuit diagram of a magnetic structure according to an embodiment; and

[0044] FIG. 5: shows a flow diagram of a method for manufacturing a magnetic structure according to an embodiment.

[0045] The appended drawings are intended to provide further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, help to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned become apparent in view of the drawings. The elements in the drawings are not necessarily shown in scale.

[0046] In the drawings, same, functionally equivalent and identical operating elements, features and components are provided with same reference signs in each case, unless stated otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of a magnetic structure 1 for an electromagnetic resonator. The magnetic structure 1 may comprise at least a housing element 10 with a solenoid 20 and a first permanent magnet 30. In particular, the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 may be accommodated in a cavity of the housing element 10.

[0048] The solenoid 20 may comprise a coil with a number of one or more windings. Accordingly, solenoid 20 may provide a magnetic field when an electric current is flowing through the windings of the coil. The coil of the solenoid 20 may be connected to an appropriate current source for providing the current in order to generate the magnetic field.

[0049] The solenoid 20 may have a rotationally symmetric shape. For example, the solenoid 20 may have a shape of a toroid or the like. However, any other rotationally symmetric shape may be possible, too. For example, the solenoid 20 may have the shape of an arbitrary rotationally symmetric element, for instance, a regular polygon, e.g. a hexagon or octagon, with a hole in the middle.

[0050] The first permanent magnet 30 of the magnetic structure 1 also may have a rotationally symmetric shape, for example a toroid or another rotationally symmetric element with a hole in the middle. In particular, the first permanent magnet 30 and the solenoid 20 may be arranged concentrically to each other. Accordingly, a symmetry axis of the rotationally symmetric solenoid and a symmetry axis of the rotationally symmetric first permanent magnet may be the same. Further, an outer surface of the first permanent magnet 30 facing towards the solenoid 20 may be adapted to the outer surface of the solenoid 20 facing towards the first permanent magnet 30. Accordingly, the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 may be arranged such that there is no gap between the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30, or such that the gap between the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 is minimized. The first permanent magnet 30 max be arranged in a position between the solenoid 20 and symmetry axis of the solenoid 20.

[0051] The first permanent magnet 30 may provide a radial magnetic field. Accordingly, field lines of the magnetic field provided by the first permanent magnet 30 may be almost perpendicular to the surface of the first permanent magnet 30 facing towards the solenoid 20. Even though FIG. 1 shows a magnetic field with a magnetic north pole N facing towards the point of symmetry of the rotationally symmetric first permanent magnet 30 and a magnetic south pole S facing towards the solenoid 20, it may be also possible that the first permanent magnet 30 provides a magnetic field having an opposite direction.

[0052] The first permanent magnet 30 may comprise or consist of any appropriate material for manufacturing permanent magnets. For example, the first permanent magnet 30 may be manufactured by a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material. In particular, the first permanent magnet may be manufactured by materials comprising iron, nickel and/or cobalt or an alloy thereof.

[0053] The first permanent magnet may be a permanent magnet manufactured as a single piece. Alternatively, it may be also possible that the first permanent magnet 30 may be realized by combining multiple pieces. For example, the first permanent magnet 30 may be realized by multiple segments, in particular multiple identical segments. The multiple segments may be put together in order to form a rotationally symmetrical first permanent magnet 30.

[0054] The housing element 10 may have a shape for accommodating the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 in a cavity of the housing element 10. Accordingly, housing element 10 may provide a rotationally symmetric cavity for housing the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30.

[0055] As can be seen, for example, in FIG. 1, a center element 11 may be provided in an inner area of the arrangement comprising the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30. The center element 11 may be a part of the housing element 10. Alternatively, center element 11 may be a separate part. In case that the center element 11 is a separate part, the center element may be either directly connected to the housing element 10 or a further element, for example a second permanent magnet 40 may be disposed between the center element 11 and the housing element 10. Such a configuration will be described in more detail below.

[0056] The housing element 10 and the center element 11 may comprise a material with a high magnetic permeability. In particular, the magnetic permeability may be significantly larger than 1. For example, the housing element 10 and the center element 11 may consist of or at least comprise a ferromagnetic material such as iron, ferrite, cobalt, nickel or an alloy thereof. However, it is understood, that any other appropriate material having a high magnetic permeability may be possible, too.

[0057] In order to arrange the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 in the housing element 10, the housing element 10 may consist of multiple parts. For example, the housing element 10 may comprise an upper part and a lower part which may be put together in order to form the housing element 10. Accordingly, the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 may be put into the cavity of the housing element 10 and subsequently, the individual parts of the housing element 10 may be put together. However, any other manner for combining the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 with the housing element 10 may be possible, too.

[0058] The solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 are assembled such that the magnetic field lines of the magnetic field provided by the first permanent magnet 30 are at least almost perpendicular to magnetic field lines of a magnetic field generated by the solenoid 20. Specifically, the magnetic field lines of the magnetic field provided by the first permanent magnet 30 and the magnetic field lines provided by the magnetic field generated by the solenoid 20 are at least almost perpendicular in an inner area of the arrangement of the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30. As already described above, the center element 11 may be arranged in this inner area. Such an arrangement can be achieved by a first permanent magnet 30 providing radial magnetic field lines in combination with a solenoid having one or more concentric windings with respect to a symmetry axis of the concentrically arranged solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a cross section through the magnetic structure 1 along a plane A-A in FIG. 1. The magnetic structure 1 in this example comprises a solenoid 20 and a first permanent magnet 30 which are at least rotationally symmetric with respect to a symmetry axis B-B. Housing element 10 comprises an inner cavity accommodating solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30. In this example, center element 11 is directly connected to an upper part of the housing element 10. Further, housing element 10 may comprise a lower tip 13 which is located opposite to center element 11. Consequently, a small gap 12 exists between center element 11 and tip 13. In this way, a YIG resonator may be realized by arranging and YIG sphere 15 in the gap 12 between the center element 11 and the tip 13.

[0060] Due to the high magnetic permeability of the housing element 10 with the center element 11 and the tip 13, the magnetic flow provided by the first permanent magnet 30 in combination with the magnetic field generated by the solenoid 20 can be guided through the center element 11, the housing element 10 and the tip 13 and further through the gap 12 with YIG sphere 15.

[0061] As can be further seen in FIG. 2, the cavity of housing element 10 for housing the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 may be larger than required for accommodating the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30. Accordingly, a free space area 50 may exist between an inner sidewall of the cavity of the housing element 10 and the arrangement with the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30. Accordingly, additional elements may be also housed in the cavity of the housing element 10.

[0062] For example, an additional circuit element 60 may be located in the free space area 50 of the cavity provided by the housing element 10. For example, the additional circuit may be an oscillator circuit for stimulating the resonator arrangement with the magnetic structure 1. Alternatively, circuit 60 may be comprise a filter circuit for filtering specific frequencies according to a resonance frequency of the electromagnetic resonator with the magnetic structure 1. However, any other kind of circuit or device may be also put in the free space area 50 of the cavity provided by the housing 10. In particular, circuit 60 may provide and/or control a current flowing through the windings of the solenoid 20.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a further example of a cross section through an arrangement for an electromagnetic resonator with a magnetic structure 1 according to an embodiment. The example according to FIG. 3 mainly corresponds to the previously described example. In the example according to FIG. 3, an additional second permanent magnet 40 is arranged between the housing element 10 and the center element 11. For example, the second permanent magnet 40 may have a shape of a circular disc. The second permanent magnet 40 may provide a magnetic field with field lines in axial direction with respect to the symmetry axis B-B of the rotationally symmetrical arrangement with the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30. In case that a magnetic north pole N of the first permanent magnet 30 is directed towards the center element 11, a magnetic north pole N of the second permanent magnet 40 may be also directed towards the center element 11, and consequently, the magnetic south pole S of the second permanent magnet 40 may be directed towards the housing element 10. However, it is understood, that the magnetic orientation of the first permanent magnet 30 and the second permanent magnet 40 may be also orientated in an opposite direction such that the magnetic south pole S of the first permanent magnet 30 and the second permanent magnet 40 both are directed towards to the center element 11.

[0064] In particular, a diameter of the second permanent magnet 40 may be larger than a diameter of the center element 11.

[0065] By arranging the second permanent magnet 40 between the center element 11 and the housing element 10, a magnetic flow, in particular a magnetic short circuit between the center element and the housing element 10 may be interrupted and the center element may be magnetically isolated. In this way, the magnetic field may be further forced towards the gap 12 between the center element 11 and the tip 13.

[0066] FIG. 4 shows an illustration of a schematic equivalent circuit diagram of the magnetic structure 1 according to an embodiment. The schematic equivalent circuit diagram may correspond, for example, to an arrangement according to the above described embodiments. As can be seen in this circuit diagram, a magnetic path comprising the first permanent magnet 30 (PM1) and the related reluctance R_PM1 is arranged in parallel to a magnetic path comprising the solenoid 20 and the reluctance R_H of the housing element 10. Further, this path may also comprise the second permanent magnet 40 (S_PM2) and the related reluctance R_PM2. The gap 12 between the center element 11 and the tip 13 is represented by the element Gap.

[0067] In the above described examples according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the first permanent magnet 30 may be slightly moved in a direction parallel to the symmetry axis B-B. By adapting the position of the first permanent magnet 30 the magnetic flow through the gap 12 may be adapted accordingly. This adjustment of the magnetic flow by adapting the position of the first permanent magnet 30 is represented by the adjustable element R_T in the schematic equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 4.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a magnetic structure 1 for an electromagnetic resonator. The method may comprise any kind of step which may be necessary for manufacturing a magnetic structure 1 as already described in detail above. Further, the above described magnetic structure and the resulting electromagnetic resonator may comprise any kind of element according to the method as described below.

[0069] In a step S1, a housing element 10 with a high magnetic permeability is provided. Further, in step S2, a solenoid 20 and a first permanent magnet 30 are provided.

[0070] In step S3, the solenoid and the first permanent magnet are arranged together in the housing element 10. In particular, the solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 are arranged concentrically to each other with respect to a common predetermined axis. The solenoid 20 and the first permanent magnet 30 are combined such that the magnetic field lines of the first permanent magnet 30 are essentially perpendicular to the magnetic field lines of the magnetic field generated by the solenoid 20. In particular, the magnetic field lines are at least essentially perpendicular in an inner area of the concentrically arranged solenoid and the first permanent magnet.

[0071] Optionally, in a step S4, the position of the first permanent magnet 30 may be adjusted in a direction parallel to a symmetry axis of the solenoid and/or the first permanent magnet 30.

[0072] The above described magnetic structures 1 may be used for electromagnetic resonators, in particular for electromagnetic resonators such as a YIG resonator. Such resonators may be used, for example in filter devices for precisely filtering high frequency signals. Further, such resonators may be used in oscillators. For example, an oscillator with such a magnetic structure and a respective resonator may be used as a signal source for a precise high frequency signal having low phase noise. For example, such filter devices or oscillators may be used for measurement devices such as spectrum analyzers or the like. Further, such devices may be used for any kind of signal generators, in particular for signal generators generating local frequencies with high precision, for example in a test scenario for testing radio frequency devices.

[0073] Summarizing, the present invention relates to a magnetic structure, in particular a magnetic structure which can be used for an electromagnetic resonator. The magnetic structure comprises at least a solenoid and a permanent magnet, wherein the solenoid and the permanent magnet are concentrically arranged to each other such that the magnetic field lines provided by the permanent magnet are at least essentially perpendicular to magnetic field lines of a magnetic field generated by the solenoid. The arrangement of the permanent magnet and the solenoid may be housed by an element with a high magnetic permeability. In particular, the permanent magnet may be a permanent magnet with radial oriented magnetic field.

[0074] In the foregoing detailed description, various features are grouped together in one or more examples or examples for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. It is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention. Many other examples will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reviewing the above specification.

[0075] Specific nomenclature used in the foregoing specification is used to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of the specification provided herein that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Throughout the specification, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein,” respectively. Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc., are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0076] 1 magnetic structure [0077] 10 housing element [0078] 11 center element [0079] 12 gap [0080] 13 tip [0081] 15 YIG sphere [0082] 20 solenoid [0083] 30 first permanent magnet [0084] 40 second permanent magnet [0085] 50 free space [0086] 60 circuit device [0087] N,S magnetic poles [0088] S1 . . . S4 method steps