Multi-band RF monoblock filter having first and third filters in a co-linear relationship and first and second filters in a side-by-side relationship

Abstract

A multi-band RF monoblock filter including at least three RF signal filters defined in the monoblock of dielectric material by resonators defined in part by through-holes extending through the block. In one embodiment, two of the RF signal filters are in a co-linear and side-by-side relationship and the third filter is in a parallel and side-by side relationship with one of the two other RF signal filters. A pattern of conductive material defines two end and one interior RF signal input/output on the block top surface. The end RF signal input/outputs are located at opposite ends of the block and the central RF signal input/output is located between the two co-linear and side-by-side RF filters. An RF signal is transmitted through the one end RF signal input/output, the two parallel and side-by-side RF signal filters, and the central RF signal input/output and also through the other end RF signal input/output, one of the co-linear and side-by-side RF filters, and the central RF signal input/output.

Claims

1. A RF dielectric monoblock filter for the transmission of an RF signal comprising: a block of dielectric material including top, bottom, and side exterior surfaces; at least first, second, and third sets of through-holes defining at least first, second, and third sets of resonators and at least first, second, and third RF signal filters, each of the through-holes defining a respective interior surface and said respective interior surface extending through the block of dielectric material and terminating in respective openings in the top and bottom surfaces of the block of dielectric material; first and second RF signal input/output electrodes respectively located at opposite ends of the first and second RF signal filters for the transmission of the RF signal through the first RF signal input/output electrode, the first and second filters, and the second RF signal input/output electrode, the second RF signal input/output electrode and a third RF signal input/output electrode being respectively located at opposite ends of the third RF signal filter for the transmission of the RF signal through the second RF signal input/output electrode, the third RF signal filter, and the third RF signal input/output electrode; and the first and third RF signal filters adapted for the transmission of Tx and Rx signals respectively, the second RF signal filter adapted for the transmission of Tx or Rx signals respectively.

2. The RF dielectric monoblock filter of claim 1, wherein the first and third RF signal filters are oriented in a co-linear and side-by-side relationship relative to each other and the first and second RF signal filters are oriented in a parallel and side-by-side relationship relative to each other.

3. The RF dielectric monoblock filter of claim 2, wherein the first and second RF signal filters are separated by an elongate slot extending in a relationship spaced and parallel to the first and second RF signal filters.

4. A RF dielectric monoblock filter for the transmission of an RF signal comprising: a block of dielectric material including top, bottom, and side exterior surfaces with a pattern of conductive material; at least first, second, and third RF signal filters defined in the block of dielectric material, each of the at least first, second, and third RF signal filters comprising a plurality of through-holes and the pattern of conductive material in combination defining a plurality of resonators, each of the through-holes extending through the interior of the block of dielectric material and terminating in respective openings in the top and bottom exterior surfaces of the block of dielectric material; the first and third RF signal filters being oriented in a co-linear and side-by-side relationship relative to each other and the first and second RF signal filters being oriented in a parallel and side-by side relationship relative to each other; first, second, and third RF signal input/output electrodes, the first and second RF signal input/output electrodes being respectively located on opposite sides of the first and second RF signal filters for the transmission of the RF signal through the first RF signal input/output electrode, the first and second RF signal filters, and the second RF signal input/output electrode and the second and third RF signal input/output electrodes being respectively located on opposite sides of the third RF signal filter for the transmission of the RF signal through the second RF signal input/output electrode, the third RF signal filter, and the third RF signal input/output electrode; and the first and third RF signal filters being adapted for the transmission of Tx and Rx signals respectively, the second RF signal filter being adapted for the transmission of Tx or Rx signals respectively.

5. The RF dielectric monoblock filter of claim 4, wherein the first and second RF signal filters are separated by an elongate slot extending in a relationship spaced and parallel to the first and second RF signal filters.

6. A multi-band RF dielectric monoblock filter comprising: a block of dielectric material including top, bottom, and side exterior surfaces; at least three RF signal filters defined in the monoblock of dielectric material by resonators defined in part by through-holes extending through the block; two of the at least three RF signal filters extending in a co-linear and side-by-side relationship and the other of the at least three RF signal filters being oriented in a parallel and side-by side relationship with one of the two RF signal filters; a pair of end RF signal input/output electrodes and one interior RF signal input/output electrode, the pair of end RF signal input/output electrodes being located at opposite ends of the block and the interior RF signal input/output electrode being located between the two co-linear and side-by-side RF signal filters for the transmission of the RF signal through the one end RF signal input/output electrode, the two parallel and side-by-side RF signal filters, and the interior RF signal input/output electrode and also through the other end RF signal input/output electrode, one of the co-linear and side-by-side RF signal filters, and the central RF signal input/output electrode; and one of the two of the at least three RF signal filters and the other of the at least three RF signal filters adapted for the transmission of Tx and Rx signals, the other of the two of the at least three RF signal filters adapted for the transmission of Tx or Rx signals.

7. The multi-band RF dielectric monoblock filter of claim 6, wherein the two of the RF signal filters are separated by an elongate slot extending in a relationship spaced and parallel to the two RF signal filters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) In the accompanying drawings that form part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

(2) FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a multi-band RF dielectric monoblock filter in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the multi-band RF dielectric monoblock filter in accordance with the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the multi-band RF dielectric monoblock filter taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a graph depicting the performance of the multi-band RF dielectric monoblock filter shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

(6) FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 depict a multi-band RF dielectric monoblock filter 10 in accordance with the present invention which, in the embodiment shown, comprises a generally elongate, parallelepiped or rectangular box-shaped rigid and solid block or core 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprised and made of a ceramic dielectric material with a predetermined and desired dielectric constant.

(7) In one embodiment, the dielectric material can be an alumina, barium or neodymium ceramic with a dielectric constant of about 11 or above. Core 12 defines an outer or exterior surface with six generally rectangular sides: a longitudinally extending top exterior surface 14; a longitudinally extending bottom exterior surface 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3 that is parallel to and diametrically opposed from the top exterior surface 14; a longitudinally extending first exterior side surface 18; a longitudinally extending second exterior side surface 20 that is parallel to and diametrically opposed from the first exterior side surface 18; a transversely extending third exterior side or end surface 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2); and a transversely extending fourth side or end surface 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that is parallel to and diametrically opposed from the third exterior side or end surface 22.

(8) The filter 10 has a plurality of resonators defined in part by a plurality of through-holes 30 defined in the core 12 of the filter 10 and, more specifically, a plurality of through-holes 30 which each extend through the interior of the core 12 in a relationship normal to and terminating in respective openings 34 in the top and bottom filter surfaces 14 and 16 as shown in FIG. 3. Each of the through-holes 30 is defined by an inner cylindrical metallized side-wall surface 34A (FIG. 3).

(9) In the embodiment shown, the filter 10 includes four sets or groups 30A (FIGS. 1 and 2), 30B, 30C (FIGS. 1 and 2), and 30D of through-holes 30, i.e., two co-linear and spaced apart sets 30A and 30B of through-holes 30 extending in a spaced apart and co-linear relationship relative to each other and further in a relationship adjacent and spaced from and parallel to the filter exterior side surface 18 and the filter/block longitudinal axis L1 (FIGS. 1 and 2); and two additional co-linear and spaced apart sets 30C and 30D of through-holes 30 extending in a spaced apart and co-linear relationship relative to each other and further in a relationship adjacent and spaced from and parallel to the opposed filter exterior side surface 20 and the filter/block longitudinal axis L1. It is understood that in the interest of clarity and simplification in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, only one of the four through-holes 30 in each of the sets 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D has been designated with the numeral 30.

(10) In the embodiment shown, the sets 30A and 30C of through-holes 30 are located on the filter 10 relative to each other in a diametrically opposed and spaced apart relationship on opposite sides of and spaced from and parallel to both the longitudinal central axis L1 of the filter 10 and a first elongated and generally oval shaped slot 41 that extends through the interior of the core 12 of the filter 10 in a relationship co-linear and intersecting the filter/block longitudinal axis L1 and terminating in respective openings 43 in the respective top and bottom exterior surfaces 14 and 16 of the filter 10. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the slot 41 extends the length of each of the sets 30A and 30C of through-holes 30 and separates and isolates the respective sets 30A and 30C of through-holes 30 from each other and more specifically separates and isolates the RF filter 30C from the set 30A of through-holes 30.

(11) Further, in the embodiment shown, the sets 30B and 30D of through-holes 30 are located on the filter 10 relative to each other in a diametrically opposed and spaced apart relationship on opposite sides of and spaced from and parallel to both the longitudinal axis L.sub.1 of the filter 10 and a second elongated and generally oval shaped slot 45 that extends through the interior of the core 12 of the filter 10 in a relationship co-linear with and intersecting the filter/block longitudinal axis L.sub.1 and terminating in respective openings 47 in the respective top and bottom exterior surfaces 14 and 16 of the filter 10. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the slot 45 extends the length of each of the sets 30B and 30C of through-holes 30 and separates and isolates the respective sets 30B and 30D from each other.

(12) Further, in the embodiment shown, the respective sets 30A and 30C and 30B and 30D of through-holes 30 are located relative to each other in a diametrically opposed and spaced apart relationship on opposite sides of and spaced from the central filter/block transverse axis T1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the filter 10 with the set 30A of through-holes 30 diametrically opposed to and co-linear with the set 30B of through-holes 30 and the set 30C of through-holes 30 diametrically opposed and co-linear with the set 30D of through-holes 30. Further, in the embodiment shown, each of the sets 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D of through-holes 30 comprises four through-holes 30 although it is understood that each of the sets 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D of through-holes 30 could include less than or greater than four through-holes 30 depending upon the particular application.

(13) Still further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filter 10 includes four additional end through-holes 30E, 30F, 30G, and 30H that define shunt zeros. The two through-holes 30E and 30F are located in the filter 10 between the end exterior surface 22 and the sets of through-holes 30A and 30C respectively and, more specifically, are located at one end of the block 12 and positioned in a relationship spaced and co-linear with the respective sets 30A and 30C of through-holes 30. The other two through-holes 30G and 30H are located at the other end of the block 12 in a relationship diametrically opposed to the end through-holes 30E and 30F and, more specifically, are located in the filter 10 between the opposed exterior end surface 24 and the sets 30B and 30D of through-holes 30 and, still more specifically, are positioned in a relationship spaced and co-linear with the respective sets 30B and 30D of through-holes 30.

(14) Moreover, in the embodiment shown, the through-holes 30E and 30F are located adjacent the exterior end surface 22 on opposite sides of and spaced from both the longitudinal axis L1 of the filter 10 and on opposite sides of and spaced from an elongated groove 49A (FIGS. 1 and 2) that is defined in the exterior end surface 22 of the filter 10 and extends in a relationship co-linear with and intersecting the filter/block longitudinal axis L1 and separating and isolating the respective through-holes 30E and 30F.

(15) In a like manner, the through-holes 30G and 30H are located adjacent the exterior end surface 24 on opposite sides of and spaced from both the longitudinal axis L1 of the filter 10 and on opposite sides of and spaced from an elongated groove 49B (FIGS. 1 and 2) that is defined in the side surface 20 of the filter 10 and extends in a relationship co-linear with and intersecting the filter/block longitudinal axis L1 of the filter 10 and separating and isolating the respective through-holes 30G and 30H.

(16) In the embodiment shown, the through-holes 30 in each of the sets 30A and 30B of through-holes 30 and the through-hole 30G are all of the same diameter that is larger than the through-holes 30 in each of the sets 30C and 30D of through-holes 30 and the through-holes 30E, 30F, and 30H which all have the same diameter.

(17) The top exterior surface 14 of core 12 additionally defines a surface-layer pattern of electrically conductive metallized and insulative unmetallized areas or patterns. The metallized areas are preferably a surface layer of conductive silver-containing material.

(18) The pattern also defines a wide area or pattern of metallization 42 that covers at least the bottom exterior surface 16, the side exterior surfaces 18 and 20, the end exterior surfaces 22 and 24, the interior cylindrical surface of the through-holes 30, the interior surface of the slots 41 and 45, and the interior surface of the grooves 49A and 49B. Metallized area 42 extends contiguously from within resonator through-holes 30, the slots 41 and 45, and the grooves 49A and 49B towards both the top exterior surface 14 and the bottom exterior surface 16. Metallization area 42 may also be labeled a ground electrode. Metallization area 42 serves to absorb or prevent transmission of off-band signals.

(19) In the embodiment shown, a portion of metallized area on the top surface 14 is present in the form of respective resonator pads 60A that surround each of the openings 34 defined in the top surface 14 by each of the respective through-holes 30 of each of the sets 30A, 30B, and 30D of through-holes 30 and a pad 60B that surrounds the slot 45 and is spaced from the pads 60A. Resonator pads 60A are contiguous or connected with metallization area 42 on the side exterior surfaces 18, 20, 22, and 24. Resonator pads 60A are shaped to have predetermined capacitive couplings to adjacent resonators and other areas of surface-layer metallization.

(20) An unmetallized area or pattern 44 extends over portions of the top exterior surface 14. Unmetallized area 44 surrounds all of the metallized resonator pads 60A, the pad 60B, each of the openings 34 of the through-holes 30 defining the set 30A of through-holes 30, and each of the additional transmission zero through-holes 30E, 30F, 30G, and 30H.

(21) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the surface-layer pattern additionally defines three isolated metallized RF signal input/output areas or strip transmission lines, or electrodes 210, 220, and 230 that are formed on the top exterior surface 14, extend in a relationship normal to the respective sets 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D of through-holes 30 and the filter longitudinal axis L.sub.1, and terminate at one end in respective RF signal input/output pads 210A, 220A, and 230A formed in the side exterior surface 20.

(22) End electrode 210 is in the form of an elongated straight strip of metallization that is located and formed on the top exterior surface 14 of the core 12 of the filter 10 and extends in a relationship parallel to and adjacent the exterior end surface 24 of the filter 10 and further in a relationship normal to and intersecting the filter/block longitudinal axis L.sub.1. Electrode 210 is located at one end of the block 12 between and in a relationship spaced from the end through-holes 30G and 30H and the sets 30B and 30D of through-holes 30 and extends from the side exterior surface 20 in the direction of the opposed side exterior surface 18 and terminates in an end tip 210B on the top exterior surface 14 that is located in a relationship short and spaced from the opposed side exterior surface 18 and that is adjacent and spaced from the end through-hole 30 of the set 30B of through-holes 30.

(23) Center electrode 220 is in the form of an elongated straight strip of metallization that is centrally located and formed on the top exterior surface 14 of the core 12 of the filter 10 and extends in a relationship co-linear with the central transverse axis T.sub.1 of the filter 10. Electrode 220 is located and extends between and spaced from the sets 30A and 30C of through-holes 30 and the sets 30B and 30D of through-holes 30 and extends from the side exterior surface 18 in the direction of the opposed side exterior surface 20 and terminates in an end tip 220B on the top exterior surface 14 that is located in a relationship short and spaced from the opposed side surface 18 and that is adjacent and spaced from the end through-hole 30 of the sets 30A and 30B of through-holes 30.

(24) End electrode 230 is in the form of an elongated straight strip of metallization that is located and formed on the top exterior surface 14 of the core 12 of the filter 10 and extends in a relationship parallel to and adjacent the side exterior surface 22 of the filter 10 and further in a relationship normal to the filter longitudinal axis L.sub.1. Electrode 230 is located at the end of the block 12 between and in a relationship spaced from the end through-holes 30E and 30F and the sets of through-holes 30A and 30C and extends from the side exterior surface 20 in the direction of the opposed side exterior surface 18 and terminates in an end tip 230B on the top exterior surface 14 that is located in a relationship short and spaced from the opposed side exterior surface 18 and that is adjacent and spaced from the end through-hole 30 of the set 30C of through-holes 30.

(25) Thus, in the embodiment shown, the respective electrodes 210 and 220 define respective common input/output transmission lines for the RF signal transmitted through the respective sets 30B and 30D of through-holes 30 and the electrode 230 defines an input/output transmission line for the RF signal transmitted through the set 30C of through-holes 30.

(26) Thus, for example, in an embodiment of the filter 10 wherein the center electrode 220 is an antenna input/output electrode, the electrode 210 defines a Tx signal input/output electrode and the electrode 230 defines an Rx signal input/output electrode, the Tx signal is inputted into and through the electrode 210, transmitted through the resonators defined by each of the sets 30B and 30D of through-holes 30, and then outputted through the antenna electrode 220. The Rx signal is inputted into and through the antenna electrode 220, transmitted through the resonators defined by the first set 30A of through-holes 30, and then outputted through the Rx input/output electrode 230.

(27) Thus, in the embodiment as described above, the sets 30D and 30C of through-holes 30 define the Tx and Rx signal filters respectively of an RF signal dielectric monoblock duplexer filter while the set 30B of through-holes 30 define a separate Tx signal bandpass filter.

(28) Still more specifically, in the embodiment shown, the pair of Tx filters defined by the sets 30B and 30D of through-holes 30 allow for the filtering and separation of two different bands of Tx signals in a single monoblock structure. It is understood of course that the function of the electrodes 210 and 230 could be reversed to define Rx and Tx signal input/output electrodes respectively such that the sets 30B and 30D of through-holes define respective Rx signal filters portions adapted to filter and separate two different bands of Rx signals in a single monoblock structure.

(29) Further, it is understood that in the embodiment shown, the through-holes 30 in the set 30A of through-holes 30 are all coupled to ground and the filter 10 is thus adapted and designed as a multi-band, namely three band, RF dielectric monoblock filter 10. In an alternate embodiment, the set 30D of through-holes 30 could be designed with resonator pads similar in structure to the resonator pads 60A and with an input/output electrode 230 extending and terminating in a tip located adjacent the end through-hole 30 of the set 30A of through-holes 30 to allow the filter 10 to operate as a multi-band, namely four band, RF dielectric monoblock filter 10.

(30) FIG. 4 is a graph of RF Log mag [db] v. RF signal frequency in which the three lines S11, S12, and S13 exhibit and represent the low band, mid band, and high band performance characteristics of the band 30B (i.e. mid band 2), 30C (i.e. low band 1), and 30D (i.e. high band 3) of the multi-band RF dielectric monoblock filter 10 of the present invention.

(31) Numerous variations and modifications of the multi-band RF monoblock filter described above may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel features of the invention.

(32) For example, it is understood that the through-holes 30 in each of the sets 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D of through-holes 30 can be positioned relative to each other in a non-linear or staggered relationship relative to each other and that the filter 10 could include additional sets of through-holes adapted to define additional bandpass filters depending of course on the particular application and purpose of the filter 10.

(33) It is also to be understood that no limitations with respect to the embodiment illustrated herein are intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.