High-frequency filter having a coaxial structure

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved high-frequency filter having at least one coaxial resonator is characterized by, among other things, the following features: the coaxial resonator comprises an outer conductor housing (1), an outer conductor (1) thus being formed; an inner conductor (3) is arranged in the outer conductor housing (1), which inner conductor is mechanically and galvanically connected to the outer conductor housing at one end of the inner conductor and ends in the direction of the outer conductor housing (1) or a housing cover (7) provided there that belongs to the outer conductor housing (1) at the opposite end of the inner conductor; the outer conductor housing (1) and the inner conductor (3) are made of electrically conductive material or are covered with an electrically conductive material; the end face (3a) of the inner conductor (3) and/or the additional surface (23) of the inner conductor (3) adjacent thereto is completely or partially covered with an encasing material (21), which encasing material (21) is made of a dielectric material; and the dielectric material has a relative permittivity r that is greater than 1.2.

Claims

1. A high-frequency filter with at least one coaxial resonator comprising: an outer conductor housing to form an outer conductor, an inner conductor disposed in the outer conductor housing, in which the inner conductor has one side mechanically and galvanically connected to the outer conductor housing and terminates on another side space apart from the outer conductor housing or a housing cover provided at, and associated with, the outer conductor housing, the outer conductor housing and the inner conductor consisting of, or coated with, an electrically conductive material, an end face of the inner conductor and an adjacent other surface of the inner conductor is fully or partially covered with a sheathing material, the sheathing material consists of a dielectric material, the dielectric material has a dielectric constant .sub.r that is greater than 1.2, the sheathing material consisting of, or including, the dielectric material in the form of one or several cyclic olefin copolymers (COC), a thickness of the sheathing material being at least 0.05 mm, and the thickness of the sheathing material being less than 3 mm.

2. The high-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric constant .sub.r is greater than 1.3.

3. The high-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the sheathing material is formed as an injection-molded part molded on and/or around the inner conductor.

4. The high-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the sheathing material is formed as a molded part mounted onto the inner conductor.

5. The high-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the sheathing material is configured in multiple parts and includes one, two, or multiple materials which is/are molded on or around the inner conductor and/or mounted thereon as a separate molded part.

6. The high-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the sheathing material is provided on the end face and on an outer circumference and/or at least at an axial height on an inner circumference of an inner axial hole of the inner conductor.

7. The high-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the inner conductor comprises on the end face an extension area that protrudes in a radial direction, in the form of a disk-shaped extension area.

8. The high-frequency filter according to claim 7, wherein the extension area has an outer diameter which corresponds to the 1.01-fold to 4-fold of the remaining outer diameter of the inner conductor.

9. The high-frequency filter according to claim 8, wherein the extension area has a slanted bevel towards its outer circumference from the outer circumference to the bottom side and/or at the transition to an inner axial hole.

10. The high-frequency filter according to claim 7, wherein the sheathing material is also provided on the bottom side of the extension area of the inner conductor.

11. The high-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the sheathing material is designed as a one-piece or multiple-piece molded part and mounted like a clip onto the inner conductor, which includes undercuts.

12. The high-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the sheathing material is equipped with at least one support which extends from the sheathing material in axial and/or radial direction and is supported, elastically, on an inner wall of the outer conductor housing and/or the housing cover.

13. The high-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the inner conductor and/or the sheathing material is designed in one piece and/or that less than 80% of the other surface of the inner conductor adjacent to the end face of the inner conductor is covered with the sheathing material.

14. The high-frequency filter according to claim 13, wherein the thickness of the sheathing material is more than 0.05 mm.

15. The high-frequency filter of claim 1 wherein the presence of the sheathing material increases tuning range and/or frequency deviation of the filter.

16. The high-frequency filter of claim 1 wherein the dielectric constant .sub.r is greater than 1.5.

17. The high-frequency filter of claim 1 wherein the dielectric constant .sub.r is greater than 2.

18. The high-frequency filter of claim 1 wherein the dielectric constant .sub.r is greater than 2.5.

19. The high-frequency filter of claim 1 wherein the dielectric constant .sub.r is greater than 3.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Advantageous details of the invention can be derived from the exemplary embodiments explained below with reference to the drawings. Wherein:

(2) FIG. 1: shows an axial section of a coaxial resonator as the basic structure of a high-frequency filter;

(3) FIG. 2: is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3: shows an axial section of a modified embodiment of the coaxial resonator of FIG. 1 with a tuning element provided in the housing cover;

(5) FIG. 4: shows a modified embodiment of the resonator shown in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5a: shows a three-dimensional representation of an axial section of an inner conductor according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 5b: shows an axial section of an inner conductor slightly modified from the one shown in FIG. 5a;

(8) FIGS. 6 to 15: show ten different embodiments in simplified axial sectional views explaining variants with respect to the design of the inner conductor or the sheathing material provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS

(9) FIG. 1 shows an axial section parallel to the axial axis X, and FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section along the line II-II in FIG. 1, of a first embodiment of a coaxial resonator, here in the form of a single resonator. It is known that multiple such resonators can be combined into filter groups, for example, in the form of a band pass filter or a stop filter, etc. We make reference to known solutions in this respect.

(10) The resonator shown, that is, the coaxial filter, includes an outer conductor housing 1 with an outer conductor 1, an inner conductor 3 arranged concentrically and coaxially with it, and a bottom or housing bottom 5 where the electrically conductive outer conductor 1 and the electrically conductive inner conductor 3 are galvanically connected.

(11) The resonator shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a square cross section, wherein the outer conductor housing 1 includes a cover or housing cover 7 with which the inner resonator space 19 is closed. Like the entire outer conductor housing, the cover 7 consists of an electrically conductive material, typically a metal such as aluminum, etc. or is coated (like optionally the outer conductor 1 or housing bottom 5) at least on its inner side 7a with an electrically conductive layer (if the housing is made of a plastic material, for example).

(12) The inner conductor 3 shown in the drawings can be integral with the outer conductor housing 1, that is, particularly be connected to the bottom 5, or attached and fastened there and galvanically connected to the bottom as a separate component. This can for example be achieved using respective screws which are for example screwed into a female thread in the inner conductor 3 through a hole in the housing bottom, or using a nut seated there.

(13) In the embodiment shown, the inner conductor 3 ends as usual underneath the housing cover 7, such that there is a spacing or gap space A between the top end face 3a of the inner conductor 3 and the bottom or inner side 7a of the cover 7.

(14) Unlike the representation in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 just shows thatas is common as wella respective setting of the resonance frequency can be achieved by adjusting an adjusting or tuning element 9 which is pivotably housed, for example, in the housing cover 7 and can be rotated towards or away from the inner conductor 3. This adjusting element 9 is preferably seated in a threaded bushing 17 which is galvanically connected to it and penetrates the cover 7 concentrically and axially to the inner conductor 3 or through a threaded hole in the cover itself.

(15) It is also known that said adjusting element 9 that can enter into and exit from the resonator space 19 at various lengths via the cover 7 may have a diameter and diametric shape designed for engaging in a respective axial hole 3c ending at the end face 3a in the inner conductor 3. Said adjusting elements 9 may consist of metal or a dielectric material, for example. We make reference to known solutions in this respect.

(16) FIG. 4 schematically shows that the inner conductor can for example be designed as a hollow, that is, in the embodiment shown a hollow cylindrical inner conductor, wherein an actuating element 109 consisting of a threaded plate or threaded pot can be provided, for example, in the bottom area. This threaded plate or threaded pot comprises a male thread on its outer circumference, which is in engagement with a corresponding female thread on the inner side 3b of the inner conductor 3 that is provided with an inner hole 3c.

(17) When the threaded plate is rotated, e.g. by inserting a suitable tool into a pivoting or drive attachment 13 which is freely accessible from its bottom side, the adjusting or tuning element 9 that is extending beyond the upper end face 3a of the inner conductor 3 can be set to different lengths beyond the end face 3a of the inner conductor 3 as indicated by the arrow 15, whereby the resonance frequency of the coaxial filter can be set.

(18) Said inner conductor 3 can be connected in one piece, optionally integrally and thus galvanically with the housing bottom and the outer conductor walls. Such a resonator can for example be produced by milling from a metal block, however it has been noted that the inner conductor 3 can for example be connected mechanically and galvanically to the bottom later, for example by using screws.

(19) FIG. 5a shows a three-dimensional axial section and FIG. 5b shows an axial section of a first and second embodiment, respectively, of a resonator according to the invention with a respectively adapted inner conductor according to the invention.

(20) As can be seen from the figures, this embodiment is an inner conductor that is subsequently mechanically anchored and galvanically connected on the housing bottomwhich however is not of key importance.

(21) The embodiment shown includes that the inner conductor 3 comprises an inner conductor end face 3a which extends in radial direction beyond the outer diameter of the inner conductor 3, namely by forming a disk-shaped inner conductor extension area 33; however this is not strictly necessary for the invention. This inner conductor extension area 33 comprises an outer diameter 3e which typically is 1.01 time to 4 times the other outer diameter 3d of the inner conductor 3, for example 1.75 to 2.25 times that outer diameter. The thickness 35 of said inner conductor extension area 33 can also be varied selectively. It can be in the range from 0.5 mm to 6 mm, for example greater than 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, or 2.5 mm. It can also be smaller than 5.5 mm, 5 mm, 4.5 mm, 4 mm, or 3.5 mm. Values around 3 mm are often suitable.

(22) The end face 3a formed in this way with its associated end face area 3a can be fully or partially coated, to a partial height, with a suitable dielectric material, starting from the end face 3a towards the bottom 5. In other words, a respective sheathing material 21 is provided which is provided, disposed, mounted, extrusion-coated, or sprayed on(to) the locations formed in FIG. 5a or in FIG. 5b on the surface 23 of the inner conductor 3, such that said sheathing material 21 generally sheathes the inner conductor 3 fully or partially at the locations visible in the drawings. The sheathing material 21 can either be in direct contact with the surface 23 of the inner conductor 3 at the locations shown (but also at other locations), or optionally be in indirect contact forming intermediate layers, e.g. air, between the surface 23 and the adjacent layer of the sheathing material 21.

(23) It can be seen from the representation according to FIG. 5a that said sheathing material 21 in this embodiment is disposed, inter alia, on the end face 3a of the disk-shaped extension area 33, also on the inner wall 3f formed in the internal or axial hole 3c (which inner wall is part of the entire surface 23 of the inner conductor 3) at an axial height 36, on the outer circumference 3g of the disk-shaped extension area 33 and partially on the bottom side 3h of said extension area 33.

(24) Said sheathing material 21 or said layered sheathing material 21 can be applied to the locations mentioned on the respective inner conductor such that a shoulder 25 is formed in accordance with the layer thickness at the locations where the sheathing ends, for example on the bottom side 3h of the disk-shaped extension area 33.

(25) However, the embodiment according to FIG. 5a also shows that the material of the inner conductor 3 can be recessed accordingly at the locations where the sheathing material 21 is provided. A respective material recess 3i is for example provided in the area of the inner axial hole 3c of the inner conductor 3 corresponding to the inner axial height 36. The consequence is that the inner hole 3c, that is, the surface (inner wall) 3f of the inner conductor hole 3c can merge without a stepped shoulder from the material of the inner conductor to the sheathing material 21 at the inner axial height 36, as can be seen in FIG. 5a.

(26) In contrast, FIG. 5b shows that the material recess 3i (forming a first hole section 3.1 with a larger borehole diameter) can be recessed deeper than the layer thickness of the sheathing material 21 in the section of the middle hole section 3.2 of the inner axial hole 3c, such that another stepped shoulder 37 is created at which the inner axial hole 3c merges into the hole section with the smaller inner diameter. It can also be seen in FIG. 5b that the middle hole section with a medium borehole diameter then merges or can merge into a bottom hole section 3.3, which has the smallest borehole diameter. On the bottom foot of the inner conductor 3, opposite the end face 3a, the variant shown in FIG. 5a shows a bottom recess 3q having a small axial height and a comparatively wide radial extension, such that preferably just the remaining annular shoulder 3r of the inner conductor 3 is mechanically connected and electrically contacted in assembled position with the bottom of the housing or an optionally provided inner conductor base.

(27) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the inner conductor hole 3c is drilled forming a shoulder 3j at its bottom end, creating a tapering borehole diameter. This design makes it possible to anchor the inner conductor mechanically and connect it galvanically to the bottom 5 using nuts and screws.

(28) Minor modifications were made in the embodiment according to FIG. 5b compared to the variant shown in FIG. 5a. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5b, a conical bevel 3k is cut into the top end face 3a of the inner conductor 3 at the transition from the inner conductor hole 3c, such that the hole 3c becomes wider at the top, as it were.

(29) Likewise, bevels 3l or 3m, respectively, preferably 45 bevels, are cut into the upper circumferential edge 33a and the bottom circumferential edge 33b of the inner conductor extension section 33, allowing a transition from one boundary surface to the next at the inner conductor extension area 33 at an angle of 135 each. In general, all bevels can be formed at any desired angle. Various designs of radii or curves are also conceivable instead of bevels.

(30) Furthermore, the outgoing shoulder of the sheathing material 21 provided on the bottom side 3h of the disk-shaped inner conductor extension area 33 (which can also be called an extension plateau 33) has a slanted bevel 3n. In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is set at a 45 angle to the orientation of the extension area 33, such that the resulting opening angle between opposite terminating bevels 3n is 90, as shown in FIG. 5b.

(31) An inner conductor 3 according to the invention that is designed in this manner can be produced by respective processing of the inner conductor material and subsequent casting or pouring a respective sheathing material 21 within the scope of the invention around it, namely on an already prefabricated resonator whose inner conductor, bottom and outer housing walls are made, for example, of a one-piece metal block. Likewise, the inner conductor can be extrusion-coated separately and subsequently connected to the bottom of the resonator, e.g. using a screwed connection. In this case, the sheathing material 21 consists of a molded-on sheathing layer 21a.

(32) It is likewise possible to produce the respective sheathing material 21 separately, e.g. by casting, and mount it subsequently onto the inner conductor 3. In this case the sheathing material 21 is present in the form of a molded part 21b, particularly a molded plastic part 21b, generally a dielectric molded part 21b, which can be designed in one or in several parts, that is, in one piece or multiple pieces, and then mounted onto the inner conductor.

(33) The following FIGS. 6 to 13 show schematic axial sections of a resonator comparable to FIG. 1 in which the resonator housing is indicated in cross section with an interior inner conductor.

(34) The variant in FIG. 6 shows the inner conductor as a solid block. The sheathing material 21 has a pot-shaped design here and is held captively on the inner conductor 3 in the manner of an upside down pot or can from the top of the mounted molded plastic part 21b. The sheathing material 21 can also be a cast part 21a on the inner conductor 3.

(35) The variant shown in FIG. 9 is an embodiment in which the molded plastic part 21b shown in FIG. 7 can be configured with suitably molded-on supports 31 at two or more places offset in the circumferential direction (or at even more places), for example in the form of two-finger-shaped elevations 31a whichas explained aboveare supported under bias on the bottom side of the cover 7.

(36) In the variant shown in FIG. 10, once again two or more molded-on supports 31 offset in the circumferential direction are provided in the form of finger-shaped elevations 31a, which however do not extend towards the cover but rather in radial direction with at least a greater radial than axial component and which are supported, once again under slight bias, on the inner side 1a of the outer conductor 1.

(37) The exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 demonstrate, inter alia, that multiple molded plastic parts or different sheathing materials 21 and therefore different sheathing material layers can also be used. The exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 also demonstrate that inner conductors of the most varied designs can be used, with or without a protruding disk-shaped extension adjacent to their free end face 3a, with or without an inner or axial hole 3c drilled at different lengths into the inner conductor, etc. There are no limitations in this respect as regards the design of the inner conductor.

(38) For example, in the variants according to FIGS. 11 to 13, the inner conductor 3 is surrounded by a layer of sheathing material 21, that is, a first sheathing material 21, according to its design both on the outside and in the area of its inner hole 3c and its end face 3a. This layer can be cast or formed as a molded plastic part and subsequently mounted onto the conductor.

(39) A second sheathing material 21 is then cast onto this layer 21 of the sheathing material 21, e.g. at a lower partial height, starting from the top end face 3a in the end face area, on the circumferential edge, and at a partial height on the outer circumference and in the area of the inner hole 3c.

(40) In the variant according to FIG. 12, this second sheathing material 21 can also be designed as a second molded plastic part 21b that is mounted from the top. FIG. 13 shows just a modified embodiment whose principles substantially match the principles of the embodiment according to FIG. 11.

(41) FIGS. 14 and 15 once again show that respective first and second sheathing materials 21, 21 can also be provided for an inner conductor 3 with or without an inner conductor hole 3c, particularly when the inner conductor is equipped at its top inner conductor end underneath the housing cover 7 with a disk-shaped plateau 33 otherwise extending radially beyond the inner conductor, i.e. the so-called inner conductor extension area 33.

(42) FIGS. 11 to 15 further show that the inner conductor 3 depicted there is configured as a screwed-in inner conductor. This means that it is designed as shown in FIG. 5a or in a similar manner. Such an inner conductor 3 can be placed onto a bottom inner conductor base 103 that is fixedly connected to the bottom, i.e. the housing bottom 5 of the resonator, and mechanically anchored on the resonator housing using a screw screwed through the interior of the inner conductor, preferably for producing a galvanic connection.

(43) It can also be seen in some of these figures that, when using a sheathing material 21 in the form of a molded part, said molded part can be mounted, for example through the extension area 33 in the manner of a snap or tilt closure depending on the design of the inner conductor, particularly when the inner conductor comprises undercuts.

(44) Said sheathing material 21, e.g. in the form of a first and/or second sheathing material 21, has a dielectric constant r which is greater than 1.2. Preferred values for the dielectric constant r are greater than 1.3, particularly greater than 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, and 3.0.

(45) As explained above, said sheathing material 21, 21, 21 consists of a dielectric material. Typical and preferred dielectric materials to be considered within the scope of the invention are so-called cyclic olefin copolymers (COC).

(46) The layer thickness of the sheathing material 21, in a multi-layer structure also with respect to the thickness of each layer, can be selected within different ranges. The thickness of the sheathing material 21 can at least be 0.05 mm, particularly more than 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm and more, while its preferred thickness is 3 mm and less.

(47) Unlike partially crystalline polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, these cyclic olefin copolymers are materials that are amorphous and therefore transparent. Cyclic olefin copolymers are characterized by good thermoplastic fluidity, high stiffness, strength and hardness as well as low density and high transparency paired with good resistance to acids and lyes.

(48) The filters or the coaxial resonator explained here can be used in many applications, particularly in the mobile radio sector, for example as coaxial band pass filters, coaxial band stop filters, asymmetrical band stop filters, high pass filters, duplexers, combiners, and/or low pass filters.

(49) Typical applications are in the mobile radio sector at frequency ranges from 380 MHz to 4,000 MHz. Of particular significance in the mobile radio sector are, for example, the frequency ranges above 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,500 MHz, 1,700 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 1,900 MHz, 2,000 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,500 MHz, 2,600 MHz, or above 3,500 MHz. Also of importance are narrowly defined frequency ranges under 3,500 MHz, particularly under 2,700 MHz, 2,600 MHz, 2,500 MHz, 2,200 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,000 MHz, 1,900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 1,700 MHz, 1,500 MHz, 900 MHz, 800 MHz and particularly under 700 MHz, typically up to 300 MHz.

(50) The exemplary embodiments described can be used to implement a coaxial resonator and filter or filter assemblies which achieve a higher rating and dielectric strength of each resonator and filter compared to prior art solutions by enclosing he inner conductor fully or partially, particularly in the region of its free end face and the adjacent areas with a dielectric material.

(51) Filters with higher maximum transmitting powers can implemented in this way. At a constant required rating, enclosing the inner conductor with said dielectric material according to the invention allows smaller distances of the inner conductor to the side walls and/or the housing cover and/or the tuning elements 9, 9 provided inside the resonators.

(52) This allows the design of filters with smaller dimensions that still have the same rating.

(53) The invention further reduces the installation size and ultimately contributes to a reduction of the costs.

(54) The dielectric material used or proposed within the scope of the invention permits a great tuning range or great frequency deviation.