TRANSMISSION LINE
20190207284 ยท 2019-07-04
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01P5/082
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
A transmission line includes a post-wall waveguide which includes a dielectric substrate on which a pair of post-walls is formed and a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer opposed to each other with the dielectric substrate interposed therebetween and in which a region surrounded by the pair of post-walls, the first conductor layer, and the second conductor layer is a waveguide region, a waveguide tube having a hollow rectangular shape, being connected with the first conductor layer so as to cover an opening portion formed in a side wall, and in which an inside communicates with the waveguide region through an opening formed in the first conductor layer, and a wire member which is arranged such that through the opening, a first end is located inside the dielectric substrate and a second end is located in the waveguide tube.
Claims
1. A transmission line, comprising: a post-wall waveguide which comprises a dielectric substrate on which a pair of post-walls is formed and a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer opposed to each other with the dielectric substrate interposed therebetween, and in which a region surrounded by the pair of post-walls, the first conductor layer, and the second conductor layer is a waveguide region, a waveguide tube having a hollow rectangular shape, being connected with the first conductor layer so as to cover an opening portion formed in a side wall, and in which an inside communicates with the waveguide region through an opening formed in the first conductor layer, and a wire member which is arranged such that through the opening, a first end is located inside the dielectric substrate and a second end is located in the waveguide tube.
2. The transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the wire member is inserted into a hole formed from the opening side to a part of the dielectric substrate.
3. The transmission line according to claim 2, wherein a conductor film having a bottomed cylindrical shape is formed along the inner wall of the hole, and the wire member is inserted through the hole in which the conductor film is formed.
4. The transmission line according to claim 1, wherein a land having a larger diameter than the wire member is formed around the wire member in the same plane as the first conductor layer, and an anti-pad is formed between the first conductor layer and the land.
5. The transmission line according to claim 1, wherein at least in one of the first end side and the second end side of the wire member, a diameter gradually decreases toward the distal end.
6. The transmission line according to claim 1, wherein an axial direction of the waveguide tube is the same direction as a direction in which the waveguide region of the post-wall waveguide extends.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
[0032]
EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0033] Hereinafter, a transmission line according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following descriptions, for ease of understanding, the positional relationship of each member will be described while referring to the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system (the position of the origin is appropriately changed) set in the drawings as necessary. In addition, in the drawings referred to below, for ease of understanding, dimensions of each member are appropriately changed and shown as necessary.
[0034]
[0035] As shown in
[0036] The post-wall waveguide 10 includes a dielectric substrate 11, a first conductor layer 12a, a second conductor layer 12b, and a post-wall 13, and an area surrounded by the first conductor layer 12a, the second conductor layer 12b, and a post-wall 13 is referred to a waveguide region G. The dielectric substrate 11 is a flat plate-like substrate formed of a dielectric such as glass, a resin, ceramics, or a composite thereof. The dielectric substrate 11 is arranged such that the thickness direction thereof is parallel to the Z axis. The first conductor layer 12a and the second conductor layer 12b are thin film layers respectively formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the dielectric substrate 11 by conductors such as a metal of copper or aluminum, or an alloy thereof, and the first conductor layer 12a and the second conductor layer 12b are arranged to face each other with the body substrate 11 interposed therebetween. The first conductor layer 12a and the second conductor layer 12b can be connected to an external portion so as to have a ground potential. The first conductor layer 12a is arranged on the +Z side and the second conductor layer 12b is arranged on the Z side.
[0037] The post-wall 13 is a wall member formed by arranging a plurality of conductor posts P penetrating the dielectric substrate 11 and connecting the first conductor layer 12a and the second conductor layer 12b. Here, the conductor post P is formed by metal plating of copper or the like in a hole portion (through-hole) penetrating the dielectric substrate 11 in the thickness direction (direction along the Z axis), for example. The post-wall waveguide 10 can also be fabricated by processing a double-sided copper-clad laminate plate such as a printed circuit board (PCB).
[0038] The post-wall 13 has a pair of first post-walls 13a and 13b extending parallel to the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the post-wall waveguide 10 and a second post-wall 13b extending in the width direction (Y direction) of the post-wall waveguide 10 (short wall). The pair of first post-walls 13a and 13b are formed by arranging a plurality of conductor posts P in two rows along the longitudinal direction with a predetermined distance in the width direction. That is, the first post-wall 13a is formed by a plurality of conductor posts P aligned in the X direction, and the first post-wall 13b is formed of a plurality of conductor posts P arranged in the X direction at positions different in the Y direction from the first post-wall 13a. The second post-wall 13c is formed by arranging a plurality of conductor posts P in a row between the +X side end portions of the pair of first post-walls 13a and 13b.
[0039] As described above, in the post-wall waveguide 10, a region surrounded by the first conductor layer 12a and the second conductor layer 12b and the post-wall 13 constitutes the waveguide region G. Therefore, the distance between the plurality of conductor posts P constituting the post-wall 13 is set to a distance at which the high-frequency signal propagating in the waveguide region G does not leak to the outside of the post-wall waveguide 10. For example, the distance between the adjacent conductor posts P, which is a distance between centers (distance between adjacent conductor posts P in the first post-wall 13a, distance between adjacent conductor posts P in the first post-wall 13b, and distance between adjacent conductor posts P in the second post-wall 13c), is desirably set to equal to or less than twice the diameter of the conductor post P. Further, the waveguide region G extends in the X direction.
[0040] Here, in the first conductor layer 12a constituting a part of the post-wall waveguide 10, for example, an opening H having a circular shape in plan view is formed. The shape of the opening H in plan view may be a shape other than a circular shape (for example, a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape). This opening H is formed at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the second post-wall 13c to the X side in the Y direction of the pair of first post-walls 13a and 13b. Incidentally, it is desirable that the opening H be formed at a position where the distances (distance in the Y direction) between the opening H and each of the pair of first post-walls 13a and 13b in the width direction are equal.
[0041] The waveguide tube 20 includes a pair of upper and lower wide walls (side walls) 21a and 21b, a pair of left and right narrow walls (side walls) 21c and 21d, and a narrow wall 21e at one end portion (the end on the X side), and is a hollow rectangular member extending in the X direction. In the waveguide tube 20, a wide wall 21b is cut out at one end thereof, and an opening OP (see
[0042] To the waveguide tube 20, the first conductor layer 12a of the post-wall waveguide 10 is connected such that the opening OP formed in the wide wall 21b is covered and such that the axial direction of the waveguide tube 20 and the extending direction of the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 are in the same direction. Thereby, the waveguide tube 20 extends in the same direction (X direction) to which the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 extends and is connected to the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 via the opening H formed in the first conductor layer 12a. The axial direction of the waveguide tube 20 is a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the waveguide tube 20, and the sidewall in the present invention refers to a wall portion along the longitudinal direction of the waveguide tube 20.
[0043] In particular, as shown in
[0044] As shown in
[0045] The wire member 30 is a cylindrical-shape member where a first end (lower end) is positioned inside the dielectric substrate 11 via the opening H formed in the first conductor layer 12a, and a second end (upper end) is positioned inside the tube of the waveguide tube 20. The wire member 30 is desirably arranged so as to pass through the center portion of the opening H; however, it may be slightly deviated from the center portion. The wire member 30 is formed of a metal such as copper, aluminum, tungsten, or the like. In particular, when strength is required, it is preferable to use the wire member 30 made of tungsten.
[0046] The diameter of the wire member 30 is set to an arbitrary diameter according to the required characteristic of the transmission line 1 or according to the required strength (the strength of the wire member 30). The length of the wire member 30 is strictly set to a predetermined length. Therefore, the position of the first end of the wire member 30 inside the dielectric substrate 11 and the position of the second end of the wire member 30 in the tube of the waveguide tube 20 are strictly set. The shape of the wire member 30 may be a shape other than a cylindrical shape (for example, a quadrangular prism shape).
[0047]
[0048] In addition, around the opening portion of the hole 11a formed in the dielectric substrate 11, a land L1 is formed in which the inner diameter is the same as the inner diameter of the hole 11a (or approximately the same diameter) and the outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the wire member 30A. The wire member 30 is inserted through a hole 11a formed in the dielectric substrate 11 via the land L1. That is, the land L1 is formed around the wire member 30 in the same plane as the first conductor layer 12a. The land L1 is formed by metal plating such as copper, for example. Between the land L1 and the first conductor layer 12a, an anti-pad AP having a circular ring shape is formed.
[0049]
[0050] As shown in
[0051] Here, the position where the first end of the wire member 30 is to be disposed in the dielectric substrate 11 is predetermined at a position of the bottom portion of the hole 11a formed in the dielectric substrate 11. In the mounting embodiment shown in
[0052] In contrast, in the present mounting embodiment shown in
[0053] As shown in
[0054] In the transmission line 1 having the above configuration, the high-frequency signal guided from the X side to the post-wall waveguide 10 passes through the waveguide region G surrounded by the first conductor layer 12a and the second conductor layer 12b of the post-wall waveguide 10 and the post-wall 13 (a pair of the first post-walls 13a and 13b) in the direction from the X side to the +X side. When the high-frequency signal propagating in the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 reaches the position of the wire member 30, the high-frequency signal is guided to the tube of the waveguide tube 20 via the wire member 30. The high-frequency signal guided to the tube of the waveguide tube 20 is radiated into the tube of the waveguide tube 20 from the wire member 30 arranged in a state protruding from the post-wall waveguide 10 in the tube of the waveguide tube 20, and propagates in the waveguide tube 20 in the direction from the X side to the +X side.
[0055] As described above, in the present embodiment, the waveguide tube 20 and the post-wall waveguide 10 are connected such that, through the opening H formed in the first conductor layer 12a of the post-wall waveguide 10, the inside of the tube of the waveguide tube 20 and the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 communicate with each other. Then, the wire member 30 is arranged via the opening H such that the first end is positioned inside the dielectric substrate 11 and the second end is positioned inside the waveguide tube 20.
[0056] Here, the wire member 30 is considered to have a function of once releasing the mode of the high-frequency signal propagating in the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 and then guiding it to the outside of the post-wall waveguide 10 (inside the tube of the waveguide tube 20) and a function as a starting point forming a mode in the waveguide tube 20 of the high-frequency signal guided to the outside of the post-wall waveguide 10. With these functions, in the present embodiment, it is considered that reflection loss can be lowered over a wide band.
[0057] In the present embodiment, the first conductor layer 12a of the post-wall waveguide 10 and the waveguide tube 20 are connected such that the axial direction of the waveguide tube 20 and the extending direction of the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 are the same direction. For this reason, if the post-wall waveguide 10 and the bottom portion of the waveguide tube 20 (the respective bottom portions located on the Z side) are supported by a support portion (not shown), for example, compared to the conventional configuration (configuration in which the waveguide tube is vertically attached to the dielectric substrate forming the post-wall waveguide), it is possible to firmly hold the waveguide tube 20 and the post-wall waveguide 10
[0058] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be freely changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, the following first to third modified examples can be considered.
First Modified Example
[0059]
[0060] By using such a wire member 30, the electric field intensity of the high-frequency signal between the second conductor layer 12b of the post-wall waveguide 10 and wire member 30, and the electric field intensity of the high-frequency signal between the wire wall 30 and the wide wall 20a of the waveguide tube 20 can be increased, and thus, it is considered that the reflection loss of the high-frequency signal can be further reduced. It should be noted that in the wire member 30, only the first end side may have a gradually decreasing diameter toward the distal end, and only the second end side may have a gradually decreasing diameter toward the distal end. That is, at least one of the first end side and the second end side may have a gradually decreasing diameter toward the distal end.
Second Modified Example
[0061]
Third Modified Example
[0062] In the transmission line 1 described in the above embodiment, the direction in which the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 extends and the axial direction of the waveguide tube 20 are the same. However, the direction in which the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 extends and the axial direction of the waveguide tube 20 may intersect (for example, orthogonal) in plan view. That is, when the post-wall waveguide 10 and the bottom portion (bottom portions located on the Z side) of the waveguide tube 20 are supported by a support portion (not shown), even if the direction in which the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 extends and the axial direction of the waveguide tube 20 intersects in plan view, the waveguide tube 20 and the post-wall waveguide 10 can be firmly held as compared with the conventional configuration as in the above-described embodiment (embodiment that the direction in which the waveguide region G of the post-wall waveguide 10 extends and the axial direction of the waveguide tube 20 are the same).
EXAMPLES
[0063] The inventor of the present application actually designed and simulated the transmission line having the above-described configuration, and determined the intensity distribution of the high-frequency signal transmitted by the transmission line, and the reflection characteristic and the transmission characteristic of the transmission line. The design parameters of the simulated transmission line 1 are as follows.
(Post-Wall Waveguide 10)
[0064] Thickness of dielectric substrate 11: 520 [m]
[0065] Relative permittivity of dielectric substrate 11: 3.82
[0066] Distance between first post-walls 13a and 13b (distance between each center): 1540 [m]
[0067] Distance between second post-wall 13c and the wire member 30 (distance between each center): 480 [m]
[0068] Diameter of opening H (anti-pad AP): 620 [m]
(Waveguide Tube 20)
[0069] Height inside tube: 1149 [m]
[0070] Width inside tube: 2500 [m]
[0071] Distance from center of wire member 30 to narrow wall 21e: 815 [m]
(Wire Member 30)
[0072] Diameter: 180 [m]
[0073] Protrusion length from the post-wall waveguide 10: 700 [m]
[0074] Length inside post-wall waveguide 10: 420 [m]
[0075] Diameter of land L1: 280 [m]
[0076]
[0077] Referring to
[0078] Referring to
[0079] In addition, referring to
[0080]
[0081] Referring to the curve R in
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0082] 1: transmission line, 10: post-wall waveguide, 11: dielectric substrate, 11a: hole, 12a: first conductor layer, 12b: second conductor layer, 13a, 13b: first post-wall, 20: waveguide tube, 21b: wide wall, 30: wire member, 31: conductor film, AP: anti-pad, H: opening, L1: land, OP: opening, G: waveguide region