Dielectric resonator filter assemblies and methods

• US 20070126528A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Raafat Mansour, Rui Zhang
• Inventors: Zhang, Rui, Mansour, Raafat
• Granted Patent: US 7,545,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/134
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2002 Dielectric waveguide filters H01P1/212, H01P1/213, H01P1/215, H01P1/219 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2084 with dielectric resonators
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 7/10 Dielectric resonators

Abstract

A unitary resonator assembly for use in dielectric resonator filters and multiplexers. The unitary resonator assembly comprises a plurality of resonators joined by bridges, where the resonators and bridges are all constructed from a single piece of a dielectric material. The unitary resonator assemblies may be used in conjunction with unitary mounting structures that support a unitary resonator assembly in a filter or multiplexer. Also disclosed are 2-pole, 4-pole, and triplet filters implementing a unitary resonator assembly in conjunction with a unitary mounting structure, and a diplexer implementing a unitary resonator assembly in conjunction with a unitary mounting structure.

Claims

1. A unitary resonator assembly for use in a dielectric resonator filter, said unitary resonator assembly comprising:

(a) a first dielectric resonator;

(b) a second dielectric resonator;

(c) at least one bridge for connecting the first and second dielectric resonators; and

(d) the first dielectric resonator, the second dielectric resonator and the at least one bridge being integrally formed within a single piece of dielectric substrate.

2. The unitary resonator assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one resonator defines at least one hole.

3. The unitary resonator assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one conductor strip on the surface of the unitary resonator assembly.

4. The unitary resonator assembly of claim 1, wherein the unitary resonator assembly may resonate in one of a TE mode, a TM mode, a hybrid mode, a single mode, a dual mode, a triple mode.

5. A unitary mounting structure for the unitary resonator assembly of claim 1, the unitary mounting structure defining an assembly support indentation and comprising a spacing border, wherein the unitary mounting structure is integrally formed within a single piece of dielectric substrate.

6. A unitary resonator assembly for use in a dielectric resonator multiplexer, said unitary resonator assembly comprising:

(a) a first dielectric resonator;

(b) a second dielectric resonator;

(c) at least one bridge for connecting the first and second dielectric resonators; and

(d) the first dielectric resonator, the second dielectric resonator and the at least one bridge being integrally formed within a single piece of dielectric substrate.

7. The unitary resonator assembly of claim 6, wherein at least one resonator defines at least one hole.

8. The unitary resonator assembly of claim 6, further comprising at least one conductor strip on the surface of the unitary resonator assembly.

9. The unitary resonator assembly of claim 6, wherein the unitary resonator assembly may resonate in one of a TE mode, a TM mode, a hybrid mode, a single mode, a dual mode, a triple mode.

10. A unitary mounting structure configured to support the unitary resonator assembly of claim 6, the unitary mounting structure defining an assembly support indentation and comprising a spacing border, wherein the unitary mounting structure is integrally formed within a single piece of dielectric substrate.

11. A dielectric resonator filter comprising a unitary resonator assembly, said unitary resonator assembly comprising:

(a) a first dielectric resonator;

(b) a second dielectric resonator;

(c) at least one bridge for connecting the first and second dielectric resonators; and

(d) the first dielectric resonator, the second dielectric resonator and the at least one bridge being integrally formed within a single piece of dielectric substrate.

12. The dielectric resonator filter of claim 11 wherein at least one resonator of the unitary resonator assembly defines at least one hole.

13. The dielectric resonator filter of claim 11, further comprising at least one coupling fin.

14. The dielectric resonator filter of claim 11, further comprising a unitary mounting structure.

15. The dielectric resonator filter of claim 11 further comprising at least one probe for electromagnetically coupling at least one resonator to a coaxial cable.

16. The dielectric resonator filter of claim 11, further comprising at least one conductor strip on the surface of the unitary resonator assembly for electromagnetically coupling at least one resonator to a coaxial cable.

17. The dielectric resonator filter of claim 11, wherein the dielectric resonator filter may operate in one of a TE mode, a TM mode, a hybrid mode, a single mode, a dual mode, a triple mode.

18. A triplet dielectric resonator filter comprising a unitary resonator assembly, said unitary resonator assembly comprising:

(a) a first dielectric resonator;

(b) a second dielectric resonator;

(c) at least one bridge for connecting the first and second dielectric resonators;

(d) the first dielectric resonator, the second dielectric resonator and the at least one bridge being integrally formed within a single piece of dielectric substrate; and

(e) a conductor strip positioned on the surface of the unitary resonator assembly for negative cross coupling.

19. A dielectric resonator multiplexer comprising a unitary resonator assembly, said unitary resonator assembly comprising:

(a) a first dielectric resonator;

(b) a second dielectric resonator;

(c) at least one bridge for connecting the first and second dielectric resonators; and

(d) the first dielectric resonator, the second dielectric resonator and the at least one bridge being integrally formed within a single piece of dielectric substrate.

20. The dielectric resonator multiplexer of claim 19 wherein at least one resonator of the unitary resonator assembly defines at least one hole.

21. The dielectric resonator multiplexer of claim 19, further comprising at least one coupling fin.

22. The dielectric resonator multiplexer of claim 19, further comprising a unitary mounting structure.

23. The dielectric resonator multiplexer of claim 19, further comprising at least one probe for electromagnetically coupling at least one resonator to a coaxial cable.

24. The dielectric resonator multiplexer of claim 19, further comprising at least one conductor strip on the surface of the unitary resonator assembly for electromagnetically coupling at least one resonator to a coaxial cable.

25. The dielectric resonator multiplexer of claim 19, wherein the dielectric resonator multiplexer may operate in one of a TE mode, a TM mode, a hybrid mode, a single mode, a dual mode, a triple mode.

26. A method of manufacturing a unitary resonator assembly for use in a dielectric resonator filter, said method comprising:

(a) providing a dielectric material;

(b) integrally shaping in the dielectric material a first dielectric resonator, a second dielectric resonator, and at least one bridge for connecting the first and second dielectric resonators.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing a conductor strip on the surface of the unitary resonator assembly.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising shaping at least one hole in at least one of the resonators of the unitary resonator assembly.