TUNABLE HIGH-FREQUENCY FILTER

• US 20130271243A1
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Kathrein-Werke KG. (Kathrein SE)
• Inventors: Haunberger, Thomas, Stolle, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/207
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/202 Coaxial filters cascaded coaxial cavities H01P1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 7/04 Coaxial resonators

Abstract

The invention discloses a high-frequency filter in coaxial design which allows a simple option for tuning resonators contained in the high-frequency filter. In order to tune the resonator(s), a first tuning element is mechanically anchored in the second terminating wall such that the element is rotationally fixed and the axial length thereof cannot be varied, and a second tuning element, the position of which can be varied, is provided in the longitudinal opening of the inner conductor, wherein the second tuning element consists of a dielectric material, or comprises dielectric material, at least in the region facing the second outside wall, wherein the axial position of the second tuning element can be varied in the spacing area between the inside face of the inner conductor and the first tuning element. The second tuning element can be accessed and/or actuated from the outer side of the first terminating wall to effect a variation of the axial position.

Claims

1. High-frequency filter of a coaxial construction, comprising one or more resonators, at least one of the resonators comprising:

an external conductor housing comprising two opposing end walls, comprising a first end wall and a second end wall at a distance therefrom, between which a housing wall is provided peripherally,

an internal conductor which is configured as an internal conductor tube,

the internal conductor galvanically connected to the first end wall and extending transversely and perpendicularly from the first end wall towards the second end wall,

the internal conductor ends being at a distance from the second end wall and/or is galvanically isolated therefrom,

a pin-shaped or pin-like first tuning element, which protrudes towards the first end wall and which is electrically/galvanically connected to the second end wall,

the first tuning element dipping into a longitudinal recess formed in the internal conductor tube,

the first tuning element being mechanically anchored in the second end wall so as to be invariable in the axial length thereof and fixed in rotation,

a second positionally variable tuning element being provided in the longitudinal recess of the internal conductor, the second tuning element consisting of or comprising dielectric material at least in the region facing the second outer wall,

the second tuning element being variable in the axial position thereof in the space between the inner face of the internal conductor and the first tuning element,

the second tuning element being accessible and/or actuatable from the outside of the first end wall so as to bring about a change in axial position.

2. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the second end wall comprises a dielectric plate material on the outside of which an earth plane is provided, to which the first tuning element is electrically/galvanically connected.

3. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein a strip conductor construction is provided on the inside of the first end wall.

4. High-frequency filter according to claim 3, wherein the strip conductor construction comprises a coupling plane, in which a recess electrically/galvanically isolated from the coupling plane is provided, the coupling plane being arranged on the inside of the first end wall opposite the end face of the internal conductor and the first tuning element protruding through the recess into the internal conductor.

5. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the second end wall is in the form of a circuit board.

6. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the second tuning element comprises a blind hole or through-hole extending in the longitudinal direction of the second tuning element, and the second tuning element is positionally variable within the longitudinal recess in the internal conductor, in terms of the axial position thereof with respect to the first tuning element, in such a way that the first tuning element can be dipped different distances into the blind hole or through-hole of the second tuning element.

7. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the first tuning element and the second end wall are connected by an interference fit or by soldering or by welding, or in that the first tuning element and the second end wall are formed integrally.

8. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the external conductor housing is formed integrally with the internal conductor, in particular as a milled, turned or cast part.

9. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the external conductor housing and/or the internal conductor and/or the first tuning element consist of plastics material, the respective external faces being metal-coated.

10. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the second tuning element comprises an external thread, via which the second tuning element is connected to and held on an internal thread in the interior of the internal conductor and/or a recess of the first end wall.

11. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the second tuning element is different from the thermal expansion coefficient of the internal conductor or of the external conductor housing.

12. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the second tuning element comprises a ceramic material.

13. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein air is provided as a dielectric between the internal conductor and the housing wall of the external conductor housing.

14. High-frequency filter according to claim 4 a plurality of resonators are provided, the strip conductor construction comprising a number of coupling planes corresponding to the number of resonators, said coupling planes being electrically/galvanically interconnected via a conductor path.

15. High-frequency filter according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of resonators are of different sizes.

16. High-frequency filter according to claim 14, wherein the resonators are configured and coupled so as to form a duplex filter.

17. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resonator is formed in such a way that a band-pass filter and/or a band-block filter is formed.

18. High-frequency filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter operates in the range between 790 MHz and 86 s MHz and/or in the range between 870 MHz and 960 MHz and/or in the range of the 1800 MHz mobile radio frequency and/or the 2000 MHz mobile radio frequency.