Laser tunable thick film microwave resonator for printed circuit boards
First Claim
1. A resonator having a resonant frequency that is adjustable, comprising:
- a base having a bottom side and a top side, wherein said bottom side includes a transmission line and said top side includes a metallized thick film;
a plurality of conducting vias electrically connecting said transmission line and said thick film; and
wherein said resonant frequency is altered by trimming said thick film in a first direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The resonator of the present invention is preferably made of low cost alumina offering performance in a variable frequency oscillator application that is nearly equivalent to that of a high Q dielectric design. The resonator structure is tunable over a wide range with substantially no effect on oscillator phase noise or signal amplitude. The resonator utilizes a unique geometric structure which employs a transmission line preferably on alumina, conducting via holes (called castellations) and a topside ground pattern formed with a thick film of silver and/or palladium. A plurality of resonators may be formed by a step and repeat pattern then snapped apart for low cost, high volume manufacture. The resonator may be tuned in both a vertical and horizontal direction by removing topside metal from the resonator, to raise and lower the frequency, until the desired frequency is met. Low phase noise is preferably achieved by using a slab resonator that is short in length in combination with a fairly large loading capacitor. This provides maximum phase change versus frequency, and the best phase noise response of the oscillator.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A resonator having a resonant frequency that is adjustable, comprising:
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a base having a bottom side and a top side, wherein said bottom side includes a transmission line and said top side includes a metallized thick film;
a plurality of conducting vias electrically connecting said transmission line and said thick film; and
wherein said resonant frequency is altered by trimming said thick film in a first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A resonator having a frequency that is adjustable comprising:
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a base having a bottom side and a top side, said bottom side including a transmission line, said top side including a metallized thick film;
a plurality of conducting vias electrically connecting said transmission line and said thick film;
means for transmitting said frequency;
adjustment means operably coupled to said means for transmitting, for adjusting said frequency; and
wherein said adjustment means alters said frequency in a first direction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of achieving a desired frequency of a resonator having a starting frequency distinct from said desired frequency, wherein said resonator comprises a base having a bottom side, a top side, and a plurality of conducting vias, wherein said bottom side includes a transmission line and said top side includes a metallized thick film, and wherein said top side is operably coupled to said bottom side, the plurality of vias electrically connecting the transmission line and thick film, the method comprising the steps of:
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trimming said thick film along a first direction to raise the frequency of said resonator if necessary to achieve said desired frequency;
trimming said thick film along a second direction to lower the frequency of said resonator if necessary to achieve said desired frequency;
repeating said trimming steps if necessary to achieve said desired frequency. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A resonator comprising:
a base having a bottom side and a top side, wherein said bottom side includes a transmission line and said top side includes a thick film, and wherein said transmission line is separated from said thick film by a moat, and wherein said transmission line is in electrical communication with said thick film by a plurality of conducting vias. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
Specification