Adjustable low-loss interface

• US 7,812,686 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Woods, Charles, Lopez, Noel
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Stephen E
• Application Number:
  US12/039,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 333/33, 333/34, 333/254, 333/260, 333/26, 333/25, 333/27
• US Class Current: 333/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/107 Hollow-waveguide/strip-line transitions

Abstract

In general, in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, a low-loss interface for connecting an integrated circuit such as a monolithic microwave integrated circuit to an energy transmission device such as a waveguide is disclosed. The interface comprises an isolation wall placed between an input and output region of an integrated circuit to reduce ripple and isolate the waveguide cavity from the monolithic microwave integrated circuit circuitry. The interface further comprises a turning screw or other similar member that is configured to closely match the impedance of integrated circuit 11 with the impedance at interface 10 to further reduce loss.

Claims

1. An electrical system comprising:

a monolithic microwave integrated circuit comprising a substrate having a first end and a second end opposing the first end and wherein the first end comprises an input region and the second end comprises an output region; and

an isolation wall located between the first end and the second end wherein the isolation wall isolates the input region from the output region, but does not completely separate the input region from the output region.

2. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the isolation wall is made of metal.

3. An electronic system comprising:

a first energy transmission or reception device with a first impedance and a first mode of energy wave propagation wherein the first energy transmission or reception device comprises a substrate having a first end and a second end opposing the first end and wherein the first end comprises an input region and the second end comprises an output region;

a second energy transmission or reception device with a second impedance and a second mode of energy wave propagation;

a step launch in communication with the first energy transmission or reception device and the second energy transmission or reception device, wherein the step launch is configured to transmit energy with minimal loss by matching the first impedance and the first mode of energy wave propagation to the second impedance and the second mode of energy wave propagation without the use of dielectric materials; and

an isolation wall located between the first end and the second end and configured to separate the input region from the output region.

4. The electrical system of claim 3, wherein the first energy transmission device is at a ninety degree angle relative to the second energy transmission device and the electrical system is configured to provide a ninety degree transference of energy.

5. The electronic system of claim 3, wherein the first energy transmission or reception device is a monolithic microwave integrated circuit and the second energy transmission or reception device is a waveguide.

6. The electronic system of claim 5, wherein the step launch is a smooth, sloped transition.

7. The electronic system of claim 5, wherein the step launch partially defines an interface cavity.

8. The electronic system of claim 7, further comprising an adjustable member configured to adjust the volume of the interface cavity.

9. The electronic system of claim 8, wherein the adjustable member is a turning screw.

10. An electronic system comprising:

a monolithic microwave integrated circuit comprising a circuit board having a first end and a second end opposing the first end wherein the first end comprises an input region and the second end comprises an output region;

a first isolation wall located between the first end and the second end;

a waveguide comprising a cavity; and

an interface comprising a step launch that defines a portion of the cavity of the waveguide wherein the portion of the interface that defines the cavity of the waveguide has a smaller size than the portion of the cavity defined by the waveguide.

11. The electronic system of claim 10, further comprising a wirebond interface connecting the monolithic microwave integrated circuit to the interface.

12. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the first isolation wall is approximately 0.5 to 0.05 millimeters from the monolithic microwave integrated circuit.

13. The electronic system of claim 10, further comprising a turning screw in communication with the cavity that adjusts the volume of the cavity along the portion of the cavity defined by the interface.

14. The electronic system of claim 13, wherein the turning screw is located on an opposing side of the cavity from the interface.

15. An electronic system comprising:

a first energy transmission device with a first impedance and a first mode of energy wave propagation wherein the first energy transmission device comprises a substrate having a first end and a second end opposing the first end and wherein the first end comprises an input region and the second end comprises an output region;

an isolation wall located between the first end and the second end wherein the isolation wall is configured to separate an input signal present at the input region from an output signal produced at the output region;

a second energy transmission device comprising a cavity wherein the second energy transmission device has a second impedance and a second mode of energy wave propagation; and

a step launch interface defining an interface cavity and contacting the first energy transmission device and the second energy transmission device and configured to transport energy from the first energy transmission device to the second energy transmission device with minimal loss by matching the impedance and first mode of energy wave propagation to the second impedance and second mode of energy wave propagation by performing impedance matching and mode transition without the use of dielectric materials.

16. The electronic system of claim 15, further comprising a turning screw that adjusts a volume of the interface cavity.

17. The electronic system according to claim 15, wherein the isolation wall is approximately 0.5-0.05 millimeters from the first energy transmission device.

18. The electronic system of claim 15, wherein the step launch interface is disposed within the cavity.

19. The electronic system of claim 15, further comprising a wirebond connecting the first energy transmission device to the step launch interface.

20. An electronic system comprising:

a monolithic microwave integrated circuit comprising a circuit board having a first end and a second end opposing the first end wherein the first end comprises an input region and the second end comprises an output region;

an isolation wall placed between the first end and the second end;

a waveguide comprising a waveguide cavity;

an interface comprising a step launch disposed within the waveguide cavity and defining an interface cavity wherein the interface cavity is smaller than the waveguide cavity;

a turning screw that adjusts the size of the waveguide cavity; and

an interface connecting the monolithic microwave circuit to the interface.

21. The electronic system of claim 20, wherein the turning screw is located on an opposing or adjacent side of the interface cavity from the interface.

22. A pathway for microwaves comprising:

a monolithic microwave integrated circuit with a first impedance wherein the monolithic microwave integrated circuit comprises a circuit board having a first end and a second end opposing the first end wherein the first end comprises an input region and the second end comprises an output region;

an isolation wall placed between the first end and the second end wherein the isolation wall is configured to separate an input signal present at the input region from an output signal produced at the output region;

an interface connected to the monolithic integrated circuit, the interface having the first impedance at an interface first end and a second impedance at an interface second end, the interface further connected to a waveguide at the second end, wherein the waveguide has a second impedance; and

the interface further comprising a step launch in communication with a cavity, wherein the cavity has a different volume at different points along the direction of the microwave pathway, and wherein the volume of the cavity changes along the direction of the microwave pathway.

23. The pathway for microwaves of claim 22, further comprising a turning screw that adjusts the volume of the cavity.

24. The pathway for microwaves of claim 22, wherein the isolation wall further comprises a flange.