A novel large dynamic range high resolution millimeter wave adjustable attenuator and a working method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a novel large-dynamic high-resolution millimeter wave adjustable attenuator and a working method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of testing; the attenuator comprises a fixed waveguide assembly and a multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly; the fixed waveguide assembly comprises a first standard waveguide flange, a second standard waveguide flange, a first square-circle conversion waveguide, a second square-circle conversion waveguide, a first fixed attenuating sheet and a second fixed attenuating sheet; the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly comprises a plurality of rotating circular waveguides and a plurality of rotating attenuating sheets fixed to the interiors of the circular waveguides; each rotating attenuating sheet is arranged in the interior of a corresponding rotating circular waveguide and is fixed together with the corresponding rotating circular waveguide; when the rotating circular waveguide rotates, the corresponding rotating attenuating sheet is driven to rotate together; the attenuator adopts a plurality of attenuating sheets, so that the attenuation range of the attenuator is greatly improved; and the attenuator adopts the plurality of attenuating sheets, so that the attenuation resolution is greatly improved under the condition of the same transmission device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of testing technology, specifically relating to a novel large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator and its working method. Background Technology

[0002] Attenuators are commonly used testing components, functioning to absorb microwave energy and attenuate microwave signals. Attenuators are generally divided into fixed attenuators and adjustable attenuators. Adjustable attenuators are further divided into coaxial step adjustable attenuators and waveguide adjustable attenuators. Currently, waveguide adjustable attenuators are adjusted manually by turning a knob, using a screw drive to move the attenuator plate and control its position within the waveguide cavity, thus adjusting the attenuation. Their disadvantages are a limited attenuation range and insufficient attenuation accuracy. There is also a manually rotated attenuator, which can achieve a wide attenuation range, but when the attenuation is large, the adjustment resolution of a single attenuator plate is low. To achieve large dynamic range and high-resolution adjustment, the adjusting mechanism needs to be very precise, increasing costs.

[0003] Attenuators are essential components in testing, primarily used to adjust the signal power in the microwave path. On one hand, they can regulate the signal power of input devices to protect their normal operation; on the other hand, they can regulate the signal operation of output devices to improve load matching. A similar attenuator that allows for adjustable attenuation is the manually adjustable waveguide attenuator.

[0004] Technical solutions for manually adjustable waveguide attenuators, such as Figure 1 As shown, by manually adjusting the knob, the attenuator is moved up and down, thus controlling its position within the waveguide cavity. Different insertion positions result in different areas of the attenuator within the cavity. The deeper the attenuator extends, the larger its area, and the greater the attenuation of the entire attenuator; conversely, the shallower its insertion, the smaller its area, and the smaller its attenuation. Therefore, adjusting the attenuation by manually moving the attenuator up and down via the knob allows for adjustable attenuation. Typically, this type of attenuator has an attenuation range of 30-40dB and an attenuation accuracy of ±5dB.

[0005] Technical solutions for rotary adjustable attenuators, such as Figure 2 As shown, by adjusting the central rotating attenuator, it can be made to form a certain angle with the two fixed attenuators on both sides. At this time, when microwaves pass through, the rotating attenuator absorbs the tangential component of the electric field, thereby absorbing microwave energy and ultimately achieving adjustable attenuation of microwave energy.

[0006] The disadvantages of existing technology are:

[0007] In scenarios where the attenuation range is required to be above 100dB and the attenuation resolution is required to be 0.1dB, the angular resolution must be less than 0.0001°. Existing technical solutions cannot meet the requirements in terms of both attenuation range and resolution. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the prior art, the present invention proposes a novel large dynamic high-resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator and its working method. The design is reasonable, overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art, and has good effect.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0010] A novel high dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator includes a fixed waveguide assembly and a multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly.

[0011] The fixed waveguide assembly includes a first standard waveguide flange, a second standard waveguide flange, a first circular-to-square waveguide, a second circular-to-square waveguide, a first fixed attenuator, and a second fixed attenuator. The first standard waveguide flange and the first circular-to-square waveguide are integrally formed, as are the second standard waveguide flange and the second circular-to-square waveguide. The first fixed attenuator is located inside the first circular-to-square waveguide, and the second fixed attenuator is located inside the second circular-to-square waveguide. The first standard waveguide flange and the first circular-to-square waveguide are distributed on one side of the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly, and the second standard waveguide flange and the second circular-to-square waveguide are distributed on the other side of the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly.

[0012] The multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly includes multiple rotating circular waveguides and multiple rotating attenuators fixed inside the circular waveguides; each rotating attenuator is placed inside the corresponding rotating circular waveguide and fixed together with the corresponding rotating circular waveguide. When the rotating circular waveguide rotates, it drives the corresponding rotating attenuator to rotate together.

[0013] Preferably, the interfaces of the first standard waveguide flange and the second standard waveguide flange are both standard rectangular waveguide ports, configured to introduce electromagnetic waves into the attenuator and extract the attenuated electromagnetic waves.

[0014] The first and second circular transformation waveguides are configured to perform corresponding mode conversions on electromagnetic waves, thereby polarizing and attenuating them.

[0015] The first fixed attenuator and the second fixed attenuator are configured to guide the transmission of electromagnetic waves and absorb the tangential electric field component.

[0016] Preferably, both the first and second square-to-circular transformation waveguides are rectangular waveguide-to-circular waveguides; microwave signals are input and output from the rectangular waveguide port.

[0017] Preferably, the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly is capable of axial rotation.

[0018] Preferably, the rotating attenuator is configured to absorb part of the microwave energy, thereby attenuating the microwave.

[0019] Preferably, the rotation of each set of rotating attenuators and their corresponding rotating circular waveguides does not affect each other, and each can be rotated to any angle.

[0020] Preferably, the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly includes three rotating circular waveguides and three rotating attenuators fixed inside the circular waveguides;

[0021] The three rotating circular waveguides are designated as the first rotating circular waveguide, the second rotating circular waveguide, and the third rotating circular waveguide.

[0022] The three rotating attenuators fixed inside the circular waveguide are designated as the first rotating attenuator, the second rotating attenuator, and the third rotating attenuator.

[0023] The first rotating attenuator is placed inside the first rotating circular waveguide and fixed together with it; similarly, the second rotating attenuator is placed inside the second rotating circular waveguide and fixed together with it; the third rotating attenuator is placed inside the third rotating circular waveguide and fixed together with it.

[0024] When the first, second, and third rotating circular waveguides rotate, they respectively drive the first, second, and third rotating attenuators to rotate together.

[0025] Furthermore, this invention also mentions a novel large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator operating method, which employs the novel large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator described above, specifically including the following steps:

[0026] Step 1: When the fixed attenuator and multiple rotating attenuators are on the same plane, microwaves can pass through smoothly. This is the straight-through state of the attenuator, and the attenuation is 0.

[0027] Step 2: When multiple rotating attenuators rotate to different positions, a certain angle is formed between the fixed attenuator and the multiple rotating attenuators. At this time, when microwaves pass through, the multiple rotating attenuators absorb the tangential component of the electric field, thereby absorbing microwave energy and ultimately achieving adjustable attenuation of microwave energy.

[0028] The beneficial technical effects of this invention are as follows:

[0029] This invention employs multiple attenuators, which greatly improves the attenuation range of the attenuator; and under the same transmission device conditions, the attenuation resolution is greatly improved by employing multiple attenuators. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a manually adjustable waveguide attenuator;

[0031] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a rotary adjustable attenuator;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fixed waveguide assembly.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly.

[0035] Wherein, 1-first standard waveguide flange; 2-second standard waveguide flange; 3-first square-to-circular transformation waveguide; 4-second square-to-circular transformation waveguide; 5-first fixed attenuator; 6-second fixed attenuator; 7-first rotating circular waveguide; 8-second rotating circular waveguide; 9-third rotating circular waveguide; 10-first rotating attenuator; 11-second rotating attenuator; 12-third rotating attenuator. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, a novel high dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator includes a fixed waveguide assembly and a multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly; the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly is capable of axial rotation.

[0038] like Figure 4 As shown, the fixed waveguide assembly includes a first standard waveguide flange 1, a second standard waveguide flange 2, a first circular-to-square waveguide 3, a second circular-to-square waveguide 4, a first fixed attenuator 5, and a second fixed attenuator 6. The first standard waveguide flange 1 and the first circular-to-square waveguide 3 are integrally formed, and the second standard waveguide flange 2 and the second circular-to-square waveguide 4 are integrally formed. The first fixed attenuator 5 is placed inside the first circular-to-square waveguide 3, and the second fixed attenuator 6 is placed inside the second circular-to-square waveguide 4. The first standard waveguide flange 1 and the first circular-to-square waveguide 3 are distributed on one side of the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly, and the second standard waveguide flange 2 and the second circular-to-square waveguide 4 are distributed on the other side of the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly.

[0039] The interfaces of the first standard waveguide flange 1 and the second standard waveguide flange 2 are both standard rectangular waveguide ports, used to introduce electromagnetic waves into the attenuator and extract the attenuated electromagnetic waves.

[0040] The first circular transformation waveguide 3 and the second circular transformation waveguide 4 are used to perform corresponding mode conversion on electromagnetic waves, thereby polarizing and attenuating them.

[0041] The first fixed attenuator 5 and the second fixed attenuator 6 are used to guide the transmission of electromagnetic waves and absorb the tangential electric field component.

[0042] The first square-to-circular transformation waveguide 3 and the second square-to-circular transformation waveguide 4 are both rectangular waveguide-to-circular waveguides; microwave signals are input and output from the rectangular waveguide port.

[0043] like Figure 5 As shown, the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly consists of a first rotating circular waveguide 7, a second rotating circular waveguide 8, a third rotating circular waveguide 9, and a first rotating attenuator 10, a second rotating attenuator 11, and a third rotating attenuator 12 fixed inside the circular waveguides. The first rotating attenuator 10 is inserted into the first rotating circular waveguide 7 from its center and is fixed together with it. Similarly, the second rotating attenuator 11 is fixed together with the second rotating circular waveguide 8, and the third rotating attenuator 12 is fixed together with the third rotating circular waveguide 9. When the first rotating circular waveguide 7, the second rotating circular waveguide 8, and the third rotating circular waveguide 9 rotate, they drive the first rotating attenuator 10, the second rotating attenuator 11, and the third rotating attenuator 12 to rotate together. The rotation of the first rotating circular waveguide 7 and the first rotating attenuator 10, the second rotating circular waveguide 8 and the second rotating attenuator 11, and the third rotating circular waveguide 9 and the third rotating attenuator 12 are independent of each other, and these three components can rotate to any angle. The first rotating attenuator 10, the second rotating attenuator 11, and the third rotating attenuator 12 play a major role in this component. Part of the microwave energy is absorbed by the first rotating attenuator 10, the second rotating attenuator 11, and the third rotating attenuator 12, thereby completing the attenuation of the microwave.

[0044] Working principle explanation

[0045] When the first fixed attenuator 5 and the second fixed attenuator 6 are on the same plane as the first rotating attenuator 10, the second rotating attenuator 11 and the third rotating attenuator 12, microwaves can pass through smoothly. At this time, the attenuator is in a straight-through state and the attenuation is 0.

[0046] When the first rotating attenuator 10, the second rotating attenuator 11, and the third rotating attenuator 12 rotate to different positions, the first fixed attenuator 5 and the second fixed attenuator 6 form certain angles with the first rotating attenuator 10, the second rotating attenuator 11, and the third rotating attenuator 12, respectively. At this time, when microwaves pass through, the first rotating attenuator 10, the second rotating attenuator 11, and the third rotating attenuator 12 absorb the tangential component of the electric field, thereby absorbing microwave energy and ultimately achieving adjustable attenuation of microwave energy.

[0047] Through theoretical analysis, the attenuation at this point can be described as: L=-20log|cosθ1cos(θ1-θ2)cos(θ2-θ3)……cos(θ n-1 -θ n cos(θ) n )|(dB). Where L represents the attenuation, in dB. θ n This represents the rotation angle of the nth rotating attenuator.

[0048] Taking three rotating attenuators (as illustrated in this invention) as an example, when the attenuation is 100dB, each attenuator attenuates by 33.3dB. At this point, with a resolution of 0.1dB, an angular resolution of less than 0.05° is sufficient. This significantly reduces the requirements on the motor and transmission mechanism, thus indirectly improving the attenuation resolution of the attenuator. If each attenuator attenuates by 40dB, the overall attenuation can reach 120dB, greatly increasing the attenuation range of the attenuator, thereby also increasing its overall attenuation range.

[0049] Of course, the above description is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the examples given above. Any changes, modifications, additions or substitutions made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention should also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A novel large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator, characterized in that: Includes fixed waveguide assemblies and multi-stage rotating waveguide assemblies; The fixed waveguide assembly includes a first standard waveguide flange, a second standard waveguide flange, a first circular-to-square waveguide, a second circular-to-square waveguide, a first fixed attenuator, and a second fixed attenuator. The first standard waveguide flange and the first circular-to-square waveguide are integrally formed, as are the second standard waveguide flange and the second circular-to-square waveguide. The first fixed attenuator is located inside the first circular-to-square waveguide, and the second fixed attenuator is located inside the second circular-to-square waveguide. The first standard waveguide flange and the first circular-to-square waveguide are distributed on one side of the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly, and the second standard waveguide flange and the second circular-to-square waveguide are distributed on the other side of the multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly. The multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly includes multiple rotating circular waveguides and multiple rotating attenuators fixed inside the circular waveguides; each rotating attenuator is placed inside the corresponding rotating circular waveguide and fixed together with the corresponding rotating circular waveguide. When the rotating circular waveguide rotates, it drives the corresponding rotating attenuator to rotate together.

2. The novel high dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The interfaces of the first and second standard waveguide flanges are both standard rectangular waveguide ports, configured to introduce electromagnetic waves into the attenuator and extract the attenuated electromagnetic waves. The first and second circular transformation waveguides are configured to perform corresponding mode conversions on electromagnetic waves, thereby polarizing and attenuating them. The first fixed attenuator and the second fixed attenuator are configured to guide the transmission of electromagnetic waves and absorb the tangential electric field component.

3. The novel large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator according to claim 2, characterized in that: Both the first and second square-to-circular transformation waveguides are rectangular waveguide-to-circular waveguides; microwave signals are input and output from the rectangular waveguide port.

4. The novel high dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multi-stage rotating waveguide assemblies are capable of axial rotation.

5. The novel large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: A rotating attenuator is configured to absorb a portion of the microwave energy, thus attenuating the microwave.

6. The novel large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotation of each set of rotating attenuators and their corresponding rotating circular waveguides is independent of each other, and each can be rotated to any angle.

7. The novel large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multi-stage rotating waveguide assembly includes three rotating circular waveguides and three rotating attenuators fixed inside the circular waveguides; The three rotating circular waveguides are designated as the first rotating circular waveguide, the second rotating circular waveguide, and the third rotating circular waveguide. The three rotating attenuators fixed inside the circular waveguide are designated as the first rotating attenuator, the second rotating attenuator, and the third rotating attenuator. The first rotating attenuator is placed inside the first rotating circular waveguide and fixed together with it; similarly, the second rotating attenuator is placed inside the second rotating circular waveguide and fixed together with it; the third rotating attenuator is placed inside the third rotating circular waveguide and fixed together with it. When the first, second, and third rotating circular waveguides rotate, they respectively drive the first, second, and third rotating attenuators to rotate together.

8. A novel operating method for a large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator, characterized in that: The novel large dynamic range, high resolution millimeter-wave adjustable attenuator as described in claim 1 specifically includes the following steps: Step 1: When the fixed attenuator and multiple rotating attenuators are on the same plane, microwaves can pass through smoothly. This is the straight-through state of the attenuator, and the attenuation is 0. Step 2: When multiple rotating attenuators rotate to different positions, a certain angle is formed between the fixed attenuator and the multiple rotating attenuators. At this time, when microwaves pass through, the multiple rotating attenuators absorb the tangential component of the electric field, thereby absorbing microwave energy and ultimately achieving adjustable attenuation of microwave energy.

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