Manually-adjusted high-power broadband attenuation control device and control method

Abstract

The invention relates to a manually-adjusted high-power broadband attenuation control device and method. A first adjusting unit provides discrete gears corresponding to different first attenuation values, and a second adjusting unit provides discrete gears corresponding to different second attenuation values. The processing module determines an attenuation value according to input information of the first adjusting unit and the second adjusting unit, calculates a target attenuation value, converts the target attenuation value into a 6-bit parallel binary control code, and outputs the 6-bit parallel binary control code to the program control attenuation module through a parallel interface. And each bit of the control code corresponds to a weighted attenuation bit, so that independent start and stop of the attenuation unit are realized. The method comprises the steps of detecting a pin level, determining an attenuation value, calculating a target value, generating a control code and outputting an instruction. And when the target attenuation value exceeds 63dB, forcibly outputting a maximum attenuation instruction. According to the scheme, the operation process is simplified through a two-stage adjustment framework, the response speed is improved through parallel direct drive control, the full-band signal attenuation stability is guaranteed through the metal shielding shell integrated design, and the high-power test device is suitable for a high-power test scene of the frequency band of 0.5-40 GHz.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of radio frequency microwave technology, and in particular to a manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device and control method. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of radio frequency (RF) testing and communications, precise signal power attenuation is crucial. Currently, the mainstream solution for achieving high power and wide bandwidth attenuation requirements is the programmable attenuator. These attenuators typically have their parameters set via a computer or dedicated controller software interface, enabling wide frequency coverage, large attenuation, and fine-grained attenuation step control. However, this software-interface-dependent operation method presents technical challenges in applications requiring frequent and rapid attenuation adjustments, including complexity and a lack of intuitiveness, increasing user learning costs and operation time.

[0003] On the other hand, while traditional manually adjustable attenuators are straightforward to operate, their mechanical structure and material properties often limit their ability to simultaneously meet requirements for wide operating range, large attenuation, high-precision stepping, and high power handling. This is especially true for high-performance applications operating at frequencies extending to tens of GHz, requiring attenuation ranges of tens of dB with 1dB steps; attenuators relying solely on manual mechanical structures often face challenges such as complex design, high cost, or difficulty in achieving the desired performance specifications. Therefore, the market lacks a solution that can meet these high-performance attenuation requirements while maintaining a controllable cost through intuitive manual knob operation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control device and method, comprising: The first adjustment unit has multiple discrete gears, each gear corresponding to a different first attenuation value; The second adjustment unit has multiple discrete gears, each gear corresponding to a different second attenuation value; Processing module; Programmable attenuation module; The power supply module is used to power a manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device. The output of the first adjustment unit is connected to the first input of the processing module to transmit the current first attenuation level information. The output of the second adjustment unit is connected to the second input of the processing module to transmit the current second attenuation level information; The control output of the processing module is connected to the programmable attenuation module via a parallel control interface. The processing module is configured as follows: The current first attenuation value is determined based on the first attenuation level information of the first input terminal; The current second attenuation value is determined based on the second attenuation level information of the second input terminal; The target attenuation value is obtained by summing the current first attenuation value and the current second attenuation value. The target attenuation value is converted into a 6-bit parallel binary control code; The control code is output to the programmable attenuation module through the parallel control interface.

[0005] Furthermore, the first adjustment unit, the second adjustment unit, the processing module, and the programmable attenuator module are integrated and packaged inside the housing, while the operating parts of the first adjustment unit and the second adjustment unit are exposed outside the housing.

[0006] Furthermore, the processing module is a microcontroller, and the control output terminal of the microcontroller is connected to the control input terminal of the programmable attenuator module through a programmable interface to control the programmable attenuator module to output the target attenuation value. Each output pin of the first adjustment unit is connected to each corresponding first input pin of the microcontroller, and is used to indicate the current first attenuation level information of the first adjustment unit to the microcontroller. Each output pin of the second adjustment unit is connected to each corresponding second input pin of the microcontroller, and is used to indicate the current second attenuation level information of the second adjustment unit to the microcontroller.

[0007] Furthermore, the processing module specifically includes: The current first attenuation value of the first adjustment unit is determined based on the level state of the first input pin; The current second attenuation value of the second adjustment unit is determined based on the level state of the second input pin; The target attenuation value is obtained by summing the current first attenuation value and the current second attenuation value. Generate corresponding control commands based on the target attenuation value; Control commands are sent to the programmable attenuator module via the programmable interface to control the programmable attenuator module to achieve the target attenuation value.

[0008] Furthermore, each gear of the first adjustment unit corresponds to a first attenuation value with a first preset step change, and each gear of the second adjustment unit corresponds to a second attenuation value with a second preset step change, wherein the second preset step change is smaller than the first preset step change.

[0009] Furthermore, the first adjustment unit is a first adjustment knob with 7 positions, and the attenuation value corresponding to each position of the first adjustment knob includes multiple attenuation values ​​that are integer multiples of 10dB in the range of 0dB to 60dB. The second adjustment unit is a second adjustment knob with 10 positions, and the attenuation value corresponding to each position of the second adjustment knob includes integer attenuation values ​​in the range of 0dB to 9dB.

[0010] Furthermore, The state combination between each output pin of the first adjustment unit forms a first code, and the state combination between each output pin of the second adjustment unit forms a second code; The processing module determines the current first attenuation value by decoding the first code and determines the current second attenuation value by decoding the second code. The processing module decodes the first code into the current first attenuation value by querying a preset first mapping table and decodes the second code into the current second attenuation value by querying a preset second mapping table. The processing module is configured to detect the level changes of the first input pin and the second input pin in a polling or interrupt manner, with the detection interval ranging from 300 ms to 500 ms.

[0011] Furthermore, bits C1 to C6 of the 6-bit parallel binary control code control the weighted attenuation bits of 1 dB, 2 dB, 4 dB, 8 dB, 16 dB, and 32 dB, respectively; when the target attenuation value exceeds 63 dB, the corresponding binary control code 111111 is output. The programmable interface is a parallel communication interface, and the parallel control interface is a 6-bit parallel bus, which is directly connected to the C1 to C6 control pins of the programmable attenuation module. The programmable attenuation module includes multiple sub-modules covering different frequency bands, and the upper limit of the operating frequency band of at least one sub-module is not less than 40 GHz.

[0012] The present invention also provides a manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control method, applied to the aforementioned manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control device, comprising the following steps: S0. Turn on the power supply module and initialize it; S1. Detect the level state of the first input pin connected to the first adjustment unit; S2. Detect the level status of the second input pin connected to the second adjustment unit; S3. Determine the current first attenuation value of the first adjustment unit based on the level state of the first input pin; S4. Determine the current second attenuation value of the second adjustment unit based on the level state of the second input pin; S5. Calculate the target attenuation value based on the current first attenuation value and the current second attenuation value; S6. Convert the target attenuation value into a 6-bit parallel binary control code, where each bit corresponds to a weighted attenuation bit, and generate the corresponding control command. S7. Send control commands to the programmable attenuator module through the programmable control interface to control the programmable attenuator module to achieve the target attenuation value; S8. When the target attenuation value exceeds the preset threshold, output the binary control code corresponding to the maximum attenuation value.

[0013] Furthermore, the weighted attenuation bits include attenuation units of 1 dB, 2 dB, 4 dB, 8 dB, 16 dB, and 32 dB; when the target attenuation value exceeds a preset threshold, specifically: when the target attenuation value exceeds 63 dB, the corresponding binary control code 111111 is output.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are: The hierarchical control architecture with dual adjustment units and a parallel weighted attenuation mechanism significantly improves the operational efficiency and high-frequency performance of manual attenuation devices. The first adjustment unit provides coarse attenuation adjustment in 10dB steps, while the second adjustment unit enables fine calibration in 1dB steps. Users can accurately set the target attenuation value with just two rotations, simplifying the multiple cycles required by traditional single-knob systems into a two-step positioning process. This structure reduces operational complexity, avoids repeated adjustment delays in high-frequency testing scenarios, and is particularly suitable for rapid on-site testing needs.

[0015] The parallel control interface directly drives the weighted attenuation bits, eliminating the decoding overhead of serial communication protocols. The 6-bit control code directly corresponds to the physical attenuation unit, reducing signal attenuation response time to the microsecond level. Each weighted attenuation bit is independently packaged on a high-frequency optimized substrate, maintaining low VSWR characteristics across the entire 0.5-40GHz frequency band and overcoming impedance mismatch issues of mechanical contacts at high frequencies. A metal shielded housing integrates a dual-band module, and optimized grounding suppresses inter-band crosstalk, ensuring consistent attenuation amplitude across a wide bandwidth.

[0016] The synergistic effect of graded adjustment and parallel control achieves a balance between manual operation precision and programmable performance. A 63dB dynamic range coverage and 1dB step accuracy meet the testing tolerance requirements of millimeter-wave communication systems. The polling detection mechanism keeps power consumption below 200mW, adapting to the power supply limitations of portable devices. The housing's heat dissipation structure, combined with a thermally conductive medium, enhances high-power tolerance to 2W continuous wave, expanding the device's application potential in high-power scenarios such as power amplifier testing. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1A front panel view of the overall structure of a manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control device; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control device without knobs; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control device; Figure 4 A system block diagram of a manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control device; Figure 5 This is a flowchart of a manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control method.

[0018] The components include: 1. First adjustment unit; 2. Second adjustment unit; 3. Power supply module; 4. Housing. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-5 The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that the advantages and features of the present invention can be more easily understood by those skilled in the art, thereby making a clearer and more explicit definition of the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] A manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device includes: The first adjustment unit 1 has multiple discrete gears, each gear corresponding to a different first attenuation value; The second adjustment unit 2 has multiple discrete gears, each gear corresponding to a different second attenuation value; Processing module; programmable attenuation module; power supply module 3, which is used to supply power to a manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device; The output of the first adjustment unit 1 is connected to the first input of the processing module to transmit the current first attenuation level information; the output of the second adjustment unit 2 is connected to the second input of the processing module to transmit the current second attenuation level information. The control output of the processing module is connected to the programmable attenuation module via a parallel control interface. The processing module is configured to: determine the current first attenuation value from the information at the first input terminal; determine the current second attenuation value from the information at the second input terminal; obtain the target attenuation value by summing the current first attenuation value and the current second attenuation value; convert the target attenuation value into a 6-bit parallel binary control code; and output the control code to the programmable attenuator module through the parallel control interface. The first adjustment unit 1, the second adjustment unit 2, the processing module, and the programmable attenuator module are integrated and encapsulated inside the housing 4, while the operating parts of the first adjustment unit 1 and the second adjustment unit 2 are exposed outside the housing 4.

[0021] The processing module is a microcontroller. The control output of the microcontroller is connected to the control input of the programmable attenuator module through a programmable interface to control the programmable attenuator module to output the target attenuation value. Each output pin of the first adjustment unit 1 is connected to each corresponding first input pin of the microcontroller, and is used to indicate the current gear of the first adjustment unit 1 to the microcontroller; Each output pin of the second adjustment unit 2 is connected to each corresponding second input pin of the microcontroller, and is used to indicate the current gear of the second adjustment unit 2 to the microcontroller.

[0022] The processing module specifically includes: The level state of the first input pin determines the current first attenuation value of the first adjustment unit 1; The level state of the second input pin determines the current second attenuation value of the second adjustment unit 2; The target attenuation value is obtained by summing the current first attenuation value and the current second attenuation value. The corresponding control command is generated based on the target attenuation value; the control command is sent to the programmable attenuator module through the programmable control interface to control the programmable attenuator module to achieve the target attenuation value.

[0023] Each gear of the first adjustment unit 1 corresponds to a first attenuation value that changes by a first preset step, and each gear of the second adjustment unit 2 corresponds to a second attenuation value that changes by a second preset step, wherein the second preset step is smaller than the first preset step.

[0024] The first adjustment unit 1 is a first adjustment knob with 7 positions. The attenuation value corresponding to each position of the first adjustment knob includes multiple attenuation values ​​that are integer multiples of 10dB in the range of 0dB to 60dB. The second adjustment unit 2 is a second adjustment knob with 10 positions. The attenuation value corresponding to each position of the second adjustment knob includes integer attenuation values ​​in the range of 0dB to 9dB.

[0025] The state combination between each output pin of the first adjustment unit 1 forms a first code, and the state combination between each output pin of the second adjustment unit 2 forms a second code; The processing module determines the current first attenuation value by decoding the first code and the current second attenuation value by decoding the second code. The processing module decodes the first code into the current first attenuation value by querying the preset first mapping table and decodes the second code into the current second attenuation value by querying the preset second mapping table. The processing module is configured to detect the level changes of the first and second input pins in either polling or interrupt mode, with a detection interval ranging from 300 ms to 500 ms.

[0026] Bits C1-C6 of the 6-bit parallel binary control code control the weighted attenuation bits of 1 dB, 2 dB, 4 dB, 8 dB, 16 dB, and 32 dB, respectively; when the target attenuation value exceeds 63 dB, the corresponding binary code 111111 is output; The programmable interface is a parallel communication interface, and the parallel control interface is a 6-bit parallel bus, which is directly connected to the C1-C6 control pins of the programmable attenuation module. The programmable attenuation module includes multiple sub-modules covering different frequency bands, with at least one sub-module having an upper operating frequency band limit of no less than 40 GHz.

[0027] The first adjustment unit 1 uses a mechanical band switch to achieve discrete attenuation level switching. Its output is connected to the first input of the processing module via multiple level signals. Each level of the first adjustment unit 1 corresponds to a specific attenuation value; for example, the 7-level knob corresponds to coarse attenuation values ​​of 0 dB, 10 dB, 20 dB, 30 dB, 40 dB, 50 dB, and 60 dB, respectively. The second adjustment unit 2 is an independently operated 10-level knob, covering integer attenuation values ​​from 0 dB to 9 dB, used for fine-tuning attenuation accuracy. The operating terminals of both adjustment units are exposed on the surface of the device housing 4, allowing the user to manually switch levels. Its mechanical structure includes a fixed base and a rotatable contact plate. Each level is physically locked by a ratchet positioning mechanism, with the rotation angle ranging from 0° to 300° divided into 7 positioning points. Each level corresponds to a set of independent output pins, with a total of 7 signal lines directly connected to the GPIO pins of the processing module. When the knob is switched to the 20 dB level, the corresponding 3rd pin outputs a high level, and the other pins output a low level, forming the binary code 0010000. The second adjustment unit 2 is a 10-position coaxial rotary switch. The contact plate adopts a segmented design with conductive rings, and the 10 output pins represent the 0 dB to 9 dB position. The knob shafts of the two adjustment units pass through the front panel of the device housing 4 and are fixed by sealed bearings. Anti-slip knob caps are added to the operating ends.

[0028] The processing module is based on a microcontroller and connects to 7 output pins of the first adjustment unit 1 and 10 output pins of the second adjustment unit 2 via 17 general-purpose input / output interfaces. The microcontroller polls the pin levels at fixed intervals of 300 ms to 500 ms, forming a binary code based on the pin level combinations. By consulting a pre-stored mapping table, the code of the first adjustment unit 1 is decoded into the current tens digit attenuation value, and the code of the second adjustment unit 2 is decoded into the current units digit attenuation value. The microcontroller adds the two to obtain the target attenuation value. If the target value exceeds 63 dB, a 63 dB command is forcibly output. The target attenuation value is converted into a 6-bit parallel binary control code, where bit C1 corresponds to a 1 dB attenuation unit, bit C2 corresponds to a 2 dB attenuation unit, bit C4 corresponds to an 8 dB attenuation unit, and so on up to bit C6 controlling a 32 dB attenuation unit, achieving weighted attenuation bit combination control. The processing module uses an STM32F407ZGT6 microcontroller. GPIOA0-A6 of its 17 general purpose input / output interfaces are connected to 7 signal lines of the first adjustment unit 1, and GPIOB0-B9 are connected to 10 signal lines of the second adjustment unit 2. The microcontroller has internal pull-up resistors, and all input pins are normally kept high. When the knob switches positions, the ground contact pulls the corresponding pin low, forming a low-active logic signal. The microcontroller triggers a polling task via a timer interrupt, scanning the status of all 17 pins every 400 ms and storing the level combination as a 17-bit binary number. This value is separated into the high 7 bits (encoded by the first adjustment unit 1) and the low 10 bits (encoded by the second adjustment unit 2) using a bitmask. The first mapping table pre-stored in the microcontroller's FLASH maps the 7-bit code to a tens-bit attenuation value (0 / 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 dB), and the second mapping table maps the 10-bit code to a units-bit attenuation value (0-9 dB). The mapping table is implemented using a lookup table method. For example, the code 0001000 corresponds to 30 dB, and the code 0000001000 corresponds to 7 dB. The microcontroller sums the two values ​​and then performs a comparison operation: if the target attenuation value is greater than 63 dB, it writes the fixed code 111111 corresponding to 63 dB to the output register; otherwise, it calculates the control code using a bitwise decomposition algorithm, where bit C1 = target value & 0x01, bit C2 = (target value >> 1) & 0x01, and so on, up to bit C6 = (target value >> 5) & 0x01. The calculation result is written to the 6-bit parallel output ports GPIOC0-C5.

[0029] The programmable attenuation module comprises two independent sub-modules: the first sub-module covers the DC to 3 GHz frequency band and uses an SMA RF interface; the second sub-module covers the 0.5 GHz to 40 GHz frequency band and uses a 2.92 mm RF interface. Both sub-modules have 6 parallel control pins (C1-C6) that connect directly to the microcontroller's 6-bit parallel bus. When a control code is input, the programmable attenuation module synchronously activates the physical units corresponding to the weighted attenuation bits. For example, the control code "011001" will simultaneously activate the 16 dB (C5), 8 dB (C4), and 1 dB (C1) units, achieving a total attenuation of 25 dB. The device is internally housed in a metal shielded enclosure 4, which integrates all modules to suppress high-frequency signal interference. The enclosure 4 only exposes the knob operation terminals to maintain complete electromagnetic shielding performance. The programmable attenuation module comprises two parallel sub-modules: the low-frequency sub-module uses a GKTS2-6-63-3-F attenuation chip with an SMA-K RF interface, and its control pins C1-C6 are connected to the microcontroller's GPIOC0-C5 via header pins; the high-frequency sub-module uses a GKTS1-6-63-0.5 / 40P27-K chip with a 2.92mm-Female RF interface, and its control pins are also connected in parallel to the same GPIOC port. Both modules share a ±5V power supply bus. All electronic modules are mounted on a 4-layer FR4 circuit board and housed within a cast aluminum shielded enclosure. The front panel of enclosure 4 has openings for securing dual knobs, the side walls are fitted with RF connectors, and the bottom plate has heat sink fins. The inner wall of enclosure 4 is covered with conductive pads, and the grounding terminal is connected to the circuit board's ground plane, forming a complete electromagnetic shielding cavity.

[0030] The seven signal lines of the first adjustment unit 1 are connected to the microcontroller's GPIOA port via 0.5mm pitch ribbon cables, with the cable length not exceeding 50mm to reduce signal crosstalk. Each signal line is connected in series with a 100Ω resistor for impedance matching and in parallel with a 100pF capacitor to filter high-frequency noise. The ten signal lines of the second adjustment unit 2 are connected to the GPIOB port in the same manner. The microcontroller's six-bit control signal is directly connected to the programmable attenuation module via a 1.27mm pitch board-to-board connector; the signal path does not pass through any buffer chip or level conversion circuit, ensuring nanosecond-level response delay.

[0031] The C1-C6 control pins of the programmable attenuation module are internally connected to a field-effect transistor switch array. When a high level is input to the C1 pin, the PIN diode bias circuit of the 1 dB attenuation unit is turned on, and the RF signal flows through the 1 dB attenuation network. Each attenuation unit adopts a π-type resistor network topology and is independently packaged in a ceramic substrate. The RF channels of the low-frequency submodule and the high-frequency submodule are isolated by a stripline, and ground plane segmentation reduces inter-band coupling. Thermal grease is filled between the heat dissipation substrate and the metal housing 4, and heat is dissipated through the fins of the bottom plate of the housing 4.

[0032] Specifically, after the manual adjustment operation is triggered, the microcontroller performs level status detection: first, it scans the levels of the 7 input pins of the first adjustment unit 1, combining them into a 7-bit binary code; simultaneously, it scans the levels of the 10 input pins of the second adjustment unit 2, forming a 10-bit binary code. By querying a preset mapping table, the 7-bit code is converted into a tens-bit attenuation value (0 / 10 / 20 / ... / 60 dB), and the 10-bit code is converted into a units-bit attenuation value (0-9 dB). The microcontroller sums the two values ​​and then performs a threshold judgment: if the result is greater than 63 dB, a fixed control code "111111" is generated; otherwise, the target value is decomposed according to a weighted algorithm to generate a 6-bit control code (for example, 25 dB is converted into "011001").

[0033] The control code is transmitted to pins C1-C6 of the programmable attenuation module via a 6-bit parallel bus. Based on the control code's level, the programmable attenuation module synchronously activates and deactivates its six independent attenuation units: 1 dB, 2 dB, 4 dB, 8 dB, 16 dB, and 32 dB. For example, when the third bit of the control code (C3) is high, the 4 dB unit is activated. The attenuation values ​​of each unit are summed to achieve the final attenuation effect. The entire process response time is less than 500 ms, with real-time operation ensured by the microcontroller's polling interval, while avoiding increased power consumption due to high-frequency polling.

[0034] The 7 coarse adjustment levels of the first adjustment unit 1 and the 10 fine adjustment levels of the second adjustment unit 2 form complementary operating logic, and the attenuation values ​​are arithmetically superimposed through a microcontroller. This graded adjustment mechanism simplifies the single-knob multi-turn operation of traditional mechanical attenuators to a single-knob positioning, maintaining 1 dB accuracy while improving adjustment efficiency. The microcontroller's encoding mapping table converts the physical pin states into digital attenuation values, eliminating misjudgments caused by mechanical contact jitter; the parallel bus direct-connection control mode avoids the decoding delay of the serial communication protocol, making the attenuation response speed synchronized with manual operation.

[0035] When integrating the dual-band submodule, the metal shielded housing 4 suppresses inter-band crosstalk through interface isolation design (SMA and 2.92 mm separate placement). The 40 GHz operating frequency band of the high-frequency submodule is technically matched with the 6-bit weighted control architecture: the weighted bit physical unit adopts a distributed microwave circuit design to reduce high-frequency signal phase distortion, while the direct parallel bus drive method avoids insertion loss introduced by additional digital-to-analog conversion stages. The polling detection interval is set to 300-500 ms, achieving a balance between operational real-time performance and system power consumption, making it particularly suitable for battery-powered portable testing scenarios.

[0036] A manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control method includes the following steps: S0. Turn on the power supply module and initialize it; S1. Detect the level state of the first input pin connected to the first adjustment unit; S2. Detect the level status of the second input pin connected to the second adjustment unit; The microcontroller scans the physical connections via a polling method through the general purpose input / output interface. The 7 output pins of the first adjustment unit are connected to GPIOA0-A6 ports, and the 10 pins of the second adjustment unit are connected to GPIOB0-B9 ports. The detection process is implemented by reading the port registers, performing a full pin scan every 400 ms. The pin level states follow a low-active logic: when the knob is switched to a specific position, the corresponding pin is pulled low (0V), while the remaining pins remain high (3.3V). The level states are stored in real-time as a 17-bit binary number, where the high 7 bits represent the state of the first adjustment unit (1) and the low 10 bits represent the state of the second adjustment unit.

[0037] S3. Determine the current first attenuation value of the first adjustment unit based on the level state of the first input pin; S4. Determine the current second attenuation value of the second adjustment unit based on the level state of the second input pin; The microcontroller uses a mapping table pre-stored in the FLASH memory to complete the decoding. The first mapping table maps the 7-bit binary code to a ten-bit attenuation value (0 / 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 dB), for example, the code 0001000 corresponds to 30 dB. The second mapping table maps the 10-bit code to a unit-bit attenuation value (0-9 dB), for example, 0000001000 corresponds to 7 dB. The mapping table uses a direct address indexing method, inputting the code as an offset to access the corresponding memory address and retrieve the 8-bit attenuation value data.

[0038] S5. Calculate the target attenuation value based on the current first attenuation value and the current second attenuation value; The microcontroller performs arithmetic addition, adding the tens digit attenuation value to the units digit attenuation value. The result is temporarily stored in a 32-bit general-purpose register; for example, adding 30 dB (tens digit) to 7 dB (units digit) yields 37 dB. If the result exceeds 63 dB, the overflow flag is set.

[0039] S6. Convert the target attenuation value into a 6-bit parallel binary control code, where each bit corresponds to a weighted attenuation bit, and generate the corresponding control command. Branch processing is performed based on the target value: a 6-bit control code is generated using a bit decomposition algorithm. The code is then determined bit by bit from highest to lowest weight: for example, 37 dB is decomposed into: 32 dB (C6=1) + 4 dB (C3=1) + 1 dB (C1=1) → control code 100101. When the target value > 63 dB or the overflow flag is set, a forced output of 111111 (63 dB) is performed.

[0040] S7. Send control commands to the programmable attenuator module via the programmable interface to control the programmable attenuator module to achieve the target attenuation value; write the 6-bit control code to the GPIOC0-C5 output registers. The port driver circuit directly outputs a 3.3V high level or a 0V low level to the C1-C6 pins of the programmable attenuator module. The control signal is transmitted through a trace of equal length ≤100 mm, and the signal rise time is <10 ns. The field-effect transistor switch of the programmable attenuator module conducts the corresponding attenuation unit when it receives a high level; for example, a high level on pin C3 will activate a 4 dB π-type resistor network.

[0041] S8. When the target attenuation value exceeds the preset threshold, the control code corresponding to the maximum attenuation value is output. The threshold comparator monitors the target value register in real time. When the value exceeds the immediate value 63 (binary 00111111), the control code generation circuit is bypassed, and the output buffer is forcibly locked to 111111. This state is maintained until the target value falls below 63 dB to avoid over-attenuation causing RF link interruption.

[0042] The weighted attenuation bits include attenuation units of 1 dB, 2 dB, 4 dB, 8 dB, 16 dB, and 32 dB. When the target attenuation value exceeds the preset threshold, specifically, when the target attenuation value exceeds 63 dB, the corresponding binary code 111111 is output.

[0043] The 10 dB step of the first adjustment unit and the 1 dB step of the second adjustment unit constitute a two-stage attenuation adjustment system. Users can quickly locate the attenuation range using the coarse adjustment knob and then achieve precise calibration using the fine adjustment knob. This mechanism simplifies the traditional single-knob operation, which requires 60 rotations, to a maximum of 7 + 9 = 16 rotations, improving operational efficiency. The microcontroller directly drives the weighted attenuation bits via a parallel bus, eliminating the decoding delay of the serial communication protocol and reducing the attenuation response time to the microsecond level.

[0044] The 6-bit parallel control bus employs an impedance matching design (50Ω±10%), with a 33 pF capacitor connected in parallel to each signal line to filter out GHz band noise. The 1 dB / 2 dB / 4 dB / 8 dB / 16 dB / 32 dB units of the programmable attenuation module are independently packaged on a ceramic substrate and connected to the RF transmission lines via gold wire bonding. The grounding path for each unit is directly connected to the housing via low-inductance copper pillars, maintaining an input / output VSWR ≤1.8 in the 40 GHz band. The metal shielded housing and the conductive pads on the knob shaft form a continuous electromagnetic shield, suppressing false triggering of control signals caused by external interference.

[0045] The hierarchical control architecture with dual adjustment units and a parallel weighted attenuation mechanism significantly improves the operational efficiency and high-frequency performance of manual attenuation devices. The first adjustment unit provides coarse attenuation adjustment in 10dB steps, while the second adjustment unit enables fine calibration in 1dB steps. Users can accurately set the target attenuation value with just two rotations, simplifying the multiple cycles required by traditional single-knob systems into a two-step positioning process. This structure reduces operational complexity, avoids repeated adjustment delays in high-frequency testing scenarios, and is particularly suitable for rapid on-site testing needs.

[0046] Any embodiment of the present invention can be used as an independent technical solution or in combination with other embodiments. All patents and publications mentioned in this specification represent publicly available technologies that can be used with the present invention. All patents and publications cited herein are also listed in the references as if each publication were individually referenced. The present invention can be implemented in the absence of any one or more elements, or one or more limitations, which are not specifically stated herein. The terminology and expressions used herein are descriptive methods and are not intended to be limiting, nor is there any intention to exclude any equivalent features from the terms and interpretations described herein; however, it is understood that any suitable changes or modifications can be made within the scope of the invention and the claims. It is understood that the embodiments described herein are embodiments and features in some examples, and any modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art based on the spirit of the description, and such modifications and variations are also considered to fall within the scope of the invention and the limitations of the independent and appended claims.

Claims

1. A manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device, characterized in that, include: The first adjustment unit has multiple discrete gears, each gear corresponding to a different first attenuation value; The second adjustment unit has multiple discrete gears, each gear corresponding to a different second attenuation value; Processing module; Programmable attenuation module; The power supply module is used to power a manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device. The output of the first adjustment unit is connected to the first input of the processing module to transmit the current first attenuation level information. The output of the second adjustment unit is connected to the second input of the processing module to transmit the current second attenuation level information; The control output of the processing module is connected to the programmable attenuation module via a parallel control interface. The processing module is configured as follows: The current first attenuation value is determined based on the first attenuation level information of the first input terminal; The current second attenuation value is determined based on the second attenuation level information of the second input terminal; The target attenuation value is obtained by summing the current first attenuation value and the current second attenuation value. The target attenuation value is converted into a 6-bit parallel binary control code; The control code is output to the programmable attenuation module through the parallel control interface.

2. The manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first adjustment unit, the second adjustment unit, the processing module, and the programmable attenuator module are integrated and packaged inside the housing, while the operating parts of the first and second adjustment units are exposed outside the housing.

3. The manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing module is a microcontroller. The control output terminal of the microcontroller is connected to the control input terminal of the programmable attenuator module through a programmable interface to control the programmable attenuator module to output the target attenuation value. Each output pin of the first adjustment unit is connected to each corresponding first input pin of the microcontroller, and is used to indicate the current first attenuation level information of the first adjustment unit to the microcontroller. Each output pin of the second adjustment unit is connected to each corresponding second input pin of the microcontroller, and is used to indicate the current second attenuation level information of the second adjustment unit to the microcontroller.

4. The manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing module specifically includes: The current first attenuation value of the first adjustment unit is determined based on the level state of the first input pin; The current second attenuation value of the second adjustment unit is determined based on the level state of the second input pin; The target attenuation value is obtained by summing the current first attenuation value and the current second attenuation value. Generate corresponding control commands based on the target attenuation value; Control commands are sent to the programmable attenuator module via the programmable interface to control the programmable attenuator module to achieve the target attenuation value.

5. The manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each gear of the first adjustment unit corresponds to a first attenuation value with a first preset step change, and each gear of the second adjustment unit corresponds to a second attenuation value with a second preset step change, wherein the second preset step change is smaller than the first preset step change.

6. The manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first adjustment unit is a first adjustment knob with 7 positions. The attenuation value corresponding to each position of the first adjustment knob includes multiple attenuation values ​​that are integer multiples of 10dB in the range of 0dB to 60dB. The second adjustment unit is a second adjustment knob with 10 positions. The attenuation value corresponding to each position of the second adjustment knob includes integer attenuation values ​​in the range of 0dB to 9dB.

7. The manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The state combination between each output pin of the first adjustment unit forms a first code, and the state combination between each output pin of the second adjustment unit forms a second code; The processing module determines the current first attenuation value by decoding the first code and determines the current second attenuation value by decoding the second code. The processing module decodes the first code into the current first attenuation value by querying a preset first mapping table and decodes the second code into the current second attenuation value by querying a preset second mapping table. The processing module is configured to detect the level changes of the first input pin and the second input pin in a polling or interrupt manner, with the detection interval ranging from 300 ms to 500 ms.

8. The manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Bits C1 to C6 of the 6-bit parallel binary control code control the weighted attenuation bits of 1 dB, 2 dB, 4 dB, 8 dB, 16 dB, and 32 dB, respectively; when the target attenuation value exceeds 63 dB, the corresponding binary control code 111111 is output. The programmable interface is a parallel communication interface, and the parallel control interface is a 6-bit parallel bus, which is directly connected to the C1 to C6 control pins of the programmable attenuation module. The programmable attenuation module includes multiple sub-modules covering different frequency bands, and the upper limit of the operating frequency band of at least one sub-module is not less than 40 GHz.

9. A manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control method, applied to the manually adjustable high-power broadband attenuation control device described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S0. Turn on the power supply module and initialize it; S1. Detect the level state of the first input pin connected to the first adjustment unit; S2. Detect the level status of the second input pin connected to the second adjustment unit; S3. Determine the current first attenuation value of the first adjustment unit based on the level state of the first input pin; S4. Determine the current second attenuation value of the second adjustment unit based on the level state of the second input pin; S5. Calculate the target attenuation value based on the current first attenuation value and the current second attenuation value; S6. Convert the target attenuation value into a 6-bit parallel binary control code, where each bit corresponds to a weighted attenuation bit, and generate the corresponding control command. S7. Send control commands to the programmable attenuator module through the programmable control interface to control the programmable attenuator module to achieve the target attenuation value; S8. When the target attenuation value exceeds the preset threshold, output the binary control code corresponding to the maximum attenuation value.

10. A manually adjustable high-power wideband attenuation control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The weighted attenuation bits include attenuation units of 1 dB, 2 dB, 4 dB, 8 dB, 16 dB, and 32 dB; when the target attenuation value exceeds the preset threshold, specifically: when the target attenuation value exceeds 63 dB, the corresponding binary control code 111111 is output.

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