Directional coupler and radio frequency front-end module
By employing a stacked structure of a first microstrip line and a second microstrip line in the directional coupler to form a bent and extended port, the problem of complex structure and large size of the directional coupler is solved, achieving miniaturization and cost savings.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520488629.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-03
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-03-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing directional couplers have complex structures and large sizes, making it difficult to meet the miniaturization requirements of electronic devices.
By employing a stacked structure of the first and second microstrip lines, input, through, coupling, and isolation ports are formed through bending and extension, thereby reducing the length and area of the coupler.
This greatly saves on the area and processing cost of directional couplers and improves utilization.
Smart Images
Figure CN223967370U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a directional coupler and a radio frequency front-end module. Background Technology
[0002] A directional coupler consists of a main signal line and a coupled signal line, used for power detection, power combining, and power distribution. When an AC signal with a defined direction propagates on the main signal line, due to the parasitic capacitance and inductance between the main signal and the coupled signal, an AC signal with a defined direction will also appear on the coupled signal line. Commonly used waveguide couplers include Betz hole couplers, multi-hole directional couplers, Schwinger (oscillator) couplers, waveguide magic T couplers, and various couplers using coaxial probes. From the mid-1950s to the 1960s, various couplers employing stripline and microstrip technology were invented.
[0003] Current existing couplers such as Figure 1 As shown, the coupler consists of two parallel coupling lines of equal width, with a center frequency of 1 / 4 wavelength. Each port of the coupler is connected to a matched load Z0. If the signal is input from input port a, it is output from coupling port b and through port d, and there is no output from isolation port c. Because the propagation direction of the coupled signal is opposite to that of the input signal, it is called a reverse directional coupler. A directional coupler with only 1 / 4 wavelength parallel coupling lines is called a "single-section directional coupler," while a directional coupler consisting of several cascaded 1 / 4 wavelength parallel coupling lines is called a "multi-section directional coupler."
[0004] However, the length of the aforementioned coupler is approximately equal to 1 / 4 wavelength or an integer multiple of 1 / 4 wavelength of the coupled signal, while the length of a traditional directional coupler is about 2000um for 1 / 4 wavelength; this tends to result in a large size, making it difficult to meet the miniaturization requirements of today's electronic devices. Utility Model Content
[0005] To address the shortcomings of the existing technology, this utility model proposes a directional coupler to solve the problems of complex structure and large size of existing directional couplers.
[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:
[0007] This utility model provides a directional coupler, which includes a first microstrip line and a second microstrip line spaced apart from and coupled to the first microstrip line. The first microstrip line has an input port and a through port at its two ends, and the second microstrip line has a coupling port and an isolation port at its two ends. The first microstrip line and the second microstrip line are at least partially stacked vertically at intervals. The first microstrip line includes a first microstrip line body, a first metal wire formed by bending and extending from one end of the first microstrip line body towards the second microstrip line, and a second metal wire formed by bending and extending from the other end of the first microstrip line body away from the second microstrip line. The input port is formed at the end of the first metal wire away from the first microstrip line body, and the through port is formed at the end of the second metal wire away from the first microstrip line body.
[0008] The second microstrip line includes a second microstrip line body, a third metal line formed by bending and extending one end of the second microstrip line body away from the first microstrip line body, and a fourth metal line formed by bending and extending one end of the third metal line away from the second microstrip line body; the isolation port is formed at the other end of the second microstrip line body, and the coupling port is formed at the end of the fourth metal line away from the third metal line; the second microstrip line body and the fourth metal line are spaced apart from each other and parallel; the second microstrip line body is located directly below the first microstrip line body.
[0009] Preferably, the first metal line has a through-hole extending through it, and the through-hole extends to the second microstrip line, thereby connecting the first microstrip line and the second microstrip line.
[0010] Preferably, the third metal line is perpendicular to both the second microstrip line body and the fourth metal line.
[0011] Preferably, the size of the metal via is defined as w1×w1, where w1 is 60um~100um; the width of the first microstrip line body is defined as w2, where w2 is 20um~60um; the distance from the side of the first microstrip line body to its center is defined as w3, where w3 is 10um~30um; the distance between the second microstrip line body and the fourth metal line is defined as w4, where w4 is 30um~200um; and the width of the second metal line is defined as w5, where w5 is... 20um~60um; the distance from one end of the first microstrip line body to the outer side of the second metal line is defined as w6, w6 is 100um~800um; the distance from the third metal line to the end of the fourth metal line away from the third metal line is defined as w7, w7 is 100um~800um; the width of the fourth metal line is defined as w8, w8 is 1um~20um; the distance from the third metal line to the wall of the metal via is defined as w9, w9 is 1um~200um.
[0012] Preferably, the angle formed between the first metal line and the first microstrip line body is an acute angle, and the second metal line is perpendicular to the first microstrip line body.
[0013] Preferably, the first microstrip line is an aluminum layer trace.
[0014] Preferably, the second microstrip line is a copper coupling line.
[0015] Secondly, this utility model embodiment provides a radio frequency front-end module, including the aforementioned directional coupler.
[0016] Compared with related technologies, in the embodiments of this utility model, an input port and a through port are respectively provided at both ends of the first microstrip line, and a coupling port and an isolation port are respectively provided at both ends of the second microstrip line; the first microstrip line is stacked on the second microstrip line; the first microstrip line includes a first microstrip line body, a first metal line formed by bending and extending one end of the first microstrip line body towards the input port, and a second metal line formed by bending and extending the other end of the first microstrip line body towards the through port, the first metal line and the second metal line extending in opposite directions; the second microstrip line includes a second microstrip line body, a third metal line formed by bending and extending one end of the second microstrip line body, and a fourth metal line formed by bending and extending the third metal line away from the second microstrip line body; the isolation port is formed at the other end of the second microstrip line body, and the coupling port is formed at the end of the fourth metal line away from the third metal line; the second microstrip line body and the fourth metal line are parallel to each other; the second microstrip line body is located directly below the first microstrip line body; this greatly saves the area of the directional coupler, while also saving processing costs, thereby improving the utilization rate of the directional coupler. Attached Figure Description
[0017] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The above and other aspects of the present invention will become clearer and easier to understand through the detailed description in conjunction with the following drawings. In the drawings:
[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an existing coupler.
[0019] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the directional coupler provided in the embodiment of this utility model Figure 1 ;
[0020] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the directional coupler provided in the embodiment of this utility model Figure 2 .
[0021] Among them, 100 is a directional coupler, 1 is a first microstrip line, 11 is the body of the first microstrip line, 12 is a first metal line, 13 is a second metal line, 2 is a second microstrip line, 21 is the body of the second microstrip line, 22 is a third metal line, 23 is a fourth metal line, 3 is an input port, 4 is a through port, 5 is an isolation port, 6 is a coupling port, and 7 is a metal via. Detailed Implementation
[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used herein in the specification of the application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing drawings of this application, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, or foregoing drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a particular order.
[0023] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.
[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0025] Please see Figures 2-3 As shown, this embodiment of the present invention provides a directional coupler 100, which includes a first microstrip line 1 and a second microstrip line 2 spaced apart from and coupled to the first microstrip line 1. The first microstrip line 1 has an input port 3 and a through port 4 at its two ends, and the second microstrip line 2 has a coupling port 6 and an isolation port 5 at its two ends. The first microstrip line 1 and the second microstrip line 2 are at least partially stacked vertically at intervals. The first microstrip line 1 includes a first microstrip line body 11, a first metal wire 12 formed by bending and extending from one end of the first microstrip line body 11 towards the second microstrip line 2, and a second metal wire 13 formed by bending and extending from the other end of the first microstrip line body 11 away from the second microstrip line 2. The input port 3 is formed at the end of the first metal wire 12 away from the first microstrip line body 11, and the through port 4 is formed at the end of the second metal wire 13 away from the first microstrip line body 11. The first metal wire 12 and the second metal wire 13 extend in opposite directions.
[0026] The second microstrip line 2 includes a second microstrip line body 21, a third metal line 22 formed by bending and extending from one end of the second microstrip line body 21 away from the first microstrip line body 11, and a fourth metal line 23 formed by bending and extending from one end of the third metal line 22 away from the second microstrip line body 21; the isolation port 5 is formed at the other end of the second microstrip line body 21, and the coupling port 6 is formed at the end of the fourth metal line 23 away from the third metal line 22; the second microstrip line body 21 and the fourth metal line 23 are spaced apart and parallel to each other; the second microstrip line body 21 is located directly below the first microstrip line body 11. This greatly saves the area of the directional coupler 100, while also saving processing costs, thereby improving the utilization rate of the directional coupler 100.
[0027] In this embodiment, the first metal line 12 is provided with a through-hole 7 extending therethrough to the second microstrip line 2, thereby achieving a connection between the first metal line 12 and the second microstrip line 2.
[0028] In this embodiment, the third metal line 22 is perpendicular to both the second microstrip line body 21 and the fourth metal line 23. This facilitates the installation and coupling of the second microstrip line 2 with the first microstrip line 1.
[0029] In this embodiment, the size of the metal via 7 is defined as w1×w1, where w1 is 60um~100um; the width of the first microstrip line body 11 is defined as w2, where w2 is 20um~60um; the distance from the side of the first microstrip line body 11 to its center is defined as w3, where w3 is 10um~30um; the distance between the second microstrip line body 21 and the fourth metal line 23 is defined as w4, where w4 is 30um~200um; and the width of the second metal line 13 is defined as w5, where w5 is... The spacing between one end of the first microstrip line body 11 and the outer side of the second metal line 13 is defined as w6, where w6 is 100um to 800um; the spacing between the third metal line 22 and the end of the fourth metal line 23 furthest from the third metal line 22 is defined as w7, where w7 is 100um to 800um; the width of the fourth metal line 23 is defined as w8, where w8 is 1um to 20um; and the spacing between the third metal line 22 and the wall of the metal via 7 is defined as w9, where w9 is 1um to 200um. This makes the directional coupler 100 smaller than 600um, greatly saving circuit area and processing costs.
[0030] Optionally, the metal through-hole 7 can be a rectangular or octagonal hole structure, which makes the through-hole easy to form.
[0031] In this embodiment, the angle formed between the first metal line 12 and the first microstrip line body 11 is an acute angle, and the second metal line 13 is perpendicular to the first microstrip line body 11.
[0032] In this embodiment, the first microstrip line 1 is an aluminum layer trace. It has high structural strength, low cost, and good conductivity.
[0033] In this embodiment, the second microstrip line 2 is a copper coupling line. It has high structural strength and good conductivity.
[0034] In this embodiment, the first microstrip line body 11, the first metal line 12, and the second metal line 13 are integrally formed. The second microstrip line body 21, the third metal line 22, and the fourth metal line 23 are also integrally formed. This structure offers high strength and is easy to manufacture.
[0035] Example 2
[0036] This embodiment of the utility model provides a radio frequency front-end module, including the directional coupler 100 described above. This radio frequency front-end module has the same features as the directional coupler 100 and produces the same technical effects, so it will not be described further here.
[0037] It should be noted that the various embodiments described above with reference to the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of the present invention and not intended to limit its scope. Those skilled in the art should understand that any modifications or equivalent substitutions made to the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope should be covered within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, unless the context otherwise requires, singular terms include plural forms, and vice versa. Additionally, unless specifically stated otherwise, all or part of any embodiment may be used in conjunction with all or part of any other embodiment.
Claims
1. A directional coupler comprising a first microstrip line and a second microstrip line disposed in spaced relation to and coupled to the first microstrip line, the first microstrip line having an input port and a through port at opposite ends thereof, the second microstrip line having a coupled port and an isolated port at opposite ends thereof; characterized by, The first microstrip line and the second microstrip line are arranged in an up-down interval stacked manner at least in part; the first microstrip line comprises a first microstrip line body, a first metal line formed by bending and extending from one end of the first microstrip line body towards the second microstrip line, and a second metal line formed by bending and extending from the other end of the first microstrip line body away from the second microstrip line; the input port is formed at one end of the first metal line away from the first microstrip line body, and the through port is formed at one end of the second metal line away from the first microstrip line body; The second microstrip line comprises a second microstrip line body, a third metal line formed by bending and extending from one end of the second microstrip line body away from the first microstrip line body, and a fourth metal line formed by bending and extending from one end of the third metal line away from the second microstrip line body; the isolation port is formed at the other end of the second microstrip line body, and the coupling port is formed at one end of the fourth metal line away from the third metal line; the second microstrip line body and the fourth metal line are spaced apart and parallel to each other; the second microstrip line body is located directly below the first microstrip line body.
2. The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein, The first metal line is provided with a metal through hole extending therethrough, which extends to the second microstrip line to realize the connection of the first microstrip line and the second microstrip line.
3. The directional coupler of claim 2, wherein, The third metal line is perpendicular to the second microstrip line body and the fourth metal line, respectively.
4. The directional coupler of claim 3, wherein, The size of the metal through hole is defined as w1xw1, w1 is 60um-100um; the width of the first microstrip line body is defined as w2, w2 is 20um-60um; the distance from the side of the first microstrip line body to the center of the first microstrip line body is defined as w3, w3 is 10um-30um; the distance between the second microstrip line body and the fourth metal line is defined as w4, w4 is 30um-200um; the width of the second metal line is defined as w5, w5 is 20um-60um; the distance from one end of the first microstrip line body to the outside of the second metal line is defined as w6, w6 is 100um-800um; the distance from the third metal line to one end of the fourth metal line away from the third metal line is defined as w7, w7 is 100um-800um; the width of the fourth metal line is defined as w8, w8 is 1um-20um; the distance from the third metal line to the hole wall of the metal through hole is defined as w9, w9 is 1um-200um.
5. The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein, The included angle between the first metal line and the first microstrip line body is an acute angle, and the second metal line is perpendicular to the first microstrip line body.
6. The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein, The first microstrip line is an aluminum layer trace.
7. The directional coupler of claim 1, wherein, The second microstrip line is a copper coupling line.
8. A radio frequency front end module, comprising: The directional coupler comprises the directional coupler according to any one of claims 1-7.