Waveguide multiplexer having common coupling structure

The waveguide multiplexer with a common coupling structure addresses the challenges of size and insertion loss by combining multiple bandpass filters into a single coupler using a TE mode, achieving miniaturization and improved electrical characteristics.

WO2025127295A1PCT designated stage expired Publication Date: 2025-06-19ERANGTEK CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/KR2024/009925
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-12-12
Filing Date
2024-07-11
Publication Date
2025-06-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing waveguide multiplexers face challenges in miniaturization and improving insertion loss characteristics due to the complexity and size increase when combining multiple bandpass filters.

Method used

A waveguide multiplexer with a common coupling structure that combines multiple bandpass filters into a single coupler using a TE mode, reducing the path length and incorporating an impedance matching unit to optimize signal transmission.

Benefits of technology

The solution enables miniaturization of the waveguide multiplexer and improves its electrical characteristics by reducing size and insertion loss, while maintaining efficient signal coupling and matching.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure in which the size of the waveguide multiplexer is reduced by combining a plurality of band pass filters using a single coupler, and insertion loss characteristics are improved by reducing the path length between an input and an output of the waveguide multiplexer. According to the present invention, the waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure comprises: a body having a resonance of a plurality of specific frequency signals input and output through a flange and a common coupling structure for combining the plurality of specific frequency signals into a single common signal; and a cover assembly provided at the upper end of the body and including a fine adjustment screw for adjusting resonance characteristics.
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Description

Waveguide multiplexer with common coupling structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, and more particularly, to a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure that couples a plurality of bandpass filters within the waveguide multiplexer into a single coupler. In addition, the present invention relates to a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure that can simplify the structure of a plurality of bandpass filters, thereby miniaturizing the waveguide multiplexer and improving its electrical characteristics.

[0002] The future wireless communications market is evolving to enable 6G communications without shadow areas by forming a non-terrestrial network utilizing low-orbit satellite communications.

[0003] Furthermore, even at the small and medium-sized enterprise level, we are exploring the wireless communication components market for 6G communications and establishing a technology development infrastructure to promote mutually beneficial development in the future wireless communications market.

[0004] The driving force behind this research is the improved accuracy of 3D electromagnetic simulation (EM simulation), which allows for more sophisticated and intuitive interpretation at higher frequencies, and the ability to actually manufacture products and compare them to simulations.

[0005] Meanwhile, although wireless communication technology for satellites has been developed for decades, passive components have considerable difficulty in implementing their characteristics, so it is common to manufacture them by sharing universal design technology and modifying some of it.

[0006] Therefore, the lack of design diversity has led to difficulties in considering manufacturing cost and weight, and ongoing research has been conducted to overcome this. For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 06 / 690,741 discloses a multiplexer with multiple bandpass filters coupled to a waveguide manifold.

[0007] However, even in this case, there is a disadvantage in that only two band-pass filters are combined, and the size increases when three or more band-pass filters are combined.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure capable of reducing the size of the waveguide multiplexer by combining a plurality of bandpass filters into a single coupler.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure capable of improving insertion loss characteristics by reducing the path length between the input and output of the waveguide multiplexer.

[0010] A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention may include a body having a common coupling structure that combines the resonance of a plurality of specific frequency signals input and output through a flange and the plurality of specific frequency signals into one common signal, and a cover assembly provided on the upper part of the body and including a fine adjustment screw for adjusting the resonance characteristics.

[0011] Here, the body may include a first port responsible for input / output of a first specific frequency signal, which is one of the specific frequency signals, a second port responsible for input / output of a second specific frequency signal, which is one of the specific frequency signals, a third port responsible for input / output of a third specific frequency signal, which is one of the specific frequency signals, and a common port responsible for input / output including all of the specific frequency signals of the first port, the second port, and the third port.

[0012] Additionally, the body may include a resonator that resonates at a specific frequency signal.

[0013] Here, the resonator may include a common coupling section formed with a common coupling structure that commonly couples a first specific frequency signal, a second specific frequency signal, and a third specific frequency signal using a TE mode.

[0014] Additionally, the body may include an impedance matching section for performing impedance matching between the common port and the common coupling section.

[0015] Here, the impedance matching section may be provided with a common port iris for matching between adjacent resonators, which are common coupling sections.

[0016] In addition, the impedance matching unit may be characterized by varying the common port outer curvature, common port inner curvature, common port length, common port iris width, and common port iris length in order to minimize the group delay characteristic of a specific frequency signal.

[0017] Here, the resonator may have a resonator iris for matching between adjacent resonators.

[0018] Additionally, the resonator may be characterized by varying the resonator inner angle curvature, the resonator outer angle curvature, the resonator iris width, and the resonator iris length to minimize the group delay characteristic of a specific frequency signal.

[0019] Here, the fine tuning screw may include an iris tuning screw for adjusting the matching characteristics of the resonator iris and the common port iris, and a resonator tuning screw for adjusting the resonance characteristics of the resonator.

[0020] The waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to reduce the size of the waveguide multiplexer by combining a plurality of bandpass filters into a single coupler.

[0021] In addition, the waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention has the advantage of improving insertion loss characteristics by reducing the path length between the input and output of the waveguide multiplexer.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 is a drawing showing the body of Figure 1 viewed from above.

[0024] Fig. 3 is a drawing showing the transmission mode of a signal inside the waveguide of Fig. 1, where Fig. 3(a) shows the TE mode and Fig. 3(b) shows the TM mode.

[0025] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the area around the common coupling part of Fig. 2 in more detail, where Fig. 4(a) shows the initial model, and Fig. 4(b) shows a model with improved group delay compared to the initial model.

[0026] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing Figure 4(b) in more detail.

[0027] Figure 6 is a detailed drawing showing a portion of the cover assembly of Figure 1.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a drawing comparing the size of a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention with the size of a conventional manifold multiplexer. FIG. 7(a) shows the size of a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention, and FIG. 7(b) shows the size of a conventional manifold multiplexer.

[0029] Hereinafter, specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0030] In describing the present invention, terms such as "first" and "second" may be used to describe various components, but the components may not be limited by the terms. The terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be referred to as a first component, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0031] When it is said that a component is connected or connected to another component, it can be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but there may also be other components in between.

[0032] The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions may include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0033] In this specification, terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and can be understood as not excluding in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0034] Additionally, the shape and size of elements in the drawing may be exaggerated for clearer explanation.

[0035] Hereinafter, a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0036]

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are detailed top views, perspective views, and drawings for explaining FIG. 1 in detail.

[0038] Hereinafter, a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0039] Existing satellite waveguide filters are generally designed as multiplexers based on manifolds utilizing TM mode, which has the disadvantage of being large.

[0040] The waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention can improve the characteristics and miniaturize the waveguide multiplexer by implementing the multiplexer using a common pole of TE mode.

[0041] First, referring to FIG. 1, a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a body (200) having a common coupling structure that combines the resonance of a plurality of specific frequency signals input and output through a flange (300) and the plurality of specific frequency signals into one common signal, and a cover assembly (100) provided on the upper end of the body (200) and including a fine adjustment screw for adjusting resonance characteristics.

[0042] That is, the present invention is a structure in which an external specific frequency signal is matched to a flange (300) and transmitted into the body (200), and the resonance characteristics of the body (200) are fine-tuned in a cover assembly (100), which will be described in detail below based on FIGS. 2 to 6.

[0043]

[0044] Figure 2 is a drawing showing the body (200) of Figure 1 viewed from above.

[0045] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the body (200) of the present invention includes a first port (210) that is responsible for input / output of a first specific frequency signal, which is one of the specific frequency signals, a second port (220) that is responsible for input / output of a second specific frequency signal, a third port (230) that is responsible for input / output of a third specific frequency signal, and a common port (270) that is responsible for input / output including all of the specific frequency signals of the first port (210), the second port (220), and the third port (230).

[0046] At this time, when the common port (270) is input, the first specific frequency signal included in the common port (270) is branched out to the first port (210) and output, the second specific frequency signal is branched out to the second port (220) and output, and the third specific frequency signal is branched out to the third port (230) and output.

[0047] Conversely, the first specific frequency signal input from the first port (210), the second specific frequency signal input from the second port (220), and the third specific frequency signal input from the third port (230) are combined into one and output to the common port (270).

[0048] At this time, the body (200) is equipped with a plurality of resonators (240) to resonate a specific frequency signal, and includes a common coupling unit (250) formed with a common coupling structure that commonly couples a first specific frequency signal, a second specific frequency signal, and a third specific frequency signal among the resonators (240) using a TE mode.

[0049] Meanwhile, the body (200) is provided with an impedance matching unit (260) for performing impedance matching between the common port (270) and the common coupling unit (250), and may also include an impedance matching unit (260) for performing impedance matching between the first port (210), the second port (220), and the third port (230) and the resonator (240).

[0050] Accordingly, by including a plurality of resonators (240) between the first port (210), the second port (220), and the third port (230) and the common port (270), each specific frequency signal can be distinguished and passed, and combined or branched at the common coupling unit (250).

[0051] At this time, the common coupling unit (250) is adjusted so that the first specific frequency signal, the second specific frequency signal, and the third specific frequency signal can all pass through as one of the resonators (240), and serves to transmit signals to the first port (210), the second port (220), the third port (230), and the common port (270).

[0052] In addition, the waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to reduce the size of the waveguide multiplexer and improve electrical characteristics by combining and branching a plurality of specific frequency signals using only one common coupling section (250), which will be described in detail in FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0053]

[0054] Fig. 3 is a drawing showing the transmission mode of a signal inside the waveguide of Fig. 1, where Fig. 3(a) shows the TE mode and Fig. 3(b) shows the TM mode.

[0055] As can be seen in Fig. 3, in the TE mode, the electric field is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic wave signal, and in the TM mode, the magnetic field is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic wave signal.

[0056] Therefore, in the TM mode used in the manifold-based multiplexer, which is a conventional satellite waveguide filter, wavelengths are formed according to a certain periodic phase and length, and a certain wavelength distance must be maintained by connecting the filter through a signal branch at the part where the wavelength is concentrated.

[0057] At this time, since only two signals can be combined, if multiple signals are combined, the signals are combined in multiple places, so the length of the signal combination is long, which has the disadvantage of deteriorating the electrical characteristics (insertion loss). On the other hand, in TE mode, the electric field in the direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic wave signal is gathered in one place, so multiple electromagnetic wave signals are combined in one place, which has the advantage of improving the electrical characteristics (insertion loss).

[0058] Therefore, the waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to be miniaturized and have improved electrical characteristics by coupling using this TE mode.

[0059]

[0060] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the area around the common coupling part (250) of Fig. 2 in more detail, where Fig. 4(a) shows the initial model, and Fig. 4(b) shows a model with improved group delay compared to the initial model.

[0061] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the impedance matching unit (260) of the present invention has a common port iris (269) for matching between common coupling units (250) that are adjacent resonators (240), and the resonator (240) can have a resonator iris (249) for matching between adjacent resonators (240).

[0062] That is, when matching the resonator (240) with an adjacent resonator (240) or impedance matching unit (260), an iris structure is used, and the matching characteristics can be varied depending on the shape of the iris.

[0063]

[0064] Next, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing Figure 4(b) in more detail.

[0065] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the group delay characteristic of a specific frequency signal between the input and the output can be minimized by varying the common port outer curvature (261), common port inner curvature (262), common port length (264), common port iris width (263), and common port iris length (265) inside the impedance matching unit (260), or by varying the resonator inner curvature (242), resonator outer curvature (243), resonator iris width (241), and resonator iris length (244) inside the resonator (240).

[0066] That is, when the resonator (240) and the impedance matching unit (260) are formed at a right angle as in Fig. 4(a), the group delay may be excessively generated, causing distortion of signals within a band of a specific frequency according to the delay difference by frequency. Therefore, the group delay can be minimized by changing the structure by providing a radius of curvature to the shape of the impedance matching unit (260) and the resonator (240) as in Fig. 4(b).

[0067] At this time, the common port outer curvature (261), common port inner curvature (262), common port length (264), common port iris width (263), and common port iris length (265) inside the impedance matching unit (260) and the resonator inner curvature (242), resonator outer curvature (243), resonator iris width (241), and resonator iris length (244) inside the resonator (240) can be varied to minimize the group delay characteristics.

[0068] Therefore, the waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to transmit signals within a band of a specific frequency from input to output with minimal distortion due to delay differences by frequency by minimizing group delay.

[0069]

[0070] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing in detail a portion of the cover assembly (100) of FIG. 1.

[0071] As can be seen in FIG. 6, the fine tuning screw of the present invention can perform fine tuning by including an iris tuning screw (110) for adjusting the matching characteristics of irises such as a resonator iris (249) and a common port iris (269) and a resonator tuning screw (120) for adjusting the resonance characteristics of a resonator (240) including a common coupling portion (250).

[0072]

[0073] FIG. 7 is a drawing comparing the size of a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention with the size of a conventional manifold multiplexer. FIG. 7(a) shows the size of a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention, and FIG. 7(b) shows the size of a conventional manifold multiplexer.

[0074] As can be seen in Fig. 7, the existing manifold multiplexer uses the TM mode as shown in Fig. 7(b), so a constant wavelength distance must be maintained and only two signals can be coupled, resulting in a large volume, whereas the waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention is smaller in size than Fig. 7(b), as shown in Fig. 7(a).

[0075] For example, when three ports are implemented with a 7th order filter, the size of the existing manifold multiplexer is 145.3 x 52.8 (width x height), whereas the size of the waveguide multiplexer with the common coupling structure according to the present invention is 55.2 x 47.7 (width x height), which is a reduction of about 34%.

[0076] Therefore, the waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to miniaturize the waveguide multiplexer.

[0077] In addition, the transmission line length of the existing manifold multiplexer is 45.8 mm, and the insertion loss is 1.2 dB, whereas the transmission line length of the waveguide multiplexer with a common coupling structure according to the present invention is 10.6 mm, and the insertion loss is measured to be 1.0 dB, and it can be seen that the insertion loss of the waveguide multiplexer with a common coupling structure according to the present invention is reduced by 0.2 dB compared to the existing manifold multiplexer.

[0078] Therefore, the waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to improve the characteristics of insertion loss by having a common coupling structure using a TE mode.

[0079]

[0080] As described above, the waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to reduce the size of the waveguide multiplexer by combining a plurality of bandpass filters into a single coupler, and has the advantage of being able to improve insertion loss characteristics by reducing the path length between the input and output of the waveguide multiplexer.

[0081]

[0082] The description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is to be construed in the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0083] The present invention relates to a waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, and is applicable to the field of waveguide multiplexers.

Claims

1. A body having a common coupling structure that resonates a plurality of specific frequency signals input and output through a flange and combines the plurality of specific frequency signals into one common signal; and A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, comprising a cover assembly provided on the upper part of the body and including a fine adjustment screw for adjusting resonance characteristics.

2. In paragraph 1, The above body comprises a first port responsible for inputting and outputting a first specific frequency signal, which is one of the specific frequency signals; A second port responsible for inputting and outputting a second specific frequency signal, which is one of the above specific frequency signals; A third port responsible for inputting and outputting a third specific frequency signal, which is one of the above specific frequency signals; and A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, characterized by including a common port that handles input / output including all of the specific frequency signals of the first port, the second port, and the third port.

3. In paragraph 2, A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, characterized in that the body includes a resonator that resonates the specific frequency signal.

4. In paragraph 3, A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, characterized in that the resonator includes a common coupling section formed with the common coupling structure that commonly couples a first specific frequency signal, a second specific frequency signal, and a third specific frequency signal using a TE mode.

5. In paragraph 4, A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, characterized in that the body includes an impedance matching section for performing impedance matching between the common port and the common coupling section.

6. In paragraph 5, A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, characterized in that the impedance matching section has a common port iris for matching between the common coupling sections, which are adjacent resonators.

7. In paragraph 6, A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, characterized in that the impedance matching unit varies the common port outer curvature, the common port inner curvature, the common port length, the common port iris width, and the common port iris length to minimize the group delay characteristic of the specific frequency signal.

8. In paragraph 7, A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, wherein the resonators have resonator irises for matching between adjacent resonators.

9. In paragraph 8, A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, wherein the resonator is characterized by varying the resonator inner angle curvature, the resonator outer angle curvature, the resonator iris width, and the resonator iris length to minimize the group delay characteristic of the specific frequency signal.

10. In paragraph 9, The above fine adjustment screw, An iris tuning screw for adjusting the matching characteristics of the above resonator iris and the above common port iris; and A waveguide multiplexer having a common coupling structure, characterized by including a resonator tuning screw for adjusting the resonance characteristics of the resonator.

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