High-frequency component

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-frequency component which has a conducting region and a first contact region, wherein the conducting region has a channel which is delimited by walls and which is suitable and intended for guiding electromagnetic waves, the first contact region is designed to transmit electromagnetic waves from the high-frequency component to another component and / or from the other component to the high-frequency component, and the high-frequency component has a depression at the height of the contact region, said depression adjoining the channel.

Description

[0001] High-frequency component

[0002] The present invention relates to a high-frequency component comprising a conduction area and a first contact area, wherein the conduction area has a channel bounded by walls and which is suitable and intended for guiding electromagnetic waves, and wherein the first contact area is configured to transmit electromagnetic waves from the high-frequency component to a further component and / or from the further component to the high-frequency component.

[0003] Such a high-frequency component, also referred to as a "component" within the scope of the present disclosure, serves to transmit and / or radiate and / or receive electromagnetic waves predominantly in the frequency range from 1 GHz to 1500 GHz.

[0004] The conducting element can be, in particular, a waveguide consisting of a conductive wall enclosing a dielectric through which the electromagnetic wave can propagate. The dielectric can be, for example, a non-conductor such as plastics, ceramics, or foams. Air can also be the dielectric.

[0005] The conduction sections of known waveguides typically consist of a rigid channel made of metal or metallized metal, which can have a cross-sectional shape such as rectangular, round, or elliptical. Known waveguides offer the advantage of low-loss transmission of high-frequency waves or signals. However, when these waveguides are to be connected to another component to transmit signals between the waveguide and the component, they have the disadvantage that the quality of the signal transmitted between the component and the waveguide can sometimes be impaired, particularly if the initial contact area between the component and the waveguide, or between the component and the waveguide, is in a less than optimal position relative to the component.This can occur, for example, if the surface of the other component is not sufficiently flat or has other disruptive structures.

[0006] The aforementioned additional component will also be referred to simply as "component" in the following.

[0007] A non-optimal position can be caused by incorrect alignment in the contact plane. In particular, a non-optimal position can also represent a gap between the component and the component, or between the component and the waveguide. Undesirable leakage effects can occur at such a gap, where the signal, or parts of the signal—or more generally, portions of the electromagnetic wave's power—leak out at the gap in the contact area instead of being fully transmitted between the component and the component. Furthermore, components of the power from other signals found in the contact area, or which have leaked out of other, for example, adjacent, gaps, can also enter the component and / or the component at the aforementioned gap and thereby interact parasitically with the actual signal.

[0008] If the component has multiple transmission channels for electromagnetic waves, a particular problem can arise: the signals transmitted via these channels can interfere with each other, leading to signal attenuation or interference, and thus impairing signal quality. This effect is also referred to as "crosstalk."

[0009] In the case that the component is an antenna array - i.e. a group of several individual antennas - there is a risk that the directional characteristic of the individual antennas will be drastically worsened by the described effect of mutual interference due to leakage effects - or may deviate very strongly from the actually intended desired shape.

[0010] The present invention is based on the objective of further developing a high-frequency component of the type mentioned above in such a way that the quality of the signal transmitted between the component and the component is improved.

[0011] This problem is solved by a high-frequency component having the features of claim 1.

[0012] It is then provided that the high-frequency component has at least one recess in the first contact area, which has at least one open side facing the component, and which is located adjacent to the channel and / or, in the case of multiple channels, is located between two channels of the component.

[0013] The term "adjacent" preferably means that the depression is located directly next to the channel. Preferably, the depression and the channel share a common wall. However, the invention also encompasses the case where the depression and the channel are spaced further apart than directly adjacent, but do not exceed a distance of three free-space wavelengths (free-space wavelength = speed of light / frequency). Preferably, therefore, the term "adjacent" is to be understood as meaning that a distance of three free-space wavelengths is not exceeded.

[0014] “Facing the contact area” means that the surface formed by the contour of the opening of the recess is aligned parallel to the plane or separating plane of the first contact area or forms an angle of up to + / - 60° with this plane or separating plane.

[0015] The present invention significantly reduces crosstalk due to leakage effects at any gaps, which in turn leads to a significant improvement in the achieved functionality of the combination of component and part, and in particular to increased tolerance and robustness with respect to any or unavoidable gaps in the contact area.

[0016] The term "in the contact area" means that the depressions, with their open side, border the contours and / or walls surrounding or forming the first contact area.

[0017] The recess minimizes the probability of signals crossing over from one channel to another of the component, as the recess acts as a "sink" for waves that are not transmitted from the component to the other component or vice versa in the desired manner.

[0018] Preferably, the recess itself forms a waveguide that can interact with electromagnetic waves in the contact area via the opening oriented towards the contact surface and is recessed into the component to a specific depth. At the end of this recess, there is preferably an electromagnetic short circuit, for example, a terminating conductive surface, so that the recess corresponds to a waveguide facing the contact area – colloquially called a stub – which, via its depth dimension, transforms the short circuit in the depth to an arbitrary impedance (ratio of electric to magnetic field) in the contact area using the concept of conduction transformation. This affects the propagation of leakage waves and can significantly restrict or even prevent their propagation.

[0019] It is also conceivable that the recess, i.e., the side facing away from its opening towards the component, is fitted with a low-reflection seal. For example, lossy dielectrics can be used for this purpose, perhaps as an insert. This absorbs the power contained in the leakage wave and converts it into heat. Consequently, it can no longer interact parasitically with another signal.

[0020] By creating one (or more) depressions, it is achieved in particular that mutual interference of signals transmitted over several channels is completely or largely prevented, or at least significantly reduced, or limited to a level acceptable for the application.

[0021] It is conceivable to arrange several successive depressions without an intermediate channel. This can be used, in particular, to improve isolation. Isolation here refers to preventing the propagation of leakage waves.

[0022] The at least one depression is preferably itself designed as a channel and / or waveguide or is formed by the open end of a channel and / or waveguide.

[0023] The depth of the recesses can be identical for all recesses. Preferably, however, the depth of each individual recess is determined to achieve optimal insulation. Consequently, the recesses can have different depths. Furthermore, one or more recesses can be interconnected.

[0024] The present invention thus achieves a significant improvement in signal quality, particularly when multiple conductor sections are present, each transmitting its own separate signals. This is especially true when, despite all efforts to avoid unwanted irregularities or gaps, such irregularities or gaps are nevertheless present.

[0025] If these channels are arranged directly next to each other, as is known from the prior art - for example in the “Launcher-On-Package” (LOP) technology - crosstalk of signals from one channel to another channel etc. can occur, which can be largely or even completely prevented by the recesses according to the invention.

[0026] The channel preferably has a longitudinal direction extending in the direction of wave propagation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the recess extends in the same direction as this longitudinal direction.

[0027] Preferably, the recess and the channel run parallel to each other at least in the vicinity of the first contact area. A separation and / or change in orientation and alignment outside the first contact area, or at a certain distance longitudinally from the contact area, is also conceivable.

[0028] Preferably, the recess has an open side into which the crosstalking wave enters, this open side preferably lying in the same plane as the end of the channel, i.e., the channel face. It is conceivable that the channel has multiple sides at the level of the contact area and that the recess extends adjacent to one or more sides of the channel. For example, it is conceivable that the channel has two broad sides and two narrow sides, with recesses located adjacent to either the two broad sides or the two narrow sides.

[0029] It is also possible, and encompassed by the invention, that one or more recesses are located on each side of the channel, and that the recesses completely or partially surround the channel.

[0030] Preferably, the depression is not part of the channel wall. However, it is conceivable that a wall could be both a wall of the channel and of the adjacent depression, i.e., the channel and the depression could "share" a wall.

[0031] The depression preferably has a direction of extension that runs parallel to or at an angle to a wall of the channel. The "direction of extension" is understood to be the direction perpendicular to the open side of the depression.

[0032] As explained above, a particularly preferred embodiment is that the recess is directly adjacent to a wall of the channel.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the high-frequency component has several channels through which electromagnetic waves or signals are transmitted separately. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one recess is arranged between two channels.

[0034] In a further preferred embodiment, the first contact area of ​​the component has one or more spacers, preferably exactly three spacers, which project beyond the end faces of the channel(s). The spacers ensure that the first contact area is not in direct contact with the component, but is spaced from the component by a gap defined by the height of the spacers. The use of exactly three spacers has the advantage that a clearly defined – i.e., robust against tilting – distance can be achieved in the contact area.

[0035] This distance can preferably be selected such that it is significantly greater than the tolerances of the flatness of the component and / or the part in the contact area, thus achieving a defined and, in this case, intended minimum gap between the component and the part. This allows for optimization or adjustment of the dimensions of the at least one recess, or of the multiple recesses. In addition to the cross-sectional dimensions of the recess openings, it is particularly preferred to adjust the longitudinal dimension of the recess—in other words, the depth of the recess—to the selected minimum distance between the component and the part.

[0036] Preferably, the conductor area and the first contact area are components of a feed-in component, via which signals are transmitted to and / or from the further component.

[0037] Furthermore, an antenna may be provided which is directly or via a feed-in network connected to the feed-in component in such a way that electromagnetic waves can be transmitted between the feed-in component and the antenna or the feed-in network.

[0038] Preferably, the feed-in component, antenna and feed network constitute a single, preferably one-piece component.

[0039] In this case, the feed-in component serves as an interface to the other component, which could be, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB can have waveguide channels created by continuous milled cutouts. These channels can have a rectangular, round, C-shaped, dogbone-shaped, dumbbell-shaped, elliptical, or any other cross-section. The milled edges, which form the wall of this waveguide in the PCB, can preferably have a conductive coating.

[0040] The present invention further relates to a high-frequency arrangement comprising a high-frequency component according to the invention and further a further component, wherein the further component has a second contact area which is connected to the first contact area in such a way that electromagnetic waves can be transmitted between the two contact areas.

[0041] As stated, the additional component is preferably a printed circuit board.

[0042] However, the component could also be a printed circuit board and the other component could be a different component, e.g. with one or more waveguides, such as an antenna.

[0043] The channels and depressions can preferably represent waveguides. In particular, it is preferred to design these waveguides as slotted waveguides—that is, waveguides whose conductive walls have openings that do not significantly affect the electromagnetic wave propagating in the waveguide. This is the case when the openings are small compared to the guided wavelength. Preferably, these non-radiating openings are smaller than 40% of the free-space wavelength at the intended operating frequency. Typical dimensions of these openings in the 77 GHz frequency range are diameters on the order of about 500 pm.

[0044] It is also conceivable that the component is such a high-frequency component according to claim 1. It is further conceivable that a recess is filled with a dielectric or that the component itself is a printed circuit board and the conductive surfaces are realized by means of vias in said printed circuit board.

[0045] It is conceivable that the depression in the cross-section has dimensions, particularly a width or length, that correspond to approximately 60% to 150% of the dimensions of the cross-sectional area of ​​a channel. The same can apply to the cross-sectional area itself.

[0046] Further preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0047] It should be noted here that the terms "ein" and "eine" do not necessarily refer to exactly one of the elements, although this is a possible interpretation, but can also denote a plurality of elements. Likewise, the use of the plural also includes the presence of the element in question in the singular, and conversely, the singular also includes several of the elements in question.

[0048] Furthermore, all features of the invention described herein can be combined with one another or claimed separately from one another as desired.

[0049] Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

[0050] They show:

[0051] Figure 1: Different views of the component,

[0052] Figure 2: Detailed representations of the first contact area, Figure 3: A perspective view of the feed-in component with the adjoining strands of the feed-in network,

[0053] Figure 4: a perspective view of the component in the form of an antenna with another component in the form of a printed circuit board,

[0054] Figure 5: another perspective view of the component according to Figure 4,

[0055] Figures 6, 7: Views of the bottom and top sides of the circuit board and power supply component, as well as associated perspective views.

[0056] Figure 8: a schematic side view of the high-frequency arrangement with circuit board, intended gap, spacers and feed-in component, but without antenna in the present view.

[0057] Figure 1 a) shows a high-frequency component 10 according to the present invention in a perspective view, wherein in Figure 1 a) the radiating side of the antenna of the component 10 is shown at the front.

[0058] Figure 1 b) shows the arrangement according to Figure 1 a) from the side.

[0059] The arrangement includes an antenna 12 for transmitting and / or receiving high-frequency electromagnetic waves.

[0060] This is connected to a feed-in network 14, which in turn is connected to the feed-in component 16 of the arrangement 10.

[0061] Elements 12 and 14, as well as 14 and 16, are in contact with each other in such a way that electromagnetic waves are transmitted between them. Furthermore, in the arrangement shown, they form a coherent component, preferably consisting of a single piece.

[0062] In the case of a radiating antenna 12, the signal is transmitted from the feed-in component 16 to the feed-in network 14 and from there to the antenna 12, which emits the signals. With a receiving antenna 12, the signal transmission occurs in the opposite direction.

[0063] K1 is the first contact area, which forms the side of the feed-in component 16 shown on the right in Figure 1 b).

[0064] Figure 1c) shows the arrangement 10 on the side opposite the emitting side, which has the first contact area K1. The first contact area K1 is formed by the end faces of the walls of the channels and recesses, which are shown in more detail in Figure 2.

[0065] Figure 2 a) shows the contact area K1 in an enlarged view.

[0066] In this figure, the channels 20 for guiding the electromagnetic waves and the recesses 30 arranged next to them are shown.

[0067] The channels 20 and the depressions 30 run perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 2 a).

[0068] The walls bounding the channels 20 and recesses 30 are shown in Figure 2 a) with their end faces, i.e. with their end faces forming the first contact area K1.

[0069] The channels 20 and the recesses 30 each have a rectangular cross-section in this case. A recess extends along each pair of the longitudinal sides of the channels 20. The length L30 of the recess 30 preferably corresponds to the length L20 of the longitudinal sides of the channels 20. L30 can also be less than or greater than L20, but preferably L30 > L20.

[0070] In the embodiment shown here, the width B30 of the recess 30 is less than the width B20 of the channels 20, but it can also be equal to or greater than this width.

[0071] Figure 2 b) shows the view corresponding to Figure 2 a), but without the branches of the feed-in network 14 located behind it.

[0072] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the arrangement according to Figure 2 a).

[0073] The walls bounding the channels 20 are designated by W20, and the walls bounding the recesses 30 by W30. As can be seen from Figure 3, there are walls W20 that form a wall of both the channels 20 and the recesses 30.

[0074] The walls W20 of the channels 20 and / or the walls W30 of the recesses 30 can be provided with openings, i.e. non-radiating openings, as shown in Figure 3, or can also be designed as closed walls.

[0075] Figures 2 and 3 show that a recess 30 is arranged along each of the two longitudinal sides of each channel 20, extending parallel to the longitudinal sides of the channels 20.

[0076] As can be seen further in Figures 2 and 3, the longitudinal sides of the channels alternately run at right angles to each other, i.e., the longitudinal sides of two adjacent channels 20 run perpendicular to each other. However, the invention also encompasses other orientations of the longitudinal sides of the channels 20, such as a parallel alignment or an alignment at an angle other than 90°: The end faces of the walls W20, W30 shown in Figures 2 and 3 form the first contact area K1, with which the component 10 is brought into direct or indirect contact with another component for the purpose of signal transmission.

[0077] As further shown in Figures 2 and 3, no channel 20 directly borders another channel 20. Between each pair of channels 20 there is at least one channel-shaped recess 30. This has the advantage that signals transmitted through one channel do not interfere with signals transmitted through another. Crosstalk of signals or electromagnetic waves from one channel 20 to another is prevented by the recesses 30 located between each pair of channels 20, which significantly improves the signal quality.

[0078] As can be seen from Figure 3, the end faces of the walls of the recesses 30 and the channels 20 all lie in the same plane. This plane represents the first contact surface K1. Instead of a plane, another arrangement is also possible, such as a curved region in which the aforementioned end faces are located.

[0079] A spacer A is located at each of three edge areas of this contact surface K1. This ensures that the first contact surface K1 is spaced away from a second contact surface and does not directly touch it.

[0080] Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the high-frequency component 10 on a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0081] As can be seen from Figure 4, the high-frequency component 10 is placed on the circuit board LP with a first contact area K1.

[0082] Figure 5 shows the arrangement of Figure 4 in a perspective side view. Figure 6a) shows the printed circuit board LP with the input component 16 mounted on it. Figure 6b) shows the underside of the printed circuit board LP with the recesses L1 located therein, which interact with the channels 20 of the component 10 in a signal-transmitting manner when the component 10 is arranged on the printed circuit board LP.

[0083] Figure 7 a) shows the arrangement shown in Figure 6 a) from a diagonal top view.

[0084] Figure 7b) shows the top side of the printed circuit board LP with the second contact area K2, which is located adjacent to the first contact area K1. The outline of the first contact area K1 is also shown in Figure 7b).

[0085] Figure 8 shows the arrangement of Figures 6 and 7 in a side view. This figure shows that the two contact surfaces K1 and K2 are parallel to each other and separated by a gap, the gap width of which corresponds to the height of the spacers A.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a high-frequency component having at least one conduction area suitable and intended for conducting and / or radiating high-frequency signals, and having at least one first contact area suitable and intended for connecting at least one channel for guiding electromagnetic waves of the component with at least one channel for guiding electromagnetic waves of a further component, wherein the component has at least one recess in the contact area which is not directly connected to a channel for guiding electromagnetic waves on the component.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A high-frequency component comprising a conduction area and a first contact area, wherein the conduction area has a channel bounded by walls and suitable and intended for guiding electromagnetic waves, and wherein the first contact area is configured to transmit electromagnetic waves from the high-frequency component to a further component and / or from the further component to the high-frequency component, characterized in that the high-frequency component has a recess arranged adjacent to the channel, the open side of which faces the component and / or, in the case of multiple channels, is located between two channels of the component.

2. High-frequency component according to claim 1, characterized in that the channel has a longitudinal direction extending in the direction of propagation of the waves and that the recess extends in the same direction as the longitudinal direction.

3. High-frequency component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel has several end faces at the level of the first contact area and that the recess extends adjacent to one or more end faces of the channel.

4. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess is not part of a wall of the channel and / or that the recess extends parallel or at an angle to a wall of the channel.

5. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess is directly adjacent to a wall of the channel.

6. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening of the recess lies in a common plane with the opening of the channel.

7. High-frequency component according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the opening of the recess is located on a different plane than the opening of the channel, or is offset into or out of the depth relative to it.

8. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the high-frequency component has several of the channels and that the recess is arranged between two channels.

9. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two or more recesses are arranged in a row without a channel being arranged between them.

10. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess is channel-shaped.

11. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel is a waveguide.

12. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess is a waveguide.

13. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess in the cross-section has dimensions which correspond to approximately 60% to 150% of the dimensions of the cross-section of a channel.

14. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess is a waveguide and has a certain depth and is electromagnetically short-circuited at the certain depth.

15. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several recesses are present, wherein the depths of these recesses are identical or individually different.

16. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess is a waveguide and is sealed in a low-reflection manner at depth.

17. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two or more recesses are interconnected in depth.

18. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more spacers, preferably exactly three spacers, are arranged at the first contact area, which project beyond the end faces of the channel(s).

19. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recesses and / or the channels are slotted waveguides, i.e. waveguides with openings of the order of less than or equal to 40% of the free-space wavelength in its conductive walls.

20. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor area and the first contact area are part of a feed-in component, and that the high-frequency component has an antenna which is directly or via a feed-in network connected to the feed-in component in such a way that electromagnetic waves can be transmitted.

21. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess is filled with a dielectric material that is not air.

22. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component is a printed circuit board.

23. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductive walls of the at least one recess are realized by means of vias.

24. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the high-frequency component is manufactured using a 3D printing process.

25. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component is monolithic, i.e. manufactured from a single piece.

26. High-frequency component according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the high-frequency component is composed of several parts.

27. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the component is manufactured by injection molding.

28. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-section of the recess remains constant over the depth.

29. High-frequency component according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that the cross-section of the recess changes over the depth.

30. High-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-sectional geometry of the channel and / or the recess is rectangular, elliptical, round, C-shaped or bone- or dumbbell-shaped.

31. High-frequency arrangement comprising a high-frequency component according to one of the preceding claims and further comprising a further component, wherein the further component has a second contact area which is connected to the first contact area in such a way that electromagnetic waves can be transmitted between the two contact areas.

32. High-frequency arrangement according to claim 31, characterized in that the second component is a printed circuit board or a component with an antenna.

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