Acoustic Filter Topology for Low-Reflection Stopband Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional acoustic filters often exhibit high reflection coefficients in their stopbands, requiring quarter wavelength lines or LC equivalent circuits, which are undesirable due to size and loss issues, and typically need inductors to resonate out static capacitance, degrading the steepness of passband transition regions.

Innovation Solution

The development of reflectionless acoustic filters that do not require quarter wavelength lines or LC equivalent circuits and omit inductors, utilizing bulk acoustic wave (BAW) or surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators with associated matching components to achieve reduced reflections and improved return loss, allowing for smaller size and steeper passband transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If quarter wavelength lines or LC equivalent circuits are used to reduce reflection coefficients, then return loss is improved, but device size increases and energy loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereturn lossVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the quarter wavelength lines and LC equivalent circuits from the filter design, achieving reduced reflections and improved return loss through an alternative acoustic resonator configuration that does not require these traditional impedance matching components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the electrical impedance matching mechanisms (quarter wavelength lines and LC circuits) with an acoustic field-based solution using acoustic resonators, substituting a mechanical/acoustic system for the electrical system to achieve the same reflection reduction goal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If inductors are added to resonate out static capacitance, then reflection coefficients are reduced, but passband transition steepness degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereflection coefficientVSAvoidpassband transition steepness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes inductors from the filter design, achieving reduced reflection coefficients through the acoustic resonator configuration alone, thereby maintaining sharp passband transitions without the need for inductive components that would degrade transition steepness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional acoustic filter design is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but reflection coefficients are high and return loss is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidreturn loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters by using acoustic resonators configured to operate in specific modes that inherently provide impedance matching and reflection reduction, eliminating the need for additional matching components while improving return loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

These filters achieve significantly reduced reflections and improved return loss across a frequency range, maintaining the size and steepness of passband transitions while minimizing insertion loss and Q values, with the option to tune return loss for specific frequency ranges.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing bulk acoustic wave (BAW) or surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBulk Acoustic Wave (BAW):

Implementation Method 2

utilizing bulk acoustic wave (BAW) or surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface Acoustic Wave (SAW): Surface Acoustic Wave

Implementation Method 3

utilizing bulk acoustic wave (BAW) or surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators with associated matching components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP4383565A1Acoustic filters with improved return loss
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 QORVO US INC
  • EP4383565A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4383565A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4383565A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of an acoustic filter are disclosed. In some embodiments, a bandpass filter is included in a passband signal path, the passband signal path is connected between a first terminal and a second terminal. A first bandstop filter is located in a first stopband signal path, the first stopband signal path connected at the first terminal. Additionally, a second bandstop filter is located in a second stopband signal path, the second stopband signal path is connected at the second terminal.