RF Circulator With In Situ Iron Core on Glass Ceramic Substrate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current RF circulators experience significant signal loss and are inefficient in high-frequency operations, limiting their performance in telecommunications and electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

The development of a circulator/isolator device using a glass ceramic substrate with conductive coils and an iron core, optimized for reduced signal loss, where the iron core is formed in situ after coil formation, and the substrate composition includes silica, lithium oxide, aluminum oxide, and cerium oxide, enhancing the device's structural integrity and electrical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional RF circulator designs are used, then device structure is simple, but signal loss is high and efficiency is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal lossVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a glass ceramic substrate comprising silica, lithium oxide, aluminum oxide, and cerium oxide combined with conductive coils and an iron core to create a composite structure that reduces signal loss while maintaining manageable complexity through integrated fabrication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the substrate, conductive coils, and iron core into a single integrated circulator/isolator device where the iron core is formed in situ after coil formation, merging multiple components into one unified structure that reduces overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If signal loss is reduced through optimized materials and structure, then device performance improves, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive coils are formed on the glass ceramic substrate before the iron core is created, establishing the electrical circuitry in advance. This preliminary action allows the subsequent iron core formation to simply fill the remaining space, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while achieving optimized performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The iron core is formed in situ within the substrate after coil formation, where the material naturally fills and shapes itself around the pre-formed coils. This self-organizing process eliminates complex assembly steps and achieves optimal geometric configuration automatically

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution achieves a significant reduction in signal loss, with less than 10% signal loss, and allows for the creation of smaller, more efficient RF circulator/isolator devices suitable for high-frequency applications, improving performance and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a substrate comprising one or more conductive coils, wherein the one or more conductive coils are formed in, on, or about the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an opening in the substrate comprising an iron core, wherein the iron core is formed in the substrate after the formation of the one or more conductive coils, wherein the iron core is positioned and shaped to create a circulator/isolator in the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFerromagnetism: Ferromagnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3616254B1RF circulator
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 3D GLASS SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP3616254B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The present invention includes a device and method for making an RF circulator/isolator device comprising: a substrate comprising one or more conductive coils, wherein the one or more conductive coils are formed in, on, or about the substrate; an opening in the substrate comprising an iron core, wherein the iron core is formed in the substrate after the formation of the one or more conductive coils, wherein the iron core is positioned and shaped to create a circulator/isolator in the substrate; and one or more connectors, vias, resistors, capacitors, or other integrated circuits of devices connected to the conductive coils of the circulator/isolator.