Stacked Double-Junction Circulator With Single-Magnet Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circulators are large in size and costly, particularly in the z-direction, due to the need for additional housing and multiple magnets, which hinders integration and increases real estate requirements.
Innovation Solution
A stacked double junction circulator design using two or more ferrites and a single magnet, embedded within multiple dielectric layers with conductive layers forming junction circuits and ground planes, eliminating the need for additional housing and reducing the z-direction size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional stripline circulator designs with housing and multiple magnets are used, then non-reciprocal functionality is achieved, but the device size in z-direction becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ferrite elements and junction circuits into a single integrated stacked structure, eliminating the need for separate housing and multiple magnets. The first and second junction circuits are stacked vertically with ferrite elements positioned between them, creating a compact device that maintains non-reciprocal functionality while reducing profile height.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar circulator design to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. By arranging junction circuits and ferrite elements in vertical layers along the z-direction, the device achieves compact footprint while maintaining functionality through spatial reconfiguration rather than increasing overall height.
2Reliability
If conventional circulator designs with additional housing and multiple magnets are used, then non-reciprocal operation is maintained, but real estate requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components (junction circuits, ferrite elements, grounding structures) into a single integrated stacked package. This consolidation eliminates the need for additional housing space and reduces the overall footprint area while preserving non-reciprocal operation through the vertical stacking arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where junction circuits and ferrite elements are embedded within dielectric layers and stacked vertically. This nesting approach allows multiple functional elements to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, significantly reducing the device footprint while maintaining all necessary non-reciprocal functions.
3Reliability
If conventional circulator designs with multiple magnets and housing are used, then magnetic biasing is achieved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple magnets into a single integrated magnetic biasing structure that serves all ferrite elements simultaneously. This reduces the number of individual magnet components, simplifies assembly, and lowers overall device cost while maintaining adequate magnetic biasing for non-reciprocal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal magnetic biasing system that provides the necessary magnetic field for multiple ferrite elements through a single magnet or magnet assembly. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate magnets for each junction, reducing component count and manufacturing complexity.
4Reliability
If conventional circulator designs are used, then non-reciprocal functionality is achieved, but integration difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple junction circuits and ferrite elements into a single stacked module with unified grounding and magnetic biasing. This integration reduces the number of separate components that need to be assembled and connected, thereby simplifying the overall integration process while maintaining non-reciprocal functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the circulator into discrete stacked layers (dielectric layers, junction circuits, ferrite elements, grounding planes) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled through standardized stacking. This segmentation enables modular manufacturing and simplifies integration compared to monolithic conventional designs.
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 design achieves significant reduction in size and cost while maintaining non-reciprocal functionality, enabling improved integration and reduced space requirements, suitable for radio frequency applications.
Implementation Method 1
The ferrites can be operated above or below ferromagnetic resonance depending upon frequency range, bandwidth and power handling requirements. For the disclosure, an operation biased below ferromagnetic resonance is assumed.
Implementation Method 2
The ferrites are magnetically biased by a static magnetic bias field, that sets the properties (e.g., permeability) of a radio frequency (RF) tensor that ultimately enables non-reciprocal operation of a device.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides designs and methods of fabrication of stacked double junction circulator device that includes two or more ferrite elements. The disclosed stacked double junction circulator device uses a single magnet, instead of two magnets that are conventionally used for the side-by-side double junction circulator. The disclosed stacked double junction circulator device offers significant advantages in regards to installation requirements on the customer side.