Stacked Resonator Comb-Line Coupling Miniaturization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laminate type balun transformers and band pass filters face challenges in miniaturization due to unnecessary coupling between lines and departure from ideal physical arrangement balance, leading to compromised amplitude and phase balance at balanced outputs, limiting their ability to achieve desired characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A stacked resonator design featuring interdigital-coupled quarter-wave resonators with comb-line coupling, allowing for increased conductor thickness and reduced conductor loss, enabling miniaturization while maintaining superior balance characteristics by separating resonance frequencies and optimizing terminal connections for rotation symmetry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If laminate type balun transformers use spiral structure resonators to achieve miniaturization, then the overall size is reduced, but unnecessary coupling between lines occurs and physical arrangement balance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from planar spiral resonators to three-dimensional stacked resonators arranged along the vertical direction. Multiple resonators are stacked in layers with interdigital coupling between adjacent layers, achieving miniaturization in the horizontal plane while maintaining proper electromagnetic coupling through vertical stacking. This dimensional transition eliminates the unnecessary coupling issues inherent in planar spiral designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The resonator system is divided into multiple discrete quarter-wave resonator segments that are stacked and interdigitally coupled. Each resonator segment is independently configured with specific conductor arrangements, allowing precise control over coupling characteristics and physical arrangement. This segmentation enables optimization of both size and balance characteristics through controlled interdigital coupling between segments.
2Device complexity
If half-wave resonators are used in laminate type band pass filters, then the filter structure is simplified, but the entire dimension is limited and miniaturization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional half-wave resonators with stacked quarter-wave resonators arranged in the vertical dimension. By stacking multiple quarter-wave resonators with interdigital coupling, the filter achieves compact horizontal dimensions while maintaining the necessary resonant characteristics. This vertical stacking approach enables miniaturization without significantly increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple quarter-wave resonators are merged into a stacked configuration where adjacent resonators are interdigitally coupled. This combining of multiple resonator elements into a compact stacked structure achieves the electrical equivalence of longer resonators while occupying less horizontal space, thereby enabling miniaturization of the overall filter dimension.
3Loss of energy
If conductor thickness is increased to reduce conductor loss, then signal transmission quality improves, but resonator volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing conductor thickness in the horizontal plane, the patent stacks multiple thinner conductor layers vertically with interdigital coupling. This vertical arrangement provides multiple current paths that effectively reduce conductor loss while maintaining compact horizontal dimensions. The stacked configuration achieves the electrical equivalent of thicker conductors without the volumetric penalty.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor structure is segmented into multiple thin layers stacked vertically, each contributing to the overall current carrying capability. This segmentation into multiple thin conductor layers provides distributed current paths that reduce conductor loss through increased effective conductivity, while the thin individual layers maintain compact overall volume.
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 stacked resonator design facilitates miniaturization and reduces conductor loss, enabling the transmission of balanced signals with superior balance characteristics, allowing for smaller resonator dimensions and improved frequency separation.
Implementation Method 1
a first resonator having at least a pair of quarter-wave resonators which are interdigital-coupled to each other; and a second resonator having at least another pair of quarter-wave resonators which are interdigital-coupled to each other, the second resonator being electromagnetically coupled to the first resonator
Implementation Method 2
Each of the pair of quarter-wave resonators is constructed of a plurality of conductors which are stacked and arranged so as to establish a comb-line coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A stacked resonator and a filter are provided which are capable of achieving miniaturization and minimum loss, and also capable of transmitting a balanced signal with superior balance characteristics. There are provided a pair of quarter-wave resonators which are interdigital-coupled to each other. One quarter-wave resonator is constructed of a plurality of conductor lines which are stacked and arranged so as to establish a comb-line coupling. By the stacked arrangement so as to establish a comb-line coupling of the plurality of conductor lines, the conductor thickness of this quarter-wave resonator can be increased virtually thereby reducing the conductor loss. Similarly, the other quarter-wave resonator is constructed of a plurality of conductor lines stacked and arranged so as to establish a comb-line coupling, and hence the conductor thickness of this quarter-wave resonator can be increased virtually thereby reducing the conductor loss.