Tunable Filter Gap Adjustment via Screw Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tunable filters face challenges in achieving a steep skirt characteristic while minimizing transmission loss, particularly when using superconducting materials, and require manual adjustment of the initial gap length, which is time-consuming and lacks accuracy, especially in superconducting filters.
Innovation Solution
A tunable filter apparatus that includes a characteristic tuning member, an elastic member, and a driving mechanism to adjust the gap length between the tuning member and resonator, allowing for rapid and precise adjustment of filter characteristics without the need for manual intervention, even in a vacuum low-temperature environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If resonators are cascaded to achieve a steep skirt characteristic, then the cutoff characteristic improves, but transmission loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the resonators from conventional conductive materials to superconducting materials, which have dramatically lower resistivity. This parameter change enables the cascading of multiple resonators to achieve steep skirt characteristics while maintaining low transmission loss, as the superconducting material's near-zero resistance compensates for the cumulative loss from multiple cascaded resonators.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment of initial gap length is performed, then filter characteristic correction is possible, but adjustment time increases and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical adjustment system with an automated driving mechanism. The driving mechanism uses motors or actuators to precisely control the position of the characteristic tuning member, enabling automatic adjustment of the gap length between the tuning member and resonator. This substitution eliminates manual intervention, significantly reducing adjustment time while improving accuracy through automated control systems.
3Loss of energy
If superconducting materials are used to reduce transmission loss, then energy efficiency improves, but operational complexity increases due to vacuum low-temperature requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the superconducting resonators with the vacuum low-temperature environment into an integrated system. The vacuum chamber serves dual purposes: maintaining the low-temperature environment required for superconductivity and providing a controlled atmosphere for the driving mechanism to operate. This merging allows the driving mechanism to adjust the gap length of superconducting resonators within the same vacuum chamber, eliminating the need for separate adjustment mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
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
Enables high-speed and accurate adjustment of filter characteristics, maintaining a steep skirt characteristic while reducing transmission loss and operational time, especially for superconducting filters.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member, which comes in contact with the characteristic tuning member by deformation in accordance with external force, and separates from the characteristic tuning member by restoring force
Implementation Method 2
the characteristic tuning member has a screw, which converts a rotary driving force into a linear driving force, and displaces the characteristic tuning member by the linear driving force
Implementation Method 3
the rotary driving force is transmitted to the characteristic tuning member by a frictional force while the elastic member is in contact with the characteristic tuning member
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a filter characteristic tuning apparatus includes a characteristic tuning member, an elastic member, a first movable member, a second movable member, and a driving mechanism. The elastic member comes in contact with a characteristic tuning member by deformation, and separates from the characteristic tuning member by a restoring force. The first movable member deforms the elastic member in a closing operation. The driving mechanism displaces a second movable member such that a projection opens/closes the first movable member. The characteristic tuning member changes a gap between the characteristic tuning member and the resonator by a linear driving force obtained by converting the transmitted rotary driving force.