Waveguide E-Plane Filter Foil Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
E-plane waveguide filters and diplexers are inflexible due to their large size, which is determined by the longitudinal length of the electrically conducting foil, limiting the ability to vary the foil length while maintaining the same filter response, thus restricting design flexibility and increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A microwave waveguide E-plane filter component with an electrically conductive foil that can be varied in length, where the foil is divided into sections with non-overlapping apertures along an imaginary symmetry line, allowing for controlled reduction in foil length and size, enabling the same main parts to be used for different filter characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the longitudinal length of the electrically conducting foil is increased to achieve desired filter performance, then the filter response is improved, but the size of the filter component increases and design flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically conducting foil is divided into a first foil part and a second foil part separated by a gap. Each part contains apertures that collectively provide the required filter response. This segmentation allows the total longitudinal length to be reduced while maintaining filter performance, as the gap eliminates redundant conducting material while preserving the necessary aperture distribution for the desired frequency response.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a continuous one-dimensional conducting foil to a discontinuous structure with separated parts. By introducing a gap between the first and second foil parts, the design moves from a continuous conducting path to a segmented configuration, enabling size reduction while maintaining the filtering function through strategic aperture placement in each separated section.
2Ease of manufacture
If the same main parts are used for different filter characteristics, then production costs are reduced, but the foil length must be precisely controlled to maintain design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The foil is segmented into separate parts with a gap, allowing independent design and optimization of each section. This enables the main parts to remain standardized while the foil segments can be customized for different filter characteristics, achieving both economies of scale in manufacturing and flexibility in design adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap between foil parts introduces a degree of freedom in the design, allowing the foil configuration to be dynamically adjusted for different filter responses while keeping the main structural parts fixed. This enables versatile filter design using the same main parts, as the foil segments can be repositioned or reconfigured within the gap region.
3Reliability
If the electrically conducting foil is made longer to accommodate fixed distance requirements in diplexer design, then the distance between band-stop resonator and common port is maintained, but the overall size and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the foil into separated parts with a gap, the effective conducting path length is reduced while maintaining the necessary electrical distance between resonator and common port. The gap allows the foil segments to be positioned to achieve the required electrical length without increasing the physical handling dimensions, making the component more manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented foil structure creates an equivalent electrical path that copies the functionality of a longer continuous foil but with reduced physical dimensions. The gap between segments allows the same electrical performance to be achieved with a more compact, handleable configuration.
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
This solution reduces production costs, simplifies logistics, and allows for easier handling and manufacturing of foils, while enabling flexible design of E-plane filters and diplexers by controlling the length of the electrically conductive foils, thus achieving a more versatile and cost-effective filter arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conducting foil which is arranged to be placed between the first main part and the second main part... comprises a filter part that is arranged to run between the waveguide section parts
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a waveguide E-plane filter component (1) comprising a first and second main part (2: 4) with a corresponding first and second waveguide section part (3, 5). The main parts (2, 4) are arranged to be mounted to each other, such that an open side (8) of the first waveguide section part (3) is arranged to face an open side (9) of the second waveguide section part (5). The E-plane filter component (1) further comprises at least one electrically conducting foil (10, 11) that is arranged to be placed between the main part (2, 4), Said foil (10, 11) have a longitudinal extension (L) and comprises a filter part (12) that is arranged to run between the waveguide section parts (3, 5), and is divided into a first filter part (13) and a second filter part (14) by an imaginary symmetry line (15) running along the longitudinal extension (L) in the middle of the filter part (12). The filter part (12) comprises at least a first aperture (16a) and a second aperture (16b), where the major part of the first aperture (16a) is positioned in the first filter part (13) and the major part of the second aperture (16b) is positioned in the second filter part (14). All parts of the apertures are separated along the longitudinal extension (L).