EP0843374A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voltage-controlled variable-passband filter and high-frequency circuit module incorporating same
Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1997-11-12
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-11-12
Abstract
Abstract The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter in accordance with the present invention is structured so that conductive patterns, R, L, and C, and other circuit elements are embedded in a ceramic substrate. Within this substrate is also embedded an insulating layer made of the same ceramic material, the capacitance of which changes in response to an electric field applied thereto. On one surface of the insulating layer is provided a control electrode, and on the other surface are provided adjacent to one another a resonator pattern, to which high-frequency signals are applied, and a ground pattern. Accordingly, two capacitors connected in series are formed between the resonator pattern and the ground pattern, and the capacitance of these series capacitors can be adjusted by an integrated circuit mounted on the ceramic substrate, thus reducing size and weight, and simplifying adjustment.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoichi Tsuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/20; H01P1/201; H01P1/203; H01P1/20327; H01P1/20336; H01P1/20345; H01P1/207; H01P1/208; H01P1/2088; H01P7/00; H01P7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
comprising: a voltage-controlled variable-capacity capacitor and
a control voltage applying means for applying a control
voltage; said voltage-controlled variable-capacity capacitor
including: an insulating layer having a first surface and a
second surface, said insulating layer being made of a
dielectric material the dielectric constant of which
changes according to an electric field applied thereto; a first electrode, provided on said first surface,
to which the control voltage for producing the electric
field is applied; and second and third electrodes, provided adjacent to
and parallel with one another on said second surface, to
which are applied high-frequency signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 1, wherein: said insulating layer and said first through third
electrodes are provided such that a first capacitor
provided between said second and first electrodes and a
second capacitor provided between said first and third
electrodes have substantially the same capacitance and
electrical characteristics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 2, wherein: said second electrode is a quarter-wavelength
resonator, and said third electrode is grounded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 1, wherein: the control voltage is applied to said first
electrode through a series connection of a resistor and
an inductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 1, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a ceramic material,
and said voltage-controlled variable-capacity capacitor,
along with the remainder of the filter circuit, is
integrally provided within a substrate made of a ceramic
material; and said control voltage applying means is an integrated
circuit mounted on said substrate so as to be integral
therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 5, wherein: said integrated circuit is capable of storing
software for switching control of the control voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 1, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a dielectric thin-film
material, and said voltage-controlled variable-capacity
capacitor is integrally provided on an upper
layer of a substrate made of a ceramic material within
which is provided the remainder of the filter circuit;
and said control voltage applying means is an integrated
circuit mounted on said substrate so as to be integral
therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 7, wherein: said integrated circuit is capable of storing
software for switching control of the control voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 1, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a ceramic material
selected from the group consisting of BaTiO 3 , SrTiO 3 ,
Ba x Sr 1-x TiO 3 , PbLaTiO 3 , Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 , PZT, and PbTiO 3 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
comprising: a voltage-controlled variable-capacity capacitor and
a control voltage applying means for applying a control
voltage; said voltage-controlled variable-capacity capacitor
including: an insulating layer having a first surface and a
second surface, said insulating layer being made of a
dielectric material the dielectric constant of which
changes according to an electric field applied thereto; a plurality of first electrodes, provided on said
first surface at a certain interval, to which the control
voltage for producing the electric field is applied; second and third electrodes, provided on said second
surface, to which are applied high-frequency signals; and a plurality of ground electrodes, provided between
said second and third electrodes opposite said plurality
of first electrodes, so as to be staggered with said
plurality of first electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 10, wherein: the control voltage is applied to said first
electrodes through a series connection of a resistor and
an inductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 10, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a ceramic material,
and said voltage-controlled variable-capacity capacitor,
along with the remainder of the filter circuit, is
integrally provided within a substrate made of a ceramic
material; and said control voltage applying means is an integrated
circuit mounted on said substrate so as to be integral
therewith.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 12, wherein: said integrated circuit is capable of storing
software for switching control of the control voltage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 10, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a dielectric thin-film
material, and said voltage-controlled variable-capacity
capacitor is integrally provided on an upper
layer of the substrate made of a ceramic material wherein
is provided the remainder of the filter circuit; and said control voltage applying means is an integrated
circuit mounted on said substrate so as to be integral
therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 14, wherein: said integrated circuit is capable of storing
software for switching control of the control voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 10, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a ceramic material
selected from the group consisting of BaTiO 3 , SrTiO 3 ,
Ba x Sr 1-x TiO 3 , PbLaTiO 3 , Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 , PZT, and PbTiO 3 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A high-frequency circuit module for use with a
multi-layer high-frequency circuit substrate, in which
components other than said integrated circuit of the
voltage-controlled variable-passband filter set forth in
claim 5 are provided in a multi-layer substrate partially
or entirely.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A high-frequency circuit module for use with a
multi-layer high-frequency circuit substrate, in which
components other than said integrated circuit of the
voltage-controlled variable-passband filter set forth in
claim 7 are provided in a multi-layer substrate partially
or entirely.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A high-frequency circuit module for use with a
multi-layer high-frequency circuit substrate, in which
components other than said integrated circuit of the
voltage-controlled variable-passband filter set forth in
claim 12 are provided in a multi-layer substrate
partially or entirely.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A high-frequency circuit module for use with a
multi-layer high-frequency circuit substrate, in which
components other than said integrated circuit of the
voltage-controlled variable-passband filter set forth in
claim 14 are provided in a multi-layer substrate
partially or entirely.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
140 words
A voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
comprising: a voltage-controlled variable-capacity capacitor
including an insulating layer made of a dielectric
material the dielectric constant of which changes
according to an electric field applied thereto, a first
electrode, provided on one surface of said insulating
layer, to which is applied a control voltage for
producing the electric field, and second and third
electrodes, provided adjacent to and parallel with one
another on the other surface of said insulating layer, to
which are applied high-frequency signals; said voltage-controlled
variable-capacity capacitor having a two-stage
series structure in which the respective conductive areas
of said first electrode opposite said second and third
electrodes act as capacitive electrodes, said capacitive
electrodes and said second and third electrodes providing
two capacitors connected in series; and a control voltage applying means for applying the
control voltage to said first electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 1, wherein: said first electrode includes a plurality of
electrodes connected in parallel with one another, and
said second and third electrodes are provided opposite
first- and last-stage electrodes of said first electrode,
said filter further comprising: a plurality of ground electrodes, provided opposite
said plurality of electrodes of said first electrode, so
as to be staggered therewith.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 21, wherein: the control voltage is applied to said first
electrode through a series circuit of a resistor and an
inductor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 22, wherein: the control voltage is applied to said plurality of
electrodes of said first electrode through a plurality of
series circuits of a resistor and an inductor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 21, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a ceramic material,
and said voltage-controlled variable-capacity capacitor,
along with the remainder of the filter circuit, is
integrally provided within a substrate made of a ceramic
material; and said control voltage applying means is an integrated
circuit mounted on said substrate so as to be integral
therewith.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 22, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a ceramic material,
and said voltage-controlled variable-capacity capacitor,
along with the remainder of the filter circuit, is
integrally provided within a substrate made of a ceramic
material; and said control voltage applying means is an integrated
circuit mounted on said substrate so as to be integral
therewith.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 25, wherein: said integrated circuit is capable of storing
software for switching control of the control voltage.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 26, wherein: said integrated circuit is capable of storing
software for switching control of the control voltage.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
69 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 21, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a dielectric thin-film
material, and said voltage-controlled variable-capacity
capacitor is integrally provided on an upper
layer of a substrate made of a ceramic material within
which is provided the remainder of the filter circuit;
and said control voltage applying means is an integrated
circuit mounted on said substrate so as to be integral
therewith.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
69 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 22, wherein: said insulating layer is made of a dielectric thin-film
material, and said voltage-controlled variable-capacity
capacitor is integrally provided on an upper
layer of a substrate made of a ceramic material within
which is provided the remainder of the filter circuit;
and said control voltage applying means is an integrated
circuit mounted on said substrate so as to be integral
therewith.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 29, wherein: said integrated circuit is capable of storing
software for switching control of the control voltage.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The voltage-controlled variable-passband filter
according to claim 30, wherein: said integrated circuit is capable of storing
software for switching control of the control voltage.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
A high-frequency circuit module for use with a
multi-layer high-frequency circuit substrate, in which
components other than said integrated circuit of the
voltage-controlled variable-passband filter set forth in
claim 25are provided in a multi-layer substrate partially
or entirely.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
A high-frequency circuit module for use with a
multi-layer high-frequency circuit substrate, in which
components other than said integrated circuit of the
voltage-controlled variable-passband filter set forth in
claim 26 are provided in a multi-layer substrate
partially or entirely.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A high-frequency circuit module for use with a
multi-layer high-frequency circuit substrate, in which
components other than said integrated circuit of the
voltage-controlled variable-passband filter set forth in
claim 29 are provided in a multi-layer substrate
partially or entirely.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
A high-frequency circuit module for use with a
multi-layer high-frequency circuit substrate, in which
components other than said integrated circuit of the
voltage-controlled variable-passband filter set forth in
claim 30 are provided in a multi-layer substrate
partially or entirely.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.