Electrical tuning circuit

Claim 2

An electronic tuning circuit comprising a transmission line having a first section only reactively coupled with an input circuit and a second section only reactively coupled with an output circuit, a voltage-controlled capacitor having first and second terminals respectively having connections to said first and second sections to form with said sections a closed-loop resonant circuit, first and second RF choke coils respectively connected to said first and second terminals of said voltage-controlled capacitor to supply a DC control potential between said first and second terminals, and a DC blocking capacitor having a low impedance to a radio-frequency current and electrically connected in said resonance circuit to prevent said DC control potential from being supplied to said second terminal of said voltage-controlled capacitor.

Claim 3

The electronic tuning circuit of claim 1, wherein said transmission line comprises first and second generally C-shaped half-sections and wherein said DC blocking capacitor is between first ends of said half-sections and said voltage-control capacitor is connected between second ends of said half-sections in a position opposite to said blocking capacitor.

Claim 4

The electronic tuning circuit of claim 2, wherein said transmission line is disposed on a dielectric substrate.

Claim 5

The electronic tuning circuit of claim 3, further comprising a metal housing in which said tuning circuit is located, said dielectric substrate being spaced from the bottom and top walls of said metal housing.

Claim 6

The electronic tuning circuit of claim 3, wherein portions of said first ends of said half-sections overlap each other with said dielectric substrate disposed therebetween so as to form said DC blocking capacitor.

Claim 7

The electronic tuning circuit of claim 2, wherein said first generally C-shaped half-section includes a linear portion and said input circuit includes a linear conductor disposed adjacent to and parallel with the linear portion of said first half-section and said second generally C-shaped half-section includes a linear portion and said output circuit includes a linear conductor disposed adjacent to and parallel with the linear portion of said second half-section.

Claim 8

A filter comprising a plurality of closed-loop successively arranged tuning elements each including a transmission line and a voltage-controlled capacitor connected thereto to form a closed loop resonant circuit, first and second RF choke coils connected respectively to the terminals of said voltage-controlled capacitor to supply a DC control potential to one terminal of the capacitor with respect to the other terminal thereof, and a DC blocking capacitor connected in said closed loop resonant circuit to prevent said DC control potential from being supplied to said other terminal of the voltage-controlled capacitor, each of said transmission lines of said tuning elements including first and second linear portions, the first linear portion of each tuning element being disposed adjacent to the second linear portion of an adjacent tuning element, an input conductor adjacent to and parallel with the first linear portion of one of said tuning elements located at one end of the arrangement, and an output conductor adjacent to and parallel with the second linear portion of another tuning element located at the opposite end of said arrangement.

Claim 9

A filter comprising a plurality of closed-loop successively arranged tuning elements each including a transmission line and a voltage-controlled capacitor connected thereto to form a closed loop resonant circuit, first and second RF choke coils connected respectively to the terminals of said voltage-controlled capacitor to supply a DC control potential to one terminal of the capacitor with respect to the other terminal thereof, and a DC blocking capacitor connected in said closed loop resonant circuit to prevent said DC control potential from being supplied to said other terminal of the voltage-controlled capacitor, each of said transmission lines of said tuning elements including first and second linear portions, the first linear portion of each tuning element being disposed adjacent to the second linear portion of an adjacent tuning element, an input conductor adjacent to and parallel with the first linear portion of one of said tuning elements located at one end of the arrangement, and an output conductor adjacent to and parallel with the second linear portion of another tuning element located at the opposite end of said arrangement.

Claim 10

A directional coupler comprising: a first transmission line; a second transmission line parallel with said first transmission line; and a tuning circuit having a third transmission line and a voltage-controlled capacitor connected to the third transmission line to form a closed loop resonant circuit, first and second RF choke coils connected respectively to the opposite terminals of said voltage-controlled capacitor to supply a DC control potential to one terminal thereof with respect to the other terminal thereof, and a DC blocking capacitor connected in the closed loop resonant circuit to prevent said DC control potential from being applied to said other terminal of said voltage-controlled capacitor, said third transmission line having a first linear portion adjacent to and parallel with said first transmission line and a second linear portion adjacent to and parallel with said second transmission line.

Claim 11

A directional coupler comprising: a first transmission line; a second transmission line parallel with said first transmission line; and a tuning circuit having a third transmission line and a voltage-controlled capacitor connected to the third transmission line to form a closed loop resonant circuit, first and second RF choke coils connected respectively to the opposite terminals of said voltage-controlled capacitor to supply a DC control potential to one terminal thereof with respect to the other terminal thereof, and a DC blocking capacitor connected in the closed loop resonant circuit to prevent said DC control potential from being applied to said other terminal of said voltage-controlled capacitor, said third transmission line having a first linear portion adjacent to and parallel with said first transmission line and a second linear portion adjacent to and parallel with said second transmission line.

Claim 12

A circuit tuned to an RF energy source comprising a first conducting section having first and second end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling RF energy to the tuned circuit; a second conducting section having third and fourth end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling the RF energy from the tuned circuit; a DC blocking capacitor connected in series between the first and third end portions, said blocking capacitor having a low impedance to the RF energy; a voltage controlled variable capacitor connected in series between the second and fourth end portions so that first and second electrodes of the variable capacitor are connected to the second and fourth end portions, said first and second sections and the voltage controlled capacitor forming a closed-loop resonant circuit for the RF energy; and means for applying a bias voltage from a control source to the variable capacitor to control the capacitance of the variable capacitor and resonant frequency of the closed loop, said means for applying including first and second choke coils respectively connected to first and second terminals of the control source and to the first and second electrodes, one of said terminals of the control source being at ground potential, said choke coils preventing coupling of the RF energy to ground potential and said blocking capacitor preventing coupling of the voltage of the control source between the first and second sections and the electrodes of the variable capacitor.

Claim 13

A circuit tuned to an RF energy source comprising a first conducting section having first and second end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling RF energy to the tuned circuit; a second conducting section having third and fourth end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling the RF energy from the tuned circuit; a DC blocking capacitor connected in series between the first and third end portions, said blocking capacitor having a low impedance to the RF energy; a voltage controlled variable capacitor connected in series between the second and fourth end portions so that first and second electrodes of the variable capacitor are connected to the second and fourth end portions, said first and second sections and the voltage controlled capacitor forming a closed-loop resonant circuit for the RF energy; and means for applying a bias voltage from a control source to the variable capacitor to control the capacitance of the variable capacitor and resonant frequency of the closed loop, said means for applying including first and second choke coils respectively connected to first and second terminals of the control source and to the first and second electrodes, one of said terminals of the control source being at ground potential, said choke coils preventing coupling of the RF energy to ground potential and said blocking capacitor preventing coupling of the voltage of the control source between the first and second sections and the electrodes of the variable capacitor.

Claim 14

The circuit of claim 9 wherein the midportion of the first section includes a first linear conductor disposed adjacent and parallel with a second linear conductor of a circuit that supplies the energy to the tuned circuit, the midportion of the second section including a third linear conductor disposed adjacent and parallel with a fourth linear conductor of a circuit that withdraws energy from the tuned circuit.

Claim 15

A filter for a band of frequencies of an RF energy source comprising N cascaded tuned circuits, where N is a positive integer greater than one, each of the tuned circuits including: a first conducting section having first and second end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling RF energy to the tuned circuit, a second conducting section having third and fourth end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling the RF energy from the tuned circuit, a DC blocking capacitor connected in series between the first and third end portions, said blocking capacitor having a low impedance to the RF energy, a voltage controlled variable capacitor connected in series between the second and fourth end portions so that first and second electrodes of the variable capacitor are connected to the second and fourth end portions, said first and second sections and the voltage controlled capacitor forming a closed-loop resonant circuit for the RF energy, means for applying a bias voltage from a control source to the variable capacitor to control the capacitance of the variable capacitor and resonant frequency of the closed loop, said means for applying including first and second choke coils respectively connected to first and second terminals of the control source and to the first and second electrodes, one of said terminals of the control source being at ground potential, said choke coils preventing coupling of the RF energy to ground potential and said blocking capacitor preventing coupling of the voltage of the control source between the first and second sections and the electrodes of the variable capacitor; the midportion of the second conducting portion of the k th tuned circuit being only reactively coupled to the midportion of the first conducting portion of the (k + 1) th tuned circuit, where k equals every integer from 1 to (N - 1).

Claim 16

A filter for a band of frequencies of an RF energy source comprising N cascaded tuned circuits, where N is a positive integer greater than one, each of the tuned circuits including: a first conducting section having first and second end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling RF energy to the tuned circuit, a second conducting section having third and fourth end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling the RF energy from the tuned circuit, a DC blocking capacitor connected in series between the first and third end portions, said blocking capacitor having a low impedance to the RF energy, a voltage controlled variable capacitor connected in series between the second and fourth end portions so that first and second electrodes of the variable capacitor are connected to the second and fourth end portions, said first and second sections and the voltage controlled capacitor forming a closed-loop resonant circuit for the RF energy, means for applying a bias voltage from a control source to the variable capacitor to control the capacitance of the variable capacitor and resonant frequency of the closed loop, said means for applying including first and second choke coils respectively connected to first and second terminals of the control source and to the first and second electrodes, one of said terminals of the control source being at ground potential, said choke coils preventing coupling of the RF energy to ground potential and said blocking capacitor preventing coupling of the voltage of the control source between the first and second sections and the electrodes of the variable capacitor; the midportion of the second conducting portion of the k th tuned circuit being only reactively coupled to the midportion of the first conducting portion of the (k + 1) th tuned circuit, where k equals every integer from 1 to (N - 1).

Claim 17

The filter of claim 11, wherein the midportion of the first section of the k th tuned circuit includes a first linear conductor disposed adjacent and parallel with a second linear conductor of the second section of the (k - 1) th tuned circuit, the midportion of the second section of the k th tuned circuit including a third linear conductor disposed adjacent and parallel with a fourth linear conductor of the first portion of the (k + 1) th tuned circuit.

Claim 18

A directional coupler for selectively feeding RF energy between first, second, third and fourth RF ports comprising a first conducting strip between the first and second ports, a second conducting strip between the third and fourth ports, a tuned circuit for the RF energy, the tuned circuit including: a first conducting section having first and second end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling RF energy between the first conducting strip and the tuned circuit; a second conducting section having third and fourth end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling the RF energy between the tuned circuit and the second conducting strip, a DC blocking capacitor connected in series between the first and third end portions, said blocking capacitor having a low impedance to the RF energy, a voltage controlled variable capacitor connected in series between the second and fourth end portions so that first and second electrodes of the variable capacitor are connected to the second and fourth end portions, said first and second sections and the voltage controlled capacitor forming a closed-loop resonant circuit for RF energy, means for applying a bias voltage from a control source to the variable capacitor to control the capacitance of the variable capacitor and resonant frequency of the closed loop, said means for applying including first and second choke coils respectively connected to first and second terminals of the control source and to the first and second electrodes, one of said terminals of the control source being at ground potential, said choke coils preventing coupling of the RF energy to ground potential and said blocking capacitor preventing coupling of the voltage of the control source between the first and second sections and the electrodes of the variable capacitor.

Claim 19

A directional coupler for selectively feeding RF energy between first, second, third and fourth RF ports comprising a first conducting strip between the first and second ports, a second conducting strip between the third and fourth ports, a tuned circuit for the RF energy, the tuned circuit including: a first conducting section having first and second end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling RF energy between the first conducting strip and the tuned circuit; a second conducting section having third and fourth end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling the RF energy between the tuned circuit and the second conducting strip, a DC blocking capacitor connected in series between the first and third end portions, said blocking capacitor having a low impedance to the RF energy, a voltage controlled variable capacitor connected in series between the second and fourth end portions so that first and second electrodes of the variable capacitor are connected to the second and fourth end portions, said first and second sections and the voltage controlled capacitor forming a closed-loop resonant circuit for RF energy, means for applying a bias voltage from a control source to the variable capacitor to control the capacitance of the variable capacitor and resonant frequency of the closed loop, said means for applying including first and second choke coils respectively connected to first and second terminals of the control source and to the first and second electrodes, one of said terminals of the control source being at ground potential, said choke coils preventing coupling of the RF energy to ground potential and said blocking capacitor preventing coupling of the voltage of the control source between the first and second sections and the electrodes of the variable capacitor.

Claim 20

The circuit of claim 13 wherein the midportion of the section includes a first linear conductor disposed adjacent and parallel with the first conducting strip, the first conducting strip being a linear conductor, and the midportion of the second section including a third linear conductor disposed adjacent and parallel with the second conducting strip, the second conducting strip being a linear conductor.

Claim 21

A circuit tuned to an RF energy source comprising a first conducting section having first and second end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling RF energy to the tuned circuit, a second conducting section having third and fourth end portions and a midportion; a DC blocking capacitor connected in series between the first and third end portions, said blocking capacitor having a low impedance to the RF energy, a voltage controlled variable capacitor connected in series between the second and fourth end portions so that first and second electrodes of the variable capacitor are connected to the second and forth end portions, said first and second sections and the voltage controlled capacitor forming a closed-loop resonant circuit for the RF energy, and means for applying a bias voltage from a control source to the variable capacitor to control the capacitance of the variable capacitor and resonant frequency of the closed loop, said means for applying including first and second choke coils respectively connected to first and second terminals of the control source and to the first and second electrodes, one of said terminals of the control source being at ground potential, said choke coils preventing coupling of the RF energy to ground potential and said blocking capacitor preventing coupling of the voltage of the control source between the first and second sections and the electrodes of the variable capacitor.

Claim 22

A circuit tuned to an RF energy source comprising a first conducting section having first and second end portions and a midportion for only reactively coupling RF energy to the tuned circuit, a second conducting section having third and fourth end portions and a midportion; a DC blocking capacitor connected in series between the first and third end portions, said blocking capacitor having a low impedance to the RF energy, a voltage controlled variable capacitor connected in series between the second and fourth end portions so that first and second electrodes of the variable capacitor are connected to the second and forth end portions, said first and second sections and the voltage controlled capacitor forming a closed-loop resonant circuit for the RF energy, and means for applying a bias voltage from a control source to the variable capacitor to control the capacitance of the variable capacitor and resonant frequency of the closed loop, said means for applying including first and second choke coils respectively connected to first and second terminals of the control source and to the first and second electrodes, one of said terminals of the control source being at ground potential, said choke coils preventing coupling of the RF energy to ground potential and said blocking capacitor preventing coupling of the voltage of the control source between the first and second sections and the electrodes of the variable capacitor.