Radio frequency signal combining/sorting apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from a signal source to output means and coupling a second signal from the output means to a signal sink, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means for coupling the first signal from the signal source to the output means, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attentuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the hole in the dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal from the output means to the signal sink, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the hole in the ceramic means.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said shunt inductive means includes strip electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the top surface of the dielectric means, one end of the strip electrode means being coupled to the input electrode means, and the other end of the strip electrode means coupled to signal ground; and wherein said shunt capacitive means includes electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the electrode means of the capacitive means and being coupled to signal ground.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the signal source and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 1 or 5, wherein said first filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the bandstop filtering means and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the signal source comprises radio frequency (RF) transmitting means, the signal sink comprises RF receiving means and the output means comprises RF signal radiating means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from a first signal source and a second signal from a second signal source to output means, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means for coupling the first signal from the first signal source to the output means, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attentuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the hole in the dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal from the second signal source to the output means, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the hole in the ceramic means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from a first signal source and a second signal from a second signal source to output means, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means for coupling the first signal from the first signal source to the output means, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attentuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the hole in the dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal from the second signal source to the output means, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the hole in the ceramic means.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said shunt inductive means includes strip electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the top surface of the first dielectric means, one end of the strip electrode means being coupled to the input electrode means, and the other end of the strip electrode means being coupled to signal ground; and wherein said shunt capacitive means includes electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the electrode means of the capacitive means and being coupled to signal ground.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the signal source and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said second filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the signal source and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 8 or 14, wherein said second filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the bandstop filtering means and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the first signal source comprises first radio frequency (RF) transmitting means, the second signal source comprises second RF transmitting means and the output means comprises RF signal radiating means.

Claim 20

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from input means to a first signal sink and coupling a second signal from the input means to a second signal sink, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means for coupling the first signal from the input means to the first signal sink, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attentuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the hole in the dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal from the input means to the second signal sink, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predtermined distance from the hole in the dielectric means.

Claim 21

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from input means to a first signal sink and coupling a second signal from the input means to a second signal sink, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means for coupling the first signal from the input means to the first signal sink, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attentuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the hole in the dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal from the input means to the second signal sink, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (ii) capacitive means including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predtermined distance from the hole in the dielectric means.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 23

The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filitering means in the second filtering means includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 24

The apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said shunt inductive means includes strip electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the top surface of the dielectric means, one end of the strip electrode means being coupled to the input electrode means, and the other end of the strip electrode means being coupled to signal ground; and wherein said shunt capacitive means includes electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the dielectric means at a predetermined distance from the electrode means of the capacitive means and being coupled to signal ground.

Claim 25

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from a signal source to output means and coupling a second signal from the output means to a signal sink, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means for coupling the first signal from the signal source to the output means, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first ceramic means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal froma the output means to the signal sink, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) first means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said first dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first dielectric means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means.

Claim 26

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from a signal source to output means and coupling a second signal from the output means to a signal sink, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means for coupling the first signal from the signal source to the output means, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first ceramic means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal froma the output means to the signal sink, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) first means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said first dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first dielectric means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means.

Claim 27

The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 30

The combining apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said shunt inductive means includes strip electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the top surface of the first dielectric means, one end of the strip electrode means being coupled to the input electrode means, and the other end of the strip electrode means being coupled to signal ground; and wherein said shunt capacitive means includes first electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the top surface of the first dielectric means and second electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the bottom surface of the first dielectric means substantially opposite to the first electrode means, the first electrode means being coupled to the input electrode means, and the second electrode means being coupled to signal ground.

Claim 31

The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said first filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the signal source and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 32

The apparatus according to claim 21 or 25, wherein said first filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the bandstop filtering means and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 33

The apparatus according to claim 21, 22 or 23, wherein the signal source comprises radio frequency (RF) transmitting means, the signal sink comprises RF receiving means and the output means comprises RF signal radiating means.

Claim 34

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from a first signal source and a second signal from a second signal source to output means, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means for coupling the first signal from the first signal source to the output means, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signal having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first ceramic means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal from the second signal source to the output means, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) first means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said first dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first dielectric means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means.

Claim 35

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from a first signal source and a second signal from a second signal source to output means, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means for coupling the first signal from the first signal source to the output means, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signal having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first ceramic means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal from the second signal source to the output means, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) first means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said first dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first dielectric means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means.

Claim 36

The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt capacitvie means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 37

The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 38

The apparatus according to claim 29 or 30, wherein said shunt inductive means includes strip electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the top surface of the first dielectric means, one end of the strip electrode means being coupled to the input electrode means, and the other end of the strip electrode means being coupled to signal ground; and wherein said shunt capacitive means includes first electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the top surface of the first dielectric means and second electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the bottom surface of the first dielectric means substantially opposite to the first electrode means, the first electrode means being coupled to the input electrode means, and the second electrode means being coupled to signal ground.

Claim 39

The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said first filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the signal source and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 40

The apparatus according to claim 28 or 32, wherein said first filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the bandstop filtering means and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 41

The combining apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said second filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the signal source and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 42

The apparatus according to claim 28 or 34, wherein said second filtering means includes transmission line means coupled between the bandstop filtering means and signal ground, said transmission line means having a length such that its impedance is a maximum at the frequency of the first signal.

Claim 43

The apparatus according to claim 28, 29 or 30, wherein the first signal source comprises first radio frequency (RF) transmitting means, the second signal source comprises second RF transmitting means and the output means comprises RF signal radiating means.

Claim 44

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from input means to a first signal sink and coupling a second signal from the input means to a second signal sink, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means fro coupling the first signal from the input means to the first signal sink, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first ceramic means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal from the input means to the second signal sink, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) first means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said first dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first dielectric means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means.

Claim 45

Apparatus for coupling a first signal from input means to a first signal sink and coupling a second signal from the input means to a second signal sink, said apparatus comprising: (a) first filtering means fro coupling the first signal from the input means to the first signal sink, said first filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the second signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first ceramic means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means; and (b) second filtering means for coupling the second signal from the input means to the second signal sink, said second filtering means including at least one bandstop filtering means intercoupled by transmission line means for attenuating signals having frequencies in a stopband of frequencies including the frequency of the first signal, said bandstop filtering means comprised of: (i) first means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said first dielectric means further including input electrode means comprised of a conductive material disposed on the top surface; (ii) second means comprised of a dielectric material and having top and bottom surfaces, said second dielectric means further including a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, said second dielectric means further being covered entirely with a conductive material with the exception of the top surface, and said conductive material being coupled to signal ground; and (iii) means for attaching the bottom surface of the first dielectric means to the top surface of the second dielectric means so that the input electrode means on the top surface of the first dielectric means is arranged substantially opposite to the hole in the second dielectric means.

Claim 46

The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 47

The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in said first filtering means further includes shunt capacitive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground, and wherein each of the bandstop filtering means in the second filtering means includes shunt inductive means coupled between the input electrode means and signal ground.

Claim 48

The combining apparatus according to claim 38 or 39, wherein said shunt inductive means includes strip electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the top surface of the first dielectric means, one end of the strip electrode means being coupled to the input electrode means, and the other end of the strip electrode means being coupled to signal ground; and wherein said shunt capacitive means includes first electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the top surface of the first dielectric means and second electrode means comprised of a conductive material plated on the bottom surface of the first dielectric means substantially opposite to the first electrode means, the first electrode means being coupled to the input electrode means, and the second electrode means being coupled to signal ground.