Patent US4837534A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4837534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ceramic block filter with bidirectional tuning
Assignee: CTS Corp
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Filing: 1988-01-29
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Granted: 1989-06-06
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Expires: 2008-01-29
Abstract
Abstract Coupled transmission line resonators, such as those in a solid-dielectric ceramic block filter, are fabricated with tuning regions formed by notches in the outer conductor extending longitudinally parallel with the inner conductors from both the low-impedance ends and the high-impedance ends of the resonators. Removing conductive material from the notches in the vicinity of the low-impedance ends of the resonators decreases their resonant frequencies; removing conductive material from the notches in the vicinity of their high-impedance ends increases their resonant frequencies. Sensitivity of tuning depends on the depth of the notches. By situating all tuning regions along a common side of a filter, tuning both higher and lower in frequency may be accomplished without a need to re-orient the filter in a production-line fixture.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark I. Van Horn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/20; H01P1/201; H01P1/205; H01P1/2056; H01P7/00; H01P7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A transmission-line resonator having a length and having a resonant frequency that may be tuned, comprising: (a) an inner conductor; (b) an outer conductor comprising conductive material and substantially surrounding said inner conductor thereby forming a spacing between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (c) a dielectric medium disposed between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (d) a low-impedance end at which said inner conductor is electrically connected to said outer conductor; (e) a high-impedance end; said resonator having a first tuning region aligned with and extending along a first part of said length proximate to said low-impedance end, wherein removal of said conductive material from said first tuning region will decrease said resonant frequency; and, said resonator having a second tuning region extended along and aligned with a second part of said length proximate to said high-impedance end, wherein removal of said conductive material from said second tuning region will increase said resonant frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A transmission-line resonator having a length and having a resonant frequency that may be tuned, comprising: (a) an inner conductor; (b) an outer conductor comprising conductive material and substantially surrounding said inner conductor thereby forming a spacing between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (c) a dielectric medium disposed between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (d) a low-impedance end at which said inner conductor is electrically connected to said outer conductor; (e) a high-impedance end; said resonator having a first tuning region aligned with and extending along a first part of said length proximate to said low-impedance end, wherein removal of said conductive material from said first tuning region will decrease said resonant frequency; and, said resonator having a second tuning region extended along and aligned with a second part of said length proximate to said high-impedance end, wherein removal of said conductive material from said second tuning region will increase said resonant frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The resonator of claim 1 in which said spacing between said inner conductor and said outer conductor is reduced in the vicinity of said first tuning region and said second tuning region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The resonator in claim 1 in which said dielectric medium is a high dielectric-constant ceramic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
171 words
A transmission line filter having at least one resonator having a length and a resonant frequency that may be tuned, said resonator comprising: (a) an inner conductor; (b) an outer conductor comprising conductive material and substantially surrounding said inner conductor thereby forming a spacing between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (c) a dielectric medium disposed between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (d) a low-impedance end at which said inner conductor is electrically connected to said outer conductor; (e) a high-impedance end; wherein said resonator has a first tuning region aligned with and extending along a first part of said length proximate to said low-impedance end of said resonator, wherein removal of said conductive material from said first tuning region will decrease said resonant frequency; and said resonator has a second tuning region extending along and aligned with a second part of said length proximate to said high-impedance end of said resonator, wherein removal of said conductive material from said second tuning region will increase said resonant frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
171 words
A transmission line filter having at least one resonator having a length and a resonant frequency that may be tuned, said resonator comprising: (a) an inner conductor; (b) an outer conductor comprising conductive material and substantially surrounding said inner conductor thereby forming a spacing between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (c) a dielectric medium disposed between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (d) a low-impedance end at which said inner conductor is electrically connected to said outer conductor; (e) a high-impedance end; wherein said resonator has a first tuning region aligned with and extending along a first part of said length proximate to said low-impedance end of said resonator, wherein removal of said conductive material from said first tuning region will decrease said resonant frequency; and said resonator has a second tuning region extending along and aligned with a second part of said length proximate to said high-impedance end of said resonator, wherein removal of said conductive material from said second tuning region will increase said resonant frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The filter of claim 4 wherein said spacing between said inner conductor and said outer conductor is reduced in the vicinity of said first tuning region and said second tuning region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The filter of claim 4 wherein said first tuning region and said second tuning region of said at least one resonator extend along a common side surface of said filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The filter of claim 4 wherein said dielectric medium is a high dielectric-constant ceramic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a transmission line filter having at least one resonator having a length and having a resonant frequency that may be tuned, said resonator comprising: (a) an inner conductor; (b) an outer conductor comprising conductive material and substantially surrounding said inner conductor thereby forming a spacing between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (c) a dielectric medium disposed between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (d) a low-impedance end at which said inner conductor is electrically connected to said outer conductor; (e) a high-impedance end; said resonator having a first tuning region aligned with and extending along a first part of said length proximate to said lowimpedance end; and said resonator having a second tuning region extending along and aligned with a second part of said length proximate to said highimpedance end, a method for tuning said resonant frequency, comprising the steps of: (1) removing said conductive material from said first tuning region to decrease said resonant frequency; and (2) removing said conductive material from said second tuning region to increase said resonant frequency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a transmission line filter having at least one resonator having a length and having a resonant frequency that may be tuned, said resonator comprising: (a) an inner conductor; (b) an outer conductor comprising conductive material and substantially surrounding said inner conductor thereby forming a spacing between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (c) a dielectric medium disposed between said inner conductor and said outer conductor; (d) a low-impedance end at which said inner conductor is electrically connected to said outer conductor; (e) a high-impedance end; said resonator having a first tuning region aligned with and extending along a first part of said length proximate to said lowimpedance end; and said resonator having a second tuning region extending along and aligned with a second part of said length proximate to said highimpedance end, a method for tuning said resonant frequency, comprising the steps of: (1) removing said conductive material from said first tuning region to decrease said resonant frequency; and (2) removing said conductive material from said second tuning region to increase said resonant frequency.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-05 | 1992-12-05 | 1993-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-05 | 1996-12-05 | 1997-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-05 | 2000-12-05 | 2001-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |