U.S. patent application number 15/252212 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-01 for miniature directional coupling device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Advanced Ceramic X Corporation. Invention is credited to WEI-JEN LEE, JHIN-YING LYU, JYH-WEN SHEEN.
Application Number | 20180062235 15/252212 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61225855 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180062235 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LYU; JHIN-YING ; et
al. |
March 1, 2018 |
MINIATURE DIRECTIONAL COUPLING DEVICE
Abstract
Differing from conventional directional coupling device being
implemented on a coin-like planar board, the present invention
stacks a bottom substrate, at least one phase retarding unit, at
least one reference ground unit, a coupled circuit layer, a main
circuit layer, and a top substrate to form a miniature directional
coupling device. Because this miniature directional coupling device
not occupies too much circuit area when being applied in a mobile
communication product, the miniature directional coupling device
can meet the requirements of light weight and compact size demanded
by high-technology mobile communications for the electronic
components. It is worth explaining that, since the said phase
retarding unit consists of many end-to-end connected transmission
wires, engineers skilled in designing microwave circuit are able to
carry out the modulation of coupling flatness of the miniature
directional coupling device by changing a total length of the
end-to-end connected transmission wires.
Inventors: |
LYU; JHIN-YING; (Nantou
County, TW) ; LEE; WEI-JEN; (Hsinchu County, TW)
; SHEEN; JYH-WEN; (Hsinchu County, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Advanced Ceramic X Corporation |
Hsinchu Hsien |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
61225855 |
Appl. No.: |
15/252212 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01P 1/182 20130101;
H01P 5/187 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01P 5/18 20060101
H01P005/18; H01P 1/18 20060101 H01P001/18 |
Claims
1. A miniature directional coupling device, comprising: a main
body, comprising: a first directional coupler, comprising a first
main line, a first coupled line, an input port, and a coupled port;
a second directional coupler, comprising a second main line
connected to the first main line, a second coupled line, an output
port, and an isolated port; and at least one phase retarder, being
connected between the second coupled line and the first coupled
line; an input electrode, being formed on a first side of the main
body, and electrically connected to the input port; a first ground
electrode, being formed on the first side of the main body; an
output electrode, being formed on the first side of the main body,
and electrically connected to the output port; an isolated
electrode, being formed on a second side of the main body, and
electrically connected to the isolated port; wherein the second
side is opposite and parallel to the first side; a second ground
electrode, being formed on the second side of the main body; and a
coupled electrode, being formed on the second side of the main
body, and electrically connected to the coupled port.
2. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 1, wherein
the main body is constituted by a plurality of circuit layers
stacked to each other, and the circuit layers comprises: a bottom
substrate; at least one phase retarder unit, being stacked on the
bottom substrate, so as to form the at least one phase retarder; at
least one reference ground unit, being disposed on the phase
retarding unit, and electrically connected to the first ground
electrode and the second ground electrode; a coupled circuit layer,
being stacked on the reference ground unit, and provided with the
first coupled line having a coupled terminal and the second coupled
line having an isolated terminal thereon; a main circuit layer,
being stacked on the coupled circuit layer, and provided with the
first main line having an input terminal and the second main line
having an output terminal thereon; and a top substrate, being
stacked on the main circuit layer; wherein the input terminal and
the output terminal are used as the input port of the first
directional coupler and the output port of the second directional
coupler; moreover, the coupled terminal and the isolated terminal
being used as the coupled port of the first directional coupler and
the isolated port of the second directional coupler.
3. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 2, further
comprising an electromagnetic shielding layer disposed between the
main circuit layer and the top substrate; wherein a shielding
ground electrode is provided on the electromagnetic shielding
layer, and electrically connected to the reference ground unit, the
first ground electrode, and the second ground electrode.
4. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 2, wherein a
first top electrode, a second top electrode, a third top electrode,
a fourth top electrode, a fifth top electrode, a sixth top
electrode are formed on the top substrate, and electrically
connected to the input electrode, the first ground electrode, the
output electrode, the isolated electrode, the second ground
electrode, and the coupled electrode, respectively.
5. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 2, wherein a
remark pattern is provided on the top substrate.
6. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 2, wherein a
first bottom electrode, a second bottom electrode, a third bottom
electrode, a fourth bottom electrode, a fifth bottom electrode, a
sixth bottom electrode are formed on the bottom substrate, and
electrically connected to the input electrode, the first ground
electrode, the output electrode, the isolated electrode, the second
ground electrode, and the coupled electrode, respectively.
7. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 2, wherein
the width of the first main line is equal to the width of the
second main line, and the width of the first coupled line being
equal to the width of the second coupled line.
8. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 2, wherein
the width of the first main line is smaller than the width of the
second main line, and the width of the first coupled line being
smaller than the width of the second coupled line.
9. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 2, wherein
the width of the first main line is greater than the width of the
second main line, and the width of the first coupled line being
greater than the width of the second coupled line.
10. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 2, wherein
the first coupled line further has a first connection terminal, and
the second coupled line further having a second connection
terminal.
11. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 2, further
comprising: a first matching network, being coupled between the
phase retarder and the first coupled line; and a second matching
network, being coupled between the phase retarder and the second
coupled line.
12. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 10, wherein
the reference ground unit comprises a first reference ground layer
disposed between the coupled circuit layer and the phase retarding
unit, and the first reference ground layer comprising: a first
reference ground electrode, having a first connection electrode, a
second connection electrode and a first non-electrode region,
wherein the first connection electrode and the second connection
electrode are electrically connected to the first ground electrode
and the second ground electrode, respectively; a first connection
portion, being formed on the first non-electrode region for
connecting to the first connection terminal of the second coupled
line; and a second connection portion, being formed on the
non-electrode region for connecting to the second connection
terminal of the first coupled line.
13. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 11, wherein
both the first matching network and the second matching network are
selected from the group consisting of: .pi. matching network and L
matching network.
14. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 12, wherein
the phase retarding unit comprises: a first phase retarding layer,
comprising: a first transmission line, having a third connection
terminal for connecting the first connection terminal of the first
coupled line and a fourth connection terminal; and a second
transmission line, having a fifth connection terminal for
connecting the second connection terminal of the second coupled
line and a sixth connection terminal; a second phase retarding
layer, comprising: a third transmission line, having a seventh
connection terminal for connecting the fourth connection terminal
of the first transmission line and an eighth connection terminal;
and a fourth transmission line, having a ninth connection terminal
for connecting the sixth connection terminal of the second
transmission line and a tenth connection terminal; and a third
phase retarding layer, comprising: a fifth transmission line,
having a eleventh connection terminal for connecting the eighth
connection terminal of the third transmission line and an twelfth
for connecting the tenth connection terminal of the fourth
transmission line.
15. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 14, wherein
the reference ground unit further comprises a second reference
ground layer disposed between the second phase retarding layer and
the third phase retarding layer, and the second reference ground
layer comprising: a second reference ground electrode, having a
third connection electrode, a fourth connection electrode, and a
second non-electrode region, and a third non-electrode region,
wherein the third connection electrode and the fourth connection
electrode are electrically connected to the first ground electrode
and the second ground electrode, respectively; a third connection
portion, being formed on the second non-electrode region for
connecting to the ninth connection terminal of the fourth
transmission line and the eleventh connection terminal of the fifth
transmission line; and a fourth connection portion, being formed on
the third non-electrode region for connecting to the connection
terminal of the fourth transmission line and the twelfth of the
fifth transmission line.
16. A miniature directional coupling device, comprising: a main
body, comprising: N number of directional couplers, wherein each of
the directional couplers are connected to each other and comprise a
main line and a coupled line; moreover, a first directional coupler
of the N number of directional couplers having an input port and a
coupled port, and a N-th directional coupler of the N number of
directional couplers having an output port and an isolated port;
and N-1 number of phase retarders, wherein each of the phase
retarders are connected between two adjacent directional couplers
for making one main line of one of the two adjacent directional
couplers electrically connected to the other one main line of the
other directional coupler; an input electrode, being formed on a
first side of the main body, and electrically connected to the
input port; a first ground electrode, being formed on the first
side of the main body; an output electrode, being formed on the
first side of the main body, and electrically connected to the
output port; an isolated electrode, being formed on a second side
of the main body, and electrically connected to the isolated port;
wherein the second side is opposite and parallel to the first side;
a second ground electrode, being formed on the second side of the
main body; and a coupled electrode, being formed on the second side
of the main body, and electrically connected to the coupled
port.
17. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 16, wherein
the main body is constituted by a plurality of circuit layers
stacked to each other, and the circuit layers comprises: a bottom
substrate; a phase retarding layer, being stacked on the bottom
substrate, and provided with the N-1 number of phase retarders
thereon; at least one reference ground unit, being disposed on the
phase retarding layer, and electrically connected to the first
ground electrode and the second ground electrode; a coupled circuit
layer, being stacked on the reference ground unit, and provided
with N number of coupled lines thereon; wherein a first coupled
line of the N number of coupled lines has a coupled terminal
connecting to the coupled electrode, and a N-th coupled line of the
N number of coupled lines having an isolated terminal connecting to
the isolated electrode; a main circuit layer, being stacked on the
coupled circuit layer, and provided with N number of main lines
thereon; wherein a first main line of the N number of main lines
has an input terminal connecting to the input electrode, and a N-th
main line of the N number of main lines having an output terminal
connecting to the output electrode; and a top substrate, being
stacked on the main circuit layer; wherein the input terminal and
the output terminal are used as the input port and the output port,
and the coupled terminal and the isolated terminal being used as
the coupled port and the isolated port.
18. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 17, wherein
the N number of main lines comprise N+1 number of connection
openings, and the N number of coupled lines comprising N+1 number
of second connection apertures.
19. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 18, further
comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the main circuit
layer and the top substrate, and N-1 number of connection lines
being formed on the intermediate layer; wherein the N-1 number of
connection lines comprise N-1 number of connection holes for making
each of the connection lines electrically connected between any two
main lines on the main circuit layer.
20. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 18, wherein
a first top electrode, a second top electrode, a third top
electrode, a fourth top electrode, a fifth top electrode, a sixth
top electrode are formed on the top substrate, and electrically
connected to the input electrode, the first ground electrode, the
output electrode, the isolated electrode, the second ground
electrode, and the coupled electrode, respectively.
21. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 18, wherein
a remark pattern is provided on the top substrate.
22. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 18, wherein
a first bottom electrode, a second bottom electrode, a third bottom
electrode, a fourth bottom electrode, a fifth bottom electrode, a
sixth bottom electrode are formed on the bottom substrate, and
electrically connected to the input electrode, the first ground
electrode, the output electrode, the isolated electrode, the second
ground electrode, and the coupled electrode, respectively.
23. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 18, wherein
the reference ground unit comprises a first reference ground layer
disposed between the coupled circuit layer and the phase retarding
layer, and the first reference ground layer comprising: a first
reference ground electrode, having a first connection electrode, a
second connection electrode and a first non-electrode region,
wherein the first connection electrode and the second connection
electrode are electrically connected to the first ground electrode
and the second ground electrode, respectively; N+1 number of
electrical connection holes, being formed on the first
non-electrode region, used for making each of the phase retarders
electrically connected between any two coupled lines on the coupled
circuit layer.
24. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 23, wherein
the reference ground unit further comprises a second reference
ground layer disposed between the phase retarding layer and the
bottom substrate; wherein a second reference ground electrode
having a third connection electrode and a fourth connection
electrode are provided on the second reference ground layer;
moreover, the third connection electrode and the fourth connection
electrode being connected to the first ground electrode and the
second ground electrode, respectively.
25. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 23, wherein
the N number of phase retarders are a plurality of transmission
lines formed on the phase retarding layer.
26. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 23, further
comprising N-1 number of matching network sets, wherein each of the
matching network sets comprise an input-end matching network
connecting to a signal inputting terminal of the phase retarder and
an output-end matching network connecting to a signal outputting
terminal of the phase retarder.
27. The miniature directional coupling device of claim 26, wherein
both the input-end matching network and the output-end matching
network are selected from the group consisting of: .pi. matching
network and L matching network.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to the technology field of
radio frequency (RF) electronic components, and more particularly
to a miniature directional coupling device applied in
high-frequency communication.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0002] Directional coupler is one kind of well-known RF electronic
component, which is a passive device used in radio technology.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a stereo view of a
traditional directional coupler. Moreover, please simultaneously
refer to FIG. 2, where an equivalent circuit diagram of the
traditional directional coupler is provided. As FIG. 1 and FIG. 2
show, the traditional directional coupler 1a comprises: a substrate
11a, a main line 12a formed on the substrate 11a and a coupled
lines formed on the substrate 11a. In the directional coupler 1a,
the two terminals of the main line 12a are respectively defined as
an input terminal 121a and an output terminal 122a. Opposite to the
main line 12a, two terminals of the coupled line 13a are defined as
a coupled terminal 131a and an isolated terminal 132a.
[0003] After the input terminal 121a receives a RF signal, a
portion of the electromagnetic power of the RF signal transmitted
in the main line 12a would be coupled to the coupled line 13a, and
then be outputted to next-stage circuit via the coupled terminal
131a. As engineers skilled in microwave engineering know, the
coupling of the directional coupler 1a would achieve a maximum
value in a specific bandwidth when the main line 12a and the
coupled lines' 13a electrical lengths are designed as one-quarter
of the wavelength of the RF signal. However, with the constant
increase of the bandwidth utilized in mobile communications, the
traditional directional coupler 1a is getting to reveal its
shortcoming on insufficient coupling flatness. Please refer to FIG.
3, which shows a plotted curve of frequency versus coupling. The
frequency and coupling data are integrated in following Table (1)
according to the plotted curve of FIG. 3. Thus, from Table (1), the
engineers skilled in microwave engineering can find there has 10 dB
difference between the maximum coupling and the minimum coupling of
the traditional directional coupler la. Such data result means that
the traditional directional coupler 1a cannot meet the signal
transmission requirement of the RF signal transmitted in bandwidth
of 700-2700 MHz.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Frequency Coupling (MHz) (dB) 500 -35 1000
-29 1500 -26 2000 -24 2500 -22 3000 -20
[0004] On the other hand, despite the traditional directional
coupler 1a can be implanted on a planar board having a coin-like
size, the traditional directional coupler 1a still cannot satisfied
with the demands of light weight and small volume made by
high-technology mobile communications due to large board occupation
area.
[0005] In view of the traditional directional coupler 1a show many
drawbacks and shortcomings in practical application, inventors of
the present application have made great efforts to make inventive
research thereon and eventually provided a miniature directional
coupling device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a miniature directional coupling device. Differing from
conventional directional coupling device being implemented on a
coin-like planar board, the present invention stacks a bottom
substrate, at least one phase retarding unit, at least one
reference ground unit, a coupled circuit layer, a main circuit
layer, and a top substrate to form a miniature directional coupling
device. Because this miniature directional coupling device not
occupies too much circuit area when being applied in a mobile
communication product, the miniature directional coupling device
can meet the requirements of light weight and compact size demanded
by high-technology mobile communications for the electronic
components. It is worth explaining that, since the said phase
retarding unit consists of many end-to-end connected transmission
wires, engineers skilled in designing microwave circuit are able to
carry out the modulation of coupling flatness of the miniature
directional coupling device by changing a total length of the
end-to-end connected transmission wires.
[0007] In order to achieve the second objective of the present
invention, the inventor of the present invention provides a first
generic embodiment for the miniature directional coupling device,
comprising: [0008] a main body, comprising [0009] a first
directional coupler, comprising a first main line, a first coupled
line, an input port, and a coupled port; [0010] a second
directional coupler, comprising a second main line connected to the
first main line, a second coupled line, an output port, and an
isolated port; and [0011] at least one phase retarder, being
connected between the second coupled line and the first coupled
line; [0012] an input electrode, being formed on a first side of
the main body, and electrically connected to the input port; [0013]
a first ground electrode, being formed on the first side of the
main body; [0014] an output electrode, being formed on the first
side of the main body, and electrically connected to the output
port; [0015] an isolated electrode, being formed on a second side
of the main body, and electrically connected to the isolated port;
wherein the second side is opposite and parallel to the first side;
[0016] a second ground electrode, being formed on the second side
of the main body; and [0017] a coupled electrode, being formed on
the second side of the main body, and electrically connected to the
coupled port.
[0018] Moreover, for achieving the second objective of the present
invention, the inventor of the present invention provides a second
generic embodiment for the miniature directional coupling device,
comprising: [0019] a main body, comprising [0020] N number of
directional couplers, wherein each of the directional couplers are
connected to each other and comprise a main line and a coupled
line; moreover, a first directional coupler of the N number of
directional couplers having an input port and a coupled port, and a
N-th directional coupler of the N number of directional couplers
having an output port and an isolated port; and [0021] N-1 number
of phase retarders, wherein each of the phase retarders are
connected between two adjacent directional couplers for making one
main line of one of the two adjacent directional couplers
electrically connected to the other one main line of the other
directional coupler; [0022] an input electrode, being formed on a
first side of the main body, and electrically connected to the
input port; [0023] a first ground electrode, being formed on the
first side of the main body; [0024] an output electrode, being
formed on the first side of the main body, and electrically
connected to the output port; [0025] an isolated electrode, being
formed on a second side of the main body, and electrically
connected to the isolated port; wherein the second side is opposite
and parallel to the first side; [0026] a second ground electrode,
being formed on the second side of the main body; [0027] a coupled
electrode, being formed on the second side of the main body, and
electrically connected to the coupled port.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The invention as well as a preferred mode of use and
advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to the
following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a stereo view of a traditional directional
coupler;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the
traditional directional coupler;
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a plotted curve of frequency versus
coupling;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a first
embodiment of a miniature directional coupling device according to
the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C show stereo diagrams of the
first embodiment of the miniature directional coupling device;
[0034] FIG. 6 shows a first exploded view of a main body of the
miniature directional coupling device;
[0035] FIG. 7 shows a second exploded view of the main body;
[0036] FIG. 8 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a second
embodiment of the miniature directional coupling device;
[0037] FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the main body of the second
embodiment for the miniature directional coupling device;
[0038] FIG. 10 shows three plotted curves of frequency versus
coupling;
[0039] FIG. 11 shows a first equivalent circuit diagram of a third
embodiment of the miniature directional coupling device;
[0040] FIG. 12 shows a second equivalent circuit diagram of the
third embodiment for the miniature directional coupling device;
[0041] FIG. 13 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a fourth
embodiment of the miniature directional coupling device;
[0042] FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B and FIG. 14C show stereo diagrams of the
fourth embodiment of the miniature directional coupling device;
[0043] FIG. 15 shows a planar exploded view of a main body of the
fourth embodiment for the miniature directional coupling
device;
[0044] FIG. 16 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a fifth
embodiment of the miniature directional coupling device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0045] To more clearly describe a miniature directional coupling
device according to the present invention, embodiments of the
present invention will be described in detail with reference to the
attached drawings hereinafter.
First Embodiment
[0046] With reference to FIG. 4, which illustrates an equivalent
circuit diagram of a first embodiment of a miniature directional
coupling device according to the present invention. Moreover,
please simultaneously refer to FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C, where
stereo diagrams of the first embodiment of the miniature
directional coupling device are provided. As the related drawings
show, the miniature directional coupling device 1 roposed by the
present invention comprises: a main body 11, an input electrode 12,
a first ground electrode 13, an output electrode 14, an isolated
electrode 15, a second ground electrode 16, and a coupled electrode
17.
[0047] From FIG. 4, it can know that the main body 11 is provided
with a first directional coupler DP1, a second directional coupler
DP2 and at least one phase retarder PD in the internal thereof,
wherein the first directional coupler DP1 comprises a first main
line 1171 and a coupled line 1166, and has an input port DP11 and a
coupled port DP12. Moreover, the second directional coupler DP2
comprises a second main line 1174 and a second coupled line 1164,
and has an output port DP21 and an isolated port DP22. In the
present invention's design, the first main line 1171 is connected
to the second main line 1174, and the first coupled line 1166 is
electrically connected to the second coupled line 1164 through the
phase retarder PD.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 5C again,
and please simultaneously refer to FIG. 6, which illustrates a
first exploded view of the main body. As the related drawings show,
the main body 11 is constituted by a plurality of circuit layers
stacked to each other, wherein the circuit layers comprises: a
bottom substrate 11B, at least one phase retarder unit, at least
one reference ground unit, a coupled circuit layer 116, a main
circuit layer 117, and a top substrate 11T. As FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B,
and FIG. 5C show, a first top electrode 12c, a second top electrode
13c, a third top electrode 14c, a fourth top electrode 15c, a fifth
top electrode 16c, a sixth top electrode 17c are formed on the top
substrate 11T, and electrically connected to the input electrode
12, the first ground electrode 13, the output electrode 14, the
isolated electrode 15, the second ground electrode 16, and the
coupled electrode 17, respectively. Moreover, a remark pattern 11TM
is provided on the top substrate 11T.
[0049] It is worth explaining that, the main circuit layer 117 is
located under the top substrate 11T, and provided with the first
main line 1171 having an input terminal 1172 and the second main
line 1174 having an output terminal 1173 thereon. In the present
invention, the input terminal 1172 and the output terminal 1173 are
respectively used as the input port DP11 and the output port DP21,
and electrically connected to the input electrode 12 and the output
electrode 14.
[0050] On the other hand, the coupled circuit layer 116 is located
under the main circuit layer 117, and provided with the first
coupled line 1166 having a coupled terminal 1163 and the second
coupled line 1164 having an isolated terminal 1162 thereon. In the
present invention, the coupled terminal 1163 and the isolated
terminal 1162 are respectively used as the coupled port DP12 and
the isolated port DP22, and electrically connected to the coupled
electrode 15 and the isolated electrode 17. Moreover, the first
coupled line 1166 further has a first connection terminal CE1, and
the second coupled line 1164 further has a second connection
terminal CE2.
[0051] As FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 show, the present invention
particularly forms one first coupled line 1166 and a second coupled
line 1164 on the coupled circuit layer 116, and connects at least
one phase retarding unit between the first coupled line 1166 and
the second coupled line 1164, so as to carry out the coupling
modulation of the miniature directional coupling device 1 by
disposing of the phase retarding unit. It is worth noting that at
least one reference ground unit is also integrated in the main body
11 for making the phase retarding unit works effectively. As FIG. 6
shows, the reference ground unit comprises a first reference ground
layer 115 disposed between the coupled circuit layer 116 and the
phase retarding unit, and the first reference ground layer 115
comprises a first reference ground electrode 1151, a first
connection portion cpl and a second connection portion cp2. The
first reference ground electrode 1151 has a first connection
electrode 1152, a second connection electrode 1153 and a first
non-electrode region 1154, wherein the first connection electrode
1152 and the second connection electrode 1153 are electrically
connected to the first ground electrode 13 and the second ground
electrode 16, respectively. Moreover, the first connection portion
cp1 and the second connection portion cp2 formed on the
non-electrode region 1154 for respectively connecting to the first
connection terminal CE1 of the second coupled line 1164 and the
second connection terminal CE2 of the first coupled line 1166.
[0052] As FIG. 6 shows, the said phase retarding unit is stacked on
the bottom substrate 11B, and comprises: a first phase retarding
layer 111, a second phase retarding layer 112, and a third phase
retarding layer 113. The first phase retarding layer 111 is
provided with a first transmission line 1111 and a second
transmission line 1114 thereon, wherein the first transmission line
1111 has a third connection terminal CE3 for connecting the first
connection terminal CE1 of the first coupled line 1166 and a fourth
connection terminal CE4. Moreover, the second transmission line
1114 has a fifth connection terminal CE5 for connecting the second
connection terminal CE2 of the second coupled line 1164 and a sixth
connection terminal CE6.
[0053] Similarly, the second phase retarding layer 112 is provided
with a third transmission line 1121 and a fourth transmission line
1122 thereon, wherein the third transmission line 1121 has a
seventh connection terminal CE7 for connecting the fourth
connection terminal CE4 of the first transmission line 1111 and an
eighth connection terminal CE8. Moreover, the fourth transmission
line 1122 has a ninth connection terminal CE9 for connecting the
sixth connection terminal CE6 of the second transmission line 1114
and a tenth connection terminal CE10. Furthermore, the third phase
retarding layer 113 is provided with a fifth transmission line 1131
thereon, wherein the fifth transmission line 1131 has a eleventh
connection terminal CE11 for connecting the eighth connection
terminal CE8 of the third transmission line 1121 and an twelfth
CE12 for connecting the tenth connection terminal CE10 of the
fourth transmission line 1122.
[0054] By the particular design and arrangement of the phase
retarding unit, the first transmission line 1111 and the second
transmission line 114 formed on the first phase retarding layer
111, the third transmission line 1121 and the fourth transmission
line 1122 formed on the second phase retarding layer 112, and the
fifth transmission line 1131 formed on the third phase retarding
layer 113 does constitute the phase retarder PD as the equivalent
circuit diagram of FIG. 4 shows. It needs to emphasize that, the
engineers skilled in microwave engineering are able to modulate the
coupling flatness and insertion loss of this miniature directional
coupling device 1 by changing a total length of the first
transmission line 1111, the second transmission line 1114, the
third transmission line 1121, the fourth transmission line 1122,
and the fifth transmission line 1131. Of course, the engineers
skilled in microwave engineering can also modulate the coupling
flatness and insertion loss of this miniature directional coupling
device 1 by adding a fourth phase retarding layer having at least
one others transmission line in to the phase retarding unit. On the
other hand, the engineers skilled in microwave engineering can also
modulate the coupling flatness and insertion loss of this miniature
directional coupling device 1 by removing the first phase retarding
layer 111, the second phase retarding layer 112 or the third phase
retarding layer 113 out of the phase retarding unit.
[0055] Furthermore, for making the phase retarding works
effectively, the present invention further adds a second reference
ground layer 114 in the main body 11. As FIG. 6 shows, the second
reference ground layer 114 is disposed between the second phase
retarding layer 112 and the third phase retarding layer 113, and
comprises: a second reference ground electrode 1141, a third
connection portion cp3, and a fourth connection portion cp4. The
second reference ground electrode 1141 has a third connection
electrode 1142, a fourth connection electrode 1143, and a second
non-electrode region 1144, and a third non-electrode region 1145,
wherein the third connection electrode 1142 and the fourth
connection electrode 1143 are electrically connected to the first
ground electrode 13 and the second ground electrode 16,
respectively. Moreover, the third connection portion cp3 is formed
on the second non-electrode region 1144 for connecting to the ninth
connection terminal CE9 of the fourth transmission line 1122 and
the eleventh connection terminal CE11 of the fifth transmission
line 1131. On the other hand, the fourth connection portion cp4 is
formed on the third non-electrode region 1145 for connecting to the
connection terminal CE10 of the fourth transmission line 1122 and
the twelfth CE12 of the fifth transmission line 1131.
[0056] Please further refer to FIG. 7, which shows a second
exploded view of the main body. From FIG. 7, it can find that an
electromagnetic shielding layer 118 is added in the main body 11
and disposed between the main circuit layer 117 and the top
substrate 11T. Particularly, the electromagnetic shielding layer
118 is provided with a shielding ground electrode 1181 having a
fifth connection electrode 1182 and a sixth connection electrode
1183 thereon, and the shielding ground electrode 1181 is
electrically connected to the reference ground unit, the first
ground electrode 13, and the second ground electrode 16. Moreover,
the third connection electrode 1142 is electrically connected to
the fifth connection electrode 1182 through the first ground
electrode 13, and the fourth connection electrode 1143 is
electrically connected to the sixth connection electrode 1183
through the second ground electrode 16.
Second Embodiment
[0057] With reference to FIG. 8, which illustrates an equivalent
circuit diagram of a second embodiment for the miniature
directional coupling device. Moreover, please simultaneously refer
to FIG. 9, which shows an exploded view of the main body of the
miniature directional coupling device. In the second embodiment,
the first directional coupler DPI comprises a first main line 1171
and a first coupled line 1166, and has an input port DP11 and a
coupled port DP12. Moreover, the second directional coupler DP2
comprises a second main line 1174 and a second coupled line 1164,
and has an output port DP21 and an isolated port DP22. From FIG. 8,
it can find that the first main line 1171 is connected to the
second main line 1174, and the second coupled line 1164 is
electrically connected to the firs coupled line 1166 through a
phase retarder PD. Moreover, after comparing FIG. 8 with FIG. 4,
the engineers skilled in microwave engineering can find out the
difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment;
that is, in the second embodiment, the width of the first main line
1171 is smaller than the width of the second main line 1174, and
the width of the first coupled line 1166 is smaller than the width
of the second coupled line 1164.
[0058] In the second embodiment, the second main line 1174 and the
second coupled lines' 1164 width are changed in order to modulate
the coupling flatness of this miniature directional coupling device
1. Please refer to FIG. 10, where three plotted curves of frequency
versus coupling are provided. According to the three plotted
curves, the engineers skilled in microwave engineering can
calculate corresponding coupling flatness data and integrated in
following Table (2). Moreover, from Table (2), the engineers
skilled in microwave engineering can also find that this novel
miniature directional coupling device 1 performs excellent coupling
flatness after comparing to the traditional directional coupler 1a
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 coupling flatness Data curve (dB)
Traditional directional coupler 11 First embodiment of the novel
4.9 miniature directional coupling device Second embodiment of the
novel 3.3 miniature directional coupling device
Third Embodiment
[0059] Furthermore, a third embodiment for the miniature
directional coupling device 1 continuously proposed in following
paragraphs. Please refer to FIG. 11, which shows a first equivalent
circuit diagram of the third embodiment for the miniature
directional coupling device. As FIG. 11 shows, a first L matching
network L-MN1 is disposed between the phase retarder PD and the
first coupled line 1166, and a second L matching network L-MN2 is
disposed between the phase retarder PD and the second coupled line
1164. Please refer to FIG. 12, which shows a second equivalent
circuit diagram of the third embodiment for the miniature
directional coupling device. As FIG. 12 shows, a first matching
network .pi.-MN1 is disposed between the phase retarder PD and the
first coupled line 1166, and a second .pi. matching network
.pi.-MN2 is disposed between the phase retarder PD and the second
coupled line 1164.
Fourth Embodiment
[0060] With reference to FIG. 13, which illustrates an equivalent
circuit diagram of a fourth embodiment for the miniature
directional coupling device. Moreover, please simultaneously refer
to FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B and FIG. 14C, wherein stereo diagrams of the
fourth embodiment are provided. As the related drawings show, the
fourth embodiment of the miniature directional coupling device 1'
comprises: a main body 11', an input electrode 12', a first ground
electrode 13', an output electrode 14', an isolated electrode 15',
a second ground electrode 16', and a coupled electrode 17'.
[0061] Please simultaneously refer to FIG. 15, which shows a planar
exploded view of the main body of the fourth embodiment for the
miniature directional coupling device. In the fourth embodiment,
the main body 11' is provided with N number of directional couplers
and N-1 number of phase retarders in the internal thereof
Particularly, each of the directional couplers are connected to
each other and comprise a main line and a coupled line. Moreover,
each of the phase retarders are connected between two adjacent
directional couplers for making one main line of one of the two
adjacent directional couplers electrically connected to the other
one main line of the other directional coupler. For instance, FIG.
13 shows three directional couplers including a first directional
coupler DP1' having a first main line W1' and a first coupled line
W1a', a second directional coupler DP2' having a second main line
W2' and a second coupled line W2a', and a third directional coupler
DP3' having a third main line W3' and a s third coupled line W3a'.
Moreover, FIG. 13 also show a first phase retarder PD1' disposed
between the first coupled line W1a' and the second coupled line
W2a' as well as a second phase retarder PD2' disposed between the
second coupled line W2a' and the third coupled line W3a'. Herein,
it needs further explain that, the first directional coupler DPI'
of the N number of directional couplers having an input port DP11'
and a coupled port DP12', and a N-th directional coupler (i.e., the
third directional coupler DP3') of the N number of directional
couplers has an output port DPN1' and an isolated port DPN2'.
[0062] In addition, the input electrode 12', the first ground
electrode 13', and the output electrode 14' are formed on the first
side of the main body 11', wherein the input electrode 12' and the
output electrode 14' are electrically connected to the input port
DP11' and the output port DPN1', respectively. On the other hand,
the isolated electrode 15', the second ground electrode 16', and
the coupled electrode 17' are formed on a second side of the main
body 11', wherein the second side is opposite and parallel to the
first side. The isolated electrode 15' and the coupled electrode
17' are electrically connected to the isolated port DPN2'and the
coupled port DP12', respectively.
[0063] Please continuously refer to FIG. 13, FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B,
FIG. 14C, and FIG. 15. In the fourth embodiment, the main body 11'
is constituted by a plurality of circuit layers stacked to each
other, and the circuit layers comprises: a bottom substrate 11B', a
phase retarding layer 110', at least one reference ground unit, a
coupled circuit layer 116', a main circuit layer 117', an
intermediate layer 118', and a top substrate 11T'. As FIG. 14A,
FIG. 14B and FIG. 14C show, a first top electrode 12c', a second
top electrode 13c', a third top electrode 14c', a fourth top
electrode 15c', a fifth top electrode 16c', a sixth top electrode
17c ' are formed on the top substrate 11T', and electrically
connected to the input electrode 12', the first ground electrode
13', the output electrode 14', the isolated electrode 15', the
second ground electrode 16', and the coupled electrode 17',
respectively. Moreover, a remark pattern 11TM' is provided on the
top substrate 11T'.
[0064] Similar to the top substrate 11T', a first bottom electrode
12d', a second bottom electrode 13d', a third bottom electrode
14d', a fourth bottom electrode 15d', a fifth bottom electrode
16d', a sixth bottom electrode 17d' are formed on the bottom
substrate 11B', and electrically connected to the input electrode
12', the first ground electrode 13', the output electrode 14', the
isolated electrode 15', the second ground electrode 16', and the
coupled electrode 17', respectively. It is worth explaining that,
the phase retarding layer 110' is formed with the N-1 number of
phase retarders, such as the first phase retarder PD1' and the
second phase retarder PD2' represented by 2 transmission lines
provided on the phase retarding layer 110'. On the other hand, the
at least one reference ground unit is disposed on the retarding
layer 110', and electrically connected to the first ground
electrode 13' and the second ground electrode 16'.
[0065] In addition, the coupled circuit layer 116' is disposed on
the reference ground unit, and provided with N number of coupled
lines thereon. For instance, FIG. 15 shows a first coupled line
W1a', a second coupled line W2a' and a third coupled line W3a'
formed on the coupled circuit layer 116'. Particularly, a first
coupled line of the N number of coupled lines has a coupled
terminal 116c' connecting to the coupled electrode 17', and a N-th
coupled line (i.e., the third coupled line W3a' shown in FIG. 15)
of the N number of coupled lines having an isolated terminal 1161'
connecting to the isolated electrode 15'. Moreover, the main
circuit layer 117' is stacked on the coupled circuit layer 116, and
provided with N number of main lines thereon. For instance, FIG. 15
shows a first main line W1', a main coupled line W2' and a third
main line W3' formed on the main circuit layer 117'. Particularly,
a first main line of the N number of main lines has an input
terminal 117I' connecting to the input electrode 12', and a N-th
main line (i.e., the third main line W3' shown in FIG. 15) of the N
number of main lines having an output terminal 117O' connecting to
the output electrode 14'. Herein, it needs to further explain that
the input terminal 117I' and the output terminal 117O' are used as
the input port DP 11' and the output port DPN1', and the coupled
terminal 116c' and the isolated terminal 1161' are used as the
coupled port DP12' and the isolated port DPN2'.
[0066] The fourth embodiment of the miniature directional coupling
device 1 further comprises an intermediate layer 118' disposed
between the main circuit layer 117' and the top substrate 11T',
wherein N-1 number of connection lines are formed on the
intermediate layer 118', such as the first connection line CW1' and
the second connection line CW2' shown in FIG. 15. Moreover, the N-1
number of connection lines comprise N-1 number of connection holes
for making each of the connection lines electrically connected
between any two main lines on the main circuit layer 117'. For
instance, FIG. 15 shows a first connection hole CH1', a second
connection hole CH2', a third connection hole CH3', a fourth
connection hole CH4'; and accordingly, N number of main lines
comprise N+1 number of connection openings for connecting the N-1
number of connection holes, such as a first connection opening a
first connection opening MC1', a second connection opening MC2', a
third connection opening MC3', a fourth connection opening
MC4'.
[0067] As related figures show, the reference ground unit comprises
a first reference ground layer 115' and a second reference ground
layer 114'. The first reference ground layer 115' is disposed
between the coupled circuit layer 116' and the phase retarding
layer 110', and comprises: a first reference ground electrode 1151'
and N+1 number of electrical connection holes. In which, the first
reference ground electrode 1151' has a first connection electrode
1152', a second connection electrode 1153' and a first
non-electrode region 1154', wherein the first connection electrode
1152' and the second connection electrode 1153' are electrically
connected to the first ground electrode 13' and the second ground
electrode 16', respectively. Moreover, the N+1 number of electrical
connection holes are formed on the first non-electrode region
1154', used for making each of the phase retarders electrically
connected between any two coupled lines on the coupled circuit
layer 116'. For example, FIG. 15 shows a first electrical
connection hole EH1', a second electrical connection hole EH2', a
third electrical connection hole EH3', and a electrical connection
hole EH4'. Accordingly, the N number of coupled lines comprise N+1
number of connection apertures for connecting the N+1 number of
electrical connection holes, such as a first connection aperture
SC1', a second connection aperture SC2', a third connection
aperture SC3', and a fourth connection aperture SC4'.
[0068] On the other hand, the second reference ground layer 114' of
the reference ground unit is disposed between the phase retarding
layer 110' and the bottom substrate 11B', wherein a second
reference ground electrode 1141' having a third connection
electrode 1142' and a fourth connection electrode 1143' are
provided on the second reference ground layer 114', wherein the
third connection electrode 1142' and the fourth connection
electrode 1143' are connected to the first ground electrode 13' and
the second ground electrode 16', respectively. Moreover, it needs
further explain that, N+1 number of through holes are formed on the
N number of phase retarders for carry out the electrical connection
between the phase retarders and the coupled lines on the coupled
circuit layer 116'. The through holes are such as a first through
hole ET1', a second through hole ET2', a third through hole ET3',
and a fourth through hole ET4' shown in FIG. 15.
Fifth Embodiment
[0069] Furthermore, a fifth embodiment for the miniature
directional coupling device 1 continuously proposed in following
paragraphs. Please refer to FIG. 16, which shows an equivalent
circuit diagram of the fifth embodiment for the miniature
directional coupling device. As FIG. 16 shows, the miniature
directional coupling device can further comprises N-1 number of
matching network sets, wherein each of the matching network sets
comprise an input-end matching network connecting to a signal
inputting terminal of the phase retarder and an output-end matching
network connecting to a signal outputting terminal of the phase
retarder. For example, a first input-end matching network MNI1' is
connected between the first coupled line W1a' and the first phase
retarder PD1', a second input-end matching network MNI2' is
connected between the second coupled line W2a' and the second phase
retarder PD2', a first output-end matching network MNO1' is
connected between the first phase retarder PD1' and the second
coupled line W2a', and a second output-end matching network MNO2'
is connected between the second phase retarder PD2' and the third
coupled line W3a'. It is worth explaining that, both the input-end
matching network and the output-end matching network are selected
from the group consisting of: .pi. matching network and L matching
network.
[0070] Therefore, through above descriptions, the novel miniature
directional coupling device provided by the present invention has
been introduced completely and clearly; in summary, the present
invention includes the advantages of:
[0071] (1) Differing from conventional directional coupling device
(as FIG. 1 shows) being implemented on a coin-like planar board,
the present invention stacks a bottom substrate 11B, at least one
phase retarding unit, at least one reference ground unit, a coupled
circuit layer 116, a main circuit layer 117, and a top substrate
11T to form a miniature directional coupling device 1. Because this
miniature directional coupling device 1 not occupies too much
circuit area when being applied in a mobile communication product,
the miniature directional coupling device can meet the requirements
of light weight and compact size demanded by high-technology mobile
communications for the electronic components.
[0072] (2) It is worth explaining that, since the said phase
retarding unit consists of many end-to-end connected transmission
wires, engineers skilled in designing microwave circuit are able to
carry out the modulation of coupling flatness of the miniature
directional coupling device by changing a total length of the
end-to-end connected transmission wires.
[0073] The above description is made on embodiments of the present
invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit scope
of the present invention, and all equivalent implementations or
alterations within the spirit of the present invention still fall
within the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *