EP4295443A1 - Non-reciprocal microwave component - Google Patents
Non-reciprocal microwave componentInfo
- Publication number
- EP4295443A1 EP4295443A1 EP22710651.5A EP22710651A EP4295443A1 EP 4295443 A1 EP4295443 A1 EP 4295443A1 EP 22710651 A EP22710651 A EP 22710651A EP 4295443 A1 EP4295443 A1 EP 4295443A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- ferromagnetic
- conductive surface
- microwave component
- reciprocal microwave
- dielectric
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 230000005294 ferromagnetic effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 44
- 229910000859 α-Fe Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000005291 magnetic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910001035 Soft ferrite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000001627 detrimental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003989 dielectric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000696 magnetic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005415 magnetization Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
- H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
- H01P1/32—Non-reciprocal transmission devices
- H01P1/38—Circulators
- H01P1/383—Junction circulators, e.g. Y-circulators
- H01P1/39—Hollow waveguide circulators
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a non-reciprocal microwave component comprising at least three waveguides and a central resonator, the central resonator comprising an upper wall and a lower wall extending on either side of a resonant volume for the propagation of electromagnetic waves, each waveguide extending along a respective axis of propagation, each waveguide comprising a propagation zone for the propagation of electromagnetic waves, the central resonator and each waveguide being arranged so that electromagnetic waves can circulate between the resonant volume of the central resonator and the propagation zone of each waveguide.
- the invention applies to the field of microwave components, in particular based on microwave transmission lines.
- the non-reciprocal components perform essential functions such as a circulator function or an isolator function, in order to ensure routing of the radio frequency signals.
- non-reciprocal components comprise a ferromagnetic ceramic element which, once magnetized, allows such switching.
- a circulator comprising three waveguides extending at 120° from each other and connected, along a Y junction, to the same central ferrite resonator which gives the circulator its non-reciprocity.
- a resonator is, conventionally, an Okada resonator comprising two identical ferrite elements stacked in a direction orthogonal to a plane in which the waveguides extend. More specifically, each ferrite element is bonded to a respective metal pad arranged between said ferrite element and a corresponding wall among two electrically conductive walls of the resonator opposite one another. In this case, the two ferrite elements are spaced apart by a dielectric layer. These metal pads play the role of a quarter-wave impedance transformer, which gives the circulator a wide bandwidth.
- An object of the invention is therefore to propose a non-reciprocal microwave component which can be easily miniaturized, while having a satisfactory bandwidth.
- the subject of the invention is a non-reciprocal microwave component of the aforementioned type, in which the upper wall, respectively the lower wall, comprises an upper conductive surface, respectively a lower conductive surface, oriented towards the resonance volume , the upper conductive surface extending opposite the lower conductive surface, the central resonator further comprising a first ferromagnetic element and a second ferromagnetic or dielectric element, the first ferromagnetic element and the second ferromagnetic or dielectric element being arranged in the resonance volume, and being stepped in a direction orthogonal to the upper wall, being separated by a dielectric layer, the first ferromagnetic element being in contact with the upper conductive surface and the second ferromagnetic or dielectric element being in contacting the lower conductive surface.
- the non-reciprocal microwave component according to the invention has a gain in volume and high performance compared to the state of the art.
- the absence of a metal stud makes it possible to obtain a thin structure for the component.
- the non-reciprocal microwave component comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or in any technically possible combination:
- the first element and the second element differ in their shapes and/or in the materials from which they are made.
- the upper wall and/or the lower wall is a substrate comprising a metallized face, the metallized face forming the corresponding conductive surface among the upper conductive surface and the lower conductive surface.
- the first ferromagnetic element and/or the second element when it is ferromagnetic is made of ferrite, for example a hexagonal ferrite.
- the first ferromagnetic element and/or the second element when it is ferromagnetic is made of an anisotropic material, preferably a hexagonal ferrite.
- the dielectric layer is a gas or vacuum layer or a solid layer.
- the subject of the invention is an on-board radio frequency system comprising at least one non-reciprocal microwave component, as presented above.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded and perspective view of a first mode of production of a non-reciprocal microwave component according to the invention
- FIG. 2 is a section view of the microwave component of FIG. 1, along a section plane orthogonal to a plane in which waveguides of said microwave component extend;
- FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the evolution of the transmission coefficient S21 of the non-reciprocal microwave component according to the invention, as a function of the frequency;
- FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the evolution of the reflection coefficient Su of the non-reciprocal microwave component according to the invention, as a function of the frequency
- FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the evolution of the insulation coefficient S12 of the non-reciprocal microwave component according to the invention, as a function of the frequency.
- a non-reciprocal microwave component 2 (hereafter called “component 2”) according to one embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2.
- Such a component 2 is, in particular, intended to provide a circulator function, or even an isolator function.
- Component 2 is intended to be integrated into an on-board radio frequency system, in particular on board a spacecraft (not shown).
- Component 2 comprises at least three waveguides 4 and a central resonator 6.
- Each waveguide 4 extends along a respective propagation axis X-X and comprises a respective propagation zone 8 for the propagation of electromagnetic waves.
- the waveguides 4 are arranged around the central resonator 6, their respective axes of propagation XX extending radially from the central resonator 6, for example at 120° (Y junction) or 90° (T junction) from each other.
- the central resonator 6 and the waveguides 4 are arranged so that electromagnetic waves can circulate between a resonant volume 10 of the central resonator 6 and the propagation zone 8 of each waveguide.
- the central resonator 6 has an upper wall 12 and a lower wall 14.
- the central resonator 6 further comprises a first ferromagnetic element 15A and a second ferromagnetic or dielectric element 15B arranged between the upper wall 12 and the lower wall 14, as will be described below.
- the second element 15B is ferromagnetic, it is preferably a ferrite.
- the first ferromagnetic element 15A gives component 2 its non-reciprocity.
- the second ferromagnetic or dielectric element 15B allows impedance matching between the central resonator 6 and the waveguides 4, which gives the component 2 a wide bandwidth.
- the upper wall 12 and the lower wall 14 extend on either side of the resonance volume 10 intended for the propagation of electromagnetic waves.
- Each of the upper wall 12 and the lower wall 14 comprises a respective conductive surface 24, able to conduct electricity.
- the conductive surface of the upper wall is called “upper conductive surface 26" and the conductive surface of the lower wall is called “lower conductive surface 28".
- the upper conductive surface 26 extends facing the lower conductive surface 28, the upper 26 and lower 28 conductive surfaces being arranged at a distance from each other, and each being oriented towards the resonance volume 10.
- the upper 26 and lower 28 conductive surfaces are separated by a dielectric insulating thickness 25, for example air or vacuum.
- At least one of the upper wall 12 and the lower wall 14 is a substrate conventionally used in electronics.
- a such a substrate comprises a dielectric plate 16, made of at least one dielectric material.
- such a dielectric plate 16 has an inner face 20 covered by a conductive layer which forms the conductive surface 24.
- Such substrates are also likely to be used to produce the waveguides 4, according to the known principles of SIW components (from the English “Substrate Integrated Waveguide”, or waveguide integrated into the substrate) or the AFSIW (Air-Filled Substrate Integrated Waveguide) technology or ESIW (Empty Substart Integrated Waveguide) technology.
- SIW components from the English “Substrate Integrated Waveguide”, or waveguide integrated into the substrate
- AFSIW Air-Filled Substrate Integrated Waveguide
- ESIW Extra Substart Integrated Waveguide
- the waveguide 4 is delimited, in a direction Z-Z orthogonal to the walls 12, 14, by the conductive surfaces 24, and, in a direction orthogonal to the direction Z-Z and to the axis of propagation X-X, by metal vias extending between said conductive surfaces, through additional substrates arranged between the conductive surfaces 24;
- the waveguide 4 is delimited, along the orthogonal Z-Z direction, by the conductive surfaces 24, and, along the direction orthogonal to the Z-Z direction and to the X-X propagation axis, by metallized slices of additional substrates arranged between conductive surfaces 24.
- At least one of the upper wall 12 and the lower wall 14 is entirely made of an electrically conductive material, for example machined to have the desired dimensions.
- the first ferromagnetic element 15A gives component 2 its non-reciprocity, once it has been magnetized.
- the ferromagnetic or dielectric element 15B makes it possible to achieve impedance matching between the waveguides 4 and the central resonator 6.
- the first ferromagnetic element 15A and the second ferromagnetic or dielectric element 15B are arranged in the resonance volume 10, and are stepped along a direction ZZ orthogonal to the walls 12, 14, the first ferromagnetic element 15A and the second ferromagnetic or dielectric element 15B being separated by a dielectric layer 30.
- the dielectric layer 30 is a gas or vacuum layer or a solid layer such as an organic substrate or a ceramic.
- first ferromagnetic element 15A is in contact with the upper conductive surface 26 and the second ferromagnetic or dielectric element 15B is in contact with the lower conductive surface 28.
- first and second elements 15A and 15B differ from each other.
- the first ferromagnetic element 15A and the second ferromagnetic or dielectric element 15B differ by their shapes and/or by the materials from which they are made.
- each element 15A or 15B is capable of having any shape leading to desired performance of component 2, in particular satisfactory impedance matching between central resonator 6 and waveguides 4, or even reflection coefficients and/or transmission whose respective values belong to desired working ranges.
- each element 15A or 15B has the shape of a cylinder, prism, sphere, etc.
- the elements 15A and 15B may be made of different materials, in order to give the component 2 the desired characteristics.
- these shapes and materials are chosen to achieve satisfactory impedance matching between the waveguides 4 and the central resonator 6.
- the ferromagnetic element 15A, and the element 15B when it is ferromagnetic are made of an anisotropic material, such as a soft magnetic material, for example a soft ferrite magnetized by means of an external permanent magnet.
- an anisotropic material such as a soft magnetic material, for example a soft ferrite magnetized by means of an external permanent magnet.
- the ferromagnetic element 15A, and the element 15B when it is ferromagnetic are made of ferrite of high anisotropy, for example a hexagonal ferrite, commonly called “hexaferrite”.
- a hexagonal ferrite commonly called “hexaferrite”.
- a highly anisotropic ferromagnetic ceramic element, in particular hexaferrite has the property of retaining its magnetization once subjected to a magnetic field.
- element 15B is a dielectric.
- Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate an example of evolution of the transmission coefficient S21, of the reflection coefficient Su and of the insulation coefficient S12, respectively, of the non-reciprocal microwave component according to the invention, as a function of the frequency.
- the non-reciprocal microwave component has good electromagnetic performance over a wide frequency band.
- the transmission coefficient S21 is substantially constant between the frequencies 17.3 GHz and 21.5 GHz.
- the reflection coefficient Su and the insulation coefficient S12 have minimum values.
Landscapes
- Non-Reversible Transmitting Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR2101525A FR3119942B1 (en) | 2021-02-17 | 2021-02-17 | Non-reciprocal microwave component |
PCT/FR2022/050289 WO2022175632A1 (en) | 2021-02-17 | 2022-02-17 | Non-reciprocal microwave component |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP4295443A1 true EP4295443A1 (en) | 2023-12-27 |
Family
ID=76034713
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP22710651.5A Pending EP4295443A1 (en) | 2021-02-17 | 2022-02-17 | Non-reciprocal microwave component |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP4295443A1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR3119942B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2022175632A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3714608A (en) * | 1971-06-29 | 1973-01-30 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Broadband circulator having multiple resonance modes |
CN207116652U (en) * | 2017-08-02 | 2018-03-16 | 成都八九九科技有限公司 | A kind of contracting waveguide circulator |
-
2021
- 2021-02-17 FR FR2101525A patent/FR3119942B1/en active Active
-
2022
- 2022-02-17 EP EP22710651.5A patent/EP4295443A1/en active Pending
- 2022-02-17 WO PCT/FR2022/050289 patent/WO2022175632A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2022175632A1 (en) | 2022-08-25 |
FR3119942B1 (en) | 2024-01-19 |
FR3119942A1 (en) | 2022-08-19 |
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