Filter structure including circuit board
A cavity filter assembly is provided with at least one structural cavity wall comprising a circuit board. The circuit board may also contain other circuits and circuit elements such as trim capacitors, inductors, low noise amplifier circuits and power amplifiers that are part of the filter's function. Input and output coupling structures and connectors may also be provided on the circuit board. The circuit board may contain inter-stage coupling circuits, signal traces, and coupling pads/structures. Further embodiments are provided that incorporate test connectors and directional couplers on the circuit board. In yet other embodiments the filter's electrical characteristics are tunable with trim elements mounted on the circuit board, such as capacitors or inductors, in either mechanical or electrical manner. The filter's electrical characteristics may also be tunable with mechanical elements mounted through the circuit board.
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This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/826,246, filed Apr. 4, 2001 (Attorney Docket No. 100.169US01), titled “FILTER STRUCTURE INCLUDING CIRCUIT BOARD” and commonly assigned, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to the field of communications and, in particular, to a filter structure including a circuit board.
BACKGROUNDWireless telecommunications systems transmit signals to and from wireless terminals using radio frequency (RF) signals. A typical wireless system includes a plurality of base stations that are connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) via a mobile switching center (MSC). Each base station includes a number of radio transceivers that are typically associated with a transmission tower. Each base station is located so as to cover a geographic region known colloquially as a “cell.” Each base station communicates with wireless terminals, e.g. cellular telephones, pagers, and other wireless units, located in its geographic region or cell.
A wireless base station includes a number of modules that work together to process RF signals. These modules typically include, by way of example, mixers, amplifiers, filters, transmission lines, antennas and other appropriate circuits. One type of filter that finds increased use in wireless base stations is known as a microwave cavity filter.
Microwave cavity filters generally are formed from a machined, extruded, or cast body structure with enclosing walls to complete the filter cavity structure. The microwave signal generally enters the filter through an input connector and is coupled to an internal coupling pad or structure, and thus inserts it into the cavity structure of the filter. The filtered signal is extracted at the terminal end of the filter with another coupling pad or structure. Structures, such as resonators and/or tuning elements, that affect the electrical characteristics of the filter can be attached internally to the filter. Adjustment of the electrical characteristics of the filter can sometimes require the removal of a filter structural panel in order to gain access to the internally mounted elements.
Additional electronic circuitry, used with the filter is typically contained in one or more assemblies that are separate from the filter structure. This circuitry can include such things as inductors and capacitors to affect the electrical characteristics of the filter, low noise amplifiers (LNA's) and power amplifiers. These elements, being in separate assemblies from the filter body, require the use of connectors and cabling to couple them to the filter. The requirement of separate assemblies, connectors, and cabling can add expense, complexity, and source of undesired signal loss to the filter.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a filter with a simpler design and reduced number of components that provides lower costs, less complexity, more reliability, and easier tuning.
SUMMARYThe above mentioned problems with cavity filters and other problems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a filter assembly that includes a circuit board that is attached to the filter assembly as a cover for the cavity allowing electric circuits to be implemented on the circuit board thereby reducing difficulties in connecting the electric circuits to the filter assembly.
More particularly, in one embodiment a filter assembly is provided. The filter assembly includes an enclosure having a cavity wherein at least one wall of the enclosure is comprised of a circuit board. The circuit board includes a trace formed on the circuit board and at least one circuit element coupled to the trace.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific illustrative embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
I. Filter Structure
Embodiments of the present invention provide filter assemblies with one or more cavities that are typically formed out of a machined, extruded, or cast body. In addition, one or more structural walls of the filter assembly are formed of a printed circuit board (PCB) material with the remainder of the cavity walls formed in a conventional manner. This arrangement allows circuit elements to be incorporated on the circuit board and simplifies connection to the filter. This simplification saves connectors and cables, and combines all elements of the circuit into one assembly.
A second cover plate 126 of the filter assembly 100 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB). Input connector 122 and the output connector 124 are coupled to filter assembly 100 through second cover plate 126. Advantageously, the second cover plate 126 is adapted to receive additional circuit elements such as inter-stage coupling 128 and coupling pads/structures 130 and 132. In other embodiments, other circuit elements are coupled to the second cover plate 126. For example, additional circuit elements include, in some embodiments, one or more of capacitors, inductors, low noise amplifiers (LNA's), power amplifiers, low pass filters, and the like. This placement of circuits and circuit elements on the second cover plate 126 allows the elimination of separate circuit assemblies, connectors, and cabling to accommodate these elements into the filter assembly. Additionally, inter-stage coupling elements and tuning components are optionally incorporated into the second cover plate 126 to allow the function of the filter assembly 100 to be affected. In any given filter assembly, any one or more of these additional circuit elements can be incorporated.
In the filter assembly 100, a RF signal enters the filter assembly through input connector 122 and is injected into cavity 102 of the filter assembly 100. The RF signal travels through filter cavities 102, 104, and 106 and is filtered. The filtered signal is extracted from the cavity 106 of the filter assembly 100 and is coupled to the output connector 124.
In one embodiment of the filter assembly 100, a filter body is constructed with one or more chambers, having one or more openings in the filter body in various positions. The one or more filter body openings are covered with at least one or more PCB covers. Any remaining openings are covered in a conventional manner to complete the filter structure. The PCB typically will have one or more circuits implemented on it and a ground plane implemented on the surface of the PCB that faces and covers the opening in the body of the filter body assembly. In additional embodiments, multiple circuit trace layers are implemented into the PCB to accommodate more complex circuits.
II. Tuning of the Filter
The characteristics of the filter assembly 100 are electrically adjusted or tuned in a variety of manners. One such manner is by the inclusion of circuit elements on the circuit board 126, such as trimming capacitors and inductors, that affect the electrical characteristics of the filter assembly 100. In one embodiment, these trimming capacitors and inductors are adjusted physically to quickly allow the electrical characteristics of the filter to be tuned to the desired characteristics.
In one embodiment, these tuning elements of the filter are electrically adjustable, allowing for non-mechanical and/or remote adjustment of the electrical characteristics of the filter.
In one embodiment, the filter assembly 100 electrical characteristics are adjusted and/or tuned with mechanical elements wherein the position of the mechanical elements may be adjusted internal to the filter cavities thus changing the characteristics of the filter. For example, filter assembly 100 includes tuning elements which are physically embodied as screws 116, 118, and 120 that extend through the body of the filter assembly allowing for adjustment of the characteristics of each chamber of the filter assembly 100.
III. Printed Circuit Board
IV. Directional Couplers
Use of a printed circuit board as a wall of a filter assembly allows test taps and directional couplers to be incorporated without difficulty. Test taps are placed on the PCB and routed through it to coupling pads placed in the appropriate positions in the interior of the filter. Directional couplers can also be incorporated and allow the sensing of the signal at a given point of the filter. Typically, directional couplers are utilized in high frequency RF circuits and filters to allow for an unfiltered signal feed or a mid-point feed in the filter for diagnostic purposes, monitoring, and tuning.
V. Alternative Filter Structures
In the filter assembly 458, the RF signal enters the filter assembly 458 through the input connector 430 and is injected into the filter body 402 via the input coupling structure 434. For filter analysis purposes the input RF signal is sampled by the input directional coupler 450 and is made available at connector 436. The filtered RF signal is extracted from the filter body 402 by coupling structure 432, coupling structure 432 is coupled to low noise amplifier (LNA) 456 via trace 455. LNA 456 is further coupled by trace 457 to output connector 428.
In the filter of
The filter assembly 640 comprises a filter body 602 with cavities 612, 614, 616,and 618, and resonator structures 604, 606, 608, and 610 that are mounted in the filter body 602. The first filter stage 622 includes cavities 612 and 614, and the second filter stage 624 includes cavities 616 and 618. It is noted that in other embodiments, any appropriate number of cavities are included to implement selected filter functions. The filter assembly 640, additionally has a cover 600 that consists of a printed circuit board, PCB 642, on which are mounted input and output connectors 628 and 630. Coupling structures 632, 634, 636, and 638 are mounted to the PCB 642 and descend into the filter body. Coupling structures 632 and 634 descend into the first filter stage 622, and coupling structures 636 and 638 descend into the second filter stage 624. Connectors 628 and 630 are coupled through the PCB 642 to coupling structures 632 and 638. A LNA 620 is mounted to the PCB 642 and coupled via traces 637 and 639 through the PCB 642 to coupling structures 634 and 636.
In operation, the filter assembly 640 acts as two filters coupled with a LNA. The RF signal enters the filter assembly 640 through the input connector 628 and is injected into the first filter stage 622 of the filter body 602 via the input coupling structure 632. The RF signal is extracted from the first filter stage 622 by the coupling structure 634 and amplified by the coupled LNA 620. The amplified RF signal is then injected into the second filter stage 624 by coupling structure 636. The filtered RF signal is extracted from the second filter stage 624 by coupling structure 638 to the coupled output connector 630.
VI. Filter and Amplifier Configurations
Shown in
The RF signal in
VII. RF System with Filter
Conclusion
Embodiments of the present invention have been described. The embodiments provide a filter assembly with at least one structural cavity wall consisting of a circuit board. The circuit board may also contain other circuits and circuit elements such as trim capacitors, inductors, low noise amplifier circuits and power amplifiers that are part of the filter's function. Other embodiments are also provided that provide input and output coupling structures and connectors on the circuit board. Additional embodiments are provided wherein the circuit board contains inter-stage coupling circuits, signal traces, and coupling pads/structures. Further embodiments are provided that incorporate test connectors and directional couplers on the circuit board. In yet other embodiments the filter's electrical characteristics are tunable with trim elements mounted on the circuit board, such as capacitors or inductors, in either mechanical or electrical manner. The filter's electrical characteristics may also be tunable with mechanical elements mounted through the circuit board.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described in this specification, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. For example, multiple circuit boards may be utilized as structural cavity wall elements in a filter. Further, the inter-stage coupling circuits may contain additional circuit elements to alter the electrical characteristics of the inter-stage coupling.
Claims
1. A filter assembly, comprising:
- an enclosure having at least one cavity;
- at least one wall of the enclosure comprised of a circuit board;
- a trace formed on the circuit board; and
- at least one circuit element, coupled to the trace.
2. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit board further comprises a ground plane on a surface of the circuit board that forms a portion of the inner surface of the enclosure.
3. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit board further comprises multiple circuit trace layers.
4. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit element further comprises a low pass filter.
5. The filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the low pass filter further comprises one of a circuit trace filter element and a mechanical structure filter element.
6. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- an input connector attached to the enclosure and coupled to the at least one cavity; and
- an output connector attached to the enclosure and coupled to the at least one cavity.
7. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to the at least one cavity; and
- an output connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to the at least one cavity.
8. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit element further comprises an amplifier and wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to the at least one cavity;
- an output connector attached to the circuit board coupled to an output of the amplifier; and
- an output coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an input of the amplifier.
9. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit element further comprises an amplifier and wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to an input of the amplifier;
- an input coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an output of the amplifier; and
- an output connector attached to the circuit board coupled to the at least one cavity.
10. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- a first and a second low noise amplifier;
- an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to an input of the first low noise amplifier;
- an input coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an output of the first low noise amplifier;
- an output coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an input of the second low noise amplifier; and
- an output connector attached to the circuit board coupled to an output of the second low noise amplifier.
11. A filter assembly, comprising:
- an enclosure having a cavity;
- at least one wall of the enclosure comprised of a circuit board; and
- at least one diagnostic circuit formed on the circuit board.
12. The filter assembly of claim 11, further comprising:
- a trace formed on the circuit board; and
- at least one circuit element, coupled to the trace.
13. The filter assembly of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic circuit formed on the circuit board further comprises a signal tap.
14. The filter assembly of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic circuit formed on the circuit board further comprises a directional coupler, comprising:
- a signal line with an RF signal; and
- a sampling line, wherein the sampling line is run in parallel to the signal line and is physically proximate.
15. The filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the directional coupler further comprises a terminating resistance.
16. The filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the directional coupler further comprises a stub terminator.
17. The filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the sampling line is implemented on a surface of the circuit board.
18. The filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the sampling line is implemented on an internal layer of the circuit board.
19. The filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the sampling line is implemented on a same circuit layer as the signal line.
20. The filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the sampling line is implemented on a first circuit layer and the signal line is implemented on a second circuit layer.
21. A filter assembly, comprising:
- an enclosure having at least one cavity;
- at least one wall of the enclosure comprised of a circuit board; and
- at least one tuning element, wherein the at least one tuning element extends into the at least one cavity of the enclosure.
22. The filter assembly of claim 21, further comprising:
- a trace formed on the circuit board; and
- at least one circuit element, coupled to the trace.
23. The filter assembly of claim 21, wherein the at least one tuning element is formed on the circuit board.
24. The filter assembly of claim 21, wherein the at least one tuning element is formed in the enclosure.
25. The filter assembly of claim 21, wherein the at least one tuning element is formed in a wall of the enclosure.
26. A method of tuning a filter assembly, comprising:
- forming a cavity body with at least one chamber with at least one opening in the cavity body;
- covering the openings in the cavity body with structural elements to enclose the at least one chamber, wherein at least one structural element is a circuit board; and
- tuning the electrical characteristics of the cavity body by selectively adjusting an element on the circuit board.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
- forming a trace on the at least one circuit board; and
- coupling at least one circuit element to the trace.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein the element on the circuit board comprises a capacitor.
29. The method of claim 26, wherein the element on the circuit board comprises an inductor.
30. The method of claim 26, wherein the element on the circuit board comprises a mechanically adjustable tuning element, where the mechanically adjustable tuning element extends into the at least one chamber of the cavity body.
31. A method of making a filter assembly, comprising:
- forming a cavity body with at least one cavity and with at least one opening in the cavity body;
- forming a trace on a printed circuit board;
- coupling an electronic component to the trace; and
- covering the at least one opening in the cavity body with the printed circuit board.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein coupling the electronic component to the trace comprises coupling a low pass filter to the trace.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the low pass filter further comprises one of a circuit trace filter element and a mechanical structure filter element.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein coupling the electronic component to the trace comprises coupling an amplifier circuit to the trace.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein coupling the amplifier circuit comprises coupling at least one of a low noise amplifier and a power amplifier to the trace.
36. The method of claim 31, wherein forming the circuit board further comprises forming a ground plane on a surface of the circuit board that forms a portion of the inner surface of the cavity body.
37. The method of claim 31, wherein forming the circuit board further comprises forming multiple circuit trace layers.
38. The method of claim 31, wherein forming the circuit board further comprises:
- forming an input connector attached to the cavity body and coupled to the at least one cavity; and
- forming an output connector attached to the cavity body and coupled to the at least one cavity.
39. The method of claim 31, wherein forming the circuit board further comprises:
- forming an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to the at least one cavity; and
- forming an output connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to the at least one cavity.
40. The method of claim 31, wherein forming the circuit board further comprises:
- forming a first and a second low noise amplifier;
- forming an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to an input of the first low noise amplifier;
- forming an input coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an output of the first low noise amplifier;
- forming an output connector attached to the circuit board coupled to an output of the second low noise amplifier; and
- forming an output coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an input of the second low noise amplifier.
41. The method of claim 31, wherein forming the circuit board further comprises forming an inter-stage coupling circuit, the inter-stage coupling circuit comprising:
- at least one input coupling structure mounted in the at least one cavity; and
- at least one output coupling structure mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to the at least one input coupling structure.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein forming the inter-stage coupling circuit further comprises forming a signal trace on the circuit board.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein forming the signal trace further comprises one of forming the signal trace in an internal circuit layer of the circuit board and forming the signal trace in a surface circuit layer of the circuit board.
44. A method of making a filter assembly, comprising:
- forming a cavity body with at least one chamber with at least one opening in the cavity body;
- covering the openings in the cavity body with structural elements to enclose the at least one chamber, wherein at least one structural element is a circuit board; and
- forming at least one test circuit on the at least one circuit board.
45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:
- forming a trace on the at least one circuit board; and
- coupling at least one circuit element to the trace.
46. The method of claim 44, further comprising forming the test circuit with a connector.
47. The method of claim 44, wherein forming the test circuit on the circuit board further comprises forming a signal tap.
48. The method of claim 44, wherein forming the test circuit formed on the circuit board further comprises a forming a directional coupler, comprising:
- forming a signal line; and
- forming a sampling line, wherein the sampling line is run in parallel to the signal line and is physically proximate.
49. The method of claim 48, further comprising forming the directional coupler with a terminating resistance.
50. The method of claim 48, further comprising forming the directional coupler with a stub terminator.
51. The method of claim 48, further comprising forming the sampling line on a same circuit layer as the signal line.
52. The method of claim 48, further comprising forming the sampling line on a first circuit layer and forming the signal line on a second circuit layer.
53. A microwave system, comprising:
- an antenna;
- a RF system; and
- a filter assembly coupled to the antenna and to the RF system, wherein the filter assembly comprises: an enclosure having at least one cavity; at least one circuit board comprising a wall of the enclosure; a trace formed on the at least one circuit board; and at least one circuit element coupled to the trace.
54. The microwave system of claim 53, wherein the circuit board further comprises a ground plane on a surface of the circuit board that forms a portion of the inner surface of the enclosure.
55. The microwave system of claim 53, wherein the at least one circuit board further comprises multiple circuit trace layers.
56. The microwave system of claim 53, wherein the at least one circuit element further comprises a low pass filter.
57. The microwave system of claim 56, wherein the low pass filter further comprises one of a circuit trace filter element and a mechanical structure filter element.
58. The microwave system of claim 53, wherein the at least one circuit element further comprises an amplifier.
59. The microwave system of claim 58, wherein the amplifier is one of a low noise amplifier and a power amplifier.
60. The microwave system of claim 53, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- an input connector attached to the enclosure and coupled to the at least one cavity; and
- an output connector attached to the enclosure and coupled to the at least one cavity.
61. The microwave system of claim 53, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to the at least one cavity; and
- an output connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to the at least one cavity.
62. The microwave system of claim 58, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to the at least one cavity;
- an output connector attached to the circuit board coupled to an output of the amplifier; and
- an output coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an input of the amplifier.
63. The microwave system of claim 58, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to an input of the amplifier;
- an input coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an output of the amplifier; and
- an output connector attached to the circuit board coupled to the at least one cavity.
64. The microwave system of claim 53, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- a first and a second low noise amplifier;
- an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to an input of the first low noise amplifier;
- an input coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an output of the first low noise amplifier;
- an output connector attached to the circuit board coupled to an output of the second low noise amplifier; and
- an output coupling pad mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to an input of the second low noise amplifier.
65. The microwave system of claim 53, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
- a first filter stage and a second filter stage formed in the enclosure, wherein the first and second filter stage each have at least one cavity;
- an input connector attached to the circuit board and coupled to the first filter stage;
- an output coupling structure mounted in the at least one cavity of the first filter stage and coupled to an input of a low noise amplifier;
- an input coupling structure mounted in the at least one cavity of the second filter stage and coupled to an output of the low noise amplifier; and
- an output connector attached to the circuit board coupled to the at least one cavity of the second filter stage.
66. The microwave system of claim 53, wherein the at least one circuit formed in the at least one circuit board comprises an inter-stage coupling circuit, the inter-stage coupling circuit comprising:
- at least one input coupling structure mounted in the at least one cavity; and
- at least one output coupling structure mounted in the at least one cavity and coupled to the at least one input coupling structure.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 8, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 13, 2005
Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN)
Inventors: David Sauder (Shakopee, MN), Teppo Lukkarila (Bloomington, MN)
Application Number: 11/148,135