Nonreciprocal Gyromagnetic Type (e.g., Circulators) Patents (Class 333/1.1)
  • Patent number: 7495521
    Abstract: A multi-channel circulator or isolator well suited for use in phased array antennas or other RF devices where space and packaging constraints make the implementation of a conventional circular or isolator difficult or impossible. The multi-channel circulator/isolator can be configured as an isolator by the inclusion of one or more load resistors at one of its ports. In various configurations two or more ferrite substrates are provided that each provide a plurality of transmission ports. One or more permanent magnets are used to simultaneously provide the magnetic flux field through both of the substrates. The substrates can be configured such that they are spaced apart by a small distance, or positioned face to face in contact with one another. One or a plurality of magnets can be used depending upon RF requirements. Each substrate forms an independent electromagnetic wave propagation channel that limits the propagation of RF energy between its ports in one direction only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ming Chen, Jimmy S Takeuchi, Douglas A Pietila
  • Patent number: 7471173
    Abstract: A dielectric substrate is provided with first and second conductor openings communicating with each other via a first slit, and third and fourth conductor openings communicating with each other via a second slit, and the slits intersect each other. With this structure, two resonant modes including an even mode in which magnetic field vectors are directed from the first to third conductor openings and from the fourth to second conductor openings, and an odd mode in which magnetic field vectors are directed from the third to second conductor openings and from the first to fourth conductor openings, or two resonant modes including an X mode in which magnetic field vectors are directed from the first to second conductor openings, and a Y mode in which magnetic field vectors are directed from the third to fourth conductor openings are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Seiji Hidaka, Hiromu Tokudera, Kei Matsutani
  • Patent number: 7453326
    Abstract: A nonreciprocal circuit device includes a ferrite to which a direct magnetic field is applied using permanent magnets, central electrodes arranged on the ferrite, and a circuit substrate. The first central electrode is made of conductive films, and the second central electrode is made of conductive films. Some of the conductive films of the second central electrode are arranged on the first main surface of the ferrite, and a conductive film of the first central electrode is arranged on the conductive films through an insulating film. Furthermore, another one of the conductive films of the first central electrode is arranged on the second main surface, and the remainder of the conductive films of the second central electrode are arranged through an insulating film on the conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seigo Hino
  • Patent number: 7443262
    Abstract: A two-port isolator includes a metal case having an upper metal case portion and a lower metal case portion, a resin case integrated with the case, a permanent magnet member, a center electrode assembly including a ferrite member and center electrodes, and a laminated base. The intersection angle between the first and second center electrodes is adjusted to be different from about 90 degrees. The input admittance of an input port has a complex conjugate relationship with an external circuit. The intersection angle represents an angle at which the center lines of the outermost widths of the center electrodes intersect with each other. In other words, the intersection angle represents an angle of an end of the first center electrode with respect to the input port and an angle of an end of the second center electrode with respect to a ground port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hasegawa, Masakatsu Mori
  • Patent number: 7432777
    Abstract: An isolator includes five center electrodes coupled at radio frequencies to a ferrite member to which a DC bias magnetic field is applied from a permanent magnet. First and third electrodes do not intersect each other. The first and third electrodes intersect the second, fourth and fifth electrodes with electrical insulation therebetween. Connection is established so that a magnetic field generated when current flows from one end to the other end of the first electrode and a magnetic field generated when current flows from one end to the other end of the third electrode are in phase and in the same direction. Connection is established so that a magnetic field generated when current flows from one end to the other end of the second electrode, a magnetic field generated when current flows from one end to the other end of the fourth electrode, and a magnetic field generated when current flows from one end to the other end of the fifth electrode are in phase and in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Takashi Kawanami
  • Patent number: 7429901
    Abstract: An isolator includes first, second, and third center electrodes coupled in a high frequency manner with a ferrite member to which a direct-current magnetic field is applied by a permanent magnet. The first and third electrodes do not intersect with each other, and intersect with the second electrode in a mutually insulated state. Connection is established so that a magnetic field generated when a current flows from one end to the other end of the first electrode, and a magnetic field generated when a current flows from one end to the other end of the third electrode have the same phase and direction. A capacitor and a resistor are connected in parallel to the electrode, a capacitor is connected in parallel to the electrode, and a capacitor and a resistor are connected in parallel to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kawanami
  • Patent number: 7420435
    Abstract: A non-reciprocal circuit element is equipped with a ferrite-magnet assembly which includes a pair of permanent magnets and a ferrite sandwiched between the permanent magnets. A first center electrode and a second center electrode defined by conducting films are provided on principal surfaces of the ferrite, such that the first center electrode and the second center electrode are insulated from each other and intersect each other. The permanent magnets have principal surfaces having substantially the same shape as the principal surfaces of the ferrite. The ferrite has upper and lower surfaces provided with recesses. The recesses have a conductor material embedded therein, whereby intermediate electrodes and connector electrodes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kawanami
  • Publication number: 20080169878
    Abstract: A combiner includes a circulator having a series of at least three sequential ports such that a signal input into a port is transmitted as an output at the next sequential port. A bandpass filter has a pass band and is coupled to a first port of the circulator such that a signal in the pass band that is input to the filter is output at a second port of the circulator. A third port of the circulator is configured to be coupled to an input signal that is out of the pass band such that a signal input at the third port is reflected as an output from the first port by the bandpass filter to then be output at the second port. The signals input at the first and third ports are combined at the second port. This configuration might be used in a cascaded fashion for combining multiple signals, together with low loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Giuseppe Resnati, Marco Santoniccolo, Stefano Galli
  • Patent number: 7397321
    Abstract: Provided are a digitally controlled circulator and a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader having the circulator. A power splitter is composed of lumped elements and the values of the elements are digitally changed using switching means, in which the transmission loss of a signal is controlled according to whether the reader is in a transmission state or a reception state. Therefore, the loss can be minimized, and the circulator can be miniaturized and priced down by an integrated circuit (IC) semiconductor process and mounted in a mobile terminal such as a cellular phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seok Bong Hyun, Kyung Hwan Park, Tae Young Kang, Seong Su Park
  • Patent number: 7394330
    Abstract: A magnetic rotor includes a soft ferrite substrate and a plurality of central conductors. The magnetic rotor is provided inside a casing. A permanent magnet is provided inside the casing, and disposed to overlap the magnetic rotor so as to apply a DC magnetic field to the magnetic rotor. The casing includes a magnetic metal material. The casing is coupled with the permanent magnet so as to form a yoke. A coupling portion is formed in a direction crossing a magnetic circuit of the yoke. The casing is coupled in a direction of the magnetic circuit through the coupling portion. The coupling portion includes a single plate capacitor having a high impedance in response to a DC current and has low impedance in response to a high frequency current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 7385454
    Abstract: A ferrite housing is provided that includes a body for receiving at least one ferrite element therein and a plurality of mounting portions extending from and forming part of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventors: James Paul Kingston, Stanley Vincent Paquette
  • Patent number: 7382211
    Abstract: A non-reciprocal circuit device comprising a first inductance element disposed between a first input/output port and a second input/output port, a second inductance element disposed between the second input/output port and a ground, a first capacitance element constituting a first parallel resonance circuit with the first inductance element, a second capacitance element constituting a second parallel resonance circuit with the second inductance element, a resistance element parallel-connected to the first parallel resonance circuit, and an impedance-adjusting means disposed between the first input/output port and the first inductance element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Kishimoto, Takefumi Terawaki, Minoru Nozu
  • Patent number: 7382209
    Abstract: There is provided a non-reciprocal circuit device which is suitable for a reduction in height, an increase in a mechanical securing strength and a reduction in a number of components, and has a improvement in the yield of assembly, a sufficiently reduction in the man-hour and cost for assembly. A gyromagnetic component assembly 10 is accommodated in a holder 30. A support member 40 has a holder insertion hole 44 which is opened on at least one surface 411. A holder 30 has a bottom outer surface 32 inserted in the holder insertion hole 44.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitsugu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7365616
    Abstract: A non-reciprocal element with three central conductors and a communication apparatus are disclosed, in which the insertion loss is small and the bandwidth is wide. Three central conductors are arranged in proximity to a ferrite thin plate in such a manner as to cross each other in a mutually electrically insulated state. A static magnetic field is applied to the ferrite thin plate by a permanent magnet. An end each of the three central conductors makes up three input/output terminals, respectively, and the other end thereof is connected to a common portion. Three matching capacitors are connected between an end each of the three input/output terminals, respectively, and the common portion. At least one of the angle between the first and second central conductors and the angle between the second and third central conductors is not more than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Takeda, Hideto Mikami, Koji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7362195
    Abstract: A directional R.F. circulator directs radio frequency signals without an external biasing magnetic field. Layers of ferromagnetic materials and insulating materials form a laminated nano-structure. The layers are selected to have a thickness smaller than the wavelength of the radio frequency signals, and smaller than the skin depth of the signals in the material. The ferromagnetic materials and insulators form a resonant cavity having a resonant frequency near the operating frequency for the signal. A plurality of connectors are located around the periphery of the laminated ferromagnetic material to provide input and output ports for the device. This circulator is compatible with semiconductor thin-film processing, and may be integrated onto a monolithic integrated circuit. A method of forming a directional R.F. circulator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventor: Siu-Tat Chui
  • Patent number: 7336140
    Abstract: A low temperature cofired ceramic-metal (LTCC-M) integrated circulator comprises at least one ferrite disk situated in a magnetic field. The magnetic field is created by a magnet and directed by a ferrous base plate acting as a magnetic return path. A conductor junction having 3 ports couples radio frequency energy to the circulator. And, a plurality of LTCC-M insulating layers position the magnet, the ferrite disk, and supports the conductor junction. A method of making an LTCC-M circulator comprises, providing one or more green sheets of insulating ceramic, at least one magnet and at least one ferrous base plate, a contact junction, and alternately stacking the sheets so that there is at least one insulating ceramic sheet between the magnet and the ferrite disk. The stack is then co-fired to form an integrated LTCC-M circulator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Lamina Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Mazzochette, John Ekis
  • Patent number: 7319369
    Abstract: A non-reciprocal circuit element includes permanent magnets, a ferrite having center electrodes, a circuit substrate on which the permanent magnets and the ferrite are disposed, and an annular yoke. The circuit substrate has substantially rectangular surfaces. The permanent magnets and the ferrite are disposed on a front surface of the circuit substrate. The permanent magnets and the ferrite have principal surfaces that are disposed facing each other and are substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the circuit substrate. The permanent magnets and the ferrite have longitudinal sides that are substantially parallel to longitudinal edges of the circuit substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kawanami
  • Patent number: 7307489
    Abstract: A magnetic rotor includes a soft ferrite substrate and a plurality of central conductors. The magnetic rotor is provided inside a casing. A permanent magnet is provided inside the casing, and disposed to overlap the magnetic rotor so as to apply a DC magnetic field to the magnetic rotor. The casing includes a magnetic metal material. The casing is coupled with the permanent magnet so as to form a yoke. A coupling portion is formed in a direction crossing a magnetic circuit of the yoke. The casing is coupled in a direction of the magnetic circuit through the coupling portion. The coupling portion includes a capacitance element which has high impedance in response to a DC current and has low impedance in response to a high frequency current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 7292120
    Abstract: A nonreciprocal circuit device and a communication device having a nonreciprocal circuit device in which each end portion of each center electrode in the bottom layer of a multilayer-electrode structure on a surface of ferrite is thickened by forming a filled-in electrode in an opening in first and second insulating films on the upper surface of the end portion of the center electrode in the bottom layer. Each end portion of each center electrode in the second layer is thickened by forming a filled-in electrode in an opening in the second insulating film on the upper surface of the end portion of the center electrode in the second layer. Each end portion of each center electrode in the top layer (third layer) is thickened by forming a filled-in electrode in an opening in the second insulating film on the lower surface of the end portion of the center electrode in the top layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7286025
    Abstract: A technique for improving a circulator element for its temperature characteristic is provided. A circulator element including a garnet type ferrite material, and a permanent magnet for applying a direct-current magnetic field to the garnet type ferrite material, wherein S11 represents the saturation magnetization of said garnet type ferrite material at a temperature T1, S12 represents one at a temperature T2, and S13 represents one at a temperature T3; and S21 represents the saturation magnetization of said permanent magnet at a temperature T1, S22 represents one at a temperature T2, and S23 represents one at a temperature T3, where T1<T2<T3, and the saturation magnetizations S11, S12, S13, S21, S22 and S23 are relative values providing that the saturation magnetizations at the temperature T2 is 1, and wherein the relations |(S12?S11)/(T2?T1)|<|(S22?S21)/(T2?T1)| and |(S13?S12)/(T3?T2)|>|(S23?S22)/(T3?T2)| are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Endou, Takahide Kurahashi, Sakae Henmi, Hidenori Ohata
  • Patent number: 7280004
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of and for a microwave circulator. The apparatus, system, and method includes a non-reciprocal element for coupling microwaves from an input port to at least one output port, wherein the non-reciprocal element is capable of isolating at least one of the at least one output port, and a plurality of fillers, wherein each of the plurality of fillers is corresponded to a portion of the non-reciprocal element, and wherein each of the plurality of fillers is substantially adjacent to the corresponded portion of the non-reciprocal element and at least substantially fills a span between the corresponded portion of the non-reciprocal element and a proximate conductor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam M. Kroening
  • Patent number: 7265643
    Abstract: A tunable isolator is provided. At least one of the matching circuits for the isolator may be patterned or placed on a common substrate with the isolator. Additionally, at least one of the matching circuits includes a ferro-electric tunable component for tuning the impedance match of the matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corp.
    Inventor: Stanley S. Toncich
  • Patent number: 7256661
    Abstract: A multi-channel circulator or isolator well suited for use in phased array antennas or other RF devices where space and packaging constraints make the implementation of a conventional circular or isolator difficult or impossible. The multi-channel circulator/isolator can be configured as an isolator by the inclusion of one or more load resistors at one of its ports. In various configurations two or more ferrite substrates are provided that each provide a plurality of transmission ports. One or more permanent magnets are used to simultaneously provide the magnetic flux field through both of the substrates. The substrates can be configured such that they are spaced apart by a small distance, or positioned face to face in contact with one another. One or a plurality of magnets can be used depending upon RF requirements. Each substrate forms an independent electromagnetic wave propagation channel that limits the propagation of RF energy between its ports in one direction only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ming Chen, Jimmy S Takeuchi, Douglas A Pietila
  • Publication number: 20070182504
    Abstract: A non-reciprocal circuit device comprising a metal case, a ground plate disposed on an inner bottom surface of the metal case, a resin member disposed on the ground plate and having an opening from which the ground plate is exposed, a planar microwave ferrite member disposed in the opening of the resin member, a strip line member disposed on the planar microwave ferrite member, and a permanent magnet disposed with distance on the strip line member without another planar microwave ferrite member therebetween, the strip line member comprising a connecting portion constituted by strip electrodes radially extending from a center portion, and branch lines radially extending from the center portion between the strip electrodes, low-impedance lines each integrally connected to each of the branch lines and extending along the periphery of the planar microwave ferrite member, and electrodes each integrally connected to each of the low-impedance lines, whereby the branch lines and the ground plate forms microstrip line
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki MUKAI, Shinji YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7253697
    Abstract: A two-port isolator includes a first center electrode and a second center electrode which are wound around a ferrite to which a direct-current magnetic field is applied from permanent magnets, and the ferrite is mounted on a circuit board having built-in matching circuit devices. The ferrite is preferably substantially rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped having first and second principal surfaces that are substantially parallel to each other, and the long-side length of the principal surfaces is about 1.5 to about 5 times the short-side length. The second center electrode is wound between one and four turns around the ferrite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Soda, Takashi Kawanami
  • Patent number: 7253696
    Abstract: A bi-crystal heterostructure includes a first, substantially uniaxial, crystal layer; a second, substantially uniaxial, crystal layer positioned adjacent to the first crystal layer, and wherein the first and second crystal layers have mutually opposite rotations of their respective principal cross-sectional axes of a degree sufficient to impart negative refractivity in the heterostructure; a conductive metal strip positioned between the crystal layers and having a principal longitudinal axis sufficiently aligned with an unrotated principal axis of each of the first and second crystal layers to permit unidirectional electromagnetic wave propagation in the conductive metal strip; and a lossy metal strip positioned between the crystal layers and having a principal axis positioned substantially parallel to the principal axis of the conductive metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Clifford M. Krowne
  • Patent number: 7242263
    Abstract: An improved waveguide circulator that eliminates the need for quarter-wave dielectric transformers or impedance steps in the interface waveguide for broadband operation is described. The circulator designs in the prior art all require impedance matching elements outside of the ferrite element in order to achieve acceptable performance. Through the use of this new invention, broadband circulator performance can be achieved without the addition of impedance matching elements in order to minimize the cost, size, mass, and loss of the circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam M. Kroening
  • Patent number: 7242264
    Abstract: Disclosed is one method and one apparatus which teach improved techniques in using a shaped bias magnetic field over the active region of a ferrite stripline circulator/isolator circuit. The axial component of the bias field is decreased from the center toward edge, thus it is able to accommodate the accompanying changes in magnetization. This fulfills the requirements that frequencies are scaled with distances thereby warranting broadband operation. Furthermore, the radial component of the bias field is reduced, so as to minimize the generation of non-circulation volume modes. The discontinuity in magnetization distributed over the circulator/isolator active region is reduced, so as to minimize the generation of magnetostatic surface modes. The resultant circulator/isolator performance can thus show a broad bandwidth with improved characteristics in insertion loss and in isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Inventor: Hoton How
  • Patent number: 7239214
    Abstract: A two-port non-reciprocal circuit device has one end of a first central electrode electrically connected to an input port and the other end thereof electrically connected to an output port. One end of a second central electrode is electrically connected to the output port and the other end thereof is electrically connected to a ground port. A resonant capacitor and a terminating resistor are electrically connected in parallel between the input port and the output port. A resonant capacitor is electrically connected between the output port and the ground port. Matching capacitors for impedance matching are electrically connected between the input port and an input terminal and between the output port and an output terminal, respectively. A coupling capacitor element is electrically connected between the input terminal and the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seigo Hino
  • Publication number: 20070139131
    Abstract: The present invention improves the geometry of ferrite circulators in order to increase the average power handling by decreasing the temperature rise in the ferrite and associated adhesive bonds. Embodiments of the present invention utilize dielectric attachments on the sides of the ferrite element, which maximizes the area of contact and minimizes the path length from the ferrite element out to the thermally conductive attachments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventor: Adam M. Kroening
  • Patent number: 7230507
    Abstract: An improved waveguide isolator that eliminates the transitions to air-filled waveguides between ferrite elements and absorptive load elements is described. The waveguide isolator in accordance with the invention can be implemented in variations from a single ferrite to load transformer held in close proximity to an absorptive load element to any number of ferrite elements and absorptive load elements as required to achieve the desired isolation performance or to create a switch matrix with any combination of input and output ports. The waveguide isolator in accordance with the invention eliminates the transitions between ferrite to load transformers and absorptive load elements and thus reduces component size and mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: EMS Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Adam M. Kroening
  • Patent number: 7227427
    Abstract: A center-electrode assembly (13) has a configuration in which center electrodes (21) to (23) are arranged, in an electrically insulated state, at the upper surface of a circular-plate microwave ferrite (20). The center electrode (21) is constituted by a first line conductor (21a) and a second line conductor (21b) which are arranged parallel to each other. The hot ends of the first line conductor (21a) and the second line conductor (21b) have connection portions (27) and (26), respectively, and the cold ends are connected to a ground electrode (25). The first and second line conductors (21a) and (21b) are arranged such that the hot end of the first line conductor (21a) and the cold end of the second line conductor (21b) oppose each other and the cold end of the first line conductor (21a) and the hot end of the second line conductor (21b) oppose each other to cause electromagnetic coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kawanami
  • Patent number: 7206116
    Abstract: A Faraday rotator for a Faraday isolator with an input polarizer, with an output polarizer, with a roller-shaped optical crystal that is arranged therebetween and that is arranged symmetrical to its axis of symmetry, with a right hollow cylinder that surrounds this and has a hollow space made of a permanent magnetic material, which cylinder is axially magnetized and the magnetic field of which extends in the hollow space approximately parallel to the axis of symmetry that runs in only one direction from the north pole to the south pole, and with terminal magnets attached to each of the two end faces in the plane perpendicular to the y- and z-directions of the axis of symmetry, each of which is embodied as a hollow right cylinder and has a through-aperture in the extension of the axis of symmetry, is characterized in that each terminal magnet is largely radially magnetized with regard to the axis of symmetry at least by region, in that the one of the two terminal magnets is magnetized radially from interior to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Linos Photonics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Fehn, Sven Poggel, Stefan Balle
  • Patent number: 7196593
    Abstract: A circulator comprises a housing in two halves with a ferrite and associated magnet in a central portion of a first one of the halves, the second housing-half above the ferrite having a membrane which is deformable by operation of an adjuster upon the membrane, so as to adjust the size of an airgap between the membrane and the ferrite. The membrane is preferably the residual portion of the second housing-half following a milling operation to provide a recess, the recess accommodating the adjuster in the form of, e.g., a screw. To further enhance predictability of the performance characteristics of the circulator, the ferrite is seated in a hollow formed in the first housing-half and the securing of the ferrite to the first housing-half is by way of an adhesive applied between a lateral face of the ferrite and a corresponding lateral face of the hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Marconi Communications GmbH
    Inventors: Siegbert Martin, Jurgen Ebinger, Konstantin Beis
  • Patent number: 7176767
    Abstract: An improved multi-junction waveguide circulator that eliminates the transitions to dielectric transformers and air-filled waveguides between ferrite elements is described. The waveguide circulator in accordance with the invention can be implemented in variations from a minimum of two ferrite circulator elements joined to one another to any number of conjoined ferrite elements as required to achieve the desired isolation performance or to create a switch matrix with any combination of input and output ports. The waveguide circulator in accordance with the invention eliminates the transitions between adjacent ferrite elements and thus reduces losses, component size, and mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam M. Kroening
  • Patent number: 7170362
    Abstract: A ferrite circulator having integrated alignment members and a method for aligning a ferrite element within a ferrite circulator are provided. The ferrite circulator includes a ferrite circulator housing having a body for receiving at least one ferrite element therein. The ferrite circulator housing further includes a plurality of alignment members positioned and configured to maintain the alignment of the at least one ferrite element in an alignment region defined by the plurality of alignment members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventors: James Paul Kingston, Stanley Vincent Paquette
  • Patent number: 7138937
    Abstract: A circulator comprises first and second couplers. The first and second couplers are coupled by first and second transmission lines. First and second magnetic fields are provided crossing the first and second transmission lines, respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic fields are substantially parallel with and within a plane defined by the first and second transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Perry Macdonald
  • Patent number: 7138883
    Abstract: In a non-reciprocal circuit element, capacitors are disposed on a bottom surface of a dielectric facing a ferrite member in a state in which first electrodes are connected to port portions serving as one end of central conductors, and second electrodes of the capacitors and ground portions serving as the other ends of the central conductors are connected to a ground plate composed of one sheet of metal plate and the ground plate is connected to a lower plate of a second yoke. Therefore, by means of the ground plate made of one sheet of metal plate, the second electrodes of the capacitors and the ground portions of the central conductors can be connected to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsuo Takano
  • Patent number: 7095291
    Abstract: A structure according to the present invention relates to the non-reciprocal microwave device such as circulator/isolator and includes the circuit, a ferrite member and a dielectric film. The circuit has three arms, each composed of two branches incorporating multiple strips. The branches are folded over a ferrite and isolated from each other by dielectric films to compose a multi-layer structure coupled with ferrite. The branches and strips are shaped to minimize the overall thickness of layer structure and to avoid triple crossover at intersections. The described assembly method allows maintaining symmetry between the ports of circulator/isolator. The broadband and high power operation of resonant structure is achieved by minimizing the asymmetry and improving the power distribution over the entire ferrite area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Renaissance Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Karen Kocharyan
  • Patent number: 7091798
    Abstract: A circulator is used as a notch filter having a notch at a notch frequency band outside its frequency band of operation as a circulator. It has been observed that circulators operate as a notch filter at a relatively narrow band of operation outside its typical band of operation as a circulator. In certain embodiments, the circulator operates as a narrowband notch filter with sharp edges. Such a notch filter can be used between frequency bands carrying communications signals to reduce energy from one frequency band from spilling into a different frequency band. Since the notch has been observed to be relatively narrow and deep with sharp edges, such a notch filter can be used to reduce the guard bands between frequency bands, thereby increasing the amount of bandwidth that can de used to transmit communications signals. Furthermore, since a typical ferrite circulator is a relatively low cost component, the resulting notch filter can also be of low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald W. Jocher
  • Patent number: 7078983
    Abstract: A circulator comprises first and second couplers. The first and second couplers are coupled by first and second transmission lines. First and second magnetic fields are provided crossing the first and second transmission lines, respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic fields are substantially parallel with and within a plane defined by the first and second transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Perry Macdonald
  • Patent number: 7057471
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-reciprocal device whose use makes it possible to reduce the insertion loss, and the size and thickness of its body, and broaden the frequency band treated by it. The DC magnetic field is adjusted such that, in a Smith chart where the center O1 represents the normalized impedance, the impedance of the gyromagnetic component 2 is positioned at a value which is on a constant conductance circle smaller than the reference constant conductance circle EC0 passing the center O1 and which is on a constant reactance line above the reference constant reactance line EX0 passing the center O1. Inductor L11 or L12 has one end connected to a terminal of the center conductor such that in the Smith chart, the impedance of the gyromagnetic component 2 seen from the other end of the inductor L11 or L12 is positioned at a value which is on the reference constant conductance circle EC0 passing the center O1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Sakai
  • Patent number: 7049900
    Abstract: An improved multi-junction waveguide circulator that eliminates the transitions to dielectric transformers and air-filled waveguides between ferrite elements is described. The elimination of the additional transformer sections between the ferrite elements allows for closer spacing of the ferrite elements. With the ferrite elements spaced in close proximity, it is feasible to run a single magnetizing winding through multiple ferrite elements without first exiting the conductive waveguide structure. This decreases the total number of magnetizing windings required for the assembly, resulting in a more efficient and lower cost manufacturing and assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam M. Kroening
  • Patent number: 7009465
    Abstract: In an isolator, a common electrode is disposed on a first surface of a magnetic plate. On a second surface of the magnetic plate, first, second, and third center conductors are disposed crossing each other. The center conductors have their respective first ends connected to the common electrode, and their respective second ends connected to matching capacitors. Furthermore, the second end of the third center conductor is connected to a terminating resistor. The matching capacitor connected to the third center conductor has a Q factor of 200 or smaller and a capacitance of 18 pF or larger. The matching capacitors connected to the first and second center conductors respectively have Q factors of 400 or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiichi Komai
  • Patent number: 7005937
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a circulator comprising the steps of providing a central substrate layer with at least one cut-out section and circuit lines. Next, providing a magnet placed within said cut-out section and a ferrite placed on each side of said substrate layer. A steel plate is placed on each side of the substrate layer. Spacer layers are provided on each side of the substrate layer. Another shim layer is placed on each side of the central substrate layer. Laminate sheets are placed between the substrate layer, the spacer layers, and the outer shim layers. Holes are drilled through each of the substrate, the spacer layers, the outer shims, and the laminate sheets. Heat and pressure are provided to cause the laminate sheets to flow in order to join the substrate, magnets, ferrites, steel plates, spacer layers and outer shim layers into a unitary structure. Finally the structure is plated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas Lingel
  • Patent number: 7002426
    Abstract: An above resonance circulator/isolator and method for manufacturing the same is described. In one implementation, the above resonance circulator/isolator includes a magnet, a spacer, a single ferrite element, a center conductor and a pole piece. The center conductor is sandwiched between the magnet and the single ferrite element with the spacer interposed between the magnet and the center conductor. The pole piece is coupled to the single ferrite element, such that the single ferrite element is sandwiched between the center conductor and the pole piece. Magnetic shielding is not necessary in particular implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventors: James Kingston, George Hempel
  • Patent number: 6998912
    Abstract: A high frequency composite switch module for a mobile communication device, wherein high frequency circuits such as a power amplifier, a circuit functioning as a transmitter/receiver switching circuit, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter for reception, and the like are modularized into one unit. A transmitter circuit includes a transmitter side impedance converter comprising an impedance matching circuit and an impedance converter circuit, a power amplifier and a power supply unit. A receiver circuit includes a receiver-side impedance converter comprising a phase shifting circuit and a SAW filter. The power amplifier and the impedance converter circuit are integrated into one IC chip. At least one of the matching circuit, the power supply unit and the phase shifting circuit is formed inside a multilayer board comprised of a conductor layer and a dielectric layer. The IC chip and the SAW filter are also mounted on the multilayer board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kushitani, Yuki Satoh
  • Patent number: 6996419
    Abstract: A communication system that includes an antenna system and a consolidation system is provided. The consolidation system has a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal is connected to the antenna system. The consolidation system transfers a first signal from the first terminal through the second terminal to the antenna system. The antenna system transmits the first signal. The antenna system also receives a second signal. The consolidation system transfers and amplifies the second signal from the antenna system through the second terminal to the first terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Walter F. Rausch
  • Patent number: 6992540
    Abstract: A two-port isolator includes a microwave ferrite member, first and second center electrodes that intersect with each other on the ferrite member with isolation therebetween, a permanent magnet that applies a DC magnetic field to the ferrite member, and a multilayer substrate having center-electrode-connecting electrodes and first and second matching capacitors. The ferrite member, the first and second center electrodes, the permanent magnet, and the multilayer substrate are accommodated in a housing that includes a magnetic cap and a case having a magnetic metal plate molded thereonto. The second matching capacitor has a higher Q factor than the first matching capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seigo Hino
  • Patent number: 6989719
    Abstract: A non-reciprocal circuit element includes a magnetic plate, a common electrode, a first main segment, a second main segment, a third main segment, and a magnet opposing to the magnetic plate and the magnet applying a bias magnetic field. The temperature coefficient of the saturation magnetization of the magnetic plate is from ?0.2%/° C. to ?0.1%/° C. in the temperature range from ?35° C. to 85° C. The temperature coefficient of the residual magnetization of the magnet is from ?0.20%/° C. to ?0.15%/° C. in a temperature range from ?35° C. to 85° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinshiro Takadate, Hitoshi Onishi