DE2406884A1 - MULTIPLEXING-DEMULTIPLEXING-COUPLING ARRANGEMENT - Google Patents

Description

Multiplexing-demultiplexing coupling arrangement

The invention relates to a multiple coupling arrangement, which is particularly suitable for coupling multiple connections, (which are for example connected to (n + 1) transmitters and / or receivers) with a common connection (the "for example connected to an antenna) is usable.

In the known coupling arrangements, each of the transmission paths is given a bandpass filter; furthermore, each contains of the transmission paths band-stop filters that focus on the operating frequencies the other transmission paths are coordinated so that interference between the various transmission paths is avoided. Since the decoupling between the If different transmission paths are obtained by filtering, the filters used must be considerable Have attenuation in their attenuated bands so that a satisfactory decoupling is achieved.

Lei / ba

409834/085 /,

On the other hand, the addition of an additional port to be coupled to the common port requires the Modification of the original transmission paths by adding a band-stop filter in each of these transmission paths.

The aim of the invention is "to avoid these disadvantages by creating a simple and inexpensive coupling arrangement in which the decoupling between the different transmission paths using the same filters as those required to form the transmission paths Coupling takes place and is therefore very convenient for adding additional transmission paths.

According to the invention is a Kehrfachkoppler with a first Connection and (n + 1) second connections, the. with the first connection - each for (n + 1) different frequency bands (n = integer> 1) coupled with the help of η coupling cells each of which is equipped with three connections and contains a filter arrangement, characterized in that that the filter arrangement is formed by two complementary filters, that each coupling cell has a first and a second Contains sum-difference transformers each with four connections, the first and the second connection of each transformer a pair of connections forms that the inputs of the two 'filters with the first two connections of the first transformer and the two outputs of the filters are connected to the two second connections of the second "transformer, that the third connection of the first transformer forms the first connection of the coupling cell and the fourth connection of the first transformer is completed through a resistor that the fourth and. the third connection of the second transformer the second and the third connection of the coupling cell form that the third connection of the coupling cell with

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the first connection for the frequencies of the passband of the filter arrangement and with the second connection of the coupling cell for the frequencies of the attenuated band is coupled that the first port of the multiplexer through the third terminal of a coupling cell (n-th cell) is formed, and each of the (n + 1) second terminals of the multiplexer through a first and a second connection, respectively a coupling cell is formed, and that the coupling cells with the help of the other connections thereby with each other are connected that a third connection of a coupling cell with a first connection or a second connection is connected to another coupling cell.

It should be noted that earlier by the applicant a lossy filter arrangement has been described which, like the coupling cell of the invention Coupling arrangement contains two complementary filters that work in the same way between two sum-difference transformers are connected.

The invention is based on the knowledge that by two simple changes, namely on the one hand the elimination the resistance used for energy dissipation (on the basis of which the lossy filter arrangement on the other hand, the conversion of the connection to which this resistor was connected into an additional input connection (cultiplexing) or an additional output connection (demultiplexing) results in an original multiplexing-demultiplexing arrangement in which one of the input signals (in the case the cultiplexing) or one of the output signals (in the case of demultiplexing) through the cell to the Connection to which it is to be reached with the help of filters

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is directed, which work with respect to this signal with reflection, and that the obtained thereby Coupling cell compared to those of the prior art, the advantages specified above with regard to the decoupling of the transmission paths and the addition of additional cells (in the case of the increase the number of signals to be treated) results in η existing cells without their change.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. In the drawing show:

1 shows the overview diagram of an elementary coupling cell to explain the mode of operation of such a cell Coupling cell,

Fig.2 shows the scheme of an embodiment of an elementary Coupling cell,

3 shows an overview diagram of a multiplexing-demultiplexing coupling arrangement with four transmission paths that have been obtained by interconnecting several elementary coupling cells, and

4 shows an overview diagram of a multiplexing-demultiplexing coupling arrangement with three elementary coupling cells connected in cascade.

In the scheme of Figure 1, the elementary coupling cell has three connections A, B and S ', and it contains two sum-difference transformers (hybrid transformers) T ^, Tp and two filters F ₁ , F ₂

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The sum-difference * transmitter T ₁ has four connections 1, 2, 3f 4, which form a first pair of connections 1, 4 that are conjugate to one another and a second pair of connections 2, 3 that are conjugate to one another. The sum-difference transformer T ₂ has four connections 5, 6, 7, 8, which form a first pair of mutually conjugate connections 5, 8 and a second pair of mutually conjugate connections 6, 7. These pairs of connectors conjugated to one another are each referred to as "connector pair ¹¹ " hereinafter.

As is well known, a sum-difference transformer works in the following way: If you send a signal to a "sum connection" If the connection of one or the other pair of connections is made, this signal is distributed evenly and in phase to the two connections of the other connection pair; when you send a signal to the "difference connection" If the other connection of a connection pair is applied, this signal is distributed evenly, but in antiphase to the two connections of the other pair. Conversely, if you send two signals of equal amplitude to the two Creates connections of the same connection pair, they appear at the summation connection or at the difference connection of the other connection pair, depending on whether they are in phase or out of phase.

In the following description it is assumed that the connection 1 is the summation connection and the connection 4 is the differential connection of the first connection pair of the transformer T ₁ , and that the connection 5 is the summation connection and the connection is the differential connection of the first connection pair of the transformer T ₂ .

The filter F ₁ is connected to the terminal 2 of the transformer T .. and to the terminal 6 of the transformer T ₂ ; the filter F ₂ is connected to the connection 3 of the transformer T ₁ and to the connection 7 of the transformer T ₂ .

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The filters F ^ and F ₂ are complementary filters in the sense that they have the same transfer function for all frequencies of the passband and the attenuated band, and that their voltage reflection factors g and g ¹ at their inputs have the same amount and by 180 ° have out-of-phase arguments, these properties being preserved for particular values of the load impedances and the source impedances as seen from the filters. In the following description, the term “complementary filters” is understood to mean filters which have these special properties.

The connection A of the unit cell coincides with the summation connection of the transformer T ^, the connection B with the differential connection of the transformer T ₂ , and the connection S 'with the summation connection 5 of the transformer T ₂ ; the terminal 4 of the transformer T ^ is terminated by a resistor R.

When transmitting, the coupling cell works in the following way:

The first input signal of the power P fed to the connection A splits into two in-phase signals of the same power P / 2 at the connections 2 and 3; these signals are fed to the corresponding inputs of the filters F ^ and Fp. If t is the power transfer factor common to the two filters for the frequency of the signal in question, in-phase signals of power t >> P / 2 are transmitted via the filters to connections 6 and 7 of transformer Tp, and they result in a signal of power tP at the connection 5 of this transformer, while signals of opposite phase of power (1-t) P / 2 are _{reflected from the inputs of the complementary filters F ^ and F 2} and transmitted to terminal 4 of the transformer T ^, where the resulting power (1-t) P is destroyed in the resistor R.

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Since the frequency of the first input signal lies in the pass band of the filter, the power transfer factor t essentially has the value 1, and thus practically all of the power supplied to connection A is transferred ^{to connection S 1;} the only losses suffered by the signal applied to terminal A are the insertion losses of the filters and the sum-difference transformers; these losses can be made smaller than 0.5 dB.

If the filters F 1 and F _{2 used are} band-pass filters or low-pass filters, the cut-off frequencies of these filters can be chosen so that the harmonics of the input signal lie in the attenuated band; in this case only the useful signal with the fundamental frequency is ^{transmitted to the output S 1} , while the harmonic signals are reflected to the resistor R. The coupling cell thus effects, on the one hand, the coupling of the connection A to the connection S ¹ and, on the other hand, the filtering of the input signal.

The second input signal of the power P ¹ fed to the connection B is divided into two signals in phase opposition of the same power P ^x / 2 at the connections 6 and 7; these signals are fed to the corresponding inputs of the filters F ^ and Fp. If t ^{1 is} the power transfer factor common to the two filters for the frequency of the signal in question, signals in phase opposition with the power t '«P ^f / ² are transmitted via the filters F ^ and F ₂ to the connections 2 and 3 of the transformer T- ^ transferred, and they result in a signal of the power t ¹ · P ¹ at the terminal of this transformer, while in-phase signals of the power ^half reflected (i-t ') P from the inputs of the filters and of the transformer T ₂ transmitted to the terminal 5 where they give a signal of power (i-t ') P'; the eieich-

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phase of these signals results from the fact that the Signals fed to the inputs of the complementary filter are in phase opposition.

Since the frequency of the second input signal is in the attenuated band of the filter, the transmission factor t ¹ is very small, and the factor (1-t ¹⁾ has substantially the "value Thus, virtually all of the terminal B supplied power P ¹ of the Filters reflected and ^{transmitted to terminal S 1.} The losses suffered by the signal fed to terminal B correspond to the insertion losses of the sum-difference transformer T ₂ and the energy transmitted via the filters to resistor R. The transmission loss depends on the attenuation of the With an attenuation of 10 dB the loss is less than 0.5 dB, and with an attenuation of 20 dB it is less than 0.05 dB.

It should be noted that the connections A and B are decoupled from one another independently of the common transfer function of the filters F ^ and F _2. The power supplied to the connection A is divided between the connection S ¹ and the resistor R without the connection B being affected. In the same way, the power supplied to the connection B is divided between the connection S 'and the resistor R without the connection A being affected. This decoupling is limited only by the coupling that exists between the summation connection and the differential connection of the first connection pair of each sum-difference transformer; this coupling can be made extremely small for a frequency range of several octaves.

The following mode of action results when receiving:

The signal of power P fed to input S ¹ is divided into two in-phase signals of power P / 2

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the connections 6 and 7 of the transformer T ₂ ; these signals are transmitted to the corresponding inputs of the filters F 1 and F ₂ . In-phase signals of power tP / 2 v / earth are _{transmitted via the filters to connections 3 and 3 of transformer T 1} and then result in a signal of power t * P at connection A, while signals of opposite phase of power (1-t) P / 2 are reflected by the inputs of the filters' and transmitted to port B, where they generate a signal of power (1 ~ t) P.

The transmission factor t has essentially the value for the frequencies lying in the passband of the filter and essentially the value O for the frequencies lying in the attenuated band of the filter. Depending on whether the frequency of the ^{signal fed to the connection S 1 is} in the passband or in If the filter is attenuated band, this signal is either transmitted to connection A or reflected to connection B. If, in particular, the connection S ¹ receives signals of different frequencies, these are transmitted either to connection A or to connection B, depending on their frequency. However, no fraction of the signal applied to terminal S is transferred to terminal 4, so that no power in resistor R is lost.

It should be noted that the coupling that exists between terminals A and B is also present when the load impedance at terminal S ^{1 is} mismatched. The signals coming from connection A and reflected at the mismatched load impedance are transmitted to connection A because of their frequency without affecting connection B, and likewise the signals coming from connection 3, which are reflected at the load impedance, are transmitted because of their frequency. to port B.

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By interchanging the roles of the connections 1, 8, 4, 5 of the sum-difference transformers it can be shown that the various connections have the same properties, i.e. connections 1 and 8 on the one hand and the Connections 4 and 5 on the other hand are decoupled from one another.

Fig.2 shows the scheme of an embodiment of a elementary coupling cell. The three connection branches of the cell are through a coaxial cable 133, a coaxial cable 143 or a two-wire line 144 is implemented. The coupling cell contains a first sum-difference transformer T ^, a second sum-difference transformer T and two complementary filters F- ,, Fp, which are in the manner of Low-pass filters are formed.

The two sum-difference transformers T ^ and Tp are equal to each other and in each case by low-frequency transformers 131, 132 or 141, 142 with a transmission ratio of 1: 1 shown. A first connection of the sum-difference transformer T-. is through a terminal 111 and ground formed, a second terminal, which is conjugated to the first terminal, is through a terminal 112 and ground A third connection, which is the summation connection of the other connection pair, is formed by a Terminal 113 and ground, and the fourth terminal, which is conjugated to the third terminal, is through a Terminal 114 and a terminal 115 are formed. The corresponding, Connections of the sum-difference transformer Ϊ £ are with each denotes reference numbers increased by 10.

-AA-

The first connection of the cell, ie the third connection of the transformer T _1, is connected to the cable 133 in that the inner conductor of the cable 133 is connected to the terminal and its outer conductor is connected to ground. The third connection of the cell, ie the third connection of the transformer T ₂ , is connected to the cable 143 by the inner conductor of the cable 143 being connected to the terminal 123 and its outer conductor to ground. The second connection of the cell, ie the fourth connection of the transformer T _2, is connected to the Zv / eidrahtleitung 144 in that one wire of the Zv / e idrahtle itung 144 is connected to the terminal and the other wire to the terminal 125. On the other hand, the fourth connection of the transformer T ₁ is terminated by an impedance 134 which is connected between the terminals 114 and 115.

The filter F ₁ is connected between the first terminals of the sum-difference transformers T ₁ and T ₂ , and the filter · F ₂ is connected between their second terminals. The filters F ₁ and F ₂ are mutually dual symmetrical filters; This means that every element of the impedance Z_, which is in the series branch of one of the filters, is transformed into an element of the impedance Z ^ which is located in the parallel branch of the other filter,

for which ZZ = I has), and vice versa.

2 p

for which Z ^ Z ₁₃ = R _n (where R _{n is} a real value ps ο ο

The filter F ₁ contains between the terminals 111 and the following elements connected in series: a parallel circuit made up of an inductance 101 and a capacitor 102, an inductance 104 and a parallel circuit made up of an inductance 106 and a capacitor 107. The filter F ₁ also contains two Capacitors ■ 103 and 105, which are connected between the terminals of the inductance 104 and ground in each case in the shunt branch.

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- Al -

The filter F ₂ contains between the terminals 112 and 122 circuit elements which are derived by duality from the previous ones, in that an inductance is replaced by a capacitor and vice versa, and in that a parallel circuit in the series branch is also replaced by a series circuit in the shunt branch . Each circuit element of the filter F ₂ is denoted by the same reference number, but increased by 100, as the dual circuit element of the filter F ₁ .

The filters F ₁ and F ₂ are for load impedances Z ¹ and Z "and generator ^{impedances Z 1} and Z", for which the following applies:

D D

Z '* Z "= R ^ and Z ¹ * Z" = R ^

complementary to one another, ie that they have the same transfer factor and that their voltage reflection factors at their inputs have the same amount and arguments out of phase by 180 °. The impedances Z ¹ and Z "are determined by the sum-difference transformer T ₂ , while the impedances Z'gUnd Z" are determined by the sum-difference transformer T ₁ .

To ensure maximum power transmission, the various connections of a Surame differential transformer must be connected via matching impedances, the relative values of which are determined by the structure of the transformer, the choice of one of the impedances determining the values of the other three. For the transformer T-, the impedances Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z ,, Z ^ assigned to one of the four connections are linked to one another by the following relationship:

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In the same way, for the transformer T _2, the respective one of the four ports associated impedances Z ¹ ^, Z'2 »Z ¹ Z ,, ^f ₄ by the following relationship linked:

Z ^ = Ζ ₂ = 2Z ' ₃ = 2Ζ ₄

The impedances Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z'i >> Z ^f ₂ , which represent the impedances Z ¹ , Z "and Z ¹ , Z" seen from the filters, are therefore linked to one another by the following relationship:

-7

- Z

Taking these different relationships into account, all others are determined _{by choosing one of the impedances Z 1} , Z ₂ , Z- ,, Z ₄ , Z ¹ ^, Z ' ₂ , Z' ₃ , Z * _4.

In the case described, the impedance Z i becomes the same 50 ohms selected. This then gives:

Z ₁ = Z ₂ = R ₀ = Z ^ = Z « ₂ = 100 Ohm and

Z ₃ = Z ₄ = Z « ₃ = Z ' ₄ = 50 ohms

The resistor 134 has a value which is equal to the impedance Z ₄ , that is to say 50 ohms. The filters F ₁ and F ₂ are calculated for load impedances and generator impedances of 100 ohms and for an impedance R of 100 ohms.

Finally, the characteristic impedances of the coaxial cables 133, 143 and the cross-wire line 144 are each equal to the impedance Z ₃ , Z ¹ · or Z ₄ , ie equal to 50 ohms. In this case, the devices connected to the three connections of the coupling cell must have internal resistances of 50 Ohm each.

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In the embodiment described, the sum-difference transformers T ₁ and T ₂ are shown in the form of low-frequency transformers for the sake of clarity; however, these can advantageously be replaced by coaxial transformers, that is to say by transformers in which the primary windings and the secondary windings are replaced by the two conductors of a coaxial cable wound on a magnetic circuit are formed.

Likewise, the filters F ₁ and F _{2 are shown} only as an example in the form of symmetrical low-pass filters. Other types of lossy or lossless, symmetrical or asymmetrical filters can be used, in particular also bandpass filters.

Other embodiments can also be envisaged. In the arrangement of FIG. 2, the filters F ₁ and F _{2 are connected} between the first and between the second connections of the sum-difference transformers T ₁ and T ₂ , these connections each having a terminal connected to ground. In a modified embodiment, the filters F ₁ and Fp can be connected to ground between the third and fourth connections of the sum-difference transformers, the connection branches of the coupling cell then being connected to the first connection of the transformer T ₁ and to the first and the second connection of the transformer T _{2 are} connected. _{In this case, the filter F 2} connected between terminals 114 and 115 on the one hand and terminals 124 and 125 on the other hand has no connection to the cash register, and the balancing resistor is connected between terminal 112 and ground.

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This training results in a coupling cell in which the various connection branches are all asymmetrical, there each of them then has a clamp lying at the cash register. This measure is for the mutual connection of several elementary coupling cells advantageous because a connection of a coupling cell directly with one Connection to another coupling cell can be connected without the need for a transition link of the way to insert it to connect a balanced line is used with an unbalanced line.

By combining η elementary coupling cells of this type, multiplexing-demultiplexing arrangements with a first terminal and (n + 1) second terminals, which are the coupling of these (n + 1) second terminals Make connections with the first connection (common connection).

3 shows the general scheme of a multiple coupler of this type with four "second" connections, which is formed with the help of three elementary coupling cells.

It is assumed that the transmissions from the (n + 1) second connections to the common connection. This common connection is then an output of the multiple coupler, while the other ports are its inputs, the first port and the second Terminal of each coupling cell are inputs and the third terminal is an output.

The elementary coupling cells are symbolically represented by the rectangles 10, 20, 30, and their various connections are arranged in FIG. 3 in the same configuration as the connections A, B and S ^{1 of} the coupling cell shown in FIG.

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It should be noted that in the case of FIG In the individual illustrated embodiment, these connections A, B, S ′ to connections 133, 144 and 143, respectively of Fig. 2, i.e. that port B, in contrast to the "two other ports, is a symmetrical connection is. The two inputs and the output of each coupling cell are through the connections 11, 13 and 12 for cell 10, terminals 21, 23 and 22 for cell 20 and terminals 31, 33, respectively and 32 for cell 30, respectively.

The connections 14, 24 and 34 are each terminated via a balancing resistor 15, 25 and 35, respectively.

The two inputs 11 and 13 of the first cell and the two inputs 21 and 23 of the second cell the four inputs A, B, C and D of the multiple coupler ·.-Die Outputs 12 and 22 of the first two cells are connected to the inputs; 31 bk.w. 33 connected to the third cell, and the output 32 of the third cell forms the output S of the multiplexer. For the sake of clarity are the classic matching elements inserted in the connections between balanced and unbalanced connections not shown. This remark also applies to Fig. 4.

This type of interconnection of the cells results an additional condition with regard to the choice of the passbands of the filters: these must be dependent on of the connection of the cells and the structure of the filters are chosen so that each of the inputs A, B, C, D coupled to the output S for at least one frequency bar can be.

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In the special case that the filters used are, for example, low-pass filters whose cut-off frequencies are the frequency f ^ for the filters of cell 10, the frequency f2 for the filters of cell 20 and the frequency f for the filters of cell .30, the following relationship must apply for the frequencies f ^, ± 2 and f:

f ₁ <f ₅ <f ₂ .

The output S is then coupled to the input A for the frequencies which are less than f ^, to the input B for the frequencies which are between f ^ and f, to the input C for the frequencies which are between the frequencies 1-, and f ₂ , and with input D for frequencies that are greater than 3.1sf ₂ .

Coupling arrangements with a larger number of inputs can be obtained in that the same Connection type is retained and four additional cells are used, the inputs of which are the new Form inputs of the coupling arrangement, and their outputs each with one of the four original inputs A, B, C, D of the coupling arrangement are connected.

The circuit pyramid with three rows of coupling cells can be expanded to any number of rows. "

FIG. 4 shows the overview diagram of a multiplexing-demultiplexing coupling arrangement with four · inputs, which are connected in cascade with the help of three elementary Coupling cells is formed.

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These three cells are symbolically represented by the rectangles 10, 20., 30, and their connections, which are shown in the same configuration as in Figures 1 and 3, are in Fig.4 with the same reference numerals as in Fig.3 designated. One connection of each cell is terminated via a balancing resistor, and each of these balancing resistors is denoted by the same reference number as in FIG.

Inputs 11 and 13 of the first cell, input 21 of the second cell and the input 31 of the third cell form the four inputs C, D, B and A of the multiple coupling arrangement. The output 12 of the first cell is connected to the input 23 of the second cell; the exit this second cell is connected to the input 33 of the third cell and the output 32 of the third cell the output S of the multiple coupler.

This way of connecting the cells results in a multiplexer of particularly adaptable use, especially when used in the different cells Filters are bandpass filters.

Except for one of the inputs of the multiple coupler The signal supplied to the first input D propagates by transmission through the filters of the associated cell and then by successive reflections at the inputs of the filters of the following cells in the direction of the output S. the end. The first input D is a special input because the propagation of a signal from this first input towards the exit S all the way through successive Reflections takes place; the input D allows all signals whose frequency is not in the passband of any one of the cells.

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Each of the cells assigned to an input of the multiplexer works only with regard to the input concerned with transmission, while it works with reflection in relation to the signals coming from the previous cells.

Due to this fact, the passband of the filter of a cell can be adjusted solely to the range of the operating frequencies of the connected to the corresponding input Device may be limited.

Insofar as the passbands of the filters in the different cells do not have a common frequency, there is another the operation of the multiplexer regardless of the order in which the cells are connected.

Because of the properties associated with the first input, it is ultimately through this type of connection is possible by adding m additional cells connected in cascade, m additional to connect decoupled connections to the common output S without it being necessary to change the original To change components or the way they are connected; for this purpose only the input D needs to be connected to the output of the Circuit to be connected de is formed by the m additional cells. The can also be used for each of the inputs permissible frequency range can be divided into m sub-ranges without further changes to the multiple coupler, that the relevant input is connected to the output of a cascade connection of (m-1) cells.

As previously indicated, the various coupling arrangements that contain multiple cells are de Connections between cells schematically in the form of

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direct connections represented, which is only possible if the connections of the different cells of are of the same type and the adaptation conditions are met. If one formed by two symmetrical clamps Terminal must be connected to a terminal formed by two unbalanced terminals (of which a terminal is connected to ground), an adapter, for example a transformer, must be placed between these two connections inserted. If the impedances assigned to one cell are not the impedances assigned to the other cell impedance transformers must be inserted between the connections to be connected.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described. By combining the different types of mutual connection of the unit cells and through the use of filters of suitable structure in these Cells can also be given other coupling arrangements v / earth. For example, you can cascade several cells by connecting them to their connections for a transmission coupled, and band-stop filter are used (in which the passband contains two transmission bands).

Patent claims

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Claims (3)

Claims ( 1J multiplexer with a first connection and (n + 1) ^v 'second connections which are coupled to the first connection for (n + 1) different frequency bands (n = integer> 1) with the aid of η coupling cells, of which each is equipped with three connections and contains a filter arrangement, characterized in that the filter arrangement is formed by two complementary filters, that each coupling cell contains a first and a second sum-difference transformer with four connections each, the first and the second connection Each transformer forms a pair of connections that the inputs of the two filters are connected to the first two connections of the first transformer and the two outputs of the filters are connected to the two second connections of the second transformer, so that the third connection of the first transformer forms the first connection of the coupling cell and the fourth connection of the first transformer is terminated via a resistor, that the vi erte and the third connection of the second transformer form the second and third connection of the coupling cell, respectively, that the third connection of the coupling cell is coupled to the first connection for the frequencies of the passband of the filter arrangement and to the second connection of the coupling cell for the frequencies of the attenuated band is that the first terminal of the multi-coupler is formed by the third terminal of a coupling cell (n-th cell), and each of the (n + 1) second terminals of the multi-coupler is formed by a first and a second terminal of a coupling cell, respectively, and that the coupling cells are connected to one another with the aid of the other connections in that a third connection of a coupling cell is connected to a first 409834/0854 Terminal or a second terminal of a further coupling cell is connected. 2. Multiple coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that the η coupling cells are thereby connected in cascade are that the third connection of a coupling cell, which is not the n-th cell, with the second connection of a further coupling cell is connected. 3. Multiple coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that the η coupling cells (n = (2 ^P -1) with ρ = integer> 1) form ρ rows, of which the first row contains only the n-th coupling cell and each q -th row (with q = 2 , and that the first and the second connections of the coupling cells of the p-th row form the (n + 1) second connections of the multiple coupler. 409834/0854 Lee rse ι te