JP2002141714A - Hybrid coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To To provide a hybrid coupler that is formed on a printed circuit board an MMIC(Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit) mounted thereon and can prevent the mount area from being extended and the coupler characteristic from being deteriorated. SOLUTION: In the hybrid coupler 100, a 1st straight line 101 with a length of 1/2 λ, a 2nd line 102 connected to the 1st line 101 and having a length of 1/2 λ, and a 3rd line 103 connected to the 1st line 101 and the 2nd line 102 and having a length of 1/2 λ are placed to configure a triangle loop. A 1st terminal 104 is connected to the middle of the 1st line 101, a 2nd terminal 105 is connected to the middle of the 2nd line 102, and a 3rd terminal 106 is connected to a cross point between the 1st line 101 and the 2nd line 102, and a 4th terminal 107 is connected to a cross point between the 1st line 101 and the 3rd line 103.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hybrid coupler used in a high-frequency field in combination with a frequency down-converter, a wide-band amplifier circuit, a circularly polarized antenna, and the like. The present invention relates to a hybrid coupler that outputs two signals having no phase difference and outputs two signals having a predetermined phase difference with respect to a second high-frequency input signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a frequency downconverter used in the high-frequency field, since there are a plurality of input signals, one input signal is connected between input terminals so as not to leak to another input terminal other than a predetermined input terminal. Must be kept insulative. In a balanced frequency downconverter, two microwave signals having a phase difference of 90 ° or 180 ° or a local oscillator signal are required as input signals. For this reason, the frequency down converter is used in combination with the hybrid coupler. Specifically, when the frequency downconverter is mounted on a printed circuit board as a semiconductor chip for a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (hereinafter, referred to as an MMIC), usually, a hybrid coupler having a planar circuit shape, for example, a branch line, A rat race or a Lange hybrid coupler or the like is created on the printed circuit board described above.
The hybrid coupler is widely used in a high frequency field in combination with a broadband amplifier circuit or a circularly polarized antenna in addition to the frequency down converter.

[0003] Among the hybrid couplers, the rat race has a 180 ° phase shift that causes a 180 ° phase shift with respect to a signal input to a balanced frequency downconverter or the like.
Commonly used as a hybrid coupler (Da
"Microwave Engineering" by vid M. Pozar, No. 1
Edition, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., 1990
Section 8.8 of the year, pages 435-440, or Inder Bahl and Pra
“Microwave Solid State Circuit by kash Bhartia
Design ", First Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1988, Section 5.2.3, pages 181-185).

Hereinafter, a conventional hybrid coupler will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional hybrid coupler,
Specifically, it is a plan view of the rat race.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the rat race 10, an arc-shaped first arc having a length of a quarter wavelength (hereinafter referred to as １ ／ λ) with respect to the center frequency of each input signal. Line 11 is connected to the first line 11 and is 1/4
an arc-shaped second line 12 having a length of λ; a third arc-shaped line 13 connected to the second line 12 and having a length of λλ; Track 3 of 3
And an arc-shaped fourth line 14 connected to and having a length of 接 続 λ are arranged to form a ring-shaped loop. At this time, the first line 11, the second line 12,
The total length of the third line 13 and the fourth line 14, that is, the loop length is 3 / 2λ. A first terminal 15 is connected to the intersection of the second line 12 and the third line 13, and a second terminal 16 is connected to the intersection of the first line 11 and the fourth line 14. Are connected, and the third line 13 and the fourth line
A third terminal 17 is connected to an intersection of the first line 11 and the second line 12 with an intersection of the first line 11 and the second line 12.
Terminal 18 is connected.

A rat race as a conventional 180 ° hybrid coupler has the following four important coupler characteristics. (1) When extracting a signal (first input signal) input to the first terminal 15 from the third terminal 17 and the fourth terminal 18, two signals having the same amplitude and phase (first output signal) And a second output signal). Specifically, the difference between the transmission distances until the first input signal input to the first terminal 15 reaches each of the third terminal 17 and the fourth terminal 18 is 0 (= 1/1). 4λ- ／ λ), the first input signal is divided into a first output signal and a second output signal having the same phase, and each of the third and fourth terminals 17 and 18 is Output from (2) When extracting the signal (second input signal) input to the second terminal 16 from the third terminal 17 and the fourth terminal 18, two signals having the same amplitude and different phases by 180 ° (third signal) Output signal and a fourth output signal).
Specifically, the difference between the transmission distances until the second input signal input to the second terminal 16 reaches each of the third terminal 17 and the fourth terminal 18 is 1 / 2λ (= 3 / 4λ
−１ ／ λ), the second input signal is divided into a third output signal and a fourth output signal having a phase difference of 180 °, and the second input signal is divided into the third terminal 17 and the fourth terminal 18. Output from each. (3) The first terminal 15 and the second terminal 16 are separated. That is, the first input signal input to the first terminal 15 does not leak to the second terminal 16, and the second input signal input to the second terminal 16 is applied to the first terminal 15. There is no leakage. Specifically, the first terminal 15
Is input to the second terminal 16 via a first path (transmission distance λλ) clockwise and a second path (transmission distance λ) counterclockwise. To reach.
Therefore, the first input signal is split into two signals having a path difference of 1 / 2λ and reaches the second terminal 16, and the two split signals cancel each other out at the second terminal 16. Therefore, the first input signal does not leak to the second terminal 16. Similarly, the second input signal input to the second terminal 16 is divided into two signals having a path difference of 1 / 2λ, reaches the first terminal 15, and
The two signals cancel each other out at the first terminal 15, so that the second input signal does not leak to the first terminal 15. Therefore, the first terminal 15 and the second terminal 16 are separated. (4) The third terminal 17 and the fourth terminal 18 are separated. That is, the signal input to the third terminal 17 does not leak to the fourth terminal 18 and the fourth terminal 1
The signal input to 8 does not leak to the third terminal 17. Specifically, similarly to the case of the first terminal 15 and the second terminal 16, the signal input to the third terminal 17 is 1 /
The signal is divided into two signals having a path difference of 2λ and reaches the fourth terminal 18. The divided two signals cancel each other out at the fourth terminal 18, and the fourth terminal 1
The signal input to 8 is split into two signals having a path difference of 1 / 2λ and reaches the third terminal 17, and the two split signals cancel each other out at the third terminal 17. Therefore, the third terminal 17 and the fourth terminal 18 are separated.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, MMI
When a conventional hybrid coupler such as a rat race is formed on a printed circuit board on which C is mounted, the following two problems occur. (A) The area occupied by the rat race (including the inside of the ring-shaped loop) is often much larger than that of the MMIC. That is, when a rat race is to be formed on a printed circuit board, the size of the printed circuit board is increased, and the cost of manufacturing the board is increased. (B) When the MMIC on the printed circuit board is electrically connected to the rat race, in order to prevent waste of the mounting area or deterioration of the above-mentioned coupler characteristics, rearrangement of the input / output terminals and the like in the rat race is required. The accompanying structural change is required.

Hereinafter, the problem (B) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 shows how a rat race and a frequency downconverter as an MMIC are connected on a printed circuit board. In FIG. 8, the printed circuit board is not shown, and the same members as those of the rat race shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the frequency downconverter 20 is disposed inside the ring-shaped loop of the rat race 10 to reduce the mounting area on the printed circuit board. Then, the input terminal 2 of the frequency down converter 20
1 and the third terminal 17 of the rat race 10
7a, and the input terminal 22 of the frequency downconverter 20 and the fourth terminal 18 of the rat race 10 are connected via a lead wire 18a.
The output terminal 23 of the frequency down converter 20
It is connected via a lead wire 24a to a coupler 24 provided to intersect the fourth track 14 of the rat race 10, and the coupler 24 is connected to the rat race 10
Are connected to an external signal input terminal (not shown) via a lead wire 24b.

In FIG. 8, the third terminal 17 and the fourth terminal 18 of the rat race 10 are provided inside the ring-shaped loop of the rat race 10 in consideration of connection with the frequency downconverter 20. This is different from FIG.

Hereinafter, the characteristics of the rat race 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

When a local oscillator signal (first input signal) and a microwave signal (second input signal) are input to the first terminal 15 and the second terminal 16 of the rat race 10, respectively, From the third terminal 17 and the fourth terminal 18, a first synthesized signal and a second synthesized signal obtained by synthesizing the local oscillator signal and the microwave signal are output. At this time, the local oscillator signal (first output signal) of the first composite signal output from the third terminal 17 and the second oscillator signal output from the fourth terminal 18 are generated due to the above-described coupler characteristics. The amplitude and the phase are equal to the local oscillator signal (second output signal) of the composite signal. On the other hand, the microwave signal (third output signal) of the first composite signal output from the third terminal 17 and the microwave signal (third output signal) of the second composite signal output from the fourth terminal 18 It has the same amplitude as the microwave signal (fourth output signal) and a phase difference of 180 °.

The first synthesized signal output from the third terminal 17 of the rat race 10 is input to the input terminal 21 of the frequency downconverter 20 via the lead 17a, and the fourth synthesized signal is output from the fourth terminal of the rat race 10. The second synthesized signal output from the terminal 18 is input to the input terminal 22 of the frequency downconverter 20 via the lead 18a. The frequency downconverter 20 calculates a difference between the frequency of the microwave signal and the frequency of the local oscillator signal based on the first synthesized signal input to the input terminal 21 and the second synthesized signal input to the input terminal 22. An intermediate frequency signal is generated and output from the output terminal 23. The intermediate frequency signal output from the output terminal 23 of the frequency downconverter 20 is taken out of the rat race 10 via the lead 24a, the coupler 24, and the lead 24b.

However, the coupler 24 and the fourth line 1
4 intersects with the frequency downconverter 20
The intermediate frequency signal output from the output terminal 23 of the
Coupling occurs between the first combined signal or the second combined signal passing through the line 14. As a result, feedback occurs between the input terminal 21 or 22 and the output terminal 23 in the frequency downconverter 20, and therefore, when the gain of the frequency downconverter 20 is high, undesirable oscillation is likely to occur due to the feedback described above. That is, the problem that the coupler characteristics are deteriorated occurs.

On the other hand, if the frequency downconverter 20 is arranged outside the rat race 10 in order to avoid a situation where the coupler characteristics are deteriorated, the mounting area on the printed circuit board increases. Alternatively, there arises a problem that layout such as connection between terminals becomes complicated.

That is, when a conventional hybrid coupler is manufactured on a printed circuit board on which an MMIC is mounted, if the mounting area is reduced, the coupler characteristics deteriorate due to feedback between the input and output terminals of the MMIC. In addition, if an attempt is made to prevent the deterioration of the coupler characteristics, the mounting area will increase.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hybrid coupler formed on a printed circuit board on which an MMIC is mounted, so as to prevent an increase in mounting area and deterioration of coupler characteristics.

[0020]

In order to achieve the above object, a first hybrid coupler according to the present invention comprises a first output signal having no phase difference with respect to a first input signal and a second output signal having no phase difference. And a third output signal and a fourth output signal having a predetermined phase difference with respect to the second input signal.
A first linear line, a second linear line connected to the first line, and a first line and a second line connected to the first line and the second line. A triangular loop in which the linear third line is arranged so as to form a triangle; a first terminal provided in the triangular loop to receive a first input signal; A second input signal provided in the loop and receiving a second input signal;
And a third terminal provided in the triangular loop for outputting a composite signal of the first output signal and the third output signal, and a third terminal provided in the triangular loop. And a fourth terminal for outputting a composite signal with the output signal of the fourth signal.

According to the first hybrid coupler,
Since a triangular loop composed of three straight lines is used, the occupied area is smaller than that of a conventional hybrid coupler, for example, a rat race using a ring loop composed of four arc-shaped lines. Can be reduced. Therefore, when the first hybrid coupler, that is, the triangular hybrid coupler is formed on the printed circuit board on which the MMIC is mounted, mounting the MMIC outside the triangular hybrid coupler provides feedback between the input / output terminals of the MMIC. As a result, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the coupler characteristics and to prevent the mounting area from expanding.

Further, according to the first hybrid coupler, since the triangular loop is constituted only by the straight line, it can be easily formed on the printed circuit board, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the first hybrid coupler,
Each length of the first line, the second line, and the third line has a length of a half wavelength with respect to a center frequency of the first input signal and the second input signal. And the first terminal is connected to the first line, the second terminal is connected to the second line, and the third terminal is an intersection of the first line and the second line. It is preferable that the fourth terminal is connected to an intersection of the first line and the third line.

In this way, the third terminal and the fourth terminal can be reliably separated.

In this case, it is preferable that the first terminal is connected to the center of the first line, and the second terminal is connected to the center of the second line.

With this configuration, it is possible to reliably output the first output signal and the second output signal having no phase difference with respect to the first input signal input to the first terminal,
18 for the second input signal input to the second terminal
The third output signal and the fourth output signal having a phase difference of 0 ° can be reliably output. Further, the first terminal and the second terminal can be reliably separated.

In this case, it is preferable that the first terminal is connected to the first line so as to cross the second line or the third line.

In this way, the area outside the triangular hybrid coupler adjacent to the first line is M
Since the MIC can be mounted, an increase in the mounting area can be reliably prevented, and the layout such as connection between terminals can be simplified.

The second hybrid coupler according to the present invention provides a first hybrid signal having no phase difference with respect to a first input signal.
A hybrid coupler that outputs a third output signal and a fourth output signal having a predetermined phase difference with respect to the second input signal while outputting an output signal and a second output signal, A first linear line, a second linear line connected to the first line, a third linear line connected to the second line, and a third line connected to the third line. A fourth straight line, a fifth straight line connected to the fourth line, and a sixth straight line connected to the first line and the fifth line, A hexagonal loop arranged to form a hexagon having a concave portion and a convex portion, a first terminal provided on the hexagonal loop and receiving a first input signal, and a hexagonal loop provided on the hexagonal loop. A second terminal to which a second input signal is input, and a first terminal provided in a hexagonal loop,
A third terminal from which a composite signal of the output signal of the second output signal and the third output signal is output; and a third terminal provided in a hexagonal loop and outputting a composite signal of the second output signal and the fourth output signal. 4 terminals.

According to the second hybrid coupler,
A conventional hybrid coupler, for example, a rat race using a ring-shaped loop composed of four arc-shaped lines, because a hexagonal loop composed of six straight lines and having a concave portion and a convex portion is used. The occupied area can be reduced as compared with the above. For this reason, when the second hybrid coupler, that is, the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler is formed on the printed circuit board on which the MMIC is mounted, the MMIC is provided outside the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler.
By mounting, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the coupler characteristic due to the feedback between the input and output terminals of the MMIC and to prevent the mounting area from increasing.

Further, according to the second hybrid coupler, since the hexagonal loop is constituted only by the straight line, it can be easily formed on the printed circuit board, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the second hybrid coupler,
The length of each of the first line, the second line, the third line, the fourth line, the fifth line, and the sixth line is the center of the first input signal and the second input signal. It has a quarter wavelength length with respect to the frequency, and the concave portion has the first line and the second line.
, And the convex portions are the third line, the fourth line, and the fifth line.
And a sixth line. The first terminal is connected to the intersection of the first line and the second line, the second terminal is connected to the convex portion, and the third terminal Is connected to the intersection of the second line and the third line, and the fourth terminal is connected to the first line.
Is preferably connected to the intersection between the first line and the sixth line.

With this configuration, it is possible to reliably output the first output signal and the second output signal having no phase difference with respect to the first input signal input to the first terminal,
The third terminal and the fourth terminal can be reliably separated.

In this case, it is preferable that the second terminal is connected to the intersection of the third line and the fourth line or the intersection of the fifth line and the sixth line.

With this configuration, it is possible to reliably output the third output signal and the fourth output signal having a phase difference of 180 ° with respect to the second input signal input to the second terminal. , The first terminal and the second terminal can be reliably separated.

In this case, it is preferable that the first terminal is connected to the intersection of the first line and the second line so as to cross the convex portion.

With this arrangement, the MMIC can be mounted in a region adjacent to the concave portion of the hexagonal loop outside the bent hexagonal hybrid coupler, so that the mounting area can be reliably prevented from increasing, and the layout such as the connection between terminals can be reduced. Can be simplified.

[0038]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a hybrid coupler according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the hybrid coupler according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the hybrid coupler 100, a first linear signal having a length of a half wavelength (hereinafter referred to as λλ) with respect to the center frequency of each input signal. A line 101 and a second line 102 connected to the first line 101 and having a length of 1 / 2λ
And a third line 103 connected to the first line 101 and the second line 102 and having a length of 1 / 2λ are arranged to form a triangular loop. At this time,
First line 101, second line 102, and third line 1
03, that is, the loop length is 3 / 2λ. A first terminal 104 is connected to the center of the first line 101, and a second terminal 105 is connected to the center of the second line 102. Second
A third terminal 106 is connected to an intersection of the first line 101 and the third line 103, and a fourth terminal 107 is connected to an intersection of the first line 101 and the third line 103.

By the way, the hybrid coupler 100
Since the loop length (3 / 2λ) and the relative position of each terminal on the line in the triangular hybrid coupler (hereinafter referred to as triangular hybrid coupler 100) are the same as those of the conventional rat race (see FIG. 7), the triangular hybrid coupler 100
Has the basic characteristics as a 180 ° hybrid coupler. That is, the triangular hybrid coupler 100 has the following four coupler characteristics. (1) When extracting a signal (first input signal) input to the first terminal 104 from the third terminal 106 and the fourth terminal 107, two signals having the same amplitude and phase (first output signal) And a second output signal). (2) When extracting a signal (second input signal) input to the second terminal 105 from the third terminal 106 and the fourth terminal 107, two signals having the same amplitude and different phases by 180 ° (third signal) Output signal and a fourth output signal). (3) The first terminal 104 and the second terminal 105 are separated. (4) The third terminal 106 and the fourth terminal 107 are separated.

On the other hand, the triangular hybrid coupler 10
The occupation area of 0 (including the inside of the triangular loop) is about 60% of the occupation area of the conventional rat race.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the MMI
When the triangular hybrid coupler 100 is formed on the printed circuit board on which the C is mounted, by mounting the MMIC outside the triangular hybrid coupler 100, deterioration of the coupler characteristics due to feedback between the input and output terminals of the MMIC can be reduced. This can prevent the mounting area from increasing.

Further, according to the first embodiment, since the triangular loop of the triangular hybrid coupler 100 is constituted by only linear lines, the triangular loop can be easily formed on the printed circuit board, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced. .

That is, according to the first embodiment, when the hybrid coupler occupies a large portion of the entire mounting area on the printed circuit board, for example, a balanced frequency downconverter is combined with the hybrid coupler on the printed circuit board. In the case of mounting, a particularly great effect can be obtained.

According to the first embodiment, each of the first line 101, the second line 102, and the third line 103 has a length of 1 / 2λ, and the first terminal 104 is connected to the first terminal 104. , The second terminal 105 is connected to the center of the second line 102,
The third terminal 106 is connected to the first line 101 and the second line 10
2 and the fourth terminal 107 is connected to the first terminal.
And the intersection of the third line 103 and the third line 103. For this reason, the first and second output signals having no phase difference with respect to the first input signal input to the first terminal 104 can be reliably output, and the second terminal 105 180 for the second input signal input to
The third output signal and the fourth output signal having a phase difference of ° can be reliably output. In addition, the first terminal 104 and the second terminal 105 can be reliably separated, and the third terminal 1
06 and the fourth terminal 107 can be reliably separated.

In the first embodiment, the length of each line or the arrangement position of each terminal is not particularly limited as long as the coupler characteristic is realized.

(Modification of First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a hybrid coupler according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a hybrid coupler according to a modification of the first embodiment. In the modification of the first embodiment, the same members as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

The hybrid coupler according to the modification of the first embodiment, that is, the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A is different from the hybrid coupler according to the first embodiment, that is, the triangular hybrid coupler 100, in the following point.

That is, in the first embodiment, while the first terminal 104 is connected to the center of the first line 101 toward the outside of the triangular hybrid coupler 100, the first embodiment In a variation of the form,
A first terminal 104 is connected to the center of the first line 101 so as to cross the third line 103.

Specifically, in the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A, the coupler 108 provided so as to intersect the third line 103 and the center of the first line 101 are connected via the lead wire 108a. Connected and improved triangular hybrid coupler 1
Outside the 00A, the coupler 108 and the first terminal 104 are connected via a lead wire 108b. As the coupler 108, a metal line or a chip component such as a chip capacitor or a resistor provided spatially separated from the third line 103 can be used.

The occupied area of the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A is about 60% of the occupied area of the conventional rat race, similarly to the triangular hybrid coupler 100 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows how an improved triangular hybrid coupler and a frequency downconverter as an MMIC are connected on a printed circuit board. still,
In FIG. 3, the illustration of the printed circuit board is omitted,
The same members as those of the improved triangular hybrid coupler shown in FIG.

As described above, since the occupied area of the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A is small, as shown in FIG. 3, the frequency downconverter 150 is provided outside the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A while preventing an increase in the mounting area. Can be arranged. In particular,
The frequency downconverter 150 is connected to the first line 10 outside the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A.
1 is arranged in an area adjacent to the first area. The input terminal 151 of the frequency downconverter 150 and the third terminal 106 of the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A are connected via a lead wire 106a, and the input terminal 152 of the frequency downconverter 150 and the improved triangular hybrid are connected. Fourth terminal 1 of coupler 100A
07 are connected via a lead wire 107a. Also, the output terminal 153 of the frequency downconverter 150
Is connected to a signal input terminal (not shown) outside the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A via a lead wire 153a.

Hereinafter, characteristics of the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

Improved triangular hybrid coupler 10
When a local oscillator signal (first input signal) and a microwave signal (second input signal) are input to the first terminal 104 and the second terminal 105 of the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A, respectively, From the terminal 106 and the fourth terminal 107, a first combined signal and a second combined signal obtained by combining the local oscillator signal and the microwave signal are output. At this time, the local oscillator signal (first output signal) of the first composite signal output from the third terminal 106 and the fourth
Has the same amplitude and phase as the local oscillator signal (the second output signal) of the second combined signal output from the terminal 107 of FIG. In contrast, the microwave signal (third output signal) of the first composite signal output from the third terminal 106 and the microwave signal (third output signal) of the second composite signal output from the fourth terminal 107 It has the same amplitude as the microwave signal (fourth output signal) and a phase difference of 180 °.

Improved triangular hybrid coupler 10
The first synthesized signal output from the third terminal 106A of the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A is input to the input terminal 151 of the frequency downconverter 150 via the lead wire 106a.
7 is output from the lead 107a.
Input terminal 15 of frequency downconverter 150 via
2 is input. The frequency downconverter 150 is connected to the first synthesized signal input to the input terminal 151 and the input terminal 1.
On the basis of the second synthesized signal input to 52, an intermediate frequency signal which is a difference between the frequency of the microwave signal and the frequency of the local oscillator signal is generated, and the intermediate frequency signal is output from the output terminal 153. The intermediate frequency signal output from the output terminal 153 of the frequency downconverter 150 is supplied to a signal input terminal external to the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A via a lead 153a.

As described above, according to the modification of the first embodiment, the frequency downconverter 150 as the MMIC is mounted outside the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A.
The 50 output terminals 153 and the lead wires 153a connected to the output terminals 153 are completely separated from the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A. Therefore, the coupling between the intermediate frequency signal output from the output terminal 153 of the frequency downconverter 150 and the first or second synthesized signal input to the input terminal 151 or 152 of the frequency downconverter 150 is performed. The occurrence of a ring can be avoided. Therefore, the frequency down converter 150
No feedback occurs between the input and output terminals of the frequency downconverter 150. Therefore, even when the gain of the frequency downconverter 150 is high, the degradation of the coupler characteristics due to the above-mentioned feedback does not occur.

According to a modification of the first embodiment,
Even if the frequency downconverter 150 is mounted outside the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A, the occupied area of the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A is small, so that an increase in the mounting area can be prevented.

According to a modification of the first embodiment,
The first terminal 104 is connected to the first line 101 so as to cross the third line 103. For this reason, the frequency downconverter 150 can be mounted in a region adjacent to the first line 101 outside the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A. As a result, an increase in the mounting area can be reliably prevented, and the layout such as connection between terminals can be simplified.

In the modification of the first embodiment, the first terminal 104 is connected to the first line 101 by the third line 103.
, But instead of this, the first
Terminal 104 is connected to the first line 101 and the second line 102
Alternatively, they may be connected so as to cross the intersection of the second line 102 and the third line 103.

In a modification of the first embodiment,
Although the frequency downconverter 150 is used as the MMIC connected to the improved triangular hybrid coupler 100A on the printed circuit board, a wideband amplifier circuit or a circularly polarized antenna may be used instead.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a hybrid coupler according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the hybrid coupler according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the hybrid coupler 200, the first linear signal having a length of a quarter wavelength (hereinafter, referred to as １ ／ λ) with respect to the center frequency of each input signal. A line 201 and a second line 202 connected to the first line 201 and having a length of １ ／ λ
A third line 203 connected to the second line 202 and having a length of ４λ, a fourth line 204 connected to the third line 203 and having a length of ４λ, A fifth line 205 connected to the fourth line 204 and having a length of ４λ; and a sixth line connected to the first line 201 and the fifth line 205 and having a length of ４λ. The line 206 is arranged so as to form a hexagonal loop having a concave portion and a convex portion. At this time, the first line 2
01, the second line 202, the third line 203, the fourth line 204, the fifth line 205, and the sixth line 206 have a total length of 3 / 2λ. In addition, the concave portion of the hexagonal loop includes the first line 201 and the second line 202.
And the convex portion of the hexagonal loop is
3, a fourth line 204, a fifth line 205, and a sixth line 206. Further, a first terminal 207 is connected to an intersection of the first line 201 and the second line 202, and the fifth line 205 and the sixth line 206 among the convex portions of the hexagonal loop are connected to each other. The second terminal 208 is connected to the intersection of the second line 202 and the third terminal 209 is connected to the intersection of the second line 202 and the third line 203, and the first line 201 and the sixth line At the intersection with the line 206 of the fourth terminal 21
0 is connected.

By the way, the hybrid coupler 200
(Hereinafter, the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200
), And the relative positions of the terminals on the line are the same as those of the conventional rat race (see FIG. 7), so that the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200 is a 180 ° hybrid coupler. As the basic characteristics. That is, the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200 has the following four coupler characteristics. (1) When extracting a signal (first input signal) input to the first terminal 207 from the third terminal 209 and the fourth terminal 210, two signals having the same amplitude and phase (first output signal) And a second output signal). (2) When extracting a signal (second input signal) input to the second terminal 208 from the third terminal 209 and the fourth terminal 210, two signals having the same amplitude and different phases by 180 ° (third signal) Output signal and a fourth output signal). (3) The first terminal 207 and the second terminal 208 are separated. (4) The third terminal 209 and the fourth terminal 210 are separated.

On the other hand, the area occupied by the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200 (including the inside of the hexagonal loop)
Is about 60% of the occupied area of the conventional rat race.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the MMI
By mounting the MMIC outside the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200 when creating the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200 on the printed circuit board on which the C is mounted, the coupler caused by feedback between the input and output terminals of the MMIC Deterioration of characteristics can be prevented, and an increase in mounting area can be prevented.

Further, according to the second embodiment, since the hexagonal loop of the bent hexagonal hybrid coupler 200 is composed of only linear lines, it can be easily formed on a printed circuit board, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Can be reduced.

That is, according to the second embodiment, when the hybrid coupler occupies a large portion of the entire mounting area on the printed circuit board, for example, a balanced frequency downconverter is combined with the hybrid coupler on the printed circuit board. In the case of mounting, a particularly great effect can be obtained.

According to the second embodiment, the first line 201, the second line 202, the third line 203, the fourth line
Line 204, fifth line 205 and sixth line 206
Has a length of 1 / 4λ, the concave portion of the hexagonal loop is composed of the first line 201 and the second line 202, and the convex portion of the hexagonal loop is the third line 203 and the fourth line 204. , A fifth line 205 and a sixth line 206, and a first terminal 207 is connected to an intersection of the first line 201 and the second line 202, and a second terminal 208
Are the fifth line 205 and the sixth line 205 of the convex portions of the hexagonal loop.
Of the third terminal 2
09 is connected to the intersection of the second line 202 and the third line 203, and the fourth terminal 210 is connected to the first line 201.
And the sixth line 206. Therefore, the first and second output signals having no phase difference with respect to the first input signal input to the first terminal 207 can be reliably output, and the second terminal 208 The third output signal and the fourth output signal having a phase difference of 180 ° with respect to the second input signal input to the second input signal can be reliably output. In addition, the first terminal 207 and the second terminal 208 can be reliably separated, and the third terminal 209 and the fourth terminal 210 can be reliably separated.

In the second embodiment, the length of each line or the position of each terminal is not particularly limited as long as the coupler characteristics are realized. For example, the second
In the embodiment, the second terminal 208 is connected to the intersection of the fifth line 205 and the sixth line 206 in the convex portion of the hexagonal loop, but instead of this, the second terminal 208 208 is a third line 203 of the convex portion of the hexagonal loop.
And the fourth line 204 may be connected.

(Modification of Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a hybrid coupler according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a hybrid coupler according to a modification of the second embodiment. In the modification of the second embodiment, the same members as those of the second embodiment shown in FIG.

The hybrid coupler according to the modification of the second embodiment, that is, the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A is different from the hybrid coupler according to the second embodiment, that is, the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200, in the following point. It is on the street.

That is, in the second embodiment, the first terminal 207 is bent at the intersection of the first line 201 and the second line 202 so that the hexagonal hybrid coupler 20
However, in the modification of the second embodiment, the first terminal 207 is connected to the intersection of the first line 201 and the second line 202 with a hexagonal shape. It is connected so as to cross the convex part of the loop.

Specifically, in the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A, the fifth line 20
5 and an intersection of the first line 201 and the second line 202 are connected via a lead wire 211a, and the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A On the outside, the coupler 211 and the first terminal 207 are connected to the lead wire 211.
b. As the coupler 211, a metal line provided spatially separated from the fifth line 205, a chip component such as a chip capacitor or a resistor, or the like can be used.

The occupied area of the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A is about 60% of the occupied area of the conventional rat race, similarly to the folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200 of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows how an improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler and a frequency downconverter as an MMIC are connected on a printed circuit board. In FIG. 6, the printed circuit board is not shown, and the same members as those of the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler shown in FIG.

As described above, since the occupied area of the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A is small, as shown in FIG. 6, the frequency is reduced outside the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A while preventing an increase in the mounting area. A down converter 250 can be provided. Specifically, the frequency downconverter 250 is disposed in a region adjacent to the recess of the hexagonal loop (consisting of the first line 201 and the second line 202) outside the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A. . The input terminal 251 of the frequency downconverter 250 and the third terminal 209 of the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A are connected to the lead wire 209a.
, And the input terminal 252 of the frequency downconverter 250 and the fourth terminal 210 of the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A are connected via a lead wire 210a. The output terminal 253 of the frequency downconverter 250 is connected to a signal input terminal (not shown) outside the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A via a lead wire 253a.

Hereinafter, the characteristics of the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The first terminal 207 and the second terminal 208 of the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A
When the local oscillator signal (first input signal) and the microwave signal (second input signal) are input to the first and second terminals, respectively, from the third terminal 209 and the fourth terminal 210 of the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A, A first combined signal and a second combined signal obtained by combining the local oscillator signal and the microwave signal are output. At this time, the local oscillator signal (first output signal) of the first composite signal output from the third terminal 209 and the second oscillator signal output from the fourth terminal 210 are output due to the above-described coupler characteristics. The amplitude and the phase are equal to the local oscillator signal (second output signal) of the composite signal. On the other hand, the microwave signal (third output signal) of the first composite signal output from the third terminal 209 and the microwave signal (third output signal) of the second composite signal output from the fourth terminal 210 Microwave signal (4th
And the phase is different by 180 °.

The first composite signal output from the third terminal 209 of the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A is input to the input terminal 251 of the frequency down-converter 250 via the lead 209a.
Improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A
The second combined signal output from the fourth terminal 210 of
Frequency down converter 25 via lead wire 210a
0 is input to the input terminal 252. The frequency downconverter 250 calculates the difference between the frequency of the microwave signal and the frequency of the local oscillator signal based on the first synthesized signal input to the input terminal 251 and the second synthesized signal input to the input terminal 252. An intermediate frequency signal is generated, and the intermediate frequency signal is output from the output terminal 253. The intermediate frequency signal output from the output terminal 253 of the frequency downconverter 250 is supplied to a signal input terminal outside the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A via the lead wire 253a.

As described above, according to the modification of the second embodiment, the frequency downconverter 250 as the MMIC is mounted outside the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A. The lead wire 253a connected to the terminal 253 and the output terminal 253 is completely separated from the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A. Therefore, the output terminal 25 of the frequency downconverter 250
3 can be avoided from being generated between the intermediate frequency signal output from the third and the first synthesized signal or the second synthesized signal input to the input terminal 251 or 252 of the frequency downconverter 250. Therefore, since no feedback occurs between the input and output terminals of the frequency downconverter 250, even when the gain of the frequency downconverter 250 is high, the degradation of the coupler characteristics due to the feedback does not occur.

According to a modification of the second embodiment,
Improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A
Even if the frequency downconverter 250 is mounted outside the
Improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A
Occupying a small area, it is possible to prevent an increase in mounting area.

According to a modification of the second embodiment,
The first terminal 207 is connected to the first line 201 and the second line 20.
2 is connected to the intersection of 2 so as to cross the convex portion of the hexagonal loop. Therefore, the frequency downconverter 250 can be mounted in a region adjacent to the concave portion of the hexagonal loop outside the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A. As a result, an increase in the mounting area can be reliably prevented, and the layout such as connection between terminals can be simplified.

In the modification of the second embodiment, the first terminal 207 is connected to the first line 201 and the second line 202.
Is connected across the fifth line of the convex portions of the hexagonal loop, but instead of this, the first terminal 207 is connected to the first line 201 and the second line 202. At the intersection with the third line 20 of the convex portion of the hexagonal loop.
Third, the fourth line 204 or the sixth line 206 may be connected so as to cross the intersection of the lines.

In a modification of the second embodiment,
Although the frequency downconverter 250 is used as the MMIC connected to the improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A on the printed circuit board, a wideband amplifier circuit or a circularly polarized antenna may be used instead.

[0090]

According to the present invention, the area occupied by the hybrid coupler can be reduced. Therefore, when the hybrid coupler is formed on a printed circuit board on which the MMIC is mounted, by mounting the MMIC outside the hybrid coupler, It is possible to prevent the degradation of the coupler characteristic due to the feedback between the input and output terminals of the MMIC and to prevent the mounting area from being enlarged.

Further, according to the present invention, the hybrid coupler can be easily formed on the printed circuit board, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hybrid coupler according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a hybrid coupler according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where a hybrid coupler and a frequency downconverter as an MMIC are connected on a printed circuit board according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a hybrid coupler according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a hybrid coupler according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a hybrid coupler and a frequency downconverter as an MMIC are connected on a printed circuit board according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a conventional hybrid coupler.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a conventional hybrid coupler and a frequency downconverter as an MMIC are connected on a printed circuit board.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Triangular hybrid coupler 100A Improved triangular hybrid coupler 101 First line 102 Second line 103 Third line 104 First terminal 105 Second terminal 106 Third terminal 106a Lead wire 107 Fourth terminal 107a Lead Line 108 Coupler 108a Lead wire 108b Lead wire 150 Frequency down converter 151 Input terminal 152 Input terminal 153 Output terminal 153a Lead wire 200 Folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 200A Improved folded hexagonal hybrid coupler 201 First line 202 Second line 203 Third line 204 Fourth line 205 Fifth line 206 Sixth line 207 First terminal 208 Second terminal 209 Third terminal 209a Lead wire 210 Fourth terminal 2 10a Lead wire 211 Coupler 211a Lead wire 211b Lead wire 250 Frequency downconverter 251 Input terminal 252 Input terminal 253 Output terminal 253a Lead wire

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Haruhiko Koizumi 1-1, Sachimachi, Takatsuki-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electronics Corporation (72) Inventor Taketo Kunihisa 1-1, Sachimachi, Takatsuki-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electronics Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Osamu Ishikawa 1-1, Sakaicho, Takatsuki-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electronics Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5J014 CA42 CA53

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A first output signal having no phase difference and a second output signal having no phase difference with respect to a first input signal, and having a predetermined phase difference with respect to a second input signal. Third
A hybrid coupler for outputting an output signal and a fourth output signal, wherein: a first linear line; a second linear line connected to the first line; A triangular loop in which a line and a linear third line connected to the second line are arranged to form a triangle; and a triangular loop provided in the triangular loop, wherein the first input signal is A first terminal to be input; a second terminal provided to the triangular loop, to which the second input signal is input; and a first terminal provided to the triangular loop, the first output signal and the second A third terminal from which a combined signal of the third output signal and the fourth output signal is provided; and a fourth terminal provided in the triangular loop and outputting a combined signal of the second output signal and the fourth output signal. A hybrid coupler comprising a terminal and a terminal. 2. The length of each of the first line, the second line, and the third line is a half of a center frequency between the first input signal and the second input signal. The first terminal has a length of one wavelength, the first terminal is connected to the first line, the second terminal is connected to the second line, and the third terminal Is connected to an intersection between the first line and the second line, and the fourth terminal is connected to an intersection between the first line and the third line. The hybrid coupler according to claim 1. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first terminal is connected to a center of the first line, and the second terminal is connected to a center of the second line. Item 3. A hybrid coupler according to item 2. 4. The hybrid coupler according to claim 2, wherein the first terminal is connected to the first line so as to cross the second line or the third line. 5. A first output signal and a second output signal having no phase difference with respect to the first input signal, and having a predetermined phase difference with respect to the second input signal. Third
A hybrid coupler that outputs an output signal and a fourth output signal of the first line, a first line that is linear, a second line that is linearly connected to the first line, and the second line. A third linear line connected to the line, a fourth linear line connected to the third line, a fifth linear line connected to the fourth line, A hexagonal loop in which a linear sixth line connected to the first line and the fifth line is arranged to form a hexagon having a concave portion and a convex portion; A first terminal provided in the shape loop and receiving the first input signal; a second terminal provided in the hexagonal loop and receiving the second input signal; and the hexagonal loop. And a third signal from which a combined signal of the first output signal and the third output signal is output. A hybrid coupler comprising: a terminal; and a fourth terminal provided in the hexagonal loop and outputting a composite signal of the second output signal and the fourth output signal. 6. The length of each of the first line, the second line, the third line, the fourth line, the fifth line, and the sixth line is equal to the length of the first input signal and the length of the first line. It has a length of a quarter wavelength with respect to the center frequency with the second input signal, the concave portion is composed of the first line and the second line, and the convex portion is the third line. A line, a fourth line, a fifth line, and a sixth line, wherein the first terminal is connected to an intersection of the first line and the second line, and the second terminal Is connected to the convex portion, the third terminal is connected to an intersection of the second line and the third line, and the fourth terminal is connected to the first line and the third line. The hybrid coupler according to claim 5, wherein the hybrid coupler is connected to an intersection with a line 6. 7. The second terminal is connected to an intersection of the third line and the fourth line or an intersection of the fifth line and the sixth line. Claim 6
The hybrid coupler according to 1. 8. The hybrid coupler according to claim 6, wherein the first terminal is connected to an intersection of the first line and the second line so as to cross the protrusion. .