JP2011030215A - Directional coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waveguide-type directional coupler with sufficient directivity. <P>SOLUTION: In the directional coupler, a space L between two coupling through-holes 41, 42 is set to satisfy L=(θ/π+n)λg/2. The two coupling through-holes are formed at a tube wall 30 for separating first and second waveguide-type high frequency ray paths 10, 20 which are disposed adjacent to each other. θ is set to such a value as to cancel five vectors C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5 from one another that are represented by C1=A<SB>31</SB>exp(jθ<SB>31</SB>), C2=A<SB>21</SB>A<SB>31</SB>A<SB>34</SB>expäj(θ<SB>21</SB>+θ<SB>31</SB>+θ<SB>34</SB>-2θ)}, C3=A<SB>21</SB>A<SB>11</SB>A<SB>32</SB>expäj(θ<SB>21</SB>+θ<SB>11</SB>+θ<SB>32</SB>-2θ)}, C4=A<SB>41</SB>A<SB>33</SB>A<SB>34</SB>expäj(θ<SB>41</SB>+θ<SB>33</SB>+θ<SB>34</SB>-2θ)}, C5=A<SB>41</SB>A<SB>13</SB>A<SB>32</SB>expäj(θ<SB>41</SB>+θ<SB>13</SB>+θ<SB>32</SB>-2θ)}. The directional coupler with sufficient directivity can be obtain. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a directional coupler, and more particularly to a waveguide type directional coupler using a rectangular waveguide type high frequency line as a high frequency line.

  As a directional coupler used in a high frequency band such as a millimeter wave, two coupling through holes along the length direction of the waveguide are formed in a tube wall shared by two waveguides arranged adjacent to each other in parallel. A directional coupler having a structure in which is formed is known. In such a directional coupler, by setting the interval between two coupling through holes to an odd multiple of 1/4 of the guide wavelength, two directional couplers traveling in different directions through different coupling through holes can be used. Since signals can be canceled out, it functions as a directional coupler.

  However, in such a conventional directional coupler, there is a problem that sufficient directivity cannot be obtained because two signals do not sufficiently cancel each other at a desired frequency in a specific direction. For this reason, it is considered that the phase is shifted in the coupling through-hole portion, and the direction is determined by shifting the interval between the two coupling through-holes from an odd multiple of 1/4 of the guide wavelength in consideration of this phase shift. A directional coupler that has attempted to improve the performance has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-35187 A

  However, according to the directional coupler proposed in Patent Document 1, the directionality is improved as compared with the conventional directional coupler, but the effect is not sufficient.

  The present invention has been devised in view of such problems in the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a waveguide type directional coupler having sufficient directionality.

The first directional coupler according to the present invention includes first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines having the same guide wavelength and arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other, and the first and second waveguides. The first and second having the same shape are formed so as to penetrate through the tube wall separating the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines with a predetermined interval L in the length direction of the type high frequency line. Two coupling through holes, both ends of the first waveguide type high-frequency line serve as first and second ports, respectively, and both ends of the second waveguide type high-frequency line serve as third and third ports, respectively. A directional coupler having four ports, wherein the first and third ports are arranged on the same side, and the second and fourth ports are arranged on the same side, wherein the first and second coupling penetrations In each of the hole portions, a portion of the coupling through hole incident from the first port side In the reflection coefficient of the reflection to return to the incident direction signal A _{11 exp} (jθ _11), the transmission coefficient of the signal passing through to the first port side from the third port side through the coupling through holes A ₁₃ exp (Jθ ₁₃ ), A ₂₁ exp (jθ ₂₁ ), a transmission coefficient of a signal passing from the first port side to the second port side, and the third port side from the first port side through a coupling through hole A ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ ), the transmission coefficient of the signal passing through to the third port side from the second port side through the coupling through hole, A ₃₂ exp (jθ ₃₂ ), The reflection coefficient of the signal incident from the third port side, reflected from the portion of the coupling through-hole and returning to the incident direction passes through A ₃₃ exp (jθ ₃₃ ), from the fourth port side to the third port side. The transmission coefficient of the signal ₃₄ exp _{(jθ 34),} the transmission coefficient of the signal passing through to the fourth port side from the first port side through the coupling through-hole and _{A 41} exp (jθ 41), said first and second electrically When the guide wavelength in the wave tube type high frequency line is λg, the predetermined interval L satisfies L = (θ / π + n) λg / 2 (0 <θ <π, where n is 0 or a natural number), and θ is C1 = A ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ ), C2 = A ₂₁ A ₃₁ A ₃₄ exp {j (θ ₂₁ + θ ₃₁ + θ ₃₄ −2θ)}, C3 = A ₂₁ A ₁₁ A ₃₂ exp {j (θ ₂₁ + θ ₁₁ + θ _{32 -2θ)}, C4 = A} 41 A 33 A 34 exp {j (θ 41 + θ 33 + θ 34 -2θ)}, C5 = A 41 A 13 A 32 exp {j (θ 41 + θ 13 + θ 32 -2θ) } 5 vectors Is characterized in that C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5 are set to such a value that cancel out each other.

  The second directional coupler of the present invention is characterized in that the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines have the same cross-sectional shape.

  In the present specification, the distance L between the two coupling through holes is the center of the region where the respective coupling through holes are formed in the length direction of the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines. Means the interval.

  According to the directional coupler of the present invention, a high-frequency signal input from the first port and output from the third port sufficiently cancels out at a desired frequency, so that a directional coupler having excellent directionality is obtained. Can do.

It is a perspective view showing typically the directional coupler of the 1st example of an embodiment of the invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the 1st signal propagation route in the directional coupler shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the 2nd signal propagation route in the directional coupler shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the 3rd signal propagation route in the directional coupler shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the 4th signal propagation route in the directional coupler shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the 5th signal propagation route in the directional coupler shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating an example of the calculation method of a transmission coefficient and a reflection coefficient. It is a perspective view which shows typically the directional coupler of the 2nd example of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows typically the directional coupler of the 3rd example of embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the simulation result of the electrical property of the directional coupler of the 1st example of embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the simulation result of the electrical property of the directional coupler of the 2nd example of embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the simulation result of the electrical property of the directional coupler of a comparative example.

Hereinafter, a directional coupler according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First example of embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a directional coupler according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the directional coupler of the present example includes first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10, 20, a first waveguide type high frequency line 10, and a second waveguide. A tube-type high-frequency line 20, a tube wall 30 shared by the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10, 20, a first coupling through-hole 41, and a second coupling through-hole 42 The first port 51, the second port 52, the third port 53, and the fourth port 54 are provided.

The first waveguide type high-frequency line 10 and the second waveguide type high-frequency line 20 are rectangular waveguides that are arranged adjacent to each other in parallel and have the same in-tube wavelength. The first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 have the same cross-sectional shape (xy plane in the figure), and both are rectangular. The insides of the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10 and 20 are filled with air. Thus, the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 have the same cross-sectional width (the dimension in the x-axis direction in the figure) and the dielectric constants in the waveguide are also equal to each other. The in-tube wavelengths (in-tube wavelengths of high-frequency signals having a specific frequency) are equal to each other. The first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 are stacked in the height direction (y-axis direction in the figure) so as to share one of the four tube walls. Arranged and integrated. The one end of the first waveguide type high frequency line is the first port 51, the other end is the second port 52, the one end of the second waveguide type high frequency line is the third port 53, and the other end is the first port. The first port 51 and the third port 53 are arranged on the same side, and the second port 52 and the fourth port 54 are arranged on the same side. In addition, the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 have dimensions in the width direction (x-axis direction in the figure) larger than those in the height direction (y-axis direction in the figure). The tube wall 30 shared by the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10 and 20 has an H plane (a plane parallel to the magnetic field) in the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10 and 20. ). The first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 have a TE ₁₀ mode in which one standing wave exists in the width direction (x-axis direction in the figure) and the length direction (z-axis in the figure). A rectangular waveguide propagating in the direction).

  The first coupling through-hole 41 and the second coupling through-hole 42 are formed on one tube wall 30 shared by the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 on the first and second coupling holes. The two waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 are formed at a predetermined interval L in the length direction (the propagation direction of a high-frequency signal and the z-axis direction in the figure). That is, the first and second coupling through holes 41 and 42 are formed so as to penetrate the tube wall 30 separating the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines. The first and second coupling through holes 41 and 42 have the same shape, and are perpendicular to the length direction of the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10 and 20, respectively. This is a rectangular slot that is long in the direction (the width direction of the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20).

According to the directional coupler of this example, the light enters from the first port 51 side at each of the first and second coupling through holes 41 and 42 and is reflected by the coupling through hole. The reflection coefficient of the signal returning to the incident direction is K ₁₁ = A ₁₁ exp (jθ ₁₁ ), and the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the third port 53 side to the first port 51 side through the coupling through hole is K ₁₃ = A ₁₃ exp (jθ ₁₃ ), the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the first port 51 side to the second port 52 side is K ₂₁ = A ₂₁ exp (jθ ₂₁ ), the first port 51 side through the coupling through hole The transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the second port 52 side to the third port 53 side is K ₃₁ = A ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ ), and the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the second port 52 side to the third port 53 side through the coupling through hole K ₃₂ = A ₃₂ exp (jθ ₃₂ ), 3rd port 53 side The reflection coefficient of the signal that is incident on the reflection beam and reflected at the coupling through hole and returning to the incident direction is K ₃₃ = A ₃₃ exp (jθ ₃₃ ), and the signal passing from the fourth port 54 side to the third port 53 side The transmission coefficient is K ₃₄ = A ₃₄ exp (jθ ₃₄ ), and the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the first port 51 side to the fourth port 54 side through the coupling through hole is K ₄₁ = A ₄₁ exp (jθ ₄₁ ). When the guide wavelength in the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10 and 20 is λg, the first coupling through hole 41 and the second coupling through hole in the propagation direction of the high frequency signal L (the distance between the center of the region where the first coupling through hole 41 is formed and the center of the region where the second coupling through hole 42 is formed) L in the propagation direction of the high frequency signal,
L = (θ / π + n) λg / 2 (0 <θ <π, where n is 0 or a natural number)
And θ is
C1 = A ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ )
_{C2 = A 21 A 31 A 34} exp {j (θ 21 + θ 31 + θ 34 -2θ)}
_{C3 = A 21 A 11 A 32} exp {j (θ 21 + θ 11 + θ 32 -2θ)}
_{C4 = A 41 A 33 A 34} exp {j (θ 41 + θ 33 + θ 34 -2θ)}
_{C5 = A 41 A 13 A 32} exp {j (θ 41 + θ 13 + θ 32 -2θ)}
Are set to such values that the vectors C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 cancel each other, so that they are input from the first port 51 and travel to the third port 53 via a plurality of propagation routes. Since the high-frequency signals cancel each other and the high-frequency signal output from the third port 53 becomes sufficiently small, a directional coupler with excellent directivity can be obtained. The reason why this effect is obtained will be described below.

  In the waveguide type directional coupler such as the directional coupler of the present example, the inventors of the present application set the interval between the two coupling through-holes to an odd multiple of 1/4 of the guide wavelength as in the prior art. Various studies were conducted on the phenomenon that sufficient directionality could not be obtained when set to. As a result, there are a plurality of high-frequency signal propagation routes from the first port 51 to the third port 53 other than the two routes conventionally considered, and the influence of the high-frequency signals passing through these routes is not taken into consideration. We have reached the conclusion that this is the cause and succeeded in obtaining a directional coupler with excellent directivity in consideration of this.

  2 to 6 show main signal propagation routes to be considered among a plurality of high-frequency signal propagation routes from the first port 51 to the third port 53 in the directional coupler of this example shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view shown typically. FIGS. 2 and 3 are signal propagation routes considered in the conventional directional coupler. However, reflection due to discontinuity of impedance occurs at the portion where the coupling through hole is formed. It was found that a signal propagation route as shown in FIG. At this time, the reflection of the high-frequency signal occurs at both ends of the coupling through hole in the signal propagation direction, but when two reflected waves at both ends are combined, it can be considered that the signal is reflected at the center of the coupling through hole. It is illustrated as in FIG. 4 and FIG. It was also found that a signal propagation route as shown in FIG. 6 exists by passing through the coupling through hole a plurality of times. Although there are signal propagation routes other than the signal propagation routes shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, since the intensity of the high-frequency signal passing through these routes is small, it can be ignored in practice.

  Then, the first coupling through hole 41 and the second coupling so that the five high-frequency signals passing through the five signal propagation routes shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and going to the third port 53 cancel each other. By setting the distance L from the through hole 42, the high-frequency signal output from the third port 53 becomes sufficiently small, and a directional coupler having excellent directivity can be obtained. Since the high-frequency signals are signals having different sizes from each other, they cannot be canceled out only by considering the phase difference between them as in a conventional directional coupler. Therefore, the magnitude and phase of each of the five high-frequency signals are calculated, and the interval L between the first coupling through hole 41 and the second coupling through hole 42 is set so that the vector sum of them approaches zero. Thus, the five high-frequency signals can be canceled with each other, and a directional coupler having excellent directivity can be obtained.

First, the magnitude and phase of the high-frequency signal passing through each signal propagation route shown in FIGS. The first signal propagation route shown in FIG. 2 passes through the first coupling through-hole 41 from the first port 51 side to the third port 53 side after entering from the first port 51. It is a route to reach. The magnitude and phase of the high-frequency signal passing through this signal propagation route is determined by the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the first port 51 side to the third port 53 side via the first coupling through hole 41 as K ₃₁ = A Assuming ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ ), it can be expressed as B1 = A ₃₁ exp {j (θ ₃₁ −2π · 2L1 / λg)}. Here, λg is an in-tube wavelength in the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20. A ₃₁ indicates a change in the magnitude of the high-frequency signal by passing from the first port 51 side to the third port 53 side through the first coupling through hole 41, and θ ₃₁ is the first coupling. The phase change of the high frequency signal by passing from the 1st port 51 side to the 3rd port 53 side through the through-hole 41 is shown. -2π · 2L1 / λg indicates a phase change caused by a high-frequency signal propagating through the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 by a distance L1. The change in the magnitude of the high-frequency signal due to propagation through the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 is negligible because it is sufficiently small.

Similarly, the second signal propagation route shown in FIG. 3 passes through the portion of the first coupling through hole 41 from the first port 51 side to the second port 52 side after entering from the first port 51. After passing through the second coupling through hole 42 from the first port 51 side to the third port 53 side, the first coupling through hole 41 is passed from the fourth port 54 side to the third port 53 side. Then, the route reaches the third port 53. The magnitude and phase of the high-frequency signal passing through this signal propagation route is determined by the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the first port 51 side to the second port 52 side at the portion of the first coupling through hole 41 as K ₂₁ = A ₂₁ exp (jθ ₂₁ ), the transmission coefficient of the signal passing through the second coupling through hole 42 from the first port 51 side to the third port 53 side, K ₃₁ = A ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ ), Assuming that the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the fourth port 54 side to the third port 53 side at the part of the coupling through hole 41 is K ₃₄ = A ₃₄ exp (jθ ₃₄ ), B2 = A ₂₁ A ₃₁ A ₃₄ exp {J (θ ₂₁ + θ ₃₁ + θ ₃₄ -2θ-2π · 2L1 / λg)}. Here, −2θ indicates a phase change caused by a high-frequency signal propagating through the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 by a distance L, respectively.

Similarly, the third signal propagation route shown in FIG. 4 passes through the portion of the first coupling through hole 41 from the first port 51 side to the second port 52 side after entering from the first port 51. The second coupling through hole 42 reflects to the first port 51 side, passes through the first coupling through hole 41 from the second port 52 side to the third port 53 side, and passes through the third port 53. This is the route. The magnitude and phase of the high-frequency signal passing through this signal propagation route is determined by the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the first port 51 side to the second port 52 side at the portion of the first coupling through hole 41 as K ₂₁ = A ₂₁ exp (jθ ₂₁ ), the reflection coefficient of the signal incident from the first port 51 side, reflected at the second coupling through hole 42 and returning to the incident direction, is expressed as K ₁₁ = A ₁₁ exp (jθ ₁₁ ), Assuming that the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the second port 52 side to the third port 53 side through the first coupling through hole 41 is K ₃₂ = A ₃₂ exp (jθ ₃₂ ), B3 = A ₂₁ A ₁₁ A ₃₂ exp {j (θ ₂₁ + θ ₁₁ + θ ₃₂ −2θ−2π · 2L1 / λg)}.

Similarly, the fourth signal propagation route shown in FIG. 5 passes through the first coupling through hole 41 from the first port 51 side to the fourth port 54 side after entering from the first port 51, 2 is reflected to the third port 53 side at the portion of the coupling through hole 42, passes through the portion of the first coupling through hole 41 from the fourth port 54 side to the third port 53 side and passes to the third port 53. This is the route. The magnitude and phase of the high-frequency signal passing through this signal propagation route is determined by the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the first port 51 side to the fourth port 54 side via the first coupling through hole 41 as K ₄₁ = A ₄₁ exp (jθ ₄₁ ), the reflection coefficient of a signal incident from the third port 53 side, reflected from the second coupling through hole 42 and returned to the incident direction, is K ₃₃ = A ₃₃ exp (jθ ₃₃ ), Assuming that the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the fourth port 54 side to the third port 53 side at the site of the first coupling through hole 41 is K ₃₄ = A ₃₄ exp (jθ ₃₄ ), B4 = A ₄₁ A ₃₃ A ₃₄ exp {j (θ ₄₁ + θ ₃₃ + θ ₃₄ -2θ−
2π · 2L1 / λg)}.

Similarly, the fifth signal propagation route shown in FIG. 6 passes through the first coupling through hole 41 from the first port 51 side to the fourth port 54 side after entering from the first port 51, The second coupling through hole 42 passes from the third port 53 side to the first port 51 side, and the first coupling through hole 41 passes from the second port 52 side to the third port 53 side to pass through the third port. The route to 53. The magnitude and phase of the high-frequency signal passing through this signal propagation route is determined by the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the first port 51 side to the fourth port 54 side via the first coupling through hole 41 as K ₄₁ = A ₄₁ exp (jθ ₄₁ ), the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the third port 53 side to the first port 51 side through the second coupling through hole 42 is K ₁₃ = A ₁₃ exp (jθ ₁₃ ), first Assuming that the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the second port 52 side to the third port 53 side through the coupling through hole 41 is K ₃₂ = A ₃₂ exp (jθ ₃₂ ), B5 = A ₄₁ A ₁₃ A ₃₂ exp {J (θ ₄₁ + θ ₁₃ + θ ₃₂ -2θ-2π · 2L1 / λg)}.

Therefore, by bringing the vector sum of B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5 close to 0, the high-frequency signals that have passed through the five propagation routes can be canceled with each other. Here, all of the phase components B1 to B5 indicate a phase change caused by a high-frequency signal propagating through the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 by a distance L1, respectively. 2L1 / λg is included, and this phase change can be ignored when calculating θ. Therefore, the value of θ obtained by removing −2π · 2L1 / λg from each of B1 to B5 and having the minimum value (substantially the minimum value) of the following vector sum of C1 to C5 may be obtained. It will be.
C1 = A ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ )
_{C2 = A 21 A 31 A 34} exp {j (θ 21 + θ 31 + θ 34 -2θ)}
_{C3 = A 21 A 11 A 32} exp {j (θ 21 + θ 11 + θ 32 -2θ)}
_{C4 = A 41 A 33 A 34} exp {j (θ 41 + θ 33 + θ 34 -2θ)}
_{C5 = A 41 A 13 A 32} exp {j (θ 41 + θ 13 + θ 32 -2θ)}

  Next, an example of a method for calculating each transmission coefficient and reflection coefficient in the first coupling through hole 41 and the second coupling through hole 42 necessary for calculating the above C1 to C5 will be described. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a structure in which the second coupling through hole 42 is eliminated and only the first coupling through hole 41 is present in the directional coupler shown in FIG. is there. By obtaining S parameters in the first to fourth ports 51 to 54 in such a structure by simulation or experiment, the above transmission coefficients and reflection coefficients can be calculated. In FIG. 7, the same components as those of the directional couplers shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

In the structure shown in FIG. 7, S ₁₁ which is the reflection coefficient at the first port 51 is the reflection coefficient of the signal incident from the first port 51 side, reflected at the portion of the first coupling through-hole 41 and returning to the incident direction. Is represented as K ₁₁ = A ₁₁ exp (jθ ₁₁ ), S ₁₁ = A ₁₁ exp {j (θ ₁₁ −2π · 2L2 / λg)}. Here, L2 is the distance from the first port 51 to the center of the portion of the first coupling through hole 41, λg is the in-tube wavelength, and −2π · 2L2 / λg is the high frequency signal of the first guide. A phase change due to propagation through the wave tube type high frequency line 10 by a distance of 2L2 is shown. Since the in-tube wavelength λg can be calculated from the dimensions of the waveguide and the dielectric constant in the tube, −2π · 2L2 / λg can be obtained by calculation. _Therefore, by obtaining by simulation or measurement of _{S 11,} it is possible to calculate the _{K 11} from _{S 11.} Since the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 have the same structure, they are incident from the third port 53 side and reflected from the first coupling through hole 41 to enter the incident direction. Assuming that the reflection coefficient of the signal returning to K ₃₃ = A ₃₃ exp (jθ ₃₃ ), K ₃₃ coincides with K ₁₁ .

Similarly, in the structure shown in FIG. 7, S ₂₁ , which is a transmission coefficient from the first port 51 to the second port 52, is from the first port 51 side to the second port 52 side at the portion of the first coupling through hole 41. If the transmission coefficient of the signal passing through is K ₂₁ = A ₂₁ exp (jθ ₂₁ ), it can be expressed as S ₂₁ = A ₂₁ exp {j (θ ₂₁ −2π · (L2 + L3) / λg)}. Here, L2 + L3 is a propagation distance from the first port 51 to the second port 52, and −2π · (L2 + L3) / λg is a high frequency signal in the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10 and 20. Represents a phase change due to propagation of a distance (L2 + L3). Since the -2π · (L2 + L3) / λg can be determined by _calculation, by determining by simulation or measurement of _{S 21,} it is possible to calculate the _{K 21} from _{S 21.} Since the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 have the same structure, they pass from the third port 53 side to the fourth port 54 side at the first coupling through hole 41. If the transmission coefficient of the signal is K ₃₄ = A ₃₄ exp (jθ ₃₄ ), K ₃₄ matches K ₂₁ .

Similarly, in the structure shown in FIG. 7, S ₃₁ , which is a transmission coefficient from the first port 51 to the third port 53, is transmitted from the first port 51 side to the third port 53 side via the first coupling through hole 41. Assuming that the transmission coefficient of the signal passing through is K ₃₁ = A ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ ), it can be expressed as S ₃₁ = A ₃₁ exp {j (θ ₃₁ −2π · 2L2 / λg)}. Here, 2L2 is a propagation distance from the first port 51 to the third port 53, and -2π · 2L2 / λg is a distance that the high-frequency signal travels in the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20. The phase change by propagating by 2L2 is shown. Since −2π · 2L2 / λg can be obtained by calculation, K ₃₁ can be calculated from S ₃₁ by obtaining S ₃₁ by simulation or measurement.

Similarly, in the structure shown in FIG. 7, S ₄₁ , which is a transmission coefficient from the first port 51 to the fourth port 54, is transmitted from the first port 51 side to the fourth port 54 side via the first coupling through hole 41. Assuming that the transmission coefficient of the signal passing through is K ₄₁ = A ₄₁ exp (jθ ₄₁ ), it can be expressed as S ₄₁ = A ₄₁ exp {j (θ ₄₁ -2π · (L2 + L3) / λg)}. Here, L2 + L3 is a propagation distance from the first port 51 to the fourth port 54, and −2π · (L2 + L3) / λg is a high-frequency signal within the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines 10 and 20. Represents a phase change due to propagation of a distance (L2 + L3). Since the -2π · (L2 + L3) / λg can be determined by _calculation, by determining by simulation or measurement of _{S 41,} it is possible to calculate the _{K 41} from _{S 41.} Since the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10 and 20 have the same structure, they pass from the second port 52 side to the third port 53 side through the first coupling through hole 41. Assuming that the signal transmission coefficient is K ₃₂ = A ₃₂ exp (jθ ₃₂ ), K ₃₂ matches K ₄₁ .

  In this way, the S in the first to fourth ports 51 to 54 having the same cross-sectional shape as the directional coupler to be created and the structure having only one coupling through hole having the same shape as shown in FIG. By obtaining the parameters by simulation or measurement, all reflection coefficients and transmission coefficients necessary for calculating C1 to C5 can be obtained.

  If the distance L between the first coupling through-hole 41 and the second coupling through-hole 42 is too small, the first and second coupling through-holes 41 and 42 are coupled to each other, which is not preferable. Therefore, it is desirable to set it larger than 1/4 of the guide wavelength.

Further, according to the directional coupler of this example, since the cross-sectional shapes of the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10 and 20 are equal, K ₃₃ is equal to K ₁₁ as described above. In addition, since K ₃₄ matches K ₂₁ and K ₃₂ matches K ₄₁ , a directional coupler that is easy to design can be obtained.

(Second example of embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing a directional coupler according to a second example of the embodiment of the present invention. Note that in this example, only differences from the first example described above will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

  In the directional coupler of this example, as shown in FIG. 8, the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 have the same dimensions in the width direction (x-axis direction in the figure), but are The dimensions in the vertical direction (y-axis direction in the figure) are different from each other. More specifically, the dimension in the height direction (y-axis direction in the figure) of the first waveguide type high-frequency line 10 is the same as the height direction (y-axis direction in the figure) of the second waveguide type high-frequency line 20. ) Is smaller than the dimension.

  Also in the directional coupler of this example having such a configuration, the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 have the same dimension in the width direction (the x-axis direction in the figure). The in-tube wavelengths of the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 are equal to each other. Therefore, the directional coupler of this example can also function as a directional coupler having excellent directivity, just like the directional coupler of the first example of the above-described embodiment.

(Third example of embodiment)
FIG. 9 is an external perspective view schematically showing the directional coupler of the third example of the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, the dielectric substrate is not shown for easy understanding of the structure, and a part of the tube wall main conductor layer 61 is removed. Further, in this example, only differences from the above-described first example will be described, and the same components will be described using the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

  In the directional coupler of this example, as shown in FIG. 9, the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 are in a dielectric substrate (not shown) in which a plurality of dielectric layers are laminated. It is comprised with the dielectric waveguide line | wire formed in this. That is, the upper and lower tube walls of each waveguide are composed of tube wall main conductor layers 61, 62, 63 disposed between the upper and lower surfaces of the dielectric substrate and the dielectric layer. The side wall is constituted by a tube wall sub-conductor layer 64 and a tube wall through conductor group 65 disposed between the dielectric layers. By forming the distance between adjacent through conductors constituting the tube wall through conductor group 65 to be less than ½ of the wavelength of the high frequency signal, leakage of electromagnetic waves can be suppressed and function as a tube wall of the waveguide. ing.

  According to the directional coupler of this example having such a configuration, since the directional coupler is formed in the dielectric substrate, assuming that the dielectric constant of the dielectric substrate is ε, 1 / √ε ( Since ε can be reduced in size and can be manufactured by applying a ceramic multilayer lamination technique, a low-cost directional coupler can be obtained.

  In the directional coupler of this example, the material of the dielectric substrate (not shown) is not particularly limited as long as it has characteristics that do not hinder the transmission of high-frequency signals, and a resin such as glass epoxy is used. However, it is desirable to use dielectric ceramics from the viewpoint of processing accuracy and ease of manufacture. The relative dielectric constant of the dielectric substrate is set to about 2 to 20, for example.

  For the tube wall main conductor layers 61, 62, 63, the tube wall sub-conductor layer 64, and the tube wall through conductor group 65, for example, a highly conductive metal such as aluminum or copper can be used. The thickness of the tube wall main conductor layers 61, 62, 63 and the tube wall sub conductor layer 64 is, for example, about 3 μm to 50 μm. A via hole or a through hole can be used as the tube wall through conductor group 65, and its diameter is, for example, about 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm.

Such a dielectric substrate on which the pipe wall main conductor layers 61, 62, 63, the pipe wall sub-conductor layer 64, and the pipe wall through conductor group 65 are arranged can be produced, for example, as follows. it can. First, using a slurry obtained by adding and mixing a suitable organic solvent and solvent to a ceramic raw material powder mainly composed of glass, alumina, aluminum nitride, etc., a ceramic green sheet is formed by a doctor blade method or a calender roll method. Make it. Next, a paste prepared by adding an appropriate oxide, organic solvent, etc. such as alumina, silica, magnesia, etc. to the metal powder is applied to the surface of the ceramic green sheet by a thick film printing method, and with a conductor paste A ceramic green sheet is produced. Next, the obtained ceramic green sheets with a conductive paste are laminated and pressed using a hot press apparatus to form a laminate. And when the dielectric substrate is made of glass ceramics, the obtained laminate is about 850 ° C. to 1000 ° C., alumina ceramics is about 1500 ° C. to 1700 ° C., and aluminum nitride ceramics is about 1600 ° C. to 1900 ° C. It is produced by firing at a peak temperature of about. As the metal powder, copper, gold or silver is preferable when the dielectric substrate 21 is glass ceramics, and tungsten or molybdenum is preferable when the dielectric substrate is alumina ceramics or aluminum nitride ceramics.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the example of the above-described embodiment, the first and second coupling through-holes 41, 30 are formed in the tube wall 30 serving as the H plane shared by the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10, 20, respectively. Although the structure in which 42 is formed is shown, the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 share a tube wall serving as an E surface, and two tubes are provided on the tube wall serving as the shared E surface. The first and second coupling through holes 41 and 42 may be formed on the wall.

  In the example of the embodiment described above, the first and second coupling through holes 41 and 42 are rectangular. However, other shapes may be used as long as they function as coupling through holes, for example, An oval coupling through hole may be used.

  Furthermore, in the example of the embodiment described above, the example in which the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines 10 and 20 share one tube wall 30 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, one tube wall corresponding to each of the waveguide type high-frequency lines (one tube wall that is both an E surface or one tube wall that is both an H surface) is arranged adjacent to each other. The first and second coupling through holes 41 and 42 may be formed so as to penetrate a pair of adjacent tube walls.

  Next, a specific example of the directional coupler of the present invention will be described.

  The electrical characteristics of the directional coupler of the first example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 were calculated by simulation based on electromagnetic field analysis. As calculation conditions, the width (dimension in the x-axis direction in the figure) of the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines 10 and 20 is 2.54 mm, and the height (dimension in the y-axis direction in the figure) is 1.27 mm. The inside of the waveguide was a cavity (air). The cross-sectional shapes of the first and second coupling through holes 41 and 42 were rectangular shapes each having a length of 2.53 mm and a width of 0.53 mm. The center frequency was set to 76.5 GHz. The distance L between the first and second coupling through holes 41, 42 was 2.304 mm as a result of calculation by the method described above.

Then, the passage characteristic (S ₃₁ ) from the first port 51 to the third port 53 was calculated. FIG. 10 is a graph showing the results, where the horizontal axis represents frequency and the vertical axis represents attenuation. According to the graph shown in FIG. 10, an attenuation pole is formed at the designed center frequency of 76.5 GHz, and the attenuation at 76.5 GHz exceeds -50 dB, and it is understood that a good directionality is obtained. .

Next, the electrical characteristics in the directional coupler of the second example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 were calculated by simulation by electromagnetic field analysis. In this simulation, the height (dimension in the y-axis direction in the figure) of the second waveguide type high-frequency line 20 is 1.17 mm, and thereby the first and second coupling penetrations calculated by the method described above. The distance L between the holes 41 and 42 was 2.348 mm. Other conditions were the same as in the simulation of the directional coupler of the first example of the embodiment described above.

FIG. 11 shows the simulation result of the passage characteristic (S ₃₁ ) from the first port 51 to the third port 53. In the graph of FIG. 11, the horizontal axis represents frequency, and the vertical axis represents attenuation. According to the graph shown in FIG. 11, an attenuation pole is formed at the designed center frequency of 76.5 GHz, and the attenuation at 76.5 GHz is about −50 dB, and it can be seen that good directivity is obtained.

Next, as in the conventional directional coupler, the directional coupler of the comparative example in which the distance L between the first and second coupling through holes 41 and 42 is set to 1.539 mm which is ¼ of the guide wavelength. The simulation results are shown in FIG. According to the graph shown in FIG. 12, the attenuation pole is formed at 88.5 GHz, which is far away from the center frequency of 76.5 GHz. The attenuation at the center frequency of 76.5 GHz does not reach -10 dB, and the good directivity is obtained. It turns out that it is not obtained. The electrical characteristics of the directional coupler in which the distance L between the first and second coupling through holes 41 and 42 is set to 4.617 mm, which is 3/4 of the guide wavelength, were also simulated. It was formed at 81.5 GHz, far away from the frequency of 76.5 GHz, and the attenuation at the center frequency of 76.5 GHz did not reach -10 dB, and good directionality was not obtained. From the above results, the effectiveness of the present invention was confirmed.

10: First waveguide type high frequency line
20: Second waveguide type high-frequency line
30: Tube wall
41: First coupling through hole
42: Second coupling through hole
51: First port
52: Second port
53: Third port
54: Port 4

Claims (2)

First and second waveguide type high-frequency lines arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other and having the same guide wavelength, and a predetermined distance L in the length direction of the first and second waveguide type high-frequency lines The first and second coupling through-holes having the same shape and penetrating through the tube wall separating the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines. Both ends of one waveguide type high-frequency line become first and second ports, respectively, both ends of the second waveguide type high-frequency line become third and fourth ports, and the first and third ports are A directional coupler disposed on the same side, wherein the second and fourth ports are disposed on the same side,
In each of the first and second coupling through hole portions, a reflection coefficient of a signal incident from the first port side, reflected by the coupling through hole portion, and returning to the incident direction is expressed as A ₁₁ exp (jθ ₁₁ ), the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the third port side to the first port side through the coupling through hole is A ₁₃ exp (jθ ₁₃ ), and the first port side is passed to the second port side. A ₂₁ exp (jθ ₂₁ ) is the transmission coefficient of the signal to be transmitted, A ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ ) is the transmission coefficient of the signal passing from the first port side to the third port side through the coupling through hole, A transmission coefficient of a signal passing from the second port side to the third port side through the through hole is A ₃₂ exp (jθ ₃₂ ), is incident from the third port side, and is reflected at the portion of the coupling through hole. To return to the incident direction A reflection coefficient _{A 33} exp _(jθ 33), said fourth transmission coefficient of the signal passing through to said third port side from the port side _{A 34} exp _(jθ 34), via said coupling holes first port side A ₄₁ exp (jθ ₄₁ ) is the transmission coefficient of the signal passing through to the fourth port side from
When the guide wavelength in the first and second waveguide type high frequency lines is λg, the predetermined distance L is
L = (θ / π + n) λg / 2 (0 <θ <π, where n is 0 or a natural number)
And θ is
C1 = A ₃₁ exp (jθ ₃₁ )
_{C2 = A 21 A 31 A 34} exp {j (θ 21 + θ 31 + θ 34 -2θ)}
_{C3 = A 21 A 11 A 32} exp {j (θ 21 + θ 11 + θ 32 -2θ)}
_{C4 = A 41 A 33 A 34} exp {j (θ 41 + θ 33 + θ 34 -2θ)}
_{C5 = A 41 A 13 A 32} exp {j (θ 41 + θ 13 + θ 32 -2θ)}
The directional coupler is characterized in that the five vectors C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5 shown in FIG.   2. The directional coupler according to claim 1, wherein the first and second waveguide-type high-frequency lines have equal cross-sectional shapes.

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