JP2019134337A - Non-reciprocal circuit device and high-frequency front-end circuit module - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a non-reciprocal circuit device capable of reducing a center frequency without increasing a size of a center electrode.SOLUTION: The non-reciprocal circuit device includes a ferrite plate 4, a center electrode 8, correction capacitance electrodes 9, 10, 11, transmission lines 12, 13, 14 and a magnet 15. The correction capacitance electrodes 9, 10, 11 include rectangular portions 9A, 10A, 11A that are wider than the transmission lines 12, 13, 14. In addition, at least one of the correction capacitance electrodes 9, 10, 11 is a distributed constant type nonreciprocal circuit device further including an arc-shaped portion that extends in an arc shape toward the center electrode 8. For example, the arc-shaped portions 9B, 9C are provided on the correction capacitance electrode 9. The arcuate portions 9B, 9C may be either one.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to non-reciprocal circuit elements such as isolators and circulators. The present invention also relates to a high frequency front end circuit module including the nonreciprocal circuit device of the present invention.

  Nonreciprocal circuit elements such as isolators and circulators that allow signals to pass only in the transmission direction and prevent transmission in the reverse direction are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones and smartphones.

  Patent Document 1 (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-1747504) discloses such a nonreciprocal circuit device. 19A and 19B show a nonreciprocal circuit element (circulator) 1000 disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG. However, FIG. 19A is a front view of the nonreciprocal circuit device 1000. FIG. FIG. 19B is a plan view of the main part of the non-reciprocal circuit element 1000 with the insulator 106 and the magnet 107 removed.

  The nonreciprocal circuit element 1000 includes a ferrite plate (ferrite substrate) 101.

  A ground conductor (ground conductor) 102 is formed on the lower main surface of the ferrite plate 101.

  A circular center electrode (junction portion) 103 is formed on the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 101. Three correction capacitance electrodes (transformers) 104 are formed so as to protrude outward from the center electrode 103. A transmission line 105 is formed so as to protrude outward from the correcting capacitance electrode 104.

  An insulator 106 is disposed on the center electrode 103. A magnet (magnet) 107 is disposed on the insulator 106.

  The non-reciprocal circuit element 1000 functions as a non-reciprocal circuit element using the three transmission lines 105 as input / output ports by applying a DC magnetic field generated by the magnet 107 to the ferrite plate 101.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-1475504

  The center frequency (operating frequency) of the nonreciprocal circuit element 1000 depends on the size of the center electrode 103. Specifically, it is necessary to reduce the size of the center electrode 103 in order to increase the center frequency, and it is necessary to increase the size of the center electrode 103 in order to decrease the center frequency.

  Therefore, the non-reciprocal circuit element 1000 may have a large size when operated in a low frequency band. That is, in order to increase the size of the center electrode 103, the size of the ferrite plate 101 must be increased. By increasing the size of the ferrite plate 101, the size of the non-reciprocal circuit element 1000 increases in the planar direction. There was a case.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems. As the means, the non-reciprocal circuit device of the present invention includes a ferrite plate, a circular center electrode provided on the ferrite plate, and three correction electrodes provided on the ferrite plate protruding outward from the center electrode. Each of the three correction capacitance electrodes includes a capacitance electrode, a transmission line that protrudes outward from each of the three correction capacitance electrodes, and is provided on the ferrite plate, and a magnet that is provided on the center electrode. The non-reciprocal circuit element includes a rectangular portion that is wider than the transmission line, and at least one of the three correction capacitor electrodes further includes an arc-shaped portion that extends in an arc shape toward the center electrode. In this case, the center frequency can be lowered without increasing the size of the center electrode.

  The boundary between the rectangular portion and the center electrode is formed by a circular arc on the circumference of the outer shape of the central electrode. When both ends of the circular arc are defined as connection points between the rectangular portion and the central electrode, the three rectangular portions and the central electrode An arc-shaped portion is added to at least one of the six connection points located at the boundary, and the outer shape of the correction capacitor electrode in the arc-shaped portion is an arc recessed in the direction of the connection point to which the arc-shaped portion is added. It is also preferable that

  Of the six connection points, it is also preferable that arc-shaped portions are respectively added to at least two connection points located between two rectangular portions included in two adjacent correction capacitor electrodes. In this case, the center frequency of the signal passing through these portions can be moved to the low frequency side.

  It is also preferable that arc-shaped portions are added to at least two connection points located on both sides of one rectangular portion included in one correction capacitor electrode among the six connection points. In this case, the frequency of the resonance mode of the port in which the arc-shaped portion is added to both sides of the rectangular portion of the correction capacitor electrode can be moved to the low frequency side.

  It is also preferred that arcuate portions are added to all six connection points. In this case, the center frequency (operating frequency) of the non-reciprocal circuit element can be moved to the low frequency side without increasing the size of the center electrode. In addition, if the dimension of a center electrode is enlarged and an arc-shaped part is added to all six connection points, the center frequency of a nonreciprocal circuit element can be moved to the lower frequency side.

  It is also preferable that the outer shape of the correcting capacitor electrode in the arc-shaped portion is an arc, and the radius of curvature of the arc is not larger than the diameter of the center electrode. In this case, impedance mismatch between the center electrode and the correction capacitor electrode can be suppressed.

  It is also preferable to provide a plate-like lower yoke under the ferrite plate. In this case, the DC magnetic field generated by the magnet can be efficiently applied to the ferrite plate.

  It is also preferable to provide an upper yoke that covers at least the center electrode and the magnet on the ferrite plate. In this case, the DC magnetic field generated by the magnet can be efficiently applied to the ferrite plate.

  In addition, a high-frequency front-end circuit module can be manufactured using the nonreciprocal circuit device of the present invention and a power amplifier.

  The nonreciprocal circuit device of the present invention can reduce the center frequency without increasing the size of the center electrode.

It is a perspective view of the nonreciprocal circuit device according to the first embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the nonreciprocal circuit device according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 3A and 3B are plan views of main parts of the non-reciprocal circuit device according to the first embodiment, respectively. FIG. 4A is a graph showing the S11 characteristic of the nonreciprocal circuit device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4B is a graph showing the S22 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. FIG. 4C is a graph showing the S33 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. FIG. 5A is a graph showing the S31 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5B is a graph showing the S23 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. It is a principal part top view of the nonreciprocal circuit device concerning 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 7A is a graph showing the S11 characteristic of the nonreciprocal circuit device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7B is a graph showing S22 characteristics of the non-reciprocal circuit device. FIG. 7C is a graph showing the S33 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. FIG. 8A is a graph showing the S31 characteristics of the nonreciprocal circuit device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8B is a graph showing the S23 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. FIG. 9A is a graph showing S13 characteristics of the non-reciprocal circuit device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9B is a graph showing the S32 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the diameter (phi) of a center electrode, the curvature radius R of the circular arc of the arc-shaped part of the capacity | capacitance electrode for correction | amendment, and the center frequency of a nonreciprocal circuit element. It is the graph which compared the S31 characteristic of three nonreciprocal circuit elements. It is the figure which compared the magnitude | size of the ferrite plate of two nonreciprocal circuit elements. FIG. 13A is a graph showing the S11 characteristic of the nonreciprocal circuit device in which the radius of curvature R of the arc of the arcuate portion of the correction capacitor electrode is 1.5 mm. FIG. 13B is a graph showing the S22 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. FIG. 13C is a graph showing the S33 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. FIG. 14A is a graph showing the S31 characteristic of the nonreciprocal circuit device in which the radius of curvature R of the arc of the arcuate portion of the correction capacitor electrode is 1.5 mm. FIG. 14B is a graph showing the S23 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. FIG. 15A is a graph showing the S13 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit element in which the radius of curvature R of the arc of the arcuate portion of the correction capacitor electrode is 1.5 mm. FIG. 15B is a graph showing the S32 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device. It is a principal part top view of the nonreciprocal circuit device concerning 3rd Embodiment. It is a principal part top view of the nonreciprocal circuit device concerning 4th Embodiment. It is an equivalent circuit schematic of the high frequency front end circuit module concerning a 5th embodiment. FIG. 19A is a front view of the non-reciprocal circuit device disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG. FIG. 19B is a plan view of the main part of the non-reciprocal circuit device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  Each embodiment shows an embodiment of the present invention exemplarily, and the present invention is not limited to the content of the embodiment. Moreover, it is also possible to implement combining the content described in different embodiment, and the implementation content in that case is also included in this invention. Further, the drawings are for helping the understanding of the specification, and may be schematically drawn, and the drawn components or the ratio of dimensions between the components are described in the specification. There are cases where the ratio of these dimensions does not match. In addition, the constituent elements described in the specification may be omitted in the drawings or may be drawn with the number omitted.

[First Embodiment]
(Structure of non-reciprocal circuit device 100)
1, 2, 3 </ b> A, and 3 </ b> B show a nonreciprocal circuit device 100 according to the first embodiment. However, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the nonreciprocal circuit device 100. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the non-reciprocal circuit device 100. 3A and 3B are plan views of main parts of the nonreciprocal circuit device 100, respectively, showing the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4. FIG. Note that FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG.

  The nonreciprocal circuit device 100 of the present embodiment is a circulator. However, the nonreciprocal circuit device of the present invention is not limited to a circulator, and may be an isolator or the like.

  The nonreciprocal circuit device 100 includes a lower yoke 1. The material of the lower yoke 1 is arbitrary, but in order to efficiently circulate a magnetic flux of a DC magnetic field generated by a magnet 15 described later, a ferromagnetic material such as Fe, Ni, Co or the like is desirable. In the present embodiment, the lower yoke 1 has a plate shape that is rectangular in plan view. The lower yoke 1 is not a simple plate shape, and may be provided with a vertical portion or the like.

  Since the high frequency current flows on the surface of the lower yoke 1, it is desirable that the surface of the lower yoke 1 be plated with a high conductivity material such as Cu, Ag, Au, or Pt in order to reduce insertion loss.

  Of the four sides of the lower yoke 1, three sides are each provided with a notch, and the insulator 2 is embedded in each of the notches. Although the material of the insulator 2 is arbitrary, for example, a resin can be used.

  Each insulator 2 is provided with input / output terminals 3a, 3b and 3c, respectively. In the present embodiment, as the input / output terminals 3a, 3b, and 3c, conductive resin mainly composed of Cu, Ag, or the like is embedded in the insulator 2. The input / output terminals 3a, 3b, and 3c penetrate the insulator 2 in the vertical direction, and are exposed to the outside on three surfaces of the upper surface, the side surface, and the lower surface of the insulator 2. The structure of the input / output terminals 3a, 3b, and 3c is arbitrary, and instead of the above, for example, a metal piece such as Cu or Ag may be embedded in the insulator 2 to serve as the input / output terminal. Alternatively, a metal film such as Cu or Ag may be formed over the three surfaces of the upper surface, the side surface, and the lower surface of the insulator 2 to serve as an input / output terminal.

  In the nonreciprocal circuit device 100, the input / output terminal 3a constitutes the first port P1, the input / output terminal 3b constitutes the second port P2, and the input / output terminal 3c constitutes the third port P3.

  The nonreciprocal circuit element 100 includes a ferrite plate 4. The composition of the ferrite plate 4 is arbitrary, but, for example, NiZn-based, MnZn-based, YIG-based, CVG-based ferrite, and the like can be used. In the present embodiment, the ferrite plate 4 has a rectangular plate shape in plan view. However, the shape of the ferrite plate 4 is arbitrary.

  Six through-hole conductors 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, and 5f are formed through the upper main surface and the lower main surface of the ferrite plate 4. Although the material of the through-hole conductors 5a to 5f is arbitrary, for example, Cu, Ag, or the like can be used.

  Three signal electrodes 6 a, 6 b, 6 c are formed on the lower main surface of the ferrite plate 4. The signal electrode 6a is formed at a position corresponding to the input / output terminal 3a and is electrically connected to the through-hole conductor 5a. The signal electrode 6b is formed at a position corresponding to the input / output terminal 3b and is electrically connected to the through-hole conductor 5b. The signal electrode 6c is formed at a position corresponding to the input / output terminal 3c and is electrically connected to the through-hole conductor 5c.

  A ground conductor 7 is formed on the lower main surface of the ferrite plate 4 at intervals from the signal electrodes 6a, 6b, 6c. The ground conductor 7 is electrically connected to the through-hole conductors 5d, 5e, and 5f.

  The signal electrodes 6a, 6b, 6c and the ground conductor 7 can be made of any material. For example, Cu or Ag can be used.

  A central electrode 8 is formed on the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4. In the present embodiment, the center electrode 8 has a circular shape with a diameter φ of 1.5 mm in plan view.

  Further, on the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4, three correction capacitance electrodes 9, 10, 11 are formed so as to protrude outward from the center electrode 8. The correction capacitor electrode 9 is composed of a rectangular portion 9A having a rectangular shape and arc-shaped portions 9B and 9C that extend in an arc shape toward the center electrode 8 provided on both sides of the rectangular portion 9A. The correcting capacitance electrode 10 is composed of only a rectangular portion 10A having a rectangular shape. The correcting capacitance electrode 11 is composed of only a rectangular portion 11A having a rectangular shape. The detailed formation positions of the arcuate portions 9B and 9C will be described later.

  The correcting capacitance electrode 9 is provided in order to match the impedance between the center electrode 8 and a transmission line 12 described later. Similarly, the correcting capacitance electrode 10 is provided to match the impedance between the center electrode 8 and a transmission line 13 described later. The correcting capacitance electrode 11 is provided to match the impedance between the center electrode 8 and a transmission line 14 described later.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B show the ferrite plate 4 respectively. As described above, the center electrode 8 and the correction capacitance electrodes 9, 10, 11 are formed on the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4. The center electrode 8 is circular in plan view.

  The center electrode 8 and the rectangular portion 9A of the correction capacitor electrode 9 are in contact with each other at a boundary X indicated by a broken line in the drawing. The boundary X is a circular arc on the circumference that forms the outer shape of the center electrode 8. An end on the correction capacitor electrode 11 side of the boundary X is defined as a connection point A, and an end on the correction capacitor electrode 10 side is defined as a connection point B.

  The center electrode 8 and the rectangular portion 10A of the correction capacitor electrode 10 are in contact with each other at a boundary Y indicated by a broken line in the drawing. The boundary Y is a circular arc on the circumference that forms the outer shape of the center electrode 8. An end on the correction capacitor electrode 9 side of the boundary Y is defined as a connection point C, and an end on the correction capacitor electrode 11 side is defined as a connection point D.

  The center electrode 8 and the rectangular portion 11A of the correction capacitor electrode 11 are in contact with each other at a boundary Z indicated by a broken line in the drawing. The boundary Z is a circular arc on the circumference that forms the outer shape of the center electrode 8. The end on the correction capacitor electrode 10 side of the boundary Z is defined as a connection point E, and the end on the correction capacitor electrode 9 side is defined as a connection point F.

  There are six connection points A, B, C, D, E, and F at boundaries X, Y, and Z between the center electrode 8 and the rectangular portions 9A, 10A, and 11A of the correction capacitor electrodes 9, 10, and 11, respectively. It will be. In the nonreciprocal circuit device 100 according to the present embodiment, among these connection points, an arc-shaped portion 9B is formed at the connection point A, and an arc-shaped portion 9C is formed at the connection point B. That is, arc-shaped portions 9B and 9C are formed at connection points A and B on both sides of the rectangular portion 9A of the correcting capacitance electrode 9. The arc-shaped portions 9B and 9C are formed to lower the center frequency of the nonreciprocal circuit device 100. 3A and 3B, the arc-shaped portions 9B and 9C are colored.

The outer periphery of the arc-shaped portion 9B is formed by connecting the boundary 9B _X with the center electrode 8, the boundary 9B _Y with the rectangular portion 9A, and the arc 9B _Z. The boundary 9B _X is a circular arc on the circumference forming the outer shape of the center electrode 8. The boundary 9B _Y is a straight line. Arc 9B _Z has one end in contact with the central electrode 8 and the other end is in contact with the rectangular portion 9A, and is recessed in the direction of the connection point A. In such non-reciprocal circuit element 100 in the present embodiment, the arc 9B _Z, the radius of curvature _{R S} is an arc of 0.6 mm.

The outer periphery of the arc-shaped portion 9C is formed by connecting the boundary 9C _X with the center electrode 8, the boundary 9C _Y with the rectangular portion 9A, and the arc 9C _Z. The boundary 9 </ b> C _X is a circular arc on the circumference forming the outer shape of the center electrode 8. Boundary 9C _Y is a straight line. Arc 9C _Z has one end in contact with the central electrode 8 and the other end is in contact with the rectangular portion 9A, and is recessed in the direction of the connection point B. In such non-reciprocal circuit element 100 in the present embodiment, the arc 9C _Z, the radius of curvature _{R T} is an arc of 0.6 mm.

The radii of curvature R _S and R _T are preferably smaller than the diameter of the center electrode 8. Specifically, in this embodiment, since the diameter of the center electrode 8 is 1.5 mm, the curvature radii R _S and R _T are preferably 1.5 mm or less, respectively. This is because if the curvature radii R _S and R _T are larger than the diameter of the center electrode 8, the impedance between the center electrode 8 and the correction capacitor electrode 9 may be mismatched, and the ratio band may be narrowed. .

  Further, on the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4, the transmission line 12 protrudes outward from the correction capacitance electrode 9, and the transmission line 13 protrudes outward from the correction capacitance electrode 10, from the correction capacitance electrode 11. A transmission line 14 is formed to protrude outward. Each of the transmission lines 12, 13, and 14 has a predetermined width and length. However, the widths of the transmission lines 12, 13, and 14 are narrower than the widths of the correction capacitance electrodes 9, 10, and 11 (rectangular portions 9A, 10A, and 11A), respectively.

  The tip of the transmission line 12 is electrically connected to the through-hole conductor 5a. Similarly, the tip of the transmission line 13 is electrically connected to the through-hole conductor 5b. The tip of the transmission line 14 is electrically connected to the through-hole conductor 5c.

  The material of the center electrode 8, the correction capacitor electrodes 9, 10, 11 and the transmission lines 12, 13, and 14 is arbitrary, but, for example, Cu or Ag can be used.

  The ferrite plate 4 is disposed on the upper main surface of the lower yoke 1. The input / output terminal 3a and the signal electrode 6a are electrically connected to each other, and the input / output terminal 3b and the signal electrode 6b are electrically connected to each other. Further, the lower yoke 1 and the ground conductor 7 are electrically connected.

  As a result, the tip of the transmission line 12 is electrically connected to the input / output terminal 3a (first port P1) via the through-hole conductor 5a and the signal electrode 6a. Similarly, the end of the transmission line 13 is electrically connected to the input / output terminal 3b (second port P2) via the through-hole conductor 5b and the signal electrode 6b. The tip of the transmission line 14 is electrically connected to the input / output terminal 3c (third port P3) via the through-hole conductor 5c and the signal electrode 6c.

  In the nonreciprocal circuit device 100, the magnet 15 is disposed on the center electrode 8. Although the material of the magnet 15 is arbitrary, for example, strontium-based, barium-based, lanthanum-based ferrite magnets, samarium cobalt-based, neodymium-based rare earth magnets, and the like can be used. In the present embodiment, the magnet 15 is a quadrangular prism. However, the shape of the magnet 15 is arbitrary, and may be a shape such as a cylinder, an elliptical column, or a polygonal column other than the quadrangular column instead of the quadrangular column.

  The nonreciprocal circuit device 100 includes an upper yoke 16. The material of the upper yoke 16 is arbitrary, but in order to efficiently circulate the magnetic flux of the DC magnetic field generated by the magnet 15, it is desirable to use a ferromagnetic material such as Fe, Ni, or Co.

  Since the high-frequency current flows on the surface of the upper yoke 16, it is desirable that the surface of the upper yoke 16 be plated with a high conductivity material such as Cu, Ag, Au, or Pt in order to reduce insertion loss.

  The upper yoke 16 of the present embodiment includes a plate-like top surface portion 16a that is rectangular in plan view, and two plate-shaped vertical portions 16b and 16c that are perpendicular to the top surface portion 16a. Further, the vertical portion 16b is formed with a notch 16bx to avoid contact with the transmission line 12, and the vertical portion 16c is formed with a notch 16cx to avoid contact with the transmission line 14. However, the shape of the upper yoke 16 is arbitrary, and various changes can be made.

  The upper yoke 16 covers the center electrode 8, the correction capacitor electrodes 9, 10, 11, the transmission lines 12, 13, 14 and the magnet 15, and is disposed on the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4. The vertical portion 16b and the through-hole conductor 5d are electrically connected to each other, and the vertical portion 16c and the through-hole conductor 5e are electrically connected to each other. However, the electrical connection between the vertical portion 16b and the through-hole conductor 5d and the electrical connection between the vertical portion 16c and the through-hole conductor 5e are not essential and may be omitted.

  The nonreciprocal circuit element 100 functions as a nonreciprocal circuit element (circulator) by applying a magnetic flux of a DC magnetic field generated by the magnet 15 to the ferrite plate 4 through the lower yoke 1 and the upper yoke 16. .

  Specifically, in the nonreciprocal circuit element 100, a signal input to the input / output terminal 3a (first port P1) is output from the input / output terminal 3c (third port P3), and the input / output terminal 3c (third port). The signal input to P3) is output from the input / output terminal 3b (second port P2), and the signal input to the input / output terminal 3b (second port P2) is output from the input / output terminal 3a (first port P1). Thus, no signal flows in the opposite direction.

(Manufacturing method of non-reciprocal circuit device 100)
The nonreciprocal circuit device 100 according to the first embodiment having the above-described structure can be manufactured by a manufacturing method that has been conventionally used in manufacturing nonreciprocal circuit devices.

(Characteristics of non-reciprocal circuit device 100)
The S11 characteristic of the nonreciprocal circuit device 100 is shown in FIG. 4A, the S22 characteristic is shown in FIG. 4B, and the S33 characteristic is shown in FIG. 4C. Further, FIG. 5A shows the S31 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit device 100, and FIG. 5B shows the S23 characteristic thereof. In each figure, for comparison, each characteristic when the arc-shaped portions 9B and 9C are not formed in the correction capacitor electrode 9 of the non-reciprocal circuit element 100 is shown as a comparative example.

  Here, the S11 characteristic, the S22 characteristic, and the S33 characteristic are reflection characteristics at each input / output terminal. Specifically, the S11 characteristic, the S22 characteristic, and the S33 characteristic are respectively at the input / output terminal 3a (first port P1), the input / output terminal 3b (second port P2), and the input / output terminal 3c (third port P3). This is the frequency characteristic of return loss. The S31 characteristic and the S23 characteristic are pass characteristics between the input / output terminals. Specifically, the S31 characteristic and the S23 characteristic are respectively the insertion loss from the input / output terminal 3a (first port P1) to the input / output terminal 3c (third port P3), and the input / output terminal 3c (third This is a frequency characteristic of insertion loss from the port P3) to the input / output terminal 3b (second port P2).

  4A to 4C, the nonreciprocal circuit device 100 includes a first port in which arc-shaped portions 9B and 9C are formed in the correction capacitor electrode 9, as can be seen by comparing the S11 characteristics, S22 characteristics, and S33 characteristics. Only in P1, the frequency of the resonance mode is shifted to the low frequency side. In both the second port P2 and the third port P3 in which the arc-shaped portion is not formed in the correction capacitor electrode, the resonance mode frequency does not move. Further, the return loss is reduced only in S11 of the first port P1.

  As can be seen from FIG. 5A, the nonreciprocal circuit element 100 has the arc-shaped portions 9B and 9C formed in the correction capacitive electrode 9 of the first port P1, so that the center frequency of the S31 characteristic is on the low frequency side. Has moved to. On the other hand, as can be seen from FIG. 5B, in the nonreciprocal circuit device 100, the center frequency of the S23 characteristic does not move.

  As can be seen from this, when the present invention is used, the center frequency of the nonreciprocal circuit element can be individually adjusted for each port. For example, as in the nonreciprocal circuit device 100 of the present embodiment, adjustment is possible in which the center frequency of the S31 characteristic is moved to the low frequency side, but the center frequency of the S23 characteristic is not moved. Therefore, the nonreciprocal circuit device of the present invention is expected to be used in communication equipment using frequency division duplex (FDD) with different frequency bands for transmission and reception.

[Second Embodiment]
(Structure of non-reciprocal circuit device 200)
FIG. 6 shows a non-reciprocal circuit device 200 according to the second embodiment. However, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the main part of the non-reciprocal circuit element 200 and shows the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4.

  The nonreciprocal circuit element 200 is a modification of the configuration of the nonreciprocal circuit element 100 according to the first embodiment. Specifically, in the non-reciprocal circuit device 100, among the six connection points at the boundaries X, Y, and Z between the center electrode 8 and the rectangular portions 9A, 10A, and 11A of the correction capacitive electrodes 9, 10, and 11, Arc-shaped portions 9B and 9C are formed at connection points A and B of the first port P1. On the other hand, in the nonreciprocal circuit element 200, the arc-shaped portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, all of the six connection points A, B, C, D, E, and F of the first port P1 to the third port P3, 11B and 11C were formed.

  Specifically, in the nonreciprocal circuit element 200, the arc-shaped portion 9B is formed at the connection point A of the first port P1, and the arc-shaped portion 9C is formed at the connection point B. In the nonreciprocal circuit element 200, the arc-shaped portion 10B is formed at the connection point C of the second port P2, and the arc-shaped portion 10C is formed at the connection point D. Further, in the nonreciprocal circuit element 200, the arc-shaped portion 11B is formed at the connection point E of the third port P3, and the arc-shaped portion 11C is formed at the connection point F.

  Note that the outer shapes of the arc-shaped portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, 11B, and 11C have arcs at portions that are not in contact with the center electrode 8 and the rectangular portions 9A, 10A, and 11A, respectively. In the present embodiment, these arcs are arcs having a curvature radius of 0.6 mm.

  The other structure of the nonreciprocal circuit device 200 is the same as that of the nonreciprocal circuit device 100. Therefore, the center electrode 8 has a circular shape with a diameter of 1.5 mm.

(Characteristics of non-reciprocal circuit element 200)
FIG. 7A shows the S11 characteristic of the nonreciprocal circuit device 200, FIG. 7B shows the S22 characteristic, and FIG. 7C shows the S33 characteristic. The S31 characteristic of the nonreciprocal circuit element 200 is shown in FIG. 8A, and the S23 characteristic is shown in FIG. 8B. Further, the S13 characteristic of the non-reciprocal circuit element 200 is shown in FIG. 9A, and the S32 characteristic is shown in FIG. 9B. In each figure, for comparison, each characteristic when arc-shaped portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, 11B, and 11C are not formed is shown as a comparative example.

  As can be seen from the S11, S22, and S33 characteristics of FIGS. 7A to 7C, and the S13 and S32 characteristics of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the first port P1 to the third port P3. The nonreciprocal circuit element 200 in which the arcuate portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, 11B, and 11C are formed at all the connection points A, B, C, D, E, and F includes all of the first port P1 to the third port P3. The frequency of the resonance mode is shifted to the low frequency side. Further, the return loss is reduced in S11 of the first port P1 and S33 of the third port P3.

  8A and 8B, in the nonreciprocal circuit element 200, the center frequency of the S31 characteristic moves to the low frequency side, and the center frequency of the S23 characteristic also moves to the low frequency side. ing. Although not shown in the figure, the center frequency of the S12 characteristic is also moved to the low frequency side.

  As described above, in the conventional nonreciprocal circuit device, in order to reduce the center frequency, it is necessary to increase the size of the center electrode. For this reason, there is a problem that the size of the ferrite plate is increased, and the size of the nonreciprocal circuit element is increased in the planar direction.

  On the other hand, according to the nonreciprocal circuit device of the present invention, the arcuate portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C are connected to the connection points A, B, C, D, E, F without increasing the size of the center electrode 8. , 11B, and 11C, the center frequencies of the S31 characteristic and the S23 characteristic can be moved to the low frequency side. That is, the nonreciprocal circuit device of the present invention can reduce the center frequency (operating frequency) without increasing the dimension in the plane direction.

(Experiment)
In the structure of the non-reciprocal circuit device 200, the diameter φ of the center electrode 8 and the arcs (arcs) of the arc-shaped portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, 11B, and 11C of the correction capacitor electrodes 9, 10, and 11 are included. It was examined how the center frequency of the nonreciprocal circuit element changes by changing the radius of curvature R. Note that the nonreciprocal circuit element 200 is designed so that the center frequency of the S31 characteristic, the center frequency of the S23 characteristic, and the center frequency of the S12 characteristic are equal to each other. The center frequency of

  First, in the structure of the non-reciprocal circuit element 200, the diameter φ of the center electrode 8 is changed in three ways: 1.4 mm, 1.5 mm, and 1.6 mm, and arc-shaped portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, 11B, and 11C. A total of 15 types of nonreciprocal circuit elements were manufactured by changing the radius of curvature R of the arc of 5 in five ways: 0.0 mm (no arc portion), 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.4 mm, and 0.6 mm. .

Next, the center frequency was measured for each of 15 types of nonreciprocal circuit elements. Table 1 shows the center frequency of each nonreciprocal circuit element. FIG. 10 is a graph showing the center frequency of each nonreciprocal circuit element.

  As can be seen from Table 1 and FIG. 10, the center frequency can be lowered by increasing the diameter φ of the center electrode. However, the center frequency can be lowered by increasing the radius of curvature R of the arc of the arc-shaped portion instead of increasing the diameter φ of the center electrode.

  A nonreciprocal circuit element in which the center frequency of the nonreciprocal circuit element having a small diameter φ of the center electrode is large and the diameter φ of the center electrode having no arcuate part in the correction capacitor electrode is large by providing the correction capacitive electrode with an arcuate portion. May be lower than the center frequency. For example, the center frequency of the nonreciprocal circuit element having a diameter φ of 1.5 mm of the center electrode provided with an arc-shaped portion having a curvature radius R of 0.6 mm on the correction capacitor electrode is 26.60 GHz, whereas the correction capacitor The center frequency of the non-reciprocal circuit element having a diameter φ of 1.6 mm of the center electrode in which no arc-shaped portion is provided on the electrode is 26.80 GHz.

  FIG. 11 shows the S31 characteristics of the non-reciprocal circuit element in which the correction electrode is not provided with an arcuate portion and the diameter φ of the center electrode in which the correction capacitor electrode is not provided with an arcuate portion. The S31 characteristic of the nonreciprocal circuit element having a diameter of 1.6 mm and the S31 characteristic of the nonreciprocal circuit element having a diameter φ of 1.5 mm of the center electrode in which the arcuate portion having the curvature radius R of 0.6 mm is provided on the correction capacitor electrode. Are shown in comparison. As can be seen from FIG. 11, the nonreciprocal circuit element having the diameter φ of the center electrode of 1.5 mm has a low center frequency of the S31 characteristic by providing an arc-shaped portion with a curvature radius R of 0.6 mm in the correction capacitor electrode. It has S31 characteristics that are very close to the S31 characteristics of the nonreciprocal circuit element having a diameter φ of 1.6 mm of the center electrode that moves to the frequency side and has no arcuate portion on the correction capacitor electrode. If this knowledge is used, the center frequency of the non-reciprocal circuit element can be lowered without increasing the size of the center electrode (ferrite plate; non-reciprocal circuit element) by providing an arc-shaped portion in the correction capacitor electrode. It becomes possible.

  FIG. 12 shows a correction using a non-reciprocal circuit element (center frequency = 26.60 GHz) having a diameter φ of 1.5 mm as a center electrode in which an arc-shaped portion having a radius of curvature R of 0.6 mm is provided on a correction capacitor electrode. As a comparative example, a nonreciprocal circuit element (center frequency = 26.80 GHz) having a diameter φ of 1.6 mm of a center electrode in which no arc-shaped portion is provided in the capacitor electrode for use is shown as an image of the size of both ferrite plates.

  As can be seen from FIG. 12, the non-reciprocal circuit element of the example has a lower center frequency than the non-reciprocal circuit element of the comparative example, but the ferrite plate is higher than the non-reciprocal circuit element of the comparative example. It is getting smaller. Specifically, the length of one side of the ferrite plate is reduced by the dimension indicated by G in FIG.

  As described above, according to the nonreciprocal circuit device of the present invention, the center frequency of the nonreciprocal circuit device can be lowered without increasing the size of the center electrode (ferrite plate; nonreciprocal circuit device).

  Next, an appropriate value of the radius of curvature R of the arc of the arcuate portion of the correction capacitor electrode with respect to the diameter φ of the center electrode will be examined.

  As described above, in the nonreciprocal circuit device 200, in order to lower the center frequency, the radius of curvature R of the arc of the arc-shaped portion of the correction capacitor electrode may be increased. However, if the radius of curvature R is excessively increased, the impedance between the center electrode 8 and the correction capacitor electrodes 9, 10, 11 may be mismatched, and the ratio band may be narrowed.

  Therefore, in order to investigate the effect of the radius of curvature R on impedance mismatch, a nonreciprocal circuit device having a large radius of curvature R of the arc of the arcuate portion of the correcting capacitor electrode was fabricated and its characteristics were measured. Specifically, a non-reciprocal circuit device having a diameter φ of the center electrode 8 of 1.5 mm and a radius of curvature R of the arc of the correction capacitor electrode of 1.5 mm was manufactured, and its characteristics were measured. In this nonreciprocal circuit element, the diameter φ of the center electrode and the radius of curvature R of the arc of the arcuate portion of the correction capacitor electrode are equal.

  FIG. 13A shows the S11 characteristics, FIG. 13B shows the S22 characteristics, and FIG. 13C shows the S33 characteristics of the manufactured nonreciprocal circuit element. In addition, FIG. 14A shows the S31 characteristic of the produced nonreciprocal circuit element, and FIG. 14B shows the S23 characteristic. Further, FIG. 15A shows the S13 characteristics and FIG. 15B shows the S32 characteristics of the produced nonreciprocal circuit device. In each figure, for comparison, a case where no arc-shaped portion is formed on the correction capacitor electrode and an arc-shaped portion 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, in which the radius of curvature R of the arc is 0.6 mm on the correction capacitor electrode, Each characteristic when 11B and 11C are formed is shown.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 13 (A) to (C), FIGS. 14 (A), (B), FIGS. 15 (A) and (B), the diameter φ of the center electrode and the arcuate portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, In the non-reciprocal circuit device in which the radius of curvature R of the arcs of 11B and 11C is 1.5 mm, each characteristic starts to be disturbed due to impedance mismatch. However, as can be seen from FIGS. 14A and 14B, the S31 characteristic and the S23 characteristic still have specific bandwidths that have no practical problem. However, if the radius of curvature R is larger than this, the ratio band becomes narrow, which is not preferable. Therefore, it can be said that the radius of curvature R of the arc of the arcuate portion of the correction capacitor electrode is preferably not more than the diameter φ of the center electrode.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 16 shows a nonreciprocal circuit device 300 according to the third embodiment. However, FIG. 16 is a plan view of a main part of the non-reciprocal circuit element 300 and shows the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4.

  In the nonreciprocal circuit element 300, among the six connection points A to F, an arcuate part 9B is formed at the connection point A, an arcuate part 11C is formed at the connection point F, and the other connection points B to E No arc-shaped part was formed. That is, in the nonreciprocal circuit device 300, arc-shaped portions 9B and 11C are formed at two connection points A and F between the first port P1 and the third port P3.

  In the nonreciprocal circuit device 300, only the center frequency of the S31 characteristic is moved to the low frequency side without moving the center frequency of the S23 characteristic or the S12 characteristic.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 17 shows a nonreciprocal circuit device 400 according to the fourth embodiment. However, FIG. 17 is a plan view of a main part of the non-reciprocal circuit element 400 and shows the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4.

  In the nonreciprocal circuit element 400, among the six connection points A to F, an arcuate part 9B is formed at the connection point A, an arcuate part 10B is formed at the connection point C, and an arcuate part 11B is formed at the connection point E. The arcuate portions were not formed at the other connection points B, D, and F. That is, in the nonreciprocal circuit element 400, the arc-shaped portion 9B is formed at the connection point A on the third port P3 side in the first port P1, and the arc-shaped portion is formed on the connection point C on the first port P1 side in the second port P2. 10B was formed, and in the third port P3, an arcuate portion 11B was formed at the connection point E on the second port P2 side.

  In the nonreciprocal circuit element 400, the center frequencies of the S31 characteristic, the S23 characteristic, and the S12 characteristic are moved to the low frequency side, respectively, similarly to the nonreciprocal circuit element 200 according to the second embodiment. However, the nonreciprocal circuit element 400 has a smaller movement amount of the center frequency than the nonreciprocal circuit element 200.

[Fifth Embodiment]
FIG. 18 shows a high-frequency front-end circuit module 500 according to the fifth embodiment. However, FIG. 18 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the high-frequency front-end circuit module 500.

  Although not shown, the high-frequency front-end circuit module 500 is formed by mounting various electronic components on a single substrate, for example. The high frequency front end circuit module 500 includes an equivalent circuit shown in FIG.

  The high-frequency front-end circuit module 500 is used by being connected to the antenna 70, for example.

  The high frequency front end circuit module 500 includes an RFIC 51. The RFIC 51 includes four pairs of transmission terminals TX and reception terminals RX. The antenna 70 to which the high-frequency front end circuit module 500 is connected can also transmit and receive in four systems.

  The RFIC 51 of the high-frequency front-end circuit module 500 and the antenna 70 are connected by four systems of connection circuits 53a, 53b, 53c, and 54d. Since all of the connection circuits 53a, 53b, 53c, and 54d have the same configuration, the configuration of the connection circuit 53a will be described here.

  The connection circuit 53a includes a power amplifier 54, the irreversible circuit element (circulator) 100 according to the first embodiment, a band pass filter 55, a switch 56, and a low noise amplifier 57.

  One end of the power amplifier 54 is connected to the transmission terminal TX of the RFIC 51. The first port P <b> 1 of the nonreciprocal circuit device 100 is connected to the other end of the power amplifier 54. One end of the band pass filter 55 is connected to the third port P3 of the nonreciprocal circuit device 100. The other end of the band pass filter 55 is connected to the antenna 70.

  One terminal of the switch 56 is connected to the second port P2 of the nonreciprocal circuit device 100. Another terminal of the switch 56 is terminated to ground through a resistor. One end of the low noise amplifier 57 is connected to another one terminal of the switch 56. The other end of the low noise amplifier 57 is connected to the reception terminal RX of the RFIC 51.

  FIG. 18 shows a state in which the high-frequency front-end circuit module 500 is transmitting. The transmission signal output from the transmission terminal TX of the RFIC 51 is transmitted to the antenna 70 via the power amplifier 54, the nonreciprocal circuit element 100, and the band pass filter 55.

  At this time, the antenna 70 may generate an unnecessary reflected wave. Unnecessary reflected waves generated by the antenna 70 are dropped to the ground via the bandpass filter 55, the nonreciprocal circuit element 100, and the switch 56. That is, in the high-frequency front end circuit module 500, the power amplifier 54 is protected from unnecessary reflected waves of the antenna 70 by the nonreciprocal circuit element 100.

  On the other hand, when the high-frequency front-end circuit module 500 performs reception, the switch 56 connects the second port P <b> 2 of the nonreciprocal circuit element 100 to the low noise amplifier 57. In the case of reception, the reception signal output from the antenna 70 is input to the reception terminal RX of the RFIC 51 via the band pass filter 55, the nonreciprocal circuit element 100, the switch 56, and the low noise amplifier 57.

  The connection circuits 53b to 53d also perform the same operation as the connection circuit 53a.

  In the high-frequency front-end circuit module 500, the power amplifier 54 is protected from unnecessary reflected waves of the antenna 70 by the nonreciprocal circuit element 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The nonreciprocal circuit elements 100, 200, 300, and 400 according to the first to fourth embodiments and the high-frequency front-end circuit module 500 according to the fifth embodiment have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the contents described above, and various modifications can be made in accordance with the spirit of the invention.

  For example, each of the nonreciprocal circuit elements 100, 200, 300, and 400 is a circulator, but may be an isolator. In order to configure an isolator, one of the transmission lines 12, 13, and 14 serving as input / output ports may be terminated by connecting to the ground via a resistor.

  In the nonreciprocal circuit elements 100, 200, 300, and 400, the center electrode 8, the correction capacitor electrodes 9, 10, and 11, and the transmission lines 12, 13, and 14 are formed on the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4. Met. That is, these electrodes and lines are formed directly on the upper main surface of the ferrite plate 4 using, for example, a thin film technique. However, instead of this method, an electrode or a line produced by processing a metal plate that is separate from the ferrite plate 4 may be used.

  In the nonreciprocal circuit elements 100, 200, 300, and 400, the arcs of the arc-shaped portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, 11B, and 11C of the correction capacitor electrodes 9, 10, and 11 are arcs. Is not limited.

  In addition to the nonreciprocal circuit element 100 and the power amplifier 54, the high frequency front end circuit module 500 includes the RFIC 51, the band pass filter 55, the switch 56, and other electronic components of the low noise amplifier 57. The high-frequency front-end circuit module only needs to include at least a nonreciprocal circuit element and a power amplifier.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lower yoke 2 ... Insulator 3a, 3b, 3c ... Input / output terminal 4 ... Ferrite plate 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f ... Through-hole conductor 6a, 6b, 6c ... Signal electrode 7 ... Ground conductor 8 ... Center electrodes 9, 10, 11 ... Correction capacitor electrodes 9A, 10A, 11A ... Rectangular portions 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, 11B, 11C... Arc-shaped portion 9B _X , 9C _X ... Boundary (boundary between arc-shaped portion and center electrode)
9B _Y , 9C _Y ... Boundary (boundary between arc-shaped part and rectangular part)
9B _Z , 9C _Z ... Arc (arc)
12, 13, 14 ... transmission line 15 ... magnet 16 ... upper yoke P1 ... first port P2 ... second port P3 ... third port R, _RS , _RT .. Curvature radii A, B, C, D, E, F: Connection points (connection points between the rectangular portion of the correction capacitance electrode and the center electrode)
X, Y, Z... Boundary (boundary between the rectangular portion of the correction capacitor electrode and the center electrode)

Claims (9)

A ferrite plate,
A circular center electrode provided on the ferrite plate;
Three correcting capacitive electrodes provided on the ferrite plate so as to protrude outward from the center electrode;
A transmission line provided on the ferrite plate projecting outward from each of the three capacitance electrodes for correction;
A magnet provided on the center electrode,
Each of the three correction capacitor electrodes includes a rectangular portion wider than the transmission line, and at least one of the three correction capacitor electrodes has an arc shape extending in an arc shape toward the center electrode. Further including a portion,
Non-reciprocal circuit element. When the boundary between the rectangular portion and the center electrode is a circular arc on the circumference forming the outer shape of the central electrode, and both ends of the circular arc are defined as connection points between the rectangular portion and the central electrode,
Of the six connection points located at the boundary between the three rectangular parts and the central electrode, the arc-shaped part is added to at least one of the connection points,
2. The nonreciprocal circuit device according to claim 1, wherein an outer shape of the correction capacitor electrode in the arc-shaped portion is an arc recessed in a direction of the connection point to which the arc-shaped portion is added. Of the six connection points,
At least the two connection points located between the two rectangular portions included in the two adjacent correction capacitor electrodes,
The nonreciprocal circuit device according to claim 2, wherein each of the arcuate portions is added. Of the six connection points,
At least two connection points located on both sides of one rectangular portion included in one correction capacitor electrode,
4. The nonreciprocal circuit device according to claim 2, wherein each of the arcuate portions is added.   The nonreciprocal circuit device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the arc-shaped portion is added to all of the six connection points. The outer shape of the correction capacitor electrode in the arc-shaped portion is an arc,
6. The nonreciprocal circuit device according to claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of the arc is equal to or smaller than a diameter of the center electrode.   The nonreciprocal circuit device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a plate-like lower yoke under the ferrite plate.   The nonreciprocal circuit device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an upper yoke that covers at least the center electrode and the magnet on the ferrite plate. A nonreciprocal circuit device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A high-frequency front-end circuit module including a power amplifier.

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