RU2322738C1 - Amplifier unit of satellite-system signal-receiver antenna path - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio engineering; devices amplifying satellite-system signals received from air when they are transmitted over antenna path intercoupling antenna and distant satellite-system signal receiver.

SUBSTANCE: proposed amplifier unit has enclosed current-conductive case accommodating electric circuit designed for amplifying satellite-system signals transferred over antenna path. Case is formed by joining cylindrical sleeve and inset. The latter has end flanges joined together by means of longitudinal strip. End flanges of insert contact the sleeve. Electric circuit is set up of two printed-circuit boards. Each of these boards is disposed on respective side of longitudinal strip and contacts the latter through its metal-plated surfaces. Printed-circuit boards are electrically coupled with two coaxial high-frequency connectors disposed on opposite ends of insert coaxially to its longitudinal axis. Bases of high-frequency coaxial connectors are built integral with end flanges of insert, their internal conductor leads being passed through ports provided in longitudinal strip. Each high-frequency coaxial connector has its internal conductor connected to one of printed-circuit boards by means of transversal current-conductive spike. The latter is secured on one end in transversal hole provided on internal conductor lead entering respective through port of transversal strip and on other end, in metal-plated hole of stripline contact pad of printed-circuit board being connected. Other printed-circuit board closes through port of transversal strip by its metal-plated surface on end opposing that wherefrom transversal current-conductive spike is let out.

EFFECT: reduced useful signal loss at printed-circuit board-to-high-voltage coaxial connector transitions.

2 cl, 7 dwg

Description

The invention relates to radio engineering and can be used in the design of devices that amplify signals received from the air of satellite systems when they are transmitted along the antenna path connecting the antenna with a remote receiver of signals from satellite systems.

The amplification of the signals of satellite systems transmitted along the antenna path is designed to provide the necessary level of useful signals at the output of this path, at which a receiver can perform frequency conversion of satellite systems signals, process them and extract useful information. One of the requirements for devices that amplify the signals of satellite systems transmitted via the antenna path is their implementation of the so-called low noise amplifier, in which the amplification of useful signals is carried out with minimal addition of the amplifier’s own noise and minimal loss in signal transmission lines. These amplifiers are installed either immediately after the antenna, which receives signals from satellite systems from the ether, or after an additional bandpass filter connected to its output, and are connected to the receiver of signals from satellite systems using a cable, for example, as in devices for receiving signals from satellite radio navigation systems, represented in the patents: [1] - JP No. 7128423, G01S 5/14, G01S 1/00, 05/19/1995; [2] - US No. 6363123 (B1), H03K 9/00, H04L 27/06, H04L 27/14, H04L 27/22, 03/26/2002. Amplifiers that realize this purpose can be performed in one housing with an antenna, for example, as in the devices presented in the patents: [3] - US No. 5272485, H01Q 23/00, H01Q 1/38, 12/21/1993; [4] - US No. 6016128, H01Q 11/12, H01Q 7/00, H01Q 1/42, 01/18/2000; [5] - US No. 6011524, H01Q 1/36, H01Q 11/08, 01/04/2000, and also in some cases can be performed as a separate amplifier unit from the antenna, which is the subject of consideration of this application.

As a prototype, the amplification unit of the antenna path of the receiver of signals from satellite systems was adopted, presented in patent [6] - RU No. 2210845 (C1), H01Q 23/00, 08/20/2003.

The amplification unit of the antenna path of the satellite signal receiver, adopted as a prototype, contains a closed conductive housing, in the inner space of which is an electrical circuit made on two printed circuit boards, which serves to amplify the signals of satellite systems transmitted along the antenna path from the antenna to the satellite signal receiver . The housing is formed by connecting two elements made of metal - a cylindrical glass with an opening in the bottom and an insert, the end flanges of which are electrically in contact with the glass. The end flanges of the insert are interconnected by a longitudinal bar made integrally with the flanges. There are printed circuit boards on both sides of the longitudinal strip, and coaxial high-frequency connectors are located at opposite ends of the insert coaxially with its longitudinal axis. On one of the printed circuit boards there are elements of a low-noise amplifier and decoupling filters associated with it, on the other - elements of the driver of the internal unit supply voltage and decoupling filters connected with it. Printed circuit boards are in contact with the longitudinal strip of the insert at the “earth” points of their circuitry, thereby connecting them to a common “earth” circuit of the amplifier unit. Printed circuit boards are electrically connected with each other and with two coaxial high-frequency connectors. One of the coaxial high-frequency connectors is used to connect to the antenna, which receives signals from satellite systems from the ether. Another coaxial high-frequency connector is used to connect to a cable that goes to the signal receiver of satellite systems, which carries out the frequency conversion of satellite system signals, their processing and the selection of useful information, as well as the formation of the supply voltage for the amplifier unit. A high-frequency coaxial cable is used as a cable, this cable transmits the signals of satellite systems amplified by the block, from the amplifier unit to the receiver of satellite systems signals, and in the opposite direction, the supply voltage for the amplifier unit, formed in the receiver of satellite systems signals. Separation in the amplifier unit of the signal circuit and the power circuit is carried out using decoupling filters.

In the exemplary embodiment of the prototype block presented in [6], the glass and the insert are interconnected by means of a threaded connection, namely: the insert is screwed into the glass, for which the glass has an internal thread, and one of the end flanges of the insert has a mating external thread. In this connection, the end flange of the insert located inside the cup interacts with the bottom of the cup, and the other end flange of the insert interacts with the opposite end edge of the cup. To seal the joints between the interacting surfaces of the glass and the insert flanges, elastic gaskets are used. This design of the housing is technological, does not require external fasteners (screws, nuts, etc.), provides effective shielding of the electrical circuit located in the interior of the housing, and its protection from moisture and mechanical stress. If necessary, an additional insulating shell may be put on the housing, made, for example, in the form of a dielectric cup.

A feature of the implementation of the coaxial high-frequency connectors in the prototype block is that their bases are made integrally with the corresponding end flanges of the insert, and the inner conductors exit at their ends through holes made in the longitudinal strip of the insert in the areas between the printed circuit boards and the end flanges of the insert. These ends are connected by pieces of flexible conductors with the corresponding contact elements of the printed circuit boards.

The assembly of the prototype unit is as follows. First, coaxial high-frequency connectors are assembled on the end flanges of the insert, then printed circuit boards are fixed on the longitudinal strip of the insert. Printed circuit boards are interconnected, as well as with coaxial high-frequency connectors, pieces of flexible conductors. After that, the insert, which carries printed circuit boards and coaxial high-frequency connectors, is screwed all the way into the glass, into which elastic gaskets are pre-installed to seal the joints. The amplification unit assembled in this way is ready for inclusion in the antenna path of the receiver of signals from satellite systems.

The considered design of the prototype unit is characterized by manufacturability, ease of assembly, providing effective shielding of the electrical circuit from external noise while protecting it from moisture and mechanical stress. In the prototype block, the loss of useful signals in the parts of the earth circuit between the bases of coaxial high-frequency connectors and the insert flanges is minimized by performing them in one piece. The use of pieces of flexible conductor for connecting coaxial high-frequency connectors to printed circuit boards simplifies installation and provides the ability to connect coaxial high-frequency connectors to any of the printed circuit boards, depending on the current circuitry.

However, from a structurally convenient point of view, connecting the internal conductor of a coaxial high-frequency connector to a printed circuit board using a piece of flexible conductor introduces noticeable losses into useful signals - microwave signals in the gigahertz frequency range. This is due to the fact that the transition between the coaxial and the signal transmission line, which is a strip line, located on the printed circuit board, implemented using a piece of flexible conductor, introduces a significant inhomogeneity in the signal transmission path. Losses of useful signals that occur in the prototype block at these transitions, in some cases, for example, in adverse reception conditions, can lead to an increase in the time spent on processing the received signals and make it difficult to quickly obtain useful information.

The technical result, to which the claimed invention is directed, is to develop the design of the amplifier unit of the antenna path of the receiver of signals from satellite systems, which provides a reduction in the loss of useful signals at the junctions "printed circuit board - coaxial high-frequency connector".

The essence of the claimed invention is as follows. The amplification unit of the antenna path of the satellite signal receiver contains a closed conductive housing, in the inner space of which there is an electric circuit made on two printed circuit boards, which serves to amplify the signals of satellite systems transmitted along the antenna path from the antenna that receives signals from satellite systems from the ether to the receiver signals of satellite systems. The housing is formed by the connection of a cylindrical-shaped glass made of metal and an insert, the end flanges of which are electrically contacted with the glass. The printed circuit boards are located on the longitudinal bar connecting these flanges, with each of the boards located on its side of this bar. The printed circuit boards are electrically connected with each other and with two coaxial high-frequency connectors, one of which is used to connect to the antenna, and the other to connect to the cable that goes to the signal receiver of satellite systems. Coaxial high-frequency connectors are located at opposite ends of the insert coaxially with its longitudinal axis, the bases of the coaxial high-frequency connectors are integral with the corresponding end flanges of the insert, and the internal conductors of the coaxial high-frequency connectors exit with their ends into the through windows made in the longitudinal strip of the insert. Unlike the prototype, in each of the coaxial high-frequency connectors, the end of the inner conductor extending into the corresponding through window of the longitudinal strip of the insert is connected to one of the printed circuit boards by a transverse conductive pin fixed on one side in a transverse hole made in the inner conductor of the coaxial high-frequency connector, and on the other hand, in the metallized hole of the contact pad of the strip line of the connected printed circuit board in contact with its metallized surface with a longitudinal strip of the insert on the side of its location, while the specified through window on the side opposite to the exit of the transverse conductive pin is closed by the metallized surface of another printed circuit board located on the opposite side of the longitudinal strip of the insert and in contact with its metallized surface.

In embodiments of practical importance, the electrical connections of the printed circuit boards with each other are made in the form of transverse coaxial junctions filled with a solid dielectric.

The invention and the possibility of its implementation are illustrated by the drawings shown in figures 1-7, where:

figure 1 presents a schematic drawing of the inventive amplification unit of the antenna path of the receiver of signals of satellite systems in the considered embodiment related to the case when both coaxial high-frequency connectors are connected to one (first) printed circuit board (general view, longitudinal section in a plane perpendicular to the printed planes boards);

figure 2 is the same, a view in partial section from the side of the first printed circuit board;

figure 3 is a schematic drawing of a glass housing (3A is a longitudinal section, 3b is a transverse section);

figure 4 is a schematic drawing of an insert of the housing with the inner conductors of coaxial high-frequency connectors (4a is a view from the side of the plane of the transverse bar, 4b is a longitudinal section in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the transverse bar);

figure 5 is an example of the first printed circuit board (5A is a view from the side of the elements, 5b is a view from the side of the metallized surface);

Fig.6 is an example of a second printed circuit board (6a is a view from the side of the elements, 6b is a view from the side of the metallized surface);

7 is an example of making connections between printed circuit boards.

The inventive amplification unit of the antenna path of the receiver of signals of satellite systems (hereinafter referred to as the amplification unit) contains a closed conductive housing 1, in the inner space of which (Figs. 1, 2) there is an electric circuit made on two printed circuit boards 2 and 3, which serves to amplify the signals of satellite systems transmitted along the antenna path from the antenna to the receiver of signals from satellite systems. In the particular case, this circuit can be performed similarly to the electrical circuit of the prototype unit presented in [6, Fig. 3], while on the first printed circuit board 2 low-noise amplifier elements and decoupling filters associated with it are placed, and on the second printed circuit board 3 - shaper elements of the intra-unit supply voltage and decoupling filters associated with it.

The housing 1 is formed by connecting two metal elements - a cup 4 of cylindrical shape with an opening 5 in its bottom (Fig. 1, 3) and insert 6 (Fig. 1, 4). The insert 6 has end flanges 7 and 8 and a longitudinal bar 9 connecting them (FIGS. 1, 4). The end flanges 7 and 8 of the insert 6 are in electrical contact with the glass 4; printed circuit boards 2 and 3 are located on the longitudinal strip 9 of insert 6, each of these printed circuit boards being located on its side of the longitudinal strip 9 (Fig. 1).

In this example, the cup 4 and the insert 6 are connected by means of a threaded connection 10 (Fig. 1), while the insert 6 is screwed into the cup 4, for which the cup 4 has an internal thread and the end flange 8 has an external thread mating to it (Fig. 3, four). In this connection, the end flange 8 of the insert 6, located inside the cup 4, interacts with the bottom of the cup 4, and the end flange 7 interacts with the opposite end edge of the cup 4. To seal the joints between the interacting surfaces of the cup 4 and the flanges 7 and 8, elastic gaskets 11 and 12 (FIG. 1). The closed conductive housing 1 formed in this way provides sealing and shielding of its internal space, in which the printed circuit boards 2 and 3 are located. To increase the shielding effect, the components of the housing 1 of the glass 4 and insert 6 are made monolithic and coated with a conductive coating, for example, Chemical.H12.M. 6.0 Vi (99.7) 12.

Printed circuit boards 2 and 3 are electrically connected with each other and with two coaxial high-frequency connectors 13 and 14 (Fig.1, 2). The first coaxial high-frequency connector 13 is used to connect to an antenna receiving signals from satellite systems from the air (not shown in the figures). The second coaxial high-frequency connector 14 is used to connect to a cable that goes to the signal receiver of satellite systems, frequency-converting signals from satellite systems, processing and extracting useful information, as well as generating a supply voltage for the amplifier unit (not shown in the figures). A high-frequency coaxial cable is used as a cable, along this cable in the direction from the amplifier unit to the signal receiver of the satellite systems the signals of the satellite system amplified by the amplifier unit are transmitted, and in the opposite direction, the supply voltage generated in the receiver of the satellite systems is transmitted to the amplifier unit. Separation in the amplifier unit of the signal circuit and the power circuit is carried out using decoupling filters.

Coaxial high-frequency connectors 13 and 14 are located at opposite ends of the insert 6 coaxially with its longitudinal axis, while the bases 15 and 16 of these connectors are made integrally with the corresponding end flanges 7 and 8 of the insert 6 (Figs. 1, 2, 4).

The inner conductors 17 and 18 of the coaxial high-frequency connectors 13 and 14 exit at their ends through the windows 19 and 20, made in the longitudinal strip 9 of the insert 6 (Fig.1, 4).

The inner conductors 17 and 18 of the coaxial high-frequency connectors 13 and 14 are located in the dielectric bushings 21 and 22 (Figs. 1, 4) made, for example, of fluoroplastic. The ratio of the outer diameter of the dielectric bushings 21, 22 and the diameter of the inner conductors 17, 18 is selected based on the desired value of the wave impedance of the coaxial input. In this example, the outer diameter of the dielectric bushings 21, 22 is D = 6.0 mm, and the diameter of the inner conductors 17, 18 is d = 2.0 mm, which, with a relative dielectric constant of the material of the dielectric bushings 21, 22 ε _r ≈ 2.0 provides wave impedance of coaxial input Z _of ≈50 Ohm.

The remaining structural elements of coaxial high-frequency connectors 13, 14 are standard, their specific implementation depends on the type of connector being implemented.

In this example, both coaxial high-frequency connectors 13 and 14 are connected to the first printed circuit board 2 (Fig.1, 5). This is done using transverse conductive pins 23 and 24, mounted on one side in the respective transverse holes made at the ends of the inner conductors 17 and 18 of the coaxial high-frequency connectors 13 and 14 extending through the windows 19 and 20 of the longitudinal strip 9 of insert 6 (FIG. 1, 4), and on the other hand, in the corresponding metallized holes of the contact pads of the strip lines 25 and 26 of the printed circuit board 2 (Figs. 1, 2, 5). The diameter of the transverse conductive pins 23, 24 in this example is 0.8 mm; the diameter of the windows 19 and 20 is 5.0 mm; the transverse conductive pins 23, 24 are fixed in the printed circuit board 2 and in the transverse holes at the ends of the inner conductors 17 and 18 by soldering. The printed circuit board 2 is in contact with its metallized surface 27 (FIGS. 1, 5) with the longitudinal bar 9, providing an electrical connection of its “ground” circuit with a common “ground” circuit of the amplifier unit. The through windows 19 and 20 of the longitudinal strip 9 of the insert 6 from the side opposite to the exit of the transverse conductive pins 23 and 24 are closed by the metallized surface 28 of the printed circuit board 3 (Figs. 1, 6). The metallized surface 28 of the printed circuit board 3 is in electrical contact with the longitudinal strip 9, providing electrical connection of the "ground" circuit of the printed circuit board 3 with a common "ground" circuit of the amplifier unit and at the same time is a screen covering through windows 19 and 20.

Thus, the ends of the inner conductors 17, 18 of the coaxial high-frequency connectors 13, 14 and the transverse conductive pins 23, 24 connecting them to the strip lines 25, 26 are inside the shielded cavities formed by the side walls of the corresponding windows 19, 20 and the parts of the metallized surface 28 covering them printed circuit board 3. Such a design of shielded transitions from coaxial high-frequency connectors 13, 14 to strip lines 25, 26 provides a normalized value of wave impedance eniya and characterized by a decrease in comparison with the prototype loss of useful signals at these transitions.

In a similar manner, coaxial high-frequency connectors 13, 14 are connected in cases when one of them is connected to one printed circuit board (2 or 3) and the other to another printed circuit board (3 or 2) (not shown in the figures). In these cases, each of the printed circuit boards 2, 3 closes with its metallized surface a corresponding through window (19 or 20) of the longitudinal bar 9, through which the other circuit board is connected to its coaxial high-frequency connector.

In this example, the electrical connections between the printed circuit boards 2 and 3 are made in the form of transverse coaxial transitions filled with a solid dielectric. The design of such a connection (Fig. 7) consists of a conductive pin 29 connecting the corresponding contact pads of the printed circuit boards 2 and 3, and a dielectric sleeve 30, within which a conductive pin 29 is located, while the dielectric sleeve 30 is located inside the corresponding hole 31 of the longitudinal strip 9 of the insert 6. as a material of the dielectric sleeve 30 is applied, for example, PTFE having a relative permittivity ε _r ≈2,0, wherein the ratio of the inner and outer diameter of dielectric Coy sleeve 30 is about 1: 3, which provides a wave impedance value Z of the coaxial transition _in ≈50 ohms.

In this example, the mounting of the printed circuit boards 2 and 3 on the longitudinal strip 9 of the insert 6 is carried out using screw ties 32 (figure 2), attracting both boards 2 and 3 simultaneously to the longitudinal strip 9.

The assembly of the amplifier unit is as follows. First, coaxial high-frequency connectors 13 and 14 are assembled on the end flanges 7 and 8 of the insert 6. Then, the transverse holes are drilled through the conductor at the ends of the inner conductors 17 and 18 of the coaxial high-frequency connectors 13 and 14 extending through the windows 19 and 20 of the longitudinal strip 9 of the insert 6. holes designed to secure the transverse conductive pins 23 and 24. Then, the ends of the transverse conductive pins 23 and 24 are fixed (sealed) in these holes, after which a furnace is installed on the longitudinal bar 9 tnye board 2 and 3 so that the free ends of the pins 23 and 24 pass through corresponding holes metallized pads strip lines 25 and 26 to which these pins are connected. Then the printed circuit boards 2 and 3 are attracted to the longitudinal strip 9 with screw ties 32, and the protruding ends of the transverse conductive pins 23 and 24 are soldered to the corresponding contact pads of the strip lines 25 and 26. After this, insert 6, which carries the printed circuit boards 2 and 3 and coaxial high-frequency connectors 13 and 14 are screwed all the way into the glass 5, into which the elastic gaskets 11 and 12 are pre-installed to seal the joints. The amplification unit assembled in this way is ready for use in the antenna path of the receiver of signals from satellite systems.

The considered design of the amplification unit is characterized by manufacturability, ease of assembly, providing effective shielding of the electrical circuit from external noise while protecting it from moisture and mechanical stress. In addition, in the considered design, the loss of useful signals at the junctions “printed circuit board - coaxial high-frequency connector” is reduced, which is achieved due to a combination of two factors: a similar prototype of the bases of the coaxial high-frequency connectors in one piece with the insert flanges and the proposed implementation of the connections of the internal coaxial conductors high-frequency connectors with strip lines using transverse conductive pins located inside the shields cavities formed in the transverse strip of the insert.

The above shows that the claimed invention is feasible and ensures the achievement of the technical result, which consists in creating the design of the amplifier unit of the antenna path of the receiver of signals from satellite systems, which provides a reduction in the loss of useful signals at the transitions "printed circuit board - coaxial high-frequency connector."

Information sources

1. JP No. 7128423, G01S 5/14, G01S 1/00, publ. 05/19/1995.

2. US No. 6363123 (B1), H03K 9/00, H04L 27/06, H04L 27/14, H04L 27/22, publ. 03/26/2002.

3. US No. 5272485, H01Q 23/00, H01Q 1/38, publ. 12/21/1993.

4. US No. 6016128, H01Q 11/12, H01Q 7/00, H01Q 1/42, publ. 01/18/2000.

5. US No. 6011524, H01Q 1/36, H01Q 11/08, publ. 01/04/2000.

6. RU No. 2210845 (C1), H01Q 23/00, publ. 08/20/2003.

Claims (2)

1. The amplifying unit of the antenna path of the receiver of satellite system signals, containing a closed conductive housing, in the inner space of which is an electric circuit made on two printed circuit boards, which serves to amplify the signals of satellite systems transmitted along the antenna path from an antenna that receives signals from satellite systems from the ether , to the receiver of signals of satellite systems, while the housing is formed by a connection made of metal cups of cylindrical shape and inserts, end fl the ends of which are electrically in contact with the glass, and the printed circuit boards are located on the longitudinal strip connecting the indicated flanges, each of the boards is located on its side of this strip, the printed circuit boards are electrically connected with each other and with two coaxial high-frequency connectors, one of which is used to connect to the antenna and the other for connecting to a cable going to the signal receiver of satellite systems, coaxial high-frequency connectors are located at opposite ends of the insert coaxially with its along the single axis, the bases of the coaxial high-frequency connectors are integral with the corresponding end flanges of the insert, and the inner conductors of the coaxial high-frequency connectors exit through the windows made in the longitudinal strip of the insert, characterized in that in each of the coaxial high-frequency connectors the end of the inner conductor, coming out into the corresponding through window of the longitudinal strip of the insert, connected to one of the printed circuit boards by a transverse conductive pin, fixed on the one hand, in the transverse hole made in the inner conductor of the coaxial high-frequency connector, and on the other hand, in the metallized hole of the contact area of the strip line of the connected printed circuit board, in contact with its metallized surface with the longitudinal strip of the insert on the side of its location, while the specified through the window on the side opposite to the exit of the transverse conductive pin is closed by the metallized surface of another printed circuit board, located oh on the opposite side of the longitudinal strip of the insert and its metallized surface in contact with it. 2. The amplifier unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical connections of the printed circuit boards with each other are made in the form of transverse coaxial transitions filled with a solid dielectric.

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