Dual-mode surface acoustic wave filter with split input/output converters determining impedance

This is a continuation of copending International Application PCT/DE98/01582, filed Jun. 9, 1998, which designated the United States.

The invention relates to a dual-mode surface acoustic wave filter (DMS filter) that is preferably produced on a LiNbO 3 or LiTaO 3 base. The DMS filter has acoustic tracks that are coupled to one another via coupling converters. Interdigital converters are provided for each of the tracks and are disposed between reflectors. The DMS filter can be used, in particular, for RF applications.

In communication systems, signals are processed balanced or unbalanced, with frequent changes being made between two operating modes for carrying signals and thus resulting in a requirement for filters which, considered on the input and output sides, can be operated unbalanced/balanced or balanced/balanced. Specific circuit concepts also require filters with the characteristics indicated above, as well as different input and output impedances.

A DMS filter which to some extent satisfies these requirements, that is to say can be operated balanced or unbalanced, is known in the prior art. The structure of this DMS surface acoustic wave filter has acoustic tracks which are coupled to one another via coupling converters with interdigital converters which are disposed for each track within short-circuited reflectors and act as filter input and output converters, and are connected in series. Where filters of this type have been produced, they have in each case the same impedance, namely 50 ohms, on both sides, that is to say on the filter input and output sides.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a dual-mode surface acoustic wave filter which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a dual-mode surface acoustic wave filter which can be operated balanced and unbalanced, containing: coustic tracks, including:

coupling converters for coupling the acoustic tracks to one another;

reflectors; and

interdigital converters disposed between the reflectors and act as input/output converters for each of the acoustic tracks, the input/output converters have an impedance determined by splitting the input/output converters into a plurality of individual converters, and at least some of the individual converters are connected in series for each of the acoustic tracks.

The object of the invention is to provide a highly selective RF filter, which can likewise be operated balanced or unbalanced (symmetrical or unsymmetrical), that is to say has so-called BALUN functionality, but in which case the impedance of the input and output converters may optionally be defined to be different, in contrast to the known DMS filter.

In order to achieve this object, the invention provides that the impedance of the input and/or output converters of the filter is determined by weighting and/or by splitting the input and/or output converters into a plurality of individual converters, at least some of which are connected in series, for each acoustic track.

Some of the input and/or output converters may in this case also be split into individual converters, which are connected in parallel.

By changing, for example, the geometric structure of uniform normal finger converters, it is always possible to set a desired impedance for the individual converter and a different impedance from converter to converter, which may be obtained, by omission weighting or by overlap weighting and, if required, in combination with this, by splitting the converters into a plurality of series-connected individual converters.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a dual-mode surface acoustic wave filter, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic plan views of first and second exemplary embodiments of a weighted input converter according to the invention;

FIGS. 3 to 6 are plan views of a third through a sixth exemplary embodiment to show further options for defining the impedance of the input converter; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a DMS filter according to the prior art.

In all the figures of the drawing, sub-features and integral parts that correspond to one another bear the same reference symbol in each case. Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 7 thereof, there is shown a known DMS filter which can be operated balanced or unbalanced. The structure of this DMS filter has acoustic tracks A, B which are coupled to one another via coupling converters 3 , 4 . The DMS filter has interdigital converters W 20 , W 21 which are disposed for each track within (between) short-circuited reflectors 5 , 5 and 6 , 6 , and act as filter input and output converters and are connected in series. Where filters of this type have been produced, they have in each case had the same impedance, namely 50 ohms, on both sides, that is to say on the filter input and output sides.

In FIG. 1 and according to the invention there is shown a structure of an input converter 100 disposed on a piezoelectric substrate, which is not illustrated but is known per se. The piezoelectric substrate is for example a LiNbO 3 or LiTaO 3 substrate. The input converter 100 is omission weighted by a configuration of fingers 10 without any overlap, that is to say so-called blind fingers.

The exemplary embodiments each show input converters. However, the invention also, of course, extends to output converters and combinations of input and output converters.

In FIG. 2, an overlap weighting occurs instead of the omission weighting of the input converter 100 and—as in general is also true for the converse case of the structure shown in FIG. 1 —can likewise additionally be omission weighted.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the input converter 100 is split into converter elements W 1 , W 2 , which are connected in series, in the vertical direction with respect to the propagation direction of the acoustic waves. As a result of which the impedance is increased by a factor of 4 in comparison to the uniform normal finger converter. The common busbar 1 of both converter elements W 1 , W 2 is either grounded or floated, depending on the requirement.

As FIGS. 4 and 5 show, the input converter 100 can be split into converter elements W 3 to W 6 and W 7 to W 12 , respectively, partially in the vertical direction with respect to the propagation direction of the acoustic waves and partially in the horizontal direction, and these converter elements are connected in series and parallel, respectively. The only partial vertical splitting results, in contrast to the converter shown in FIG. 3, in the impedance being increased by a factor of less than 4 .

Finally, FIG. 6 shows a normal finger converter, which is split into two converter elements W 13 , W 14 , which have mirror-image symmetry with respect to one another, in the horizontal direction with respect to the propagation direction of the acoustic waves, and which converter elements are once again connected in series to one another. The impedance is increased by a factor of 4 by this structure. A common busbar 2 of the converter elements W 13 and W 14 may once again be grounded or floated.