Waveguide in multilayer structures and resonator formed therefrom

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/297,763, filed Dec. 9, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,274, which is a 371 of PCT/FI01/00482, filed May 17, 2001, which claims priority from Finnish application 20001383, filed Jun. 9, 2000.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to waveguides, transmission lines, and resonators in multilayer printed circuit board structures. In particular the invention concerns a coaxial line structure in printed circuits.

[0004] 2. Background of the Invention

[0005] Prior art transmission lines used in printed circuits have mainly been microstrips, coplanar waveguides, and striplines. If a coaxial line would have been needed in a circuit board, the coaxial line would have been attached separately to the surrounding circuitry on the surface of the printed circuit. This creates a potential reliability risk due to the increased number of joints, additional electrical loss, and increased temperature related to discontinuity effects. Manufacturing is expensive because of the discrete nature of a coaxial line. Coaxial structures are also relatively large because the dielectric material in the coaxial has a low dielectric constant ε_r=2–4). Conventional coaxial structures also need space for supporting and protective layers around the cable.

[0006] As mentioned above, microstrips, coplanar waveguides, and striplines are the usual structures in multilayer printed circuits as mentioned. These are sensitive to EMC (Electromagnetic compatibility) disturbances, such as electromagnetic interference. Due to the effect of radiation, especially at high frequencies, conventional multilayer transmission lines have high transmission losses as well. Using typical multilayer transmission line structures means that only moderate Q values can be gained, making it difficult to apply multilayer ceramics technologies in high Q value applications, such as resonators.

[0007] The objective of the invention is to decrease the above-mentioned drawbacks of known solutions.

[0008] The idea of the invention is to fabricate a multilayer coaxial transmission line into a printed circuit. The outermost conductor is fabricated by conductive conduit strips in different layers, using conductive via posts in isolation layers connecting the strips. The innermost conductor can be a single conductive strip or multiple strips in different layers connected together through conductive via posts. The objective of the invention is achieved in a manner described in the claims.

[0016] FIG. 1 depicts an example of the coaxial structure (10) according to the invention. The innermost line strip (1) of the multilayer structure forms a transmission line for a signal, and the outermost line strips (2) in different layers of a circuit board, which are connected by via posts (3) to each other, form a ground conductor. The outermost line strips are arranged to form as round a circle as possible in order to imitate the actual coaxial waveguide. The distance (4) between the via posts should be less than a quarter in wavelength in order to guarantee good isolation between the coaxial structure and the rest of the circuit board. The via post separation (4) must not be more than half a wavelength, since otherwise multiple transmission lines start to behave like coupled resonators, resulting in severe oscillations within the structure. The minimum length between via posts is determined by the mechanical strength of a circuit board structure.

[0017] In multilayer ceramics technology, it is easy to form via posts in isolation, which can be filled with conductive paste to form signal paths before the firing process. By using a screen printing process, it is easy to create conductive transmission line strips 2 as well. Via posts need not be round taps, but they can be other shapes too. FIG. 2 illustrates via posts 3 which are rectangles. The post can be placed in more than one row in order to improve isolation.

[0018] In FIG. 3 another example of the cross-section of a coaxial structure is depicted according to the invention. Now the signal conductor is composed of two line strips 2 in different layers, which are connected with via posts 3 through isolation area (5). This is to suppress conductor losses. There are also two outermost conductors in this case, i.e. FIG. 3 represents a triaxial structure. The triaxial structure is especially needed, for example, in sensitive measurement devices or if good immunity to EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) disturbances is otherwise required. It is also possible to fabricate more conductors in a coaxial structure if needed, i.e. to form multiaxial structures.

[0019] The short-circuit end of a coaxial structure is formed by using conductive strips (6) (see FIG. 1), posts (7), or both, to connect the innermost conductor to the outermost conductor.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows the cross-section of a coaxial structure where the outermost conductor is in the form of rectangle. The rectangle form is easier to manufacture and more inexpensive than the structure where the outermost conductor is in the form of round. However, losses are greater in the form of rectangle. FIG. 5 shows an example of a reflection coefficient (S) when the test signal is input to the rectangular coaxial line (FIG. 4) whose other end has been supplied with a short-circuit. Correspondingly, FIG. 6 shows an example of a reflection coefficient (S) when the test signal is input to the round coaxial line (FIG. 1) whose other end has been supplied with a short-circuit. The reflection coefficient is greater in the round coaxial line than in the rectangular coaxial line, i.e. there are more losses in the rectangular coaxial line. Thus it is usually desired to arrange the outermost line strips for forming as round a circle as possible.

[0021] Because the multilayer coaxial structure is integrated into a printed circuit, this is an inexpensive solution. There is more space on the surface of the printed circuit for other components. The size of the coaxial structure can be reduced if a high dielectric constant material is used. Typically, dielectric materials used in coaxial cables have low dielectric constant values (i.e. ranging from 2 to 4), while in multilayer ceramics, the dielectric constant values range in value from 5 to up to several hundred.

[0022] EMC problems can be avoided since the outermost line of a coaxial line can act as an EMC shield to the surrounding circuitry. This also means low radiation losses. The coaxial structure has inherently a high Q value due to its geometry. High Q value of a multilayer coaxial structure enables the usage of high Q value resonators and filters in multilayer circuit boards.

[0023] The coaxial line has a low dispersion since it is of the TEM (Transverse Electric-Magnetic) transmission line type, providing that the use of this kind of transmission line is possible at high frequencies.

[0024] The invention could be applied, for example, to either multilayer ceramic technologies, such as LTCC (Low Temperature Cofired Ceramics) and HTCC (High Temperature Cofired Ceramics), or to advanced laminated printed circuit board technology.

[0025] Although the invention has been described in the light of the above-mentioned examples, it is evident that the invention is not restricted to them, but that it can be used in other structures within the scope of the inventive idea.