Dielectric filter construction having notched mounting surface

A circuit assembly comprising:

• a printed circuit board having a generally planar face surface and a bottom surface and an opening extending through the printed circuit board between the face surface and the bottom surface thereof, said printed circuit board further having a first bar-shaped projecting member and a second bar-shaped projecting member, said first and second bar-shaped projecting members, respectively, being spaced-apart by a pre-determined distance and extending in parallel directions to project into the opening;
• electrically-conductive transmission lines disposed upon at least top surfaces of the first and second bar-shaped portions of the printed circuit board;
• a dielectric block defining a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom mounting surface, and first and second side surfaces, and having at least one resonator formed to extend essentially longitudinally along at least a portion of the length of the dielectric block with portions of the front surface, the rear surface, the bottom mounting surface, the first and second side surfaces, and sidewalls which define the at least one resonator being coated with an electrically-conductive material, said bottom mounting surface of dimensions permitting mated engagement with the opening extending through the circuit board and having:
• at least one front-side notch corresponding to the at least one projecting member, the at least one front-side notch defined by opposing sidewall surfaces and a front-side notch seating surface extending therebetween and formed at a side of the bottom mounting surface which interfaces with the front surface, and a laterally-extending notch formed at a side of the bottom mounting surface opposite that of the side of the bottom mounting surface at which the at least one front-side notch is formed, said laterally-extending notch comprising a laterally-extending sidewall and a laterally-extending seating surface;
• wherein the front-side notch seating surface and the laterally-extending seating surface are formed at similar elevations above the bottom mounting surface such that, when the bottom mounting surface of the dielectric block is positioned in the mated engagement with the opening extending through the circuit board, the laterally-extending seating surface and the front-side notch seating surface seat against the face surface of the circuit board;
• and
• a bracket for supporting the dielectric block when positioned at the opening in the mated engagement thereat.

In a transceiver having both receiver circuitry and transmitter circuitry disposed upon a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board defined by a face surface and a bottom surface and having an opening extending through the printed circuit board between the face surface and the bottom surface thereof, the printed circuit board further having at least one projecting member projecting into the opening and having an electrically-conductive transmission line disposed thereupon, the combination with the receiver circuitry and the transmitter circuitry of a filter assembly coupled to the receiver circuitry and the transmitter circuitry by way of the transmission line, said filter assembly comprising:

• a dielectric block defining a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom mounting surface, and first and second side surfaces, and having at least one resonator formed to extend essentially longitudinally along at least a portion of the length of the dielectric block with portions of the front surface, the rear surface, the bottom mounting surface, the first and second side surfaces, and sidewalls which define the at least one resonator being coated with an electrically-conductive material, said bottom mounting surface of dimensions permitting mated engagement with the opening extending through the printed circuit board and having:
• a first front-side notch and a second front-side notch corresponding to the first bar-shaped projecting member and the second bar-shaped projecting member, the first and second front-side notches, respectively, each defined by opposing sidewall surfaces and a front-side notch seating surface extending therebetween and each formed at a side of the bottom mounting surface which interfaces with the front surface, and a laterally-extending notch formed at a side of the bottom mounting surface opposite that of the side of the bottom mounting surface at which the first and second front-side notches are formed, said laterally-extending notch comprising a laterally-extending sidewall and a laterally-extending seating surface;
• wherein the front-side notch seating surfaces of the first and second front side notches and the laterally-extending seating surface are formed at similar elevations above the bottom mounting surface such that, when the bottom mounting surface of the dielectric block is positioned in the mated engagement with the opening extending through the printed circuit board, the laterally-extending seating surface and the front-side notch seating surfaces seat against the face surface of the printed circuit board.