Dielectric resonator filter with coupling ring and antenna system formed therefrom

A filter for an electromagnetic signal, comprising:

• a first cavity and a first dielectric resonator, said first resonator being located within said first cavity, said first cavity having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first cavity comprising an electrically conductive sidewall extending from said first end to said second end, said first cavity further comprising an electrically conductive end wall located at said first end connecting with said sidewall;
• wherein said resonator has opposed front and back flat base surfaces and a cylindrical sidewall surface joining said base surfaces, said first resonator and said first cavity having respective dimensions which are operative with a wavelength of said signal to provide a filter characteristic to said first cavity;
• said first cavity has an opening at said second end, said back base surface facing said end wall and said front base surface facing said opening;
• said filter further comprises an annular ring disposed in front of said front base surface of said first resonator to facilitate a coupling of power of said signal through said opening;
• wherein said front base surface of said first resonator is circular, said ring is circular, and a diameter of said front base surface is equal to or greater than an outer diameter of said ring;
• and
• an inner diameter of said ring is approximately one-half the outer diameter of said ring.

An antenna system for an electromagnetic signal, comprising:

• an array of radiators constituting an antenna, and a plurality of filters coupled electromagnetically to respective ones of said radiators;
• wherein each of said filters comprises a first cavity and a first dielectric resonator, said first resonator being located within said first cavity, said first cavity having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first cavity comprising an electrically conductive sidewall extending from said first end to said second end, said first cavity further comprising an electrically conductive end wall located at said first end connecting with said sidewall;
• wherein, in each of said filters, said resonator has opposed front and back flat base surfaces and a cylindrical sidewall surface joining said base surfaces, said first resonator and said first cavity having respective dimensions which are operative with a wavelength of said signal to provide a filter characteristic to said first cavity;
• in each of said filters, said first cavity has an opening at said second end, said back base surface facing said end wall and said front base surface facing said opening;
• each of said filters further comprises an annular ring disposed in front of said front base surface of said first resonator to facilitate a coupling of power of said signal through said opening;
• each of said filters connects to the radiator corresponding therewith via said opening to accomplish coupling of the power of said electromagnetic signal between the filter and the radiator corresponding therewith;
• in each of said filters, said front base surface of said first resonator is circular, said ring is circular, and a diameter of said front base surface is equal to or greater than an outer diameter of said ring;
• and
• in each of said filters, an inner diameter of said ring is approximately one-half the outer diameter of said ring.

An antenna system for a electromagnetic signal, comprising:

• an array of radiators constituting an antenna, and a plurality of filters coupled electromagnetically to respective ones of said radiators;
• wherein each of said filters comprises a first cavity and a first dielectric resonator, said first resonator being located within said first cavity, said first cavity having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first cavity comprising an electrically conductive sidewall extending from said first end to said second end, said first cavity further comprising an electrically conductive end wall located at said first end connecting with said sidewall;
• wherein, in each of said filters, said resonator has opposed front and back flat base surfaces and a cylindrical sidewall surface joining said base surfaces, said first resonator and said first cavity having respective dimensions which are operative with a wavelength of said signal to provide a filter characteristic to said first cavity;
• in each of said filters, said first cavity has an opening at said second end, said back base surface facing said end wall and said front base surface facing said opening;
• and
• each of said filters further comprises an annular ring disposed in front of said front base surface of said first resonator and extending through said opening to facilitate a coupling of power of said signal through said opening;
• and
• wherein each of said filters connects to the radiator corresponding therewith via said opening to accomplish a coupling of the power of said electromagnetic signal between the filter and the radiator corresponding therewith.

A filter for an electromagnetic signal, comprising:

• a first cavity and a first dielectric resonator, said first resonator being located within said first cavity, said first cavity having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first cavity comprising an electrically conductive sidewall extending from said first end to said second end, said first cavity further comprising an electrically conductive end wall located at said first end connecting with said sidewall;
• wherein said resonator has opposed front and back flat base surfaces and a cylindrical sidewall surface joining said base surfaces, said first resonator and said first cavity having respective dimensions which are operative with a wavelength of said signal to provide a filter characteristic to said first cavity;
• said first cavity has an opening at said second end, said back base surface facing said end wall and said front base surface being contiguous to said opening;
• and
• said filter further comprises an annular ring disposed in front of said front base surface of said first resonator to facilitate a coupling of power of said signal through said opening.

A filter for an electromagnetic signal, comprising:

• a first cavity and a first dielectric resonator, said first resonator being located within said first cavity, said first cavity having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first cavity comprising an electrically conductive sidewall extending from said first end to said second end, said first cavity further comprising an electrically conductive end wall located at said first end connecting with said sidewall;
• wherein said resonator has opposed front and back flat base surfaces and a cylindrical sidewall surface joining said base surfaces, said first resonator and said first cavity having respective dimensions which are operative with a wavelength of said signal to provide a filter characteristic to said first cavity;
• said first cavity has an opening at said second end, said back base surface facing said end wall and said front base surface facing said opening;
• said filter further comprises an annular ring disposed in front of said front base surface of said first resonator to facilitate a coupling of power of said signal through said opening;
• and
• said ring is spaced apart from said front base surface of said first resonator, and a disk of dielectric electrically insulating material is located between said first resonator and said ring, said disk extending through said opening, and a dielectric constant of said disk being less than a dielectric constant of said first resonator.

An antenna system for an electromagnetic signal, comprising:

• an array of radiators constituting an antenna, and a plurality of filters coupled electromagnetically to respective ones of said radiators;
• wherein each of said filters comprises a first cavity and a first dielectric resonator, said first resonator being located within said first cavity, said first cavity having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first cavity comprising an electrically conductive sidewall extending from said first end to said second end, said first cavity further comprising an electrically conductive end wall located at said first end connecting with said sidewall;
• in each of said filters, said resonator has opposed front and back flat base surfaces and a cylindrical sidewall surface joining said base surfaces, said first resonator and said first cavity having respective dimensions which are operative with a wavelength of said signal to provide a filter characteristic to said first cavity;
• in each of said filters, said first cavity has an opening at said second end, said back base surface facing said end wall and said front base surface being contiguous to said opening;
• each of said filters further comprises an annular ring disposed in front of said front base surface of said first resonator to facilitate a coupling of power of said signal through said opening;
• and
• each of said filters connects to the radiator corresponding therewith via said opening to accomplish a coupling of the power of said electromagnetic signal between the filter and the radiator corresponding therewith.

An antenna system for an electromagnetic signal, comprising:

• an array of radiators constituting an antenna, and a plurality of filters coupled electromagnetically to respective ones of said radiators;
• wherein each of said filters comprises a first cavity and a first dielectric resonator, said first resonator being located within said first cavity, said first cavity having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first cavity comprising an electrically conductive sidewall extending from said first end to said second end, said first cavity further comprising an electrically conductive end wall located at said first end connecting with said sidewall;
• in each of said filters, said resonator has opposed front and back flat base surfaces and a cylindrical sidewall surface joining said base surfaces, said first resonator and said first cavity having respective dimensions which are operative with a wavelength of said signal to provide a filter characteristic to said first cavity;
• in each of said filters, said first cavity has an opening at said second end, said back base surface facing said end wall and said front base surface facing said opening;
• each of said filters further comprises an annular ring disposed in front of said front base surface of said first resonator to facilitate a coupling of power of said signal through said opening;
• in each of said filters, said ring is spaced apart from said front base surface of said first resonator, and a disk of dielectric electrically insulating material is located between said first resonator and said ring, said disk extending through said opening, and a dielectric constant of said disk being less than a dielectric constant of said first resonator;
• and
• each of said filters connects to its respective radiator via said opening to accomplish coupling of the power of said electromagnetic signal between the filter and its respective radiator.