Microwave tunable inductor and associated methods
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorsFrancis Eugene Parsche, Enrique Ruiz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The inductor, preferably a microwave tunable inductor, includes first and second wires twisted together to define a double helix having a first end and second end with a plurality of twists therebetween. First and second terminals are at the first end of the double helix, and a connection at the second end of the double helix electrically connects the first and second wires in series. The inductance is tuned by adjusting a number of twists in the double helix, and the inductance includes a linear tuning range based upon between about 3 to 10 twist for a tuning range of about 7–12 Nanohenries. The inductor can also resonate and filter, and the double helix affords numerous advantages over conventional single helix inductors.
Claims23
An inductor comprising:
- first and second wires twisted together to define a double helix having a first end and second end with a plurality of twists therebetween;
- first and second terminals at the first end of the double helix;
- and
- a connection at the second end of the double helix electrically connecting the first and second wires in series;
- an inductance of the double helix being tuned based upon the plurality of twists in the double helix, and the inductance including a linear tuning range based upon between about 3 to 10 twists in the double helix.
A microwave tunable inductor comprising:
- first and second wires twisted together to define a double helix having a first end and second end with a plurality of twists therebetween;
- first and second terminals at the first end of the double helix;
- a connection at the second end of the double helix electrically connecting the first and second wires in series;
- and
- an inductance tuning tool for tuning the inductance of the double helix, the inductance tuning tool comprising a dielectric tube having an internal slot therein for mating with the second end of the double helix.
A Radio Frequency (RF) communication device comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- an RF circuit on the substrate and comprising
- a printed circuit, and
- a microwave tunable inductor connected to the printed circuit and comprising
- first and second wires twisted together to define a double helix having a first end and second end with a plurality of twists therebetween,
- first and second terminals at the first end of the double helix and connected to the printed circuit, and
- a connection at the second end of the double helix electrically connecting the first and second wires in series,
- an inductance of the microwave tunable inductor including a linear tuning range based upon between about 3 to 10 twists in the double helix.
A method of making an inductor comprising:
- twisting first and second wires together to define a double helix having a first end and second end with a plurality of twists therebetween;
- providing first and second terminals at the first end of the double helix;
- the first and second wires being electrically connected in series at the second end of the double helix;
- and
- tuning an inductance of the double helix by adjusting the number of twists in the double helix with an inductance tuning tool comprising a dielectric tube having an internal slot therein for mating with the second end of the double helix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.