Dielectric waveguide filter with direct coupling and alternative cross-coupling

A dielectric waveguide filter for the transmission of an RF signal comprising:

• a first solid and separate block of dielectric material defining a first longitudinal axis and including a plurality of exterior surfaces covered with a layer of conductive material, a first plurality of open slots defined in the dielectric material and extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the first longitudinal axis and separating the first solid and separate block of dielectric material into a first plurality of resonators extending along the first longitudinal axis, and a first step defined in the first solid and separate block of dielectric material;
• a first plurality of RF signal transmission bridges of the dielectric material on the first solid and separate block of dielectric material co-linear with the first plurality of open slots respectively and defining a first path for the transmission of the RF signal through the first plurality of resonators in the direction of the first longitudinal axis;
• a first RF signal transmission window defined in the layer of conductive material;
• a first RF signal input/output through-hole defined in the first solid and separate block of dielectric material;
• a second solid and separate block of dielectric material defining a second longitudinal axis and including a plurality of exterior surfaces covered with a layer of conductive material, a second plurality of open slots defined in the dielectric material of the second solid and separate block and extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the second longitudinal axis and separating the second solid and separate block of dielectric material into a second plurality of resonators extending along the second longitudinal axis;
• a second plurality of RF signal transmission bridges of dielectric material on the second solid and separate block of dielectric material co-linear with the second plurality of open slots respectively and defining a second path for the transmission of the RF signal through the second plurality of resonators in the direction of the second longitudinal axis;
• a second RF signal transmission window defined in the layer of conductive material of the second solid and separate block;
• a first direct RF signal transmission path defined through the first and second solid and separate blocks of dielectric material respectively;
• and
• the first and second solid and separate blocks of dielectric material being coupled to each other with one of the plurality of exterior surfaces of the second solid and separate block of dielectric material abutted against one of the plurality of exterior surfaces of the first solid and separate block of dielectric material and the first and second RF signal transmission windows aligned with each other and defining a third path for the transmission of the RF signal between a first one of the first plurality of resonators in the first solid and separate block of dielectric material and a first one of the second plurality of resonators in the second solid and separate block of dielectric material in a direction normal to the first and second longitudinal axis.

The dielectric waveguide filter of claim further comprising:

• a third RE signal transmission window defined in the layer of conductive Material in a region of one of the first plurality of resonators;
• and
• a fourth RF signal transmission window defined in the layer of conductive material in a region of one of the second plurality of resonators;
• the third and fourth RF signal transmission windows being aligned with each other when the first and second solid and separate blocks of dielectric material are coupled to each other and define the fourth path for the transmission of the RF signal between the first and second solid and separate blocks of dielectric material in the direction normal to the first and second longitudinal axis.