Dielectric waveguide filter with direct coupling and alternative cross-coupling

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

• first and second blocks of dielectric material each including an exterior surface covered with a layer of conductive material and coupled together;
• at least a first resonator defined in each of the first and second blocks of dielectric material;
• a second resonator defined in the first block of dielectric material and separated from the at least first resonator in the first block of dielectric material by a first slot and a first bridge for transmitting the RF signal between the at least first resonator and the second resonator in the first block of dielectric material;
• an interior layer of conductive material defined between the first and second blocks of dielectric material by the layer of conductive material when the first and second blocks of dielectric material are coupled together;
• and
• a region in the interior layer of conductive material between the first and second blocks of dielectric material devoid of conductive material and defining a first RF signal transmission window for the transmission of the RF signal between the at least first resonator in the first block of dielectric material and the at least first resonator in the second block of dielectric material when the first and second blocks of dielectric material are coupled together.

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

• first and second blocks of dielectric material each including an exterior surface and a first exterior side surface and coupled together in a side-by-side relationship along the respective first exterior side surfaces thereof;
• at least first and second resonators defined in the first block of dielectric material and separated by a first slot defined in the first block of dielectric material and a first RF signal transmission bridge for the transmission of the RF signal between the first and second resonators in the first block of dielectric material;
• at least third and fourth resonators defined in the second block of dielectric material and separated by a second slot defined in the second block of dielectric material and a second RF signal transmission bridge for the transmission of the RF signal between the third and fourth resonators in the second block of dielectric material;
• a layer of conductive material covering the exterior surface of each of the first and second blocks of dielectric material and together defining an interior layer of conductive material between the first and second blocks of dielectric material when the first and second blocks of dielectric material are coupled together in the side-by-side relationship, the waveguide filter defining a longitudinal axis and the interior layer of conductive material extending in a relationship co-linear with the longitudinal axis;
• a region in the interior layer of conductive material being devoid of conductive material and defining a first RF signal transmission window for the transmission of the RF signal between one of the first and second resonators in the first block of dielectric material and one of the third and fourth resonators in the second block of dielectric material when the first and second blocks of dielectric material are coupled together.