In-line attenuator
View Patent ↗An attenuator includes a substrate having first and second surfaces and a plurality of discrete circuit elements. The first surface includes a first electrically conductive pattern providing circuit contacts providing electrical connections among the discrete circuit elements and circuit contacts providing electrical connections to components external to the attenuator. The second surface includes a second electrically conductive pattern.
1. An attenuator including a substrate having first and second surfaces and a plurality of discrete circuit elements, the first surface including a first electrically conductive pattern providing circuit contacts providing electrical connections among the discrete circuit elements and circuit contacts providing electrical connections to components external to the attenuator, the second surface including a second electrically conductive pattern, and a housing for the attenuator, wherein the circuit contacts providing electrical connections to components external to the attenuator include connectors for coupling electrically to complementary connectors provided on the housing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a BNC connector and the circuit contacts include connectors for coupling electrically to respective terminals of the BNC connector.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing includes an SMA connector and the circuit contacts include connectors for coupling electrically to respective terminals of the SMA connector.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate includes a third surface between the first and second surfaces, the third surface including an electrically conductive portion coupled to at least one of the first and second electrically conductive patterns, and further including a connector for coupling the electrically conductive portion of the third surface to the housing.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the substrate includes a third surface between the first and second surfaces, the third surface including an electrically conductive portion coupled to at least one of the first and second electrically conductive patterns, and further including a connector for coupling the electrically conductive portion of the third surface to the housing.
6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the substrate includes a third surface between the first and second surfaces, the third surface including an electrically conductive portion coupled to at least one of the first and second electrically conductive patterns, and further including means for coupling the electrically conductive portion of the third surface to the housing.
7. A microstrip attenuator including a substrate having first and second surfaces and a plurality of discrete circuit elements, the first surface including a first electrically conductive pattern providing circuit contacts providing electrical connections among the discrete circuit elements and circuit contacts providing electrical connections to components external to the attenuator, the second surface including a second electrically conductive pattern.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attenuator comprises a microstrip attenuator.
9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the attenuator comprises a microstrip attenuator.
10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the attenuator comprises a microstrip attenuator.
11. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the attenuator comprises a microstrip attenuator.
12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the attenuator comprises a microstrip attenuator.
13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the attenuator comprises a microstrip attenuator.
14. An attenuator including a fiber reinforced resin substrate having first and second surfaces and a plurality of discrete circuit elements, the first surface including a first electrically conductive pattern providing circuit contacts providing electrical connections among the discrete circuit elements and circuit contacts providing electrical connections to components external to the attenuator, the second surface including a second electrically conductive pattern.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
16. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
17. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
18. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
19. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
20. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
21. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
22. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
23. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
24. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
25. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
26. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.
27. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the substrate comprises fiber-reinforced resin.