Integrated circulators sharing a continuous circuit
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a circuit assembly that includes an integrated circulator assembly. The circuit assembly has a first substrate, which contains a continuous circuit trace that includes a circulator component from the circulator assembly and at least one electrical component from the circuit assembly. A second substrate is disposed beneath the first substrate and includes a cladding on one surface. The second substrate contains an aperture that accepts a ferrite element, which is axially aligned with the circulator component of the circuit trace. A conductive material is placed across the ferrite element so that it forms a continuous ground plane with the cladding, which is common to the entire circuit trace. The circulator assembly also contains a magnet bonded to the ferrite element. The circulator assembly may also include a yoke disposed below the magnet to shield the circulator from external magnetic fields.
1. A circulator assembly, comprising:
a first substrate comprising a continuous circuit trace, the continuous circuit trace comprising at least one circulator component;
a second substrate disposed below the first substrate, comprising:
a cladding on at least one side;
an aperture; and
a ferrite element inserted into the aperture and proximately aligned with the circulator component;
a conductive material disposed over the ferrite element of the second substrate and in electrical contact with the cladding of the second substrate forming a continuous ground plane; and
a first magnet positioned below the ferrite element;
wherein the first substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface comprises the continuous circuit trace and is disposed adjacent to the second substrate; and
wherein the second surface of the first substrate comprises a cladding.
2. The circulator assembly of claim 1 further comprising a yoke disposed below the first magnet.
3. The circulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate comprises a non-ferrous dielectric material.
4. The circulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second substrate comprises a dielectric material.
5. The circulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material comprises a conductive thin film adhesive.
6. The circulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate has a thickness in the range of approximately 0.003 inches to 0.007 inches and the second substrate has a thickness in the range of approximately 0.03 inches to 0.07 inches.
7. The circulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate has a thickness of approximately 0.005 inches and the second substrate has a thickness of approximately 0.05.
8. The circulator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third substrate located above the first substrate, the third substrate comprising:
a cladding on at least one surface;
an aperture; and
a ferrite element disposed within the aperture and proximately aligned with the circulator component;
a conductive material disposed above the ferrite disc and in electrical contact with the cladding of the third substrate forming a second continuous ground plane; and
a second magnet positioned above the ferrite disc of the third substrate.
9. The circulator assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a yoke.
10. The circulator assembly of claim 9 , wherein the yoke comprises a top plate positioned above the second magnet and a bottom plate positioned below the first magnet.
11. The circulator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the yoke further comprises at least one tang connecting the top plate and the bottom plate.
12. The circulator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the conductive material comprises a conductive thin film adhesive.