Abstract:
A dielectric electronic component such as a dielectric duplexer includes a dielectric ceramic block, a plurality of resonators arranged in a row in the dielectric ceramic block, and at least one terminal pad formed on a side surface of the dielectric ceramic block and coupled to a selected one of the resonators. An attenuation adjustment electrode is provided on an end face of the dielectric ceramic block in the vicinity of the selected resonator. The attenuation adjustment electrode has a base conductor portion extending from the terminal pad and having an edge that faces the end of the selected resonator, and first and second adjustment conductor portions projecting from the base conductor portion and directly oppositely along a general path or direction defined by the arrangement of the resonators. The first and second adjustment conductor portions are selectively ground away in order to adjust the frequency of the attenuation peak of the frequency characteristics of the component.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to dielectric electronic components, such as a dielectric filter or a dielectric duplexer, which are used in mobile communication devices such as cellular phones, and which include a plurality of resonators arranged in a row. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   A dielectric duplexer, which is an example of a dielectric electronic component of the type referred to above, is typically configured in the following manner. A plurality of resonators are arranged in a row in a dielectric ceramic block. Each of the resonators is formed through coating, with an internal conductor, the inner wall surface of a through-hole formed in the dielectric ceramic block. A predetermined circumferential surface of the dielectric ceramic block is coated with an external conductor. The resonators are divided into two groups. One group serves as a transmission section which is coupled with an input terminal pad formed on the predetermined circumferential surface in spaced relation to the external conductor. The other group serves as a receiver or reception section which is coupled with an output terminal pad formed on the predetermined circumferential surface in spaced relation to the external conductor. An antenna terminal pad is formed on a mounting surface of the dielectric duplexer in spaced relation to the external conductor in such a manner as to be coupled with the innermost resonator of the transmission section and the innermost resonator of the reception section. 
   A dielectric filter is another example of a dielectric electronic component of the type of interest here. 
   Conventional dielectric electronic components having the above-described configuration suffer the disadvantage that the attenuation characteristics thereof vary substantially from component to component. This is due to various factors such as variations involved in molding of the associated dielectric ceramic blocks which preclude obtaining the desired attenuation characteristics. Further, with the advancement and diversification of mobile communication devices, an increased demand has arisen for dielectric electronic components, such as dielectric filters and dielectric duplexers, which have various different attenuation characteristics. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a dielectric electronic component, such as dielectric filter or dielectric duplexer, having attenuation characteristics which can be easily adjusted. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of adjusting the attenuation characteristics of a dielectric electronic component which enables easy adjustment of these characteristics. 
   In order to achieve the above objects, there is provided, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a dielectric electronic component comprising: a dielectric ceramic block; a plurality of resonators arranged in a row in the dielectric ceramic block, each of said resonators comprising an internal conductor covering a wall surface of a through-hole formed in the dielectric ceramic block; an external conductor covering a side surface of the dielectric ceramic block; at least one terminal pad formed on the side surface of the dielectric ceramic block in spaced relation to the external conductor and coupled with a selected or predetermined resonator of the plurality of resonators; and an attenuation-characteristic adjustment electrode (hereinafter referred to as an “attenuation adjustment electrode”) provided on an end face of the dielectric ceramic block, said end face providing an open circuit end for the resonators, and said attenuation adjustment electrode being located in the vicinity of, i.e., in adjacent spaced relation to, one end of the selected resonator, the attenuation adjustment electrode including a base conductor portion extending from the terminal pad and having an edge that faces the one end of the selected resonator, and at least one adjustment conductor portion projecting from the base conductor portion generally along the path or direction defined by the arrangement of resonators, i.e., substantially laterally of the base conductor. 
   Experiments performed by the present inventors have determined that when the attenuation adjustment electrode is selectively reduced in size, preferably by grinding away or otherwise removing at least part of the adjustment conduction portion thereof, the degree of coupling between the terminal pad and the selected resonator changes, and thus the attenuation characteristics of the dielectric electronic component change. Accordingly, the structure of the dielectric electronic component in which the attenuation adjustment electrode includes such an adjustment conductor portion enables easy adjustment of the attenuation characteristics of the dielectric electronic component. 
   The present inventors have further found that the attenuation characteristics change in a different manner depending on the location of a portion of the adjustment conductor portion that has been ground away. In view of this discovery, the present invention provides a dielectric electronic component which has the above-described configuration and in which the attenuation adjustment electrode has first and second adjustment conductor portions projecting substantially laterally from the base conductor portion in such a manner that the first adjustment conductor portion extends toward a center part of the end face of the block, and the second adjustment conductor portion extends toward an outside part of the end face of the block. 
   In the embodiment described above, when the first adjustment conductor portion is ground away or otherwise removed, the attenuation peak is shifted toward the lower frequency side, and when the second adjustment conductor portion is ground away or otherwise removed, the attenuation peak is shifted toward the higher frequency side. Since the above-described configuration enables easy determination of the amount of grinding and the positioning of the associated grinding tool that are required for obtaining the desired attenuation characteristics, the attenuation characteristics can be quickly adjusted as desired. 
   In a preferred embodiment the selected resonator has a circular extension conductor provided at one end of the selected resonator and connected thereto, and the base conductor portion of the attenuation adjustment electrode has an arcuate edge concentric with the circular extension conductor. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of adjusting attenuation characteristics of a dielectric electronic component having the above-described configuration. The method comprises the step of grinding away or otherwise removing the adjustment conductor portion of the attenuation adjustment electrode to thereby adjust the attenuation characteristics. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a method of adjusting attenuation characteristics of a dielectric electronic component which has the above-described configuration and in which the attenuation adjustment electrode has first and second adjustment conductor portions projecting from the base conductor portion substantially laterally thereof in such a manner that the first adjustment conductor portion extends toward a center part of the end face of the block, and the second adjustment conductor portion extends toward an outside part of the end face of the block. The method comprises the steps of grinding away or otherwise removing the first adjustment conductor portion in order to shift an attenuation peak toward the lower frequency side, and grinding away or otherwise removing the second adjustment conductor portion in order to shift the attenuation peak toward the higher frequency side. 
   This method enables quick and proper adjustment of the attenuation characteristics. 
   According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dielectric duplexer comprising: a dielectric ceramic block; a plurality of resonators arranged in a row in the dielectric ceramic block, the resonators each comprising an internal conductor disposed on or covering a wall surface of a through-hole formed in the dielectric ceramic block, and being divided into first and second groups such that the first group serves as a transmission section and the second group serves as a reception section; an external conductor covering a side surface of the dielectric ceramic block; an input terminal pad formed on the side surface of the dielectric ceramic block in spaced relation to the external conductor and so as to be coupled with the transmission section; an output terminal pad formed on the side surface of the dielectric ceramic block in spaced relation to the external conductor and so as to be coupled with the reception section; an antenna terminal pad formed on the side surface of the dielectric ceramic block in spaced relation to the external conductor and so as to be coupled with an innermost resonator of the transmission section and an innermost resonator of the reception section; and an attenuation adjustment electrode provided on an end face of the dielectric ceramic block, the end face providing an open circuit end for the resonators of the reception section, and the attenuation adjustment electrode being located in the vicinity of one end of an outermost resonator of the reception section, the attenuation adjustment electrode including a base conductor portion extending from the output terminal pad and having an edge that faces the one end of the outermost resonator, and at least one adjustment conductor portion projecting from the base conductor portion substantially laterally thereof. 
   Preferably, the attenuation adjustment electrode has first and second adjustment conductor portions projecting substantially laterally from the base conductor portion in opposite directions in such a manner that the first adjustment conductor portion extends toward a center part of the end face of the block, and the second adjustment conductor portion extends toward an outside part of the end face of the block. 
   The outermost resonator of the reception section preferably includes a circular extension conductor provided at the one end of the outermost resonator and connected thereto, and the base conductor portion of the attenuation adjustment electrode preferably has an arcuate edge concentric with the circular extension conductor. 
   The present invention further concerns a method of adjusting attenuation characteristics of a dielectric duplexer having the above-described configuration. The method comprises the step of grinding away or otherwise removing the adjustment conductor portion of the attenuation adjustment electrode to thereby adjust the attenuation characteristics. 
   The present invention further concerns a method of adjusting attenuation characteristics of a dielectric duplexer which has the above-described configuration and in which the attenuation adjustment electrode includes first and second adjustment conductor portions projecting substantially laterally from the base conductor portion in such a manner that the first adjustment conductor portion extends toward a center part of the end face of the block, and the second adjustment conductor portion extends toward an outside part of the end face of the block. The method comprises the steps of grinding away or otherwise removing the first adjustment conductor portion in order to shift an attenuation peak toward the lower frequency side, and grinding away or otherwise removing the second adjustment conductor portion in order to shift the attenuation peak toward the higher frequency side. Again, this method enables quick and proper adjustment of the attenuation characteristics. 
   Further features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in, or apparent from, the detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dielectric duplexer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the dielectric duplexer of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the dielectric duplexer of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic views of an attenuation adjustment electrode after having been modified so as to reduce the size thereof, wherein  FIG. 4A  shows a case where a first adjustment conductor portion has been ground away, and  FIG. 4B  shows a case where a second adjustment conductor portion has been ground way; 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are graphs showing attenuation characteristics of the dielectric duplexer, wherein  FIG. 5A  shows the attenuation characteristics in the case where the first adjustment conductor portion has been ground away, and  FIG. 5B  shows the attenuation characteristics in the case where the attenuation adjustment electrode is undisturbed, i.e., has not been ground at away all; and 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are graphs showing attenuation characteristics of the dielectric duplexer, wherein  FIG. 6A  shows the attenuation characteristics in the case where the second adjustment conductor portion has been ground away, and  FIG. 6B  shows the attenuation characteristics in the case where the attenuation adjustment electrode is undisturbed, i.e., has not been ground away at all. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention will next be described while a dielectric duplexer is taken as an example. 
     FIGS. 1  to  3  show a dielectric duplexer  1  in which eight through-holes  5 , each coated with an internal conductor, are formed in a dielectric ceramic block  2  having a flat, rectangular parallelepiped shape. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the through-holes  5  will be described beginning with the rightmost. The three rightmost through-holes  5  serve as reception or receiving resonators denoted  3 A- 3 C; the fourth through-hole  5  serves as an antenna excitation hole denoted  15   a ; the subsequent two through-holes  5  serve as transmission resonators denoted  4 A and  4 B; the seventh through-hole  5  serves as a transmission excitation hole denoted  15   b ; and the leftmost through-hole  5  serves as a trap formation resonator denoted  6 . The resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6  are arranged in parallel with one another along a common axis to form a row within the dielectric ceramic block  2 . It is noted that the resonators  3 A,  3 B, and  3 C constitute a three-pole-type reception section R, whereas the resonators  4 A and  4 B constitute a two-pole-type transmission section T. The resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6  are of a length substantially corresponding to λ/4, where λ is a wavelength corresponding to the predetermined resonant frequency of the resonators. 
   As is best seen in  FIG. 1 , an outer circumferential surface (i.e., a side surface) of the dielectric ceramic block  2  is coated with an external conductor  7 , which serves as a shield electrode. Portions of an upper end face of the dielectric ceramic block  2  at which upper ends of the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6  open, i.e., at which these ends terminate, serve as open circuit ends  8   a , where the external conductor  7  is absent. Portions of a lower end face of the dielectric ceramic block  2  at which lower ends of the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6  open or terminate, serve as short circuit ends  9   a , where the external conductor  7  is present (see FIG.  3 ). 
   The antenna excitation hole  15   a  and the transmission excitation hole  15   b  formed between the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6  are of an interdigital structure in relation to the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6 . Specifically, short circuit ends  9   b  for the excitation holes  15   a  and  15   b  are formed on the upper end face of the dielectric ceramic block  2 , where the open ends  8   a  for the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6  are provided, whereas open ends  8   b  for the excitation holes  15   a  and  15   b  are formed on the lower end face of the dielectric ceramic block  2 , where the short circuit ends  9   a  for the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6  are provided. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the open ends  8   a , a circular recess  10  is formed at the upper end of each of the through-holes  5 , which constitute the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6 , in order to establish mutual coupling with an adjacent resonator. A circular extension conductor  11  is formed on the bottom surface of each of the recesses  10  and connected to the corresponding internal conductor. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , an antenna terminal pad  13  is formed, in spaced relation to the external conductor  7 , on the side surface of the dielectric ceramic block  2  in the vicinity of the open end  8   b  for the antenna excitation hole  15   a . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the antenna terminal pad  13  is connected to the excitation hole  15   a  via a connection conductor  16   a . In this manner, the antenna terminal pad  13  is coupled with the innermost resonator  3 C of the receiving or reception section R and the innermost resonator  4 A of the transmission section T via the excitation hole  15   a.    
   Similarly, an input terminal pad  12   t  ( FIG. 1 ) is formed, in spaced relation to the external conductor  7 , on the side surface of the dielectric ceramic block  2  in the vicinity of the open end  8   b  for the transmission excitation hole  15   b . The input terminal pad  12   t  is connected to the excitation hole  15   b  via a connection conductor  16   b . In this manner, the input terminal pad  12   t  is coupled with the transmission section T via the excitation hole  15   b.    
   Further, an output terminal pad  12   r  of the receiving or reception section R is formed on the mounting surface (side surface) of the dielectric duplexer  1  spaced from the external conductor  7  at the greatest possible distance from the above-described antenna terminal pad  13 . More specifically, the output terminal pad  12   r  is formed in spaced relation to the external conductor  7  in the vicinity of the open end  8   a , while facing the outermost resonator  3 A of the reception section R. With this arrangement, the output terminal pad  12   r  is capacitively coupled with the reception section R. 
   Next, a key feature of the invention will be described. 
   In accordance with the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electrode  20  for providing adjustment of the attenuation characteristics of duplexer  1  (hereinafter referred to as the “attenuation adjustment electrode”  20 ) is formed on the open end  8   a  for the resonators  3 A to  3 C of the reception section R so as to be located in the vicinity of the outermost resonator  3 A. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the attenuation adjustment electrode  20  has a base conductor portion  21  connected to and extending from the output terminal pad  12   r  and having an arcuate edge concentric with the circular recess  10  formed at the upper end of the resonator  3 A (i.e., concentric with the circular extension conductor  11  formed on the bottom surface of the recess  10 ), and adjustment conductor portions  22  projecting, as shown, in opposite directions from the base conductor portion  21  along the path or direction of the row or arrangement of the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the adjustment conductor portions  22  include a first adjustment conductor portion  22   a  and a second adjustment conductor portion  22   b . The first adjustment conductor portion  22   a  projects from the base conductor portion  21  toward the center of the upper face of the dielectric ceramic block  2  along the path of the arrangement of the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6 , whereas the second adjustment conductor portion  22   b  projects from the base conductor portion  21  toward the outside of the upper face of the dielectric ceramic block  2  along the path of the arrangement of the resonators  3 A- 3 C,  4 A,  4 B, and  6 . 
   From the results of various experiments, the present inventors have confirmed that the attenuation characteristics of the dielectric duplexer  1  change when the adjustment conductor portions  22  of the attenuation adjustment electrode  20  are ground away by predetermined amounts, i.e., when different amounts thereof are removed. Moreover, referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the present inventors have found that the attenuation characteristics change in a different manner depending on whether the first adjustment conductor portion  22   a  is ground away or otherwise removed (as shown in  FIG. 4A ) or the second conductor portion  22   b  is ground away or otherwise removed (as shown in FIG.  4 B). The results of such experiments will be described below. 
     FIG. 5A  shows the attenuation characteristics of the dielectric duplexer  1  for the case where the first adjustment conductor portion  22   a  was ground down or otherwise removed. The attenuation characteristics of  FIG. 5A  include an attenuation peak denoted x1. On the other hand,  FIG. 5B  shows the attenuation characteristics of the dielectric duplexer  1  for the case where the attenuation adjustment electrodes  22  were not ground down at all, i.e., when electrodes  22  are undisturbed and thus were of the shape shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The attenuation characteristics of  FIG. 5B  include an attenuation peak denoted x0. A comparison between the attenuation peaks x0 and x1 shows that the attenuation peak x0 is shifted toward the lower frequency side of the frequency characteristic, through grinding away of the first adjustment conductor portion  22   a.    
   In contrast,  FIG. 6A  shows the attenuation characteristics of the dielectric duplexer  1  for the case where the second adjustment conductor portion  22   b  was ground away or otherwise removed. The attenuation characteristics of  FIG. 6A  include an attenuation peak denoted y1.  FIG. 6B  shows the attenuation characteristics of the dielectric duplexer  1  for the case where the attenuation adjustment electrodes  22  were not ground away at all and thus are of the shape shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The attenuation characteristics of  FIG. 6B  include an attenuation peak denoted y0. A comparison between the attenuation peaks y0 and y1 shows that the attenuation peak y0 is shifted toward the higher frequency side through grinding away of the second adjustment conductor portion  22   b.    
   As is confirmed by the above-described experimental results, the present inventors have invented a method of adjusting the attenuation characteristics of the dielectric duplexer  1  in which the attenuation peak x0 is shifted toward the lower frequency side by grinding away the first adjustment conductor portion  22   a , and the attenuation peak y0 is shifted toward the higher frequency side by grinding way the second adjustment conductor portion  22   b . Because the above-described configuration enables easy determination of the amount and position of grinding required for obtaining desired attenuation characteristics, the attenuation characteristics of the dielectric duplexer  1  can be quickly adjusted in the manner desired. 
   It is further noted that when one of the adjustment conductor portions  22   a  and  22   b  is ground excessively, i.e., when too much thereof is removed, this can be compensated for by grinding away a predetermined amount of the other of the adjustment conductor portions  22   a  and  22   b.    
   It will be understood that while the present invention was described above in relation to a dielectric duplexer device, the invention can be applied to dielectric filters and other dielectric electronic components. Further, the attenuation adjustment electrode of the present invention may be provided for any terminal pad. Thus, as mentioned previously, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but rather encompasses other embodiments wherein attenuation characteristics are adjusted by means of grinding away or otherwise removing a portion or portions of the attenuation adjustment electrode. 
   Accordingly, although the invention has been described above in relation to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be effected in these preferred embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.