Abstract:
A common mode noise reduction circuit includes at least one first input end, at least one second input end, at least one first output end, and at least one second output end. The circuit is further provided with at least one resistor, at least one inductor, and at least one capacitor, symmetrically disposed within the circuit loop defined by the four ends. Common mode noise, after entering the circuit, is transformed into heat by the resistance of the circuit such that the common mode noise is suppressed. Differential mode signals, on the contrary, after entering the circuit, can pass through the circuit with minimum loss.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority claim under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Taiwan Patent Application No. 103115819 filed May 2, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a common mode noise reduction circuit and, more particularly, to a common mode noise reduction circuit for suppressing common mode noise while maintaining the differential mode signals with minimum loss. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The advance of technology has driven faster operation speed and clock frequency for digital circuits such that the techniques of differential microstrips and striplines are widely applied in high-speed data transmission applications. Ideally, a differential transmission line has the characteristics of low electromagnetic radiation, and low crosstalk. However, in an actual circuit, unbalanced (or asymmetric) structure may inevitably carry unwanted common mode noise attached to the differential signals. 
     In general, it is needed to design a circuit with asymmetrical wiring in order to reduce the layout area. Any by-pass, feed-through, or slots on the circuit board may cause discontinuity problem, and generate unbalance in terms of amplitudes and phases when outputting signals. The problem is that the asymmetrical circuit structure may adversely convert differential mode signals into common mode noise, where the common mode noise is carried, through the ground contact, to the border of the circuit, the connected wires, or the metal layer of shielding, and worse yet, the common mode noise may cause serious electromagnetic interference, an impact to the radio frequency of the circuit or the antenna operation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a circuit diagram of a common mode noise suppression circuit  10  in the art is shown. The circuit  10  includes a common mode choke  11 , a first input end  131 , a first output end  133 , a second input end  151 , and a second output end  153 . The circuit  10  suppresses common mode noise by generating high inductive impedance for the common mode noise via the common mode choke, which is made of magnetic material. However, the permeability of the magnetic common mode choke  11  attenuates quickly in high frequency section, a limitation that makes the common mode choke  11  not suitably applied in high-speed transmission interface with frequency section of GHz or above. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide a common mode noise reduction circuit in which at least one resistor is provided to increase the loss with respect to common mode signals such that the common mode signals will not release from either input ends or output ends, thereby suppressing the common mode signals. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide a common mode noise reduction circuit in which the circuit includes at least one first input end, at least one second input end, at least one first output end, and at least one second output end. The circuit is provided with at least one resistor, at least one inductor, and at least one capacitor, symmetrically connected to the four ends, such that common mode signals, after entering the circuit, are transformed into heat, while differential mode signals, after entering the circuit, pass through the circuit without any loss. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide a common mode noise reduction circuit in which the circuit is symmetrically structured such that the differential mode signals entering the circuit are maintained without any loss. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide a common mode noise reduction circuit in which the circuit includes a first transmission line, a second transmission line, a first connection line, a second connection line, and a third connection line. The two ends of the first connection line, as well as the two ends of the second connection line, are respectively connected to the first transmission line and the second transmission line. The two ends of the third connection line are respectively connected to the first connection line and the second connection line, such that the first transmission line and the second transmission are symmetric to each other about the third connection line. 
     To the objects, this disclosure provides a common mode noise reduction circuit which includes a first transmission line, a second transmission line, a first connection line, a second connection line, and a third connection line. The first transmission line includes: a first input end; a first output end; and at least one first inductor disposed between the first input end and the first output end. The second transmission line includes: a second input end; a second output end; and at least one second inductor disposed between the second input end and the second output end. The first connection line is connected to the first input end and the second input end and includes at least one first two-port element and at least one second two-port element, where the first two-port element and the second two-port element are connected in series, and a third inductor is disposed between the first two-port element and the second two-port element and connected to the ground end. The second connection line is connected to the first output end and the second output end and includes at least one third two-port element and at least one fourth two-port element, where the third two-port element and the fourth two-port element are connected in series, and a fourth inductor is disposed between the third two-port element and the fourth two-port element and connected to the ground end. The third connection line includes at least one first resistor and at least one second resistor, where the first resistor and the second resistor are connected in series. The third connection line has one end connected between the first two-port element and the second two-port element connected in series, and has the other end connected between the third two-port element and the fourth two-port element connected in series. A fifth two-port element is disposed between the first resistor and the second resistor connected in series and connected to the ground end. The first two-port element, the second two-port element, the third two-port element, the fourth two-port element, and the fifth two-port element each have capacitive characteristics. 
     Furthermore, this disclosure provides another common mode noise reduction circuit which includes a first transmission line, a second transmission line, a first connection line, a second connection line, and a third connection line. The first transmission line includes: a first input end; a first output end; and a plurality of first inductors connected in series and disposed between the first input end and the first output end. The second transmission line includes: a second input end; a second output end; a plurality of second inductors connected in series and disposed between the second input end and the second output end. The first connection line is connected to the first input end and the second input end and includes at least one first two-port element and at least one second two-port element, where the first two-port element and the second two-port element are connected in series, and a third inductor is disposed between the first two-port element and the second two-port element and connected to the ground end. The second connection line is connected to the first output end and the second output end and includes at least one third two-port element and at least one fourth two-port element, where the third two-port element and the fourth two-port element are connected in series, and a fourth inductor is disposed between the third two-port element and the fourth two-port element and connected to the ground end. The third connection line includes at least one first resistor and at least one second resistor connected in series. The third connection line has one end connected between the first two-port element and the second two-port element connected in series, and has the other end connected between the third two-port element and the fourth two-port element connected in series. A fifth two-port is disposed between the first resistor and the second resistor and connected in series and connected to the ground end. The first two-port element, the second two-port element, the third two-port element, the fourth two-port element, and the fifth two-port element each have capacitive characteristics. 
     In one embodiment, the first two-port element, the second two-port element, the third two-port element, the fourth two-port element, the fifth two-port element and/or the sixth two-port element are a capacitor or diode. 
     In one embodiment, the first transmission line, the first two-port element, and the third two-port element combined are referred to as a first block, and the second transmission line, the second two-port element, and the fourth two-port element combined are referred to as a second block. The first block and the second block are symmetric to each other about the third connection line. 
     In one embodiment, the first connection line includes a first node connected to the ground end via the third inductor, and two sides of the first node are respectively provided with equal numbers of the first two-port elements and the second two-port elements; the second connection line includes a second node connected to the ground end via the fourth inductor, and two sides of the second node are respectively provided with the numbers of the third two-port elements and the fourth two-port elements. 
     In one embodiment, the two ends of the third connection line are respectively connected to the first node and the second node. 
     In one embodiment, the third connection line includes a third node connected to the ground end via the fifth two-port element, and two sides of the third node are respectively provided with equal numbers of the first resistors and the second resistors. 
     In one embodiment, this circuit further includes at least one fourth connection line provided with at least one sixth two-port element. One end of the fourth connection line is connected between the first inductors of the first transmission line, and the other end of the fourth connection line is connected between the second inductors of the second transmission line. 
     In one embodiment, the number of the first inductors and the number of the second inductors are three or more than three, and the number of the fourth connection lines is one less than the number of the first inductors or the second inductors. Moreover, one end of the fourth connection line is connected between two adjacent first inductors of the first transmission line, and the other end of the fourth connection line is connected between two adjacent second inductors of the second transmission line. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The structure as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects, and advantages of this disclosure will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a circuit diagram of a common mode noise reduction circuit in the art; 
         FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of a common mode noise reduction circuit according to an embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of a common mode noise reduction circuit according to another embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of a common mode noise reduction circuit according to another embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of a common mode noise reduction circuit according to another embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a circuit diagram of a common mode noise reduction circuit according to another embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of a common mode noise reduction circuit according to another embodiment of this disclosure; and 
         FIG. 8  is a circuit diagram of a common mode noise reduction circuit according to another embodiment of this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a common mode noise reduction circuit according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown. The common mode noise reduction circuit  20  includes a first transmission line  21 , a second transmission line  23 , a first connection line  25 , a second connection line  27 , and a third connection line  29 . The first transmission line  21  includes a first input end  211  and a first output end  213 , and the second transmission line  23  includes a second input end  231  and a second output end  233 . 
     In the present embodiment, there provides at least one inductor  215  disposed between the first input end  211  of the first transmission line  21  and the first output end  213  of the first transmission line  21 , and there provides at least one inductor  235  disposed between the second input end  231  of the second transmission line  23  and the second output end  233  of the second transmission line  23 . In one embodiment, the first inductor  215  and the second inductor  235  may have the same inductance value. In one embodiment, one of the first inductors  215  of the first transmission line  21  and one of the second inductors  235  of the second transmission line  23  are mutual inductively coupled. 
     The first connection line  25  serves to connect between the first transmission line  21  and the second transmission line  23 , where the two ends of the first connection line  25  are respectively connected to the first input end  211  and the second input end  231 . The first connection line  25  includes at least one first two-port element  251  and at least one second two-port element  252 , where the first two-port element  251  and the second two-port element  252  are connected in series, and a third inductor  221  is disposed between the first two-port element  251  and the second two-port element  253  and connected to the ground end. For example, the connection between the first two-port element  251  and the second two-port element  252  is referred to as the first node  253  and the first node  253  is connected to the ground end via the third inductor  221 . In some embodiments, the numbers of the first two-port elements  251  and the second two-port elements  252  may be more than two, and the equal numbers of the first two-port elements  251  and the second two-port elements  25  are respectively disposed at two sides of the first node  253 . In one embodiment, the first two-port element  251  and the second two-port element  252  may be the same component which, for example, is a capacitor or diode. 
     The second connection line  27  serves to connect between the first transmission line  21  and the second transmission line  23 , where the two ends of the second connection line  27  are respectively connected to the first output end  213  and the second output end  233 . The first connection line  27  includes at least one third two-port element  271  and at least one fourth two-port element  272 , where the third two-port element  271  and the fourth two-port element  272  are connected in series, and a fourth inductor  223  is disposed between the third two-port element  271  and the fourth two-port element  272  and connected to the ground end. For example, the connection between the third two-port element  271  and the fourth two-port element  272  is referred to as the second node  273  and the second node  273  is connected to the ground end via the third inductor  223 . In some embodiments, the numbers of the third two-port elements  271  and the fourth two-port elements  272  may be more than two, and the equal numbers of the third two-port elements  271  and the fourth two-port elements  272  are respectively disposed at the two sides of the second node  273 . In one embodiment, the third two-port element  271  and the fourth two-port element  272  may be the same component which, for example, is a capacitor or diode. 
     The third connection line  29  serves to connect between the first connection line  25  and the second connection line  27 , where one end of the third connection line  29  is connected between the first two-port element  251  and the second two-port element  252 , and the other end of the third connection line  29  is connected between the third two-port element  271  and the fourth two-port element  272 . For example, the third connection line  29  has one end connected to the first node  253 , and has the other end connected to the second node  273 . 
     In one embodiment, the third connection line  29  includes at least one first resistor  291  and at least one second resistor  292 , where the first resistor  291  and the second resistor  292  are connected in series, and a fifth two-port element  225  is disposed between the first resistor  291  and the second resistor  292  and connected to the ground end. For example, the connection between the first resistor  291  and the second resistor  292  is referred to as the third node  293  and the third node  293  is connected to the ground end via the fifth two-port element inductor  225 . The numbers of the first resistors  291  and the second resistors  292  may be more than two, and the equal numbers of the first resistors  291  and the second resistors  292  are respectively disposed at the two sides of the third node  293 . 
     In the present embodiment, the first transmission line  21  and the second transmission line  23  are disposed in symmetry which, for example, are symmetric about the third connection line  29 . According to the orientation shown in  FIG. 2 , the first transmission line  21 , and the first two-port element  251  and the third two-port element  271 , which are disposed above the third connection line  29 , can be referred to as the first block  241 , and the second transmission line, and the second two-port element  252  and the fourth two-port element  272 , which are disposed below the third connection line  29 , can be referred to as the second block  243 . The first block  241  and the second block  243  are symmetric to each other about the third connection line  29 . The term of “symmetric,” as indicated in the embodiment, refers to a symmetry of elements in the circuit, where the element can be, for example, an inductor, capacitor, resistor, or diode, but the number of elements which are symmetric may not be the same. 
     According to the law of conservation of energy, the energy of common mode signals should comply with the following equation:
 
1=| Scc 11| 2   +|Scc 21| 2   +|Sdc 11| 2   +|Sdc 21| 2 +δ  (1),
 
     where |Scc11| dB refers to the return loss of the common mode signals; |Scc21| dB refers to the insertion loss of the common mode signals; |Sdc11| and |Sdc21| refer to the mode conversion from common mode energy to differential mode energy; and δ refers to the loss with respect to the common mode signals, where the loss may be attributed to the metal wire, the material substrate, or the circuit. 
     In general, a common mode reduction circuit is symmetrically constructed. For example, in this embodiment, the first transmission line  21  and the second transmission line  23  (i.e., the first block  241  and the second block  243 ) are symmetric to each other about the third connection line  29 . Hence, the mode conversion, |Sdc11| and |Sdc21|, are negligible, allowing Eq. (1) to be simplified as follows:
 
1 =|Scc 11| 2   +|Scc 21| 2 +δ  (2)
 
     Since the loss (δ) caused by the metal wire and material substrate is negligible in a conventional common mode reduction circuit, Eq. (2) may be further simplified as follows:
 
1 =|Scc 11| 2   +|Scc 21| 2   (3)
 
     As indicated in Eq. (3), if the operation of a conventional common mode noise reduction circuit is to avoid the common mode signals to pass through the circuit, the term |Scc21| should be as close to 0 as possible, making the term |Scc11| approach to 1, which means that the common mode signals will be returned. However, the returned common mode signals are unexpected, and may be radiated by other radioactive objects, thereby adversely interfering with the radio frequency of the circuit or the operation of the antenna. 
     In this embodiment, the first transmission line  21  and the second transmission line  23  (i.e., the first block  241  and the second block  243 ) are symmetric to each other, and therefore the common mode noise reduction circuit  20  causes no, or only minimum, loss with respect to the differential mode signals, when inputting to the first input end  211  and the second input end  231  and outputting from the first output end  213  and the second output end  233 . By incorporating the first resistor  291  and the second resistor  292  in the common mode noise reduction circuit  20 , the common mode signals, after entering the circuit, will be transformed into heat. 
     In Eq. (2), as the value of δ increases, both |Scc11| and |Scc21| decrease. For example, if the value of δ approaches to 1, both |Scc11| and |Scc21| approach to 0 accordingly. In other words, the common mode signals, after entering the common mode noise reduction circuit  20 , will not output from the first input end  211  or the first output end  213 , thereby suppressing the common mode noise. The same theory can be applied to the second input end  231  and the second output  233 . 
     In this embodiment, the first two-port element  251 , the second two-port element  252 , the third two-port element  271 , the fourth two-port element  272 , and the fifth two-port element  225  have a capacitive characteristic which may, for example, be a capacitor or diode. In one embodiment, the first two-port element  251 , the second two-port element  252 , the third two-port element  271 , the fourth two-port element  272 , and the fifth two-port element  225  are the first capacitor  351 , the second capacitor  352 , the third capacitor  371 , the fourth capacitor  372 , and the fifth capacitor  325 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 3 , where the first capacitor  351 , the second capacitor  352 , the third capacitor  371 , the fourth capacitor  372 , and the fifth capacitor  325  may, or may not, have the same capacitance. In another embodiment, the first two-port element  251 , the second two-port element  252 , the third two-port element  271 , the fourth two-port element  272 , and the fifth two-port element  225  are the first diode  451 , the second diode  452 , the third diode  471 , the fourth diode  472 , and the fifth diode  425 , respectively, as shown in FIG., where the first diode  451 , the second diode  452 , the third diode  471 , the fourth diode  472 , and the fifth diode  425  may, or may not, have the same diode. In practice, without affecting the common mode noise reduction circuit  20 , the first two-port element  251 , the second two-port element  252 , the third two-port element  271 , the fourth two-port element  272 , and the fifth two-port element  225  may be selected from either a capacitor or a diode. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a common mode noise reduction circuit according to another embodiment of this disclosure is shown. The common mode noise reduction circuit  50  includes a first transmission line  51 , a second transmission line  53 , a first connection line  55 , a second connection line  57 , and a third connection line  59 , where the first transmission line  51  includes a first input end  511  and a first output end  513 , and the second transmission line  53  includes a second input end  531  and a second output end  533 . 
     In this embodiment, there provides plural first inductors  515  disposed between the first input end  511  of the first transmission line  51  and the first output end  513  of the first transmission line  51 , where the first inductors  515  are connected in series, and there provides plural second inductors  535  disposed between the second input end  531  of the second transmission line  53  and the second output end  533  of the second transmission line  53 , where the second inductors  535  are connected in series. In one embodiment, the first inductors  515  and the second inductors  535  may have the same inductance. In one embodiment, the first inductors  515  and the second inductors  535  may be mutual inductively coupled. 
     The first connection line  55  serves to connect between the first transmission line  51  and the second transmission line  53 , where the two ends of the first connection line  55  are respectively connected to the first input end  511  and the second input  531 . The first connection line  55  includes at least one first two-port element  551  and at least one second two-port element  552 , where the first two-port element  551  and the second two-port element  552  are connected in series, and a third inductor  221  is disposed between the first two-port element  551  and the second two-port element  552  and connected to the ground end. For example, the connection between the first two-port element  551  and the second two-port element  552  is referred to as the first node  553  and the first node  553  is connected to the ground end via the third inductor  221 . In some embodiments, the numbers of the first two-port element  551  and the second two-port element  552  may be more than two, and the equal numbers of the first two-port elements  551  and the second two-port element  552  are respectively disposed at the two sides of the first node  553 . In one embodiment, the first two-port element  551  and the second two-port element  552  may be the same component which, for example, is a capacitor or diode. 
     The second connection line  57  serves to connect between the first transmission line  51  and the second transmission line  53 , where the two ends of the second connection line  57  are respectively connected to the first output end  513  and the second output  533 . The second connection line  57  includes at least one third two-port element  571  and at least one fourth two-port element  572 , where the third two-port element  571  and the fourth two-port element  572  are connected in series, and a fourth inductor  223  is disposed between the third two-port element  571  and the fourth two-port element  572  and connected to the ground end. For example, the connection between the third two-port element  571  and the fourth two-port element  572  is referred to as the second node  573  and the second node  573  is connected to the ground end via the fourth inductor  223 . In some embodiments, the numbers of the third two-port element  571  and the fourth two-port element  572  may be more than two, and the equal numbers of the third two-port elements  571  and the fourth two-port element  572  are respectively disposed at the two sides of the second node  573 . In one embodiment, the third two-port element  571  and the fourth two-port element  572  may be the same component which, for example, is a capacitor or diode. 
     The third connection line  59  serves to connect between the first connection line  55  and the second connection line  57 , where one end of the third connection line  59  is connected between the first two-port element  551  and the second two-port element  552 , and the other end of the third connection line  59  is connected between the third two-port element  571  and the fourth two-port element  572 . For example, the third connection line  59  has one end connected to the first node node  553 , and has the other end connected to the second node  573 . 
     In one embodiment, the third connection line  59  includes at least one first resistor  591  and at least one second resistor  592 , where the first resistor  591  and the second resistor  592  are connected in series, and a fifth two-port element  225  is disposed between the first resistor  291  and the second resistor  292  and connected to the ground end. For example, the connection between the first resistor  591  and the second resistor  592  is referred to as the third node  593  and the third node  293  is connected to the ground end via the fifth two-port element inductor  225 . The numbers of the first resistors  591  and the second resistors  592  may be more than two, and the equal numbers of the first resistors  591  and the second resistors  592  are respectively disposed at the two sides of the third node  593 . 
     In the present embodiment, the first transmission line  51  and the second transmission line  53  are disposed in symmetry which, for example, are symmetric about the third connection line  59 . According to the orientation shown in  FIG. 5 , the first transmission line  51 , and the first two-port element  551  and the third two-port element  571 , which are disposed above the third connection line  59 , can be referred to as the first block  541 , and the second transmission line  53 , and the second two-port element  552  and the fourth two-port element  572 , which are disposed below the third connection line  59 , can be referred to as the second block  543 . The first block  541  and the second block  543  are symmetric to each other about the third connection line  59 . The term of “symmetric,” as indicated in the embodiment, refers to a symmetry of elements in the circuit, where the element can be, for example, an inductor, capacitor, resistor, or diode, but the number of elements which are symmetric may not be the same. 
     In this embodiment, the first transmission line  51  and the second transmission line  53  (i.e., the first block  541  and the second block  543 ) are symmetric to each other, and therefore the common mode noise reduction circuit  20  causes no, or only minimum, loss with respect to the differential mode signals, when inputting to the first input end  511  and the second input end  531  and outputting from the first output end  513  and the second output end  533 . By incorporating the first resistor  591  and the second resistor  592  in the common mode noise reduction circuit  50 , the common mode signals, after entering the circuit, will be transformed into heat. In other words, the common mode signals, after enter the common mode noise reduction circuit  50 , will not release from the input ends  511 / 531  and the output ends  513 / 533 , thereby suppressing the common mode noise. 
     In one embodiment, the common mode noise reduction circuit  50  further includes at least one fourth connection line  56  provided with at least one sixth two-port element  561  for connecting the first transmission line  51  and the second transmission line  53 . One end of the fourth connection line  56  is connected between the first inductors  515  of the first transmission line  51 , and the other end of the fourth connection line  56  is connected between the second inductors  535  of the second transmission line  53 . For example, when the numbers of the first inductors  515  and of the second inductors  535  are two, one end of the fourth connection line  56  may be connected between the first inductions  515  connected in series, and the other end of the fourth connection line  56  may be connected between the second inductions  535  connected in series. The transmission bandwidth of the differential mode signals in the common mode noise reduction circuit  50  can be adjusted by changing the disposition of the sixth two-port element  561  on the fourth connection line  56 . 
     In this embodiment, the first two-port element  551 , the second two-port element  552 , the third two-port element  571 , the fourth two-port element  572 , the fifth two-port element  225 , and the sixth two-port element  561  have a capacitive characteristic which may, for example, be a capacitor or diode. In one embodiment, the first two-port element  551 , the second two-port element  552 , the third two-port element  571 , the fourth two-port element  572 , the fifth two-port element  225 , and the sixth two-port element  561  are the first capacitor  651 , the second capacitor  652 , the third capacitor  671 , the fourth capacitor  672 , the fifth capacitor  625 , and the sixth capacitor  661 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , where the first capacitor  651 , the second capacitor  652 , the third capacitor  671 , the fourth capacitor  672 , the fifth capacitor  625 , and/or the sixth capacitor  661  may, or may not, have the same capacitance. In another embodiment, the first two-port element  551 , the second two-port element  552 , the third two-port element  571 , the fourth two-port element  572 , and the fifth two-port element  225  are the first diode  751 , the second diode  752 , the third diode  771 , the fourth diode  772 , and the fifth diode  725 , respectively. The number of the sixth two-port element  561  on the fourth connection line  56  may be plural. For example, there provides a sixth diode  761  and a seventh diode  762  disposed on the fourth connection line  56 , where the first diode  751 , the second diode  752 , the third diode  771 , the fourth diode  772 , the fifth diode  725 , the sixth diode  761 , and the seventh diode  762  may, or may not, be the same diode, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , there provides three or more than three first inductors  515  on the first transmission line  51 , and there provides three or more than three second inductors  535  disposed on the second transmission line  53 . The number of the fourth connection line  56  may be plural. For example, the number of the fourth connection lines  56  is one less than the number of the first inductors  515 , where each fourth connection line  56  includes at least one sixth two-port element  561 . Moreover, each fourth connection line  56  has one end connected between two adjacent first inductors  515  on the first transmission line  51 , and has the other end connected between two adjacent second inductors  535  on the second transmission line  53 . 
     In this description, the term of “connected” or “connection” refers to any two objects directly or indirectly electrically connected to each other. Therefore, if it is described that “a first element is connected to a second element,” the meaning is that the first element is either directly electrically connected to the second element or indirectly electrically connected to the second element through other elements or connection means.