Abstract:
A device for adjusting an electric parameter, including at least a base having at least two terminal pairs, a positioning body, and at least one first portion. Both ends of at least one of the terminal pair are connected to the first portion. A pair of signal terminals is disposed on the positioning body, and both ends of one of the terminal pairs are contacted with the signal terminal on the positioning body as a position of the base is changed, whereby facilitating adjustment of electric parameters. The device of the invention can be applied to various electronic circuits, RF circuits, microwave circuits, and so on, thus implementing step and quantitative adjustment of the electric parameters.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2009/072783 with an international filing date of Jul. 16, 2009, designating the United States, now pending, and further claims priority benefits to Chinese Patent Application No. 200810144258.3 filed on Jul. 28, 2008. The contents of all of the aforementioned applications, including any intervening amendments thereto, are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to a device for adjusting an electric parameter. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Nowadays, different devices for adjusting electric parameters in electronic circuits are used. However, there are several problems with conventional devices for adjusting electric parameters: since size of a signal input end cannot be adjusted, the length of a signal path is increased, which leads to high insert loss, and affects electric performance of the circuit; adjustment of the device is inconvenient; and production cost thereof is high. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In view of the above-described problem, it is one objective of the invention to provide a device for adjusting an electric parameter that is capable of reducing size and thus insert loss of a circuit to be adjusted, and improving electric performance of the circuit, and features convenient adjustment, and low production cost. 
         [0007]    To achieve the above objectives, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, provided is a device for adjusting an electric parameter, comprising a base having at least two terminal pairs, a positioning body, and at least one first portion, both ends of at least one of the terminal pair are connected to the first portion, a pair of signal terminals are disposed on the positioning body, and both ends of one of the terminal pairs are contacted with the signal terminals on the positioning body as a position of the base is changed. 
         [0008]    In a class of this embodiment, it further comprises a shifting body operating to rotate or to move the base whereby changing a position of the terminal pair on the base. 
         [0009]    In a class of this embodiment, it further comprises a fastening device operating to tightly contacting the base with the positioning body. 
         [0010]    In a class of this embodiment, the fastening device comprises an elastic body, a housing, and a fastening portion, the fastening portion operates to fix the positioning body to the housing, and the elastic body is disposed on the shifting body, and between the shifting body and the housing. 
         [0011]    In a class of this embodiment, the elastic body is an elastic piece, a spring, or silica gel. 
         [0012]    In a class of this embodiment, the signal terminals on the positioning body extend to the bottom or the outside of the positioning body. 
         [0013]    In a class of this embodiment, the base is a PCB board, a ceramic substrate, or a resin base. 
         [0014]    In a class of this embodiment, the base is a single-layered substrate, a double-layered substrate, or a multi-layered substrate. 
         [0015]    In a class of this embodiment, the first portion is an inductor, a capacitor, or a resistor, and the first portion is disposed on different layers or the same layer of the base. 
         [0016]    In a class of this embodiment, one of the terminal pairs is short connected. 
         [0017]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, provided is a device for adjusting an electric parameter, comprising a base having at least two terminal pairs, and a common ground terminal, a positioning body having a ground terminal, and at least one second portion, both ends of at least one of the terminal pair are connected to the second portion, a pair of signal terminals and the ground terminal are disposed on the positioning body, a ground terminal of the second portion on the base is connected to the common ground terminal, the common ground terminal of the base is contacted with the ground terminal of the positioning body, and both ends of one of the terminal pairs are contacted with the signal terminals on the positioning body as a position of the base is changed. 
         [0018]    In a class of this embodiment, it further comprises a shifting body operating to rotate or to move the base whereby changing a position of the terminal pair on the base. 
         [0019]    In a class of this embodiment, it further comprises a fastening device operating to tightly contacting the base with the positioning body. 
         [0020]    In a class of this embodiment, the fastening device comprises an elastic body, a housing, and a fastening portion, the fastening portion operates to fix the positioning body to the housing, and the elastic body is disposed on the shifting body, and between the shifting body and the housing. 
         [0021]    In a class of this embodiment, the elastic body is an elastic piece, a spring, or silica gel. 
         [0022]    In a class of this embodiment, the signal terminals on the positioning body extend to the bottom or the outside of the positioning body. 
         [0023]    In a class of this embodiment, the base is a PCB board, a ceramic substrate, or a resin base. 
         [0024]    In a class of this embodiment, the base is a single-layered substrate, a double-layered substrate, or a multi-layered substrate. 
         [0025]    In a class of this embodiment, the second portion is an attenuator, a filter, or an impedance transformer, the second portion is disposed on different layers or the same layer of the base, and the second portion is disposed on the base via a thick-film process, or a thin-film process. 
         [0026]    In a class of this embodiment, one of the terminal pairs is short connected. 
         [0027]    Advantages of the invention comprise 
         [0028]    1. the invention is capable of reducing size and thus insert loss of a circuit to be adjusted, and reducing affect of transmission distance on loss of a signal and on electric performance of the circuit, and features good RF performance. 
         [0029]    2. the invention features convenient adjustment, and is applicable for adjustment of capacitors, inductors, resistors (loads), attenuators, and filters. 
         [0030]    3. the invention features low production cost. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1(   a ) is a schematic view of a surface layer of a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 1(   b ) is a schematic view of a bottom layer of a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a positioning body of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates a combination of a positioning body with a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of the invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a bottom layer of a base with a return-to-zero terminal pair of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates a combination of a positioning body with a base as a device for adjusting an electric parameter is in a return-to-zero state; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a shifting body of the invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a bottom layer of a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of another exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a surface layer of a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of another exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a second portion implemented via separated components; 
           [0042]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a second portion implemented via combined components; 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view of a bottom layer of a base with a return-to-zero terminal pair of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of another exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 13  is a schematic view of a positioning body of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of another exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 14  illustrates a combination of a positioning body with a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of another exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0046]      FIG. 15  is a schematic view of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of another exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0047]    Further description will be given below in conjunction with accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 1(   a ), a surface layer of a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. A base  4  is a PCB substrate or a ceramic substrate, and can be a single-layered, double-layered, or multi-layered substrate. In this embodiment, the base  4  is a double-layered circular (or polygonal) PCB substrate. At least two terminal pairs are disposed on a surface layer of the base  4 . In this embodiment, six terminal pairs are used:  11  and  12 ,  21  and  22 ,  31  and  32 ,  41  and  42 ,  51  and  52 , and  61  and  62 . Both ends of each of the terminal pairs are connected to multiple first portions C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , C 5  and C 6 . In this embodiment, the first portions can be inductors, capacitors, resistors, or other electronic components, and may use different electric parameters. For devices for adjusting electric parameters with the same electric parameter, the first portions therein can be different types of electronic components, for example, one uses an inductor, and the other one uses a capacitor. If the first portion uses a chip inductor with different inductance, then the device becomes an adjustable inductor. 
         [0049]    The first portion is a chip component, a component printed on the base  4 , or a component produced on the base  4  via printing, sintering, sputtering, or insertion, and can be produced on different layers of the base  4 . As shown in  FIG. 1(   b ), each terminal pair is connected to the bottom layer of the base  4  via a respective signal through hole  7 . A positioning hole  5  and a shifting hole  6  are disposed on the base  4 , and operate with a shifting body whereby enabling the base  4  to rotate with respect to the positioning body  3 . 
         [0050]    The first portion can be disposed on different layers or the same layer of the base  4 , or on the same layer as the terminal pair. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a positioning body of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The positioning body  3  is a PCB board, a pair of signal terminals  1  and  2  are disposed on the surface thereof, and operate as a signal terminals (signal input terminal and a signal output terminal) for the device. 
         [0052]    A metal piece is connected to each of the signal terminals  1  and  2 . The signal terminals  1  and  2  extend to the outside of the positioning body  3 , and operate as signal terminals. 
         [0053]    The positioning body  3  is a double-layered PCB board, the signal terminals  1  and  2  are led to the bottom layer of the double-layered PCB board via the signal through hole  7 , and operate as signal terminals of the device (namely a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal). 
         [0054]    The positioning body  3  is a ceramic substrate, a resin base, or other types of substrate. A positioning hole  5   a  is disposed on the positioning body  3 . 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a combination of a positioning body with a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. 
         [0056]    A surface layer of the positioning body  3  is contacted with a bottom layer of the base  4 . The positioning hole  5   a  on the positioning body  3  is overlapped with the positioning hole  5  on the base  4 . The terminal pair  11  and  12  is respectively connected to the signal terminals  1  and  2  on the positioning body  3 . As the base  4  rotates, the next terminal pair is sequentially connected to the signal terminals  1  and  2  on the positioning body  3 . For example, the terminal pair  21  and  22  is respectively connected to the signal terminals  1  and  2 . Thus, connection between six first portions C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , C 5  and C 6  and the signal terminals  1  and  2  is implemented. As first portions with different electric parameters are used, adjustment of electric parameters is facilitated. It should be noted that, movement of the base  4  with respect to the positioning body  3  is not limited to rotation, and pushing can also be used to implement this. By changing input electric parameters between the signal terminals  1  and  2 , adjustment of the electric parameters is facilitated. 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a bottom layer of a base with a return-to-zero terminal pair of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. 
         [0058]    Another terminal pair  11  and  12  at the bottom layer of the base  4  is short connected via a signal microstrip line C 0 . As the terminal pair  11  and  12  is connected to the signal terminals  1  and  2  on the positioning body  3 , the signal terminals  1  and  2  are short connected, namely in a return-to-zero state. When selecting the different length of the signal microstrip line, the first portion is a phase shifter. 
         [0059]      FIG. 5  illustrates a combination of a positioning body  3  with a base  4  as a device for adjusting an electric parameter is in a return-to-zero state. 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , a shifting body of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. A main part of the shifting body  8  is a cylinder  80 , a positioning cylinder  81  and a shifting cylinder  82  are disposed at the bottom thereof. The positioning cylinder  81  passes through the positioning hole  5  of the base  4  and is received in the positioning hole  5   a  of the positioning body  3  whereby facilitating positioning. The shifting cylinder  82  is received in the positioning hole  6  of the base  4 , but does not pass through the positioning hole  6 , whereby driving the base  4  to rotate (shift). The shifting body  8  further comprises a pressure spanner  83  disposed outside the bottom of the cylinder  80 . The cylinder  80  and the pressure spanner  83  are integrally or separately formed. 
         [0061]    A positioning tooth  84  is disposed on one side of the pressure spanner  83 , and operates to ensure each terminal pair on the base  4  is accurately connected to the signal terminals  1  and  2  on the positioning body  3 . 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The base  4  is disposed on the positioning body  3 . The bottom layer of the base  4  is contacted with the surface layer of the positioning body  3 . The shifting body  8  is disposed on the base  4 . An elastic body  9  is disposed on the shifting body  8 , and between the pressure spanner  83  and a housing  10 . An inner surface layer of the housing  10  is disposed on the elastic body  9 . In this embodiment, the housing  10  is a resin housing, a metal housing, and so on. 
         [0063]    The elastic body  9  is a silicon gel ring, a metal spring, or an elastic piece, and operates to tightly contact the base  4  with the positioning body  3  when fixing the positioning body  3  and the housing  10  via a screw  10   a  whereby tightly pressing the positioning body  3 , the base  4 , the shifting body  8 , and the housing  10 . The elastic body  9 , the housing  10 , and the screw  10   a  form a fastening device. It should be noted that other fastening components, such as bolts, buckles, and clamps, can also be used to fix the positioning body  3  and the housing  10 . In addition, a fastening screw  10   a  disposed outside the housing  10  is used to fix the device for adjusting an electric parameter on an external circuit board. 
         [0064]    It should be noted that, the base  4  and the shifting body  8  can be integrally formed whereby facilitating adjustment of electric parameters. 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , a bottom layer of a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated. A base  4 - 2  is a double-layered PCB substrate. The base  4 - 2  can be ceramic substrate or other materials. Difference between a bottom layer of the base  4 - 2  and that in the first embodiment in  FIG. 1(   b ) is that a common ground terminal  100  and a through hole  101  are added. The common ground terminal  100  passes through the through hole  101 , and is connected to another common ground terminal  100  on a surface layer of the base  4 - 2 . At least two terminal pairs are used:  11  and  12 ,  21  and  22 ,  31  and  32 ,  41  and  42 ,  51  and  52 , and  61  and  62 . Each terminal pair is connected to an terminal pair on a surface layer of the base  4 - 2  via a respective signal through hole  7 . 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , a surface layer of a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Six terminal pairs are disposed on a surface layer of the base  4 - 2  corresponding to the bottom layer. Six second portions C 21 , C 22 , C 23 , C 24 , C 25 , and C 26  are disposed on the surface layer of the base  4 - 2 , and have different electric parameters. Difference between the second portion and the first portion is, the second portion comprises two signal terminals and one ground terminal. The two signal terminals are connected to the terminal pair on the base  4 - 2 , and the ground terminal of the second portion is connected to the common ground terminal on the base  4 - 2 . For example, the two signal terminals of the second portion C 21  are connected to the terminal pair  11  and  12 , and those of the second portion C 22  are connected to the terminal pair  21  and  22 , and thus connection with six second portions is sequentially implemented. A positioning hole  5 , a shifting hole  6 , and a signal through hole  7  are disposed on the base  4 - 2 . The signal through hole  7  operates to connect the terminal pair of the second pair on the surface layer of the base  4 - 2  to a corresponding terminal pair on the bottom layer thereof. 
         [0067]    In this embodiment, the second portion is an attenuator, a filter, an impedance transformer, an isolator or other electronic components. For an asymmetric component such as a filter, the signal terminals (input/output terminals) the filter are connected to the terminals (input/output terminals) of the signal terminals of the base  4 - 2 . 
         [0068]    In this embodiment, the second portion is a combined component, a separated component, or a combination thereof. 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , a second portion implemented via separated components is illustrated. The second portion is a Pi-type attenuator comprising three resistors. Attenuation of the six Pi-type attenuators is different whereby implementing adjustment of attenuation. The second portion is disposed on different layers or the same layer of the base  4 - 2 , or on the same layer as the terminal pair. 
         [0070]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the second portion is a combined chip component, a chip component made of a thick-film circuit or a thin-film circuit, or integrated component (module), and so on. 
         [0071]    Signal terminals  11   c  and  12   c  of the second portion C 21  are respectively connected to the terminal pair  11  and  12 , and the ground terminal  100   c  is connected to the common ground terminal  100  on the surface layer of the base  4 - 2 . In addition, the second portion can be produced on the base  4 - 2  via a thick-film process such as printing or sintering, a thin-film process such as sputtering, or insertion, 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , a bottom layer of a base with a return-to-zero terminal pair of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated. An terminal pair of the base  4 - 2  may be not connected to the second portion. Another terminal pair  11  and  12  at the bottom layer of the base  4 - 2  is short connected via a signal microstrip line C 0 . As the terminal pair  11  and  12  is connected to the signal terminals  1  and  2  on the positioning body, the signal terminals  1  and  2  are short connected, namely in a return-to-zero state. 
         [0073]    To prevent interruption (total reflection) occurs on a signal loop during switching between different second portions (such as the attenuator and so on), the terminals can be made into a cross terminals. For example, as the shifting body  8  rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the next terminal  21  is contacted with the signal terminal  1  before the terminal  11  is detached from the signal terminal  1 , and the next terminal  22  is contacted with the signal terminal  2  before the terminal  12  is detached from the signal terminal  2 , which prevents sudden signal interruption, and total reflection of a signal. 
         [0074]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , a positioning body of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated. 
         [0075]    The positioning body  3 - 2  is a PCB board, a pair of signal terminals  1  and  2  are disposed on the surface thereof. 
         [0076]    A metal piece is connected to each of the signal terminals  1  and  2 . The signal terminals  1  and  2  extend to the outside of the positioning body  3 - 2 , and operate as signal terminals (signal input/output terminals). 
         [0077]    The positioning body  3 - 2  is a double-layered PCB board, the signal terminals  1  and  2  are led to the bottom layer of the double-layered PCB board via the signal through hole  7 , and operate as terminals of the signal terminals  1  and  2  connected to an external signal line. 
         [0078]    A ground terminals  103  are disposed on a surface layer of the positioning body  3 - 2  and on a bottom layer thereof, and connected to each other via a through hole  104 . The ground terminal  103  can be connected to the outside of the positioning body  3 - 2  via the metal piece. 
         [0079]    The positioning body  3 - 2  can be a ceramic substrate, or other types of substrate. A positioning hole  5   a  is disposed on the positioning body  3 - 2 . 
         [0080]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , a combination of a positioning body with a base of a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated. 
         [0081]    A surface layer of the positioning body  3 - 2  is contacted with a bottom layer of the base  4 - 2 . The positioning hole  5   a  on the positioning body  3 - 2  is overlapped with the positioning hole  5  on the base  4 - 2 . The terminal pair  11  and  12  on the base  4 - 2  is respectively connected to the signal terminals  1  and  2  on the positioning body  3 - 2 . As the base  4 - 2  rotates, the next terminal pair on the base  4 - 2  is sequentially connected to the signal terminals  1  and  2  on the positioning body  3 - 2 . For example, the terminal pair  21  and  22  is respectively connected to the signal terminals  1  and  2 . The common ground terminal  100  of the base  4 - 2  is contacted with the ground terminal  103  of the positioning body  302 . 
         [0082]    As second portions with different electric parameters are used, adjustment of electric parameters is facilitated. It should be noted that, movement of the base  4 - 2  is not limited to rotation, and pushing can also be used to implement this. By changing input electric parameters between the signal terminals  1  and  2 , adjustment of the electric parameters is facilitated. The shifting body  8  in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. 
         [0083]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , a device for adjusting an electric parameter of a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The base  4 - 2  is disposed on the positioning body  3 - 2 . The bottom layer of the base  4 - 2  is contacted with the surface layer of the positioning body  3 - 2 . The shifting body  8  is disposed on the base  4 - 2 . An elastic body  9  is disposed on the shifting body  8 , and between the pressure spanner  83  and a housing  10 . An inner surface layer of the housing  10  is disposed on the elastic body  9 . In this embodiment, the housing  10  is a resin housing, a metal housing, and so on. 
         [0084]    The elastic body  9  is a silicon gel ring, a metal spring, or an elastic piece, and operates to tightly contact the base  4 - 2  with the positioning body  3 - 2  when fixing the positioning body  3 - 2  and the housing  10  via a screw  10   a  whereby tightly pressing the positioning body  3 - 2 , the base  4 - 2 , the shifting body  8 , and the housing  10 - 2 . The elastic body  9 , the housing  10 , and the screw  10   a  form a fastening device. It should be noted that other fastening components, such as bolts, buckles, and clamps, can also be used to fix the positioning body  3 - 2  and the housing  10  In addition, a fastening screw  10   a  disposed outside the housing  10  is used to fix the device for adjusting an electric parameter on an external circuit board. 
         [0085]    It should be noted that, the base  4 - 2  and the shifting body  8  can be integrally formed whereby facilitating adjustment of electric parameters. 
         [0086]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.