Microwave switched multiplexer and a mobile telecommunications device including such a multiplexer

Abstract

A microwave switched multiplexer having a bandpass Δf between frequencies f1 and f2, Δf=f1−f2, the multiplexer comprising an input microwave resonant waveguide; an output microwave resonant waveguide; and, n transmission channels where n>1, each transmission channel coupled to the input microwave resonant waveguide and the output microwave resonant waveguide, each transmission channel having a transmission bandpass at a center frequency within Δf, the center frequencies of the transmission channels being equally spaced apart in frequency by Δf/n; each transmission channel comprising (a) an input resonator coupled to the input microwave resonant waveguide; (b) an output resonator coupled to the output microwave resonant waveguide: (c) a center resonator coupled to the input and output resonators, the three resonators being coupled together in cascade; (d) a tuning mechanism connected to the center resonator and adapted to be switched between on and off states, in the on state the resonant frequency of the center resonator being the same as that of the input and output resonators and in the off state the resonant frequency of the center resonator being outside the bandpass Δf.