Search

US-12620699-B2 - Electronic component

US12620699B2US 12620699 B2US12620699 B2US 12620699B2US-12620699-B2

Abstract

A pair of first members each have an electrically conductive surface and a disposed to face each other. A plurality of second members each made of an electrically conductive material are disposed between the pair of first members. The plurality of second members are arranged in a periodic pattern in at least one direction parallel to the conductive surface and disposed between the pair of first members. A dielectric member is disposed between each of the plurality of second members and each of the pair of first members. The dielectric member is in contact with the plurality of second members and with the pair of first members. An electronic component is provided that is configured to control propagation of radio waves such as microwaves, millimeter waves, or sub-millimeter waves, and that allows for reduced deflection of the conductive surface.

Inventors

  • Keisuke EJIRI

Assignees

  • MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20240104
Priority Date
20210705

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . An electronic component comprising: a pair of first members each having a conductive surface with electrical conductivity, the conductive surface of one of the pair of first members and the conductive surface of an other one of the pair of first members oriented to oppose each other; and a plurality of second members disposed between the pair of first members and each of the plurality of second members is made of a conductive material with electrical conductivity, wherein the plurality of second members are arranged in a periodic pattern in at least one direction parallel to the conductive surface, wherein each of the plurality of second members is disposed between the pair of first members, wherein the electronic component further comprises a dielectric member disposed between each of the plurality of second members and each of the pair of first members such that each of the plurality of second members is spaced apart from each of the pair of first members by the dielectric member, the dielectric member being in contact with the plurality of second members and with the pair of first members, wherein the plurality of second members are arranged in the periodic pattern in a first direction on both sides of a non-distribution region of at least one of the pair of first members, the non-distribution region being a portion of the conductive surface and also elongated in the first direction, wherein the non-distribution region has a width greater than or equal to twice a spacing between adjacent members of the plurality of second members in the first direction.
  2. 2 . The electronic component according to claim 1 , wherein the dielectric member is disposed between the pair of first members with the dielectric member extending from one of the pair of first members to an other one of the pair of first members.
  3. 3 . The electronic component according to claim 2 , wherein in a direction perpendicular to the conductive surface of one of the pair of first members, each of the plurality of second members is thicker in a middle portion than in a portion other than the middle portion.
  4. 4 . The electronic component according to claim 1 , further comprising a ridge member having electrical conductivity, the ridge member being disposed at the non-distribution region and extending in the first direction, wherein the ridge member is in contact with one of the pair of first members, and wherein the ridge member and an other one of the pair of first members have a spacing between each other that is greater than a spacing between each of the plurality of second members and each of the pair of first members.
  5. 5 . The electronic component according to claim 4 , wherein the ridge member is divided in the first direction into at least three ridge parts including a middle ridge part, and wherein the middle ridge part has a dimension in the first direction that is greater than one-half of a period of spacing of the plurality of second members in the first direction, and that is less than the period of spacing of the plurality of second members in the first direction.
  6. 6 . The electronic component according to claim 5 , further comprising an antenna structure that is excited by an electromagnetic wave guided between the pair of first members.
  7. 7 . The electronic component according to claim 4 , further comprising an antenna structure that is excited by an electromagnetic wave guided between the pair of first members.
  8. 8 . The electronic component according to claim 4 , wherein in a direction perpendicular to the conductive surface of one of the pair of first members, each of the plurality of second members is thicker in a middle portion than in a portion other than the middle portion.
  9. 9 . The electronic component according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic component comprises a core member disposed at the non-distribution region between the pair of first members, the core member having electrical conductivity and extending in the first direction, and wherein the core member and each of the pair of first members have a spacing between each other that is greater than a spacing between each of the plurality of second members and each of the pair of first members.
  10. 10 . The electronic component according to claim 9 , further comprising an antenna structure that is excited by an electromagnetic wave guided between the pair of first members.
  11. 11 . The electronic component according to claim 1 , further comprising an antenna structure that is excited by an electromagnetic wave guided between the pair of first members.
  12. 12 . The electronic component according to claim 1 , wherein in a direction perpendicular to the conductive surface of one of the pair of first members, each of the plurality of second members is thicker in a middle portion than in a portion other than the middle portion.
  13. 13 . An electronic component, comprising: a pair of first members each having a conductive surface with electrical conductivity, the conductive surface of one of the pair of first members and the conductive surface of an other one of the pair of first members oriented to oppose each other; and a plurality of second members disposed between the pair of first members and each of the plurality of second members is made of a conductive material with electrical conductivity, wherein the plurality of second members are arranged in a periodic pattern in at least one direction parallel to the conductive surface, wherein each of the plurality of second members is disposed between the pair of first members, wherein the electronic component further comprises a dielectric member disposed between each of the plurality of second members and each of the pair of first members such that each of the plurality of second members is spaced apart from each of the pair of first members by the dielectric member, the dielectric member being in contact with the plurality of second members and with the pair of first members, wherein the plurality of second members are arranged periodically in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being parallel to the conductive surface and perpendicular to each other, wherein each of the plurality of second members, and one of the pair of first members have a spacing between each other that is greater than a spacing between each of the plurality of second members and an other one of the pair of first members, and wherein the electronic component further comprises a transmission line, the transmission line being disposed between one of the pair of first members, and the plurality of second members, the one of the pair of first members being at a greater distance from each of the plurality of second members than is an other one of the pair of first members, the transmission line extending in the first direction.
  14. 14 . The electronic component according to claim 13 , further comprising an antenna structure that is excited by an electromagnetic wave guided between the pair of first members.
  15. 15 . An electronic component, comprising: a pair of first members each having a conductive surface with electrical conductivity, the conductive surface of one of the pair of first members and the conductive surface of an other one of the pair of first members oriented to oppose each other; and a plurality of second members disposed between the pair of first members and each of the plurality of second members is made of a conductive material with electrical conductivity wherein the plurality of second members are arranged in a periodic pattern in at least one direction parallel to the conductive surface, wherein each of the plurality of second members is disposed between the pair of first members, wherein the electronic component further comprises a dielectric member disposed between each of the plurality of second members and each of the pair of first members such that each of the plurality of second members is spaced apart from each of the pair of first members by the dielectric member, the dielectric member being in contact with the plurality of second members and with the pair of first members, wherein the periodic pattern includes the plurality of second members being spaced periodically in a first direction and spaced periodically in a second direction at a region surrounding a non-distribution region of at least one of the pair of first members, the non-distribution region being a portion of the conductive surface, the first direction and the second direction being parallel to the conductive surface and perpendicular to each other, and wherein the non-distribution region has a dimension in the first direction and a dimension in the second direction that are respectively greater than or equal to twice a period of spacing of the plurality of second members in the first direction and twice a period of spacing of the plurality of second members in the second direction.
  16. 16 . The electronic component according to claim 15 , further comprising a ridge member disposed at the non-distribution region, the ridge member being elongated in the first direction, wherein the ridge member is in contact with one of the pair of first members, and wherein the ridge member and an other one of the pair of first members have a spacing between each other that is greater than a spacing between each of the plurality of second members and each of the pair of first members.
  17. 17 . The electronic component according to claim 15 , further comprising: two waveguides extending in the first direction or the second direction from the non-distribution region, wherein each of the two waveguides is sandwiched by the plurality of second members that are arranged in the periodic pattern and along a propagation direction of a radio wave in at least one of the two waveguides.
  18. 18 . The electronic component according to claim 15 , further comprising an antenna structure that is excited by an electromagnetic wave guided between the pair of first members.
  19. 19 . An electronic component, comprising: a pair of first members each having a conductive surface with electrical conductivity, the conductive surface of one of the pair of first members and the conductive surface of an other one of the pair of first members oriented to oppose each other; and a plurality of second members disposed between the pair of first members and each of the plurality of second members is made of a conductive material with electrical conductivity wherein the plurality of second members are arranged in a periodic pattern in at least one direction parallel to the conductive surface, wherein each of the plurality of second members is disposed between the pair of first members, wherein the electronic component further comprises a dielectric member disposed between each of the plurality of second members and each of the pair of first members such that each of the plurality of second members is spaced apart from each of the pair of first members by the dielectric member, the dielectric member being in contact with the plurality of second members and with the pair of first members, and wherein in a direction perpendicular to the conductive surface of one of the pair of first members, each of the plurality of second members is thicker in a middle portion than in a portion other than the middle portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of PCT application PCT/JP2022/024539, filed Jun. 20, 2022, and claims priority to Japanese application JP 2021-111444, filed Jul. 5, 2021, the entire contents of each of which being incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an electronic component that controls propagation of radio waves such as microwaves, millimeter waves, sub-terahertz waves, or terahertz waves. BACKGROUND ART Known microwave devices include a transmission line disposed between parallel metal plates (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A microwave device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of metal posts protruding from one metal plate to the other metal plate. The plurality of metal posts are arranged periodically, and the cut-off condition is satisfied for a radio wave that propagates in the transmission line. The plurality of metal posts serve to block radio wave propagation in a direction other than the direction of the transmission line. Side walls rise from edges of the metal plate provided with the metal posts. The other metal plate is screwed onto the top face of the side walls. A gap is defined between each of the plurality of metal posts, and the metal plate that is not provided with the metal posts. CITATION LIST Patent Document Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2011-527171 SUMMARY Technical Problems In a microwave device according to the related art, one metal plate is supported only at its edges by the other metal plate. As recognized by the present inventor, this makes the metal plates susceptible to deflection. To maintain the spacing between the pair of metal plates, each of the pair of metal plates is required to have a certain mechanical strength. For example, to ensure a predetermined mechanical strength, each metal plate needs to have an increased thickness. This makes it difficult to reduce the size and thickness of the microwave device. It is an aspect of the present document to provide an electronic component that is configured to control propagation of radio waves such as microwaves, millimeter waves, sub-terahertz waves, or terahertz waves, and that allows for reduced deflection of a conductive surface. Solutions to Problems According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic component including: a pair of first members each have an electrically conductive surface and a disposed to face each other; and a plurality of second members each made of an electrically conductive material are disposed between the pair of first members. The plurality of second members are arranged in a periodic pattern in at least one direction parallel to the conductive surface and disposed between the pair of first members. A dielectric member is disposed between each of the plurality of second members and each of the pair of first members. The dielectric member is in contact with the plurality of second members and with the pair of first members. An electronic component is provided that is configured to control propagation of radio waves such as microwaves, millimeter waves, or sub-millimeter waves, and that allows for reduced deflection of the conductive surface. Advantageous Effects Radio wave propagation is controlled by the plurality of members. The dielectric member is disposed between each member and the conductive surface, and the dielectric member is in contact with the member and the conductive surface. This configuration allows for reduced deflection of the conductive members. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A and 1B are a partially see-through perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an electronic component according to a first embodiment. FIGS. 2A to 2D are cross-sectional views of the electronic component according to the first embodiment in its mid-manufacture stages. FIG. 3 is a partially see-through perspective view of an electronic component according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of an electronic component according to one modification of the first embodiment in its mid-manufacture stages. FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of an electronic component according to another modification of the first embodiment in its mid-manufacture stages. FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of an electronic component according to still another modification of the first embodiment in its mid-manufacture stages. FIGS. 7A to 7C are cross-sectional views of an electronic component according to still another modification of the first embodiment in its mid-manufacture stages. FIGS. 7D to 7F are cross-sectional views of an electronic component according to still another modification of the first embodiment in its mid-manufacture stages. FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views of an electronic component accor