This article presents a novel type of time-modulated magnetless circulators, where modulation is generated locally at each modulated element through a network of local oscillators instead of a central source and a complex distribution network based on phase shifters and filters. The design follows the angular-momentum approach, and the modulation signals are generated from three cross-coupled oscillators interconnected through transmission lines in a ring topology to phase lock and attain the necessary phase difference of 120°. The oscillators are interwound with the circulator circuit by designing them to operate in a differential mode, in contrast to the common mode of the circulator circuit, allowing natural isolation between the RF and modulation paths. Two prototypes were built to test the design. An initial preliminary printed-circuit-board prototype was fabricated to test the common-differential mode topology with modulation signals generated off the board. The design was tested at 1.78 GHz, showing isolation of more than 20 dB, insertion loss of 5.5 dB, 2.6% bandwidth, and power handling of 21 dBm. A final prototype was fabricated to test a fully autonomous circulator, with the modulation signals generated locally at each modulated tank. The final design was tested at 1.65 GHz, showing isolation greater than 20 dB, insertion loss of 5.3 dB, 4.8% bandwidth, and power handling of 25.52 dBm. The results open a path for a new class of autonomous time-modulated devices without the need for complicated modulation networks and with an ability to incorporate a large number of modulated elements.

中文翻译：

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具有本地生成调制的角动量偏置环行器

本文介绍了一种新型的时间调制无磁环行器，其中调制是通过本地振荡器网络而不是中央源和基于移相器和滤波器的复杂分布网络在每个调制元件上本地生成的。该设计遵循角动量方法，调制信号由通过环形拓扑中的传输线互连的三个交叉耦合振荡器产生，以锁相并获得必要的 120° 相位差。与环行器电路的共模不同，振荡器通过将它们设计为在差模下工作，从而与环行器电路相互缠绕，从而实现射频和调制路径之间的自然隔离。建造了两个原型来测试设计。制作了一个初步的初步印刷电路板原型，以测试共差模拓扑，其中调制信号由电路板产生。该设计在 1.78 GHz 下进行了测试，显示隔离度超过 20 dB，插入损耗为 5.5 dB，带宽为 2.6%，功率处理能力为 21 dBm。制造了最终原型来测试完全自主的循环器，在每个调制罐本地生成调制信号。最终设计在 1.65 GHz 下进行了测试，显示隔离度大于 20 dB，插入损耗为 5.3 dB，带宽为 4.8%，功率处理能力为 25.52 dBm。结果为新型自主时间调制设备开辟了道路，无需复杂的调制网络，并且能够整合大量调制元素。