MICROWAVE FILTERS DESIGN

COURSE NOTES

Dr. Kawthar Zaki

INTRODUCTION
DEFINITIONS & CLASIFICATIONS OF
MICROWAVE FILTERS
FREQUENCY RANGE : 200MHZ TO 90 GHZ
LOW FREQUENCY TECHNIQUES & THEIR
LIMTATIONS
AT HIGHER FREQUENCIES OPTICAL
TECHNIQUES & THEIR LIMITATIONS
CLASIFICATION BY TYPE: (LP, HP, BP, BS)
CLASIFICATION BY FRACTIONAL B.W.
CLASIFICATION BY TRANSIMISSION MEDIUM

Dr. Kawthar

LOWER FREQUENCY
TECHNIQUES LIMITATIONS
LOW FREQUENCIES ARE DEFINED TO BE
BELOW @ 200 MHZ
LUMPED ELEMENT SIZES (R, L, C) BECOME
COMPARABLE TO WAVELENGTH
RADIATION FROM ELEMENTS CAUSES
UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS
INCREASED LOSSES
WIRE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ELEMENTS
BECOME PART OF CIRCUIT (PARASETICS)
SOURCES & MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES
ARE UNSUITABLE AT HIGHER FREQUENCY
Dr. Kawthar
3

CLASIFICATION OF FILTERS
BY PASS BAND TYPES
Attenuation

Attenuation

L. P. F

H. P. F.

0
Attenuation

fc

0
Freq. Attenuation

b.w.

0
fo

Dr. Kawthar

Freq.

B. P. F.

B. S. F.
0

fc

Freq.

b. w.
Freq.

fo

CLASIFICATION OF FILTERS
(ctd.)
BY FREQUENCY BANDS:
BAND DESIGNATION

FREQ. RANGE GHZ.

0.225 - 0.39

LOWER

L
S
C
X

0.39 - 1.55
1.55 - 3.90
3.90 - 6.20
6.20 - 10.9

R.F. BAND

10.9 - 36.0

36.0 - 46.0

MILLIMETER

46.0 - 56.0

WAVE

56.0 - 100.0

BANDS

Dr. Kawthar

MICROWAVE
BANDS

CLASIFICATION OF FILTERS
(ctd.)
BY FREQUENCY BANDS:
BAND DESIGNATION

FREQ. RANGE GHZ.

0.225 - 0.39

LOWER

L
S
C
X

0.39 - 1.55
1.55 - 3.90
3.90 - 6.20
6.20 - 10.9

R.F. BAND

10.9 - 36.0

36.0 - 46.0

MILLIMETER

46.0 - 56.0

WAVE

56.0 - 100.0

BANDS

Dr. Kawthar

MICROWAVE
BANDS

CLASIFICATIONS BY RESPONSE TYPE

(INSERTION LOSS FUNCTION)
BUTTERWORTH OR MAXIMALY FLATE
T( n
TCHEBYCHEFF OR EQUAL RIPPLE PASS
BAND:
T( 2 Tn(
INVERSE TCHBYCHEFF MAXIMALLY FLATE
PASS BAND & EQUAL RIPPLE STOP BAND
T( 2 Tn(
ELLIPTIC FUNCTION OR QUASIELLIPTIC
FUNCTION (EQUAL RIPPLE IN BOTH PASS
BAND AND STOP BAND)
BESSEL THOMPSON (FLATE GROUP DELAY)
Dr. Kawthar

CLASSIFICATION BY
FRACTIONAL BAND WIDTH
NARROW BAND FILTERS : RELATIVE (bw/fo)
BANDWIDTHS LESS THAN @ 5%
MODERATE BAND WIDTH : RELATIVE
BANDWIDTHS BETWEEN @ 5% TO 25%
WIDE BAND FILTERS : RELATIVE
BANDWIDTHS GREATER THAN 25%
TECHNIQUES USED FOR DESIGN OF EACH
TYPE DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY

Dr. Kawthar

CLASSIFICATION BY
TRANSMISSION MEDIUM

LUMPED & QUASI LUMPED ELEMENTS

COAXIAL TRANSMISSION LINES
MICROSTRIP LINES
SUSPENDED SUBSTRATE LINES
STRIP LINES
RECTANGULAR OR CYLENDRICAL
WAVEGUIDES
HIGH DIELECTRIC CONSATANT FILLED (OR
PARTIALLY LOADED) COAXIAL LINES OR
WAVEGUIDES

Dr. Kawthar

FILTERS TRANSMISSION MEDIA

PRINTED CIRCUITS
AND SUSPENDED SUBSTRATES
LUMPED
LC

RELATIVE B.W. %

100
10.

COAXIAL

DIELECTRIC
RESONATORS

1.0

WAVEGUIDES

.1
.01
P

Dr. Kawthar

FREQUENCY BAND DESIGNATION

10

UNLOADED QS FOR BASE

STATION FILTERS
(Technology Drivers)

100K

10K

Qu
Dual Mode,
materials, etc.)

E
D

(Multiple Modes)

Technology Gap
(Materials
Increased Circuit
Plating)
Complexity
B
A

Cost

1K
A:Coaxial Resonators, Ceramic Dielectric
B:Coaxial Resonators, Air Dielectric
C: Single Mode Cavity Resonators
D: Single Mode Cavity Resonators, Delectrically Loaded
E: HTS Planar Resonators

Dr. Kawthar

11

Size

IMPORTANCE OF MICROWAVE
FILTERS
FREQUENCY SPECTRUM ALLOCATION AND
PRESERVATION
INTERFERENCE REDUCTION OR
ELIMINATION - RECEIVERS PROTECTION
ELIMINATION OF UNWANTED HARMONICS &
INTERMOD. PRODUCTS GENERATED FROM
NONLINEAR DEVICES (MULTIPLIERS,
MIXERS, POWER AMPLIFIERS)
SIGNAL PROCESSING & SPECTRUM
SHAPING
FREQUENCY MULTIPLEXING

Dr. Kawthar

12

APPLICATIONS OF
MICROWAVE FILTERS
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS:
TERRESTRIAL MICROWAVE LINKS: RECEIVERS
PROTECTION FILTERS, TRANSMITTER FILTERS,
CHANNEL DROPPING FILTERS, TRANSMITTER
HARMONIC FILTERS, LOCAL OSCILLATOR FILTERS,
MIXERS IMAGE REJECT FILTERS
SATELLITE SYSTEMS:
SPACE CRAFT: FRONT END RECEIVE FILTERS,
INPUT MULTIPLEXERS CHANNELIZATION FILTERS,
OUTPUT MULTIPLEXERS FILTERS, TRANSMITTERS
HARMONIC REJECTION FILTERS
EARTH STATIONS : LNAS TRANSMIT REJECT
FILTERS, HPAS HARMONIC REJECT FILTERS, UP &
DOWN CONVERTERS FILTERS

Dr. Kawthar

13

APPLICATIONS (ctd.)
MOBILE AND CELLULAR SYSTEMS :

BASE STATIONS RECEIVE PROTECTION

BASE STATIONS TRANSMITTERS FILTERS
SUBSCRIBERS HAND SETS DIPLEXERS
SATELLITE MOBILE APPLICATIONS
AERONAUTICAL TX/RX SYSTEMS
MARITIME SATELLITE TERMINALS
LAND MOBILE SATELLITE TERMINALS

RADAR SYSTEMS
HIGH POWER APPLICATIONS
Dr. Kawthar

14

TYPICAL COMMUNICATIONS
REPEATER
Power
Amplifiers

Antenna

Tx Reject
Filter

LNA

LO
Up Converter
Input
Multiplexer

Dr. Kawthar

Output
Multiplexer

15

HOW TO SPECIFY FILTERS

FREQUENCY SPECS: f0 & BW (FOR B.P. OR
B.S.), fc (FOR L.P. OR H.P.)
PASS BAND INSERTION LOSS, RETURN
LOSS AND FLATNESS (RIPPLE LEVEL)
PASS BAND GROUP DELAY VARIATION
SELECTIVITY OR SKIRT SHARPNESS
OUT OF BAND REJECTION LEVELS
SPURIOUS OUT OF BAND RESPONSE
SPECIFICATIONS MASK
Dr. Kawthar

16

HOW TO SPECIFY FILTERS(ctd.)

POWER HANDLING CAPABLITY
MULTIPACTOR EFFECTS & VOLTAGE BREAKDOWN

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS
OPERATIONAL TEMPERATUE LIMITS
PRESSURE & HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENTS
SHOCK & VIBRATION LEVELS

MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS
SIZE, SHAPE & WEIGHT
TYPE OF INPUT/OUTPUT CONNECTORS
MECHANICAL MOUNTING INTERFACES

Dr. Kawthar

17

TYPICAL INSERTION LOSS SPECIFICATION

MASK
INSERTION LOSS

40 dB

0.6dB

= dB

BW
36 MHz
50dB

60 dB

70 dB
f0 (4000 MHz)

Dr. Kawthar

FREQUENCY

18

TYPICAL GROUP DELAY SPECIFICATION MASK

GROUP DELAY

f0 (4000 MHz)

Dr. Kawthar

FREQUENCY

19

METHODS OF FILTER DESIGN

1. IMAGE PARAMETER METHOD (EARLY 1920S)
BASED ON A WAVE VIEWPOINT OF CIRCUITS
1

ZI2 ZI2

1
ZI1 ZI1

ZI2 ZI2

Etc. to
Infinity

Etc. to
Infinity

IMAGE IMPEDANCES ZI1, ZI2 AND IMAGE PROPAGATION FUNCTION

ARE DEFINED BY:
ZI1
Eg

I1
+
E1
- Z
I1

Dr. Kawthar

ZI2

I2
+
E2
-

ZI2

e = (E1/E2) (ZI2 / ZI1)1/2

20

CONSTANT K-HALF SECTIONS

ZI1, ZI2

L1 = 1

RI2
ZI1
C2 = 1

ZI2

j XI1
RI1

j XI2

Dr. Kawthar

21

M-DERIVED HALF SECTIONS

ZI1, ZI2

L1 = m

RI2

L=(1-m2 )/m

ZI1

ZI2

C2 = m

j XI1

RI1

j XI2

Dr. Kawthar

=1/(1-m2)1/2

22

IMAGE PARAMETER FILTERS

DESIGN
PIECE TOGETHER ENOUGH CONSTANT-K &
M-DERIVED SECTIONS TO MEET REQUIRED
ATTENUATION
TERMINATION WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM
THE IMAGE IMPEDANCE
END SECTIONS ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE
MATCH

Dr. Kawthar

23

2. INSERTION LOSS THEORY

SYNTHESIS (DARLINGTON, 1939)
SPECIFY TRANSFER FUNCTION OF COMPLEX FREQ.
SATISFYING REALIZABILITY CONDITIONS
FIND INPUT IMPEDANCE OR REFLECTION COEFFICIENT
FROM TRANSFER FUNCTION
DECOMPOSE TRANSFER FUNCTION & REFL. COEEF. TO
TWO CASCADED PARTS:
A PART CORRESPONDING TO A SIMPLE SECTION OF KNOWN
PARAMETRS
A PART OF LOWER ORDER THAN THE ORIGINAL TRANSFER
FUNCTION ALSO SATISFYING REALIZABILITY CONDITIONS

REPEAT SYNTHESIS CYCLE UNTILL REMAINING SECTION

IS OF ZERO ORDER (CONSTANT TERMINATION)
COMMON METHODS ARE CASCADE SYNTHESIS, PARTIAL
AND CONTINUOUS FRACTION EXPANSIONS.

Dr. Kawthar

24

EXAMPLE OF CASCADE SYNTHESIS CYCLE

T j

Output Power

Max. Avail . Power

2

<
Q(s) Strictly Hurwitz

T(s) = P(s)/Q(s)

T(j) < 1 ; -

FILTER TO BE
SYNTHESIZED
(UNKNOWN)

REMAINING
UNKNOWN
SECTION

Dr. Kawthar

T1(j) < 1 ; -

<
Q1(s) Strictly Hurwitz

25

T1(s) = P1(s)/Q1(s)

Extracted Section
of Known Elements
and Values

3. COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN
AND OPTIMIZATION
START BY SPECIFICATIONS OF DESIRED RESPONSE OVER A
BAND OF FREQUENCIES AND A GIVEN NETWORK OF
ELEMENTS OF KNOWN (ASSUMED) STARTING VALUES
ANALYZE THE NETWORK TO FIND ITS RESPONSE OVER THE
SPECIFIED FREQUENCY BAND
COMPARE THE CALCULATED RESPONSE TO THE DESIRED
RESPONSE BY FORMING AN ERROR FUNCTION
CHANGE THE ELEMENT VALUES OF THE NETWORK (WITHIN
CERTAIN BOUNDS) ACCORDING TO CERTAIN PRESCRIBED
RULES TO MINIMIZE THE ERROR FUNCTION
ITERATE THE PROCESS UNTILL THE ERROR FUNCTION IS
REDUCED TO ZERO, DOES NOT DECREASE IN SUCCESSIVE
ITERATIONS OR A PRESPECIFIED NUMBER OF ITERATIONS IS
EXCEEDED

Dr. Kawthar

26

FILTER REALIZATIONS
LOW PASS AND HIGH PASS SEMI-LUMPED ELEMENTS
COAXIAL
MICROSTRIP & STRIPLINE

BAND PASS NARROW AND MODERATE BANDWIDTHS

COAXIAL DUMBELL
MICROSTRIP PARALLEL COUPLED AND END COUPLED
SUSPENDED SUBSTRATE
INTERDIGITAL, COMBLINE (COAXIAL)
WAVEGUIDES: RECTANGULAR, CIRCULAR SINGLE & DUAL
MODE AND RIDGE WAVEGUIDE
DIELECTRIC OR METALLIC LOADED RESONATORS

BAND STOP FILTERS

Dr. Kawthar

27

LOW PASS COAXIAL FILTERS

DIELECTRIC
SLEEVE

HIGH IMPEDANCE LINES

COAXIAL CONNECTOR
(SERIES LS)
LOW IMPEDANCE LINES
(SHUNT CS)

SEMI-LUMPED ELEMENTS EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT

Dr. Kawthar

28

HIGH PASS COAXIAL FILTERS

SHUNT L
SERIES C

COAXIAL
CONNECTOR

SEMI-LUMPED ELEMENTS EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT

Dr. Kawthar

29

MICROSTRIP LOW PASS

FILTERS

METALIZED CIRCUIT PATTERN

DIELECTRIC SUBSTRATE OVER GROUND PLANE

Dr. Kawthar

30

BAND PASS COAXIAL FILTERS

DUMBELL BANDPASS COAXIAL FILTER
DIELECTRIC
SLEEVE

RESONATORS

SERIES CAPACITORS

Dr. Kawthar

31

PARALLEL COUPLED LINES

CENTER CONDUCTOR
PATTERN
OUTER CONDUCTOR
& HOUSING
DIELECTRIC
SHEET

SUSPENDED SUBSTRATE LINE

OVERLAY COUPLED LINES

MICROSTRIP PRINTED CIRCUIT REALIZATION

RECTANGULAR COUPLED BARS FOR WIDER BANDWIDTHE & HIGHER QS
POSSIBLE SUSPENDED SUBSTRATE REALIZATION (HIGHER Q)

Dr. Kawthar

32

BANDPASS END COUPLED MICROSTRIP

FILTERS

METALIZED CIRCUIT PATTERN

RESONATORS
DIELECTRIC SUBSTRATE OVER GROUND PLANE

Dr. Kawthar

33

INTERDIGITAL & COMBLINE

BAND PASS FILTERS
COUPLING IRIS

OPEN CIRCUIT END

SHORT CIRCUIT END

TOP VIEW

Dr. Kawthar

INNER CONDUCTORS OF
COAXIAL RESONATORS

34

SIDE VIEW

WAVEGUIDE FILTERS

INDUCTIVE WINDOWS (MODERATE BANDWIDTHS)

DIRECT COUPLED USING IRIS (NARROW BANDWIDTHS)

Dr. Kawthar

35

RIDGE WAVEGUIDE FILTERS

Dr. Kawthar

36

DUAL MODE CIRCULAR

WAVEGUIDE FILTERS
TUNING SCREWS

INPUT
IRIS

OUTPUT
IRIS

Dr. Kawthar

37

Dual Mode Dielectric or Conductor Loaded

Resonator Filter
Dielectric or Conductor Loading
Input Coax Probe

Output Coax Probe

6
5

Dr. Kawthar

3
4

38

Dual Mode Dielectric or Conductor Loaded

Resonator Filter in Rectangular Enclosure

M12

M23

M36

M14

M56

M67

M34 M45

M78
M58
8-Pole Dual Mode Longitudinal Dielectric or Conductor Loaded
Resonator Filter in Rectangular Enclosure

Dr. Kawthar

39