Microwave Engineering

Design Project 3
Low Pass Filters
May 16, 2005

Submitted by:
Rakesh Rajbanshi
[email protected]
 Table of Contents

1. Objective ..................................................................................................................... 3
2. Filter Design................................................................................................................ 3
2.1. Filter realization using lumped elements ................................................................ 3
2.1.1. Theoretical Analysis ........................................................................................... 3
2.1.2. Simulation and Results ....................................................................................... 3
2.2. Filter realization with shunt stubs ........................................................................... 5
2.2.1. Theoretical Analysis ........................................................................................... 5
2.2.2. Simulation and Results ....................................................................................... 5
2.3. Stepped Impedance Low Pass filter........................................................................ 8
2.3.1. Theoretical Analysis ........................................................................................... 8
2.3.2. Simulation and Results ....................................................................................... 8
2.4. Analysis................................................................................................................. 10
3. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 13
4. Reference .................................................................................................................. 13

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1. Objective
The main objective of this project is to design a low pass filter with the following specifications
1. Order, N = 3
2. Cutoff frequency, f c = 2 GHz
3. Source and Load resistance, Rs = RL = 50Ω
4. Filter Type Chebyshev (0.5dB ripple)
2. Filter Design
2.1. Filter realization using lumped elements
2.1.1. Theoretical Analysis
The element values for 0.5 dB ripple Chebyshev low pass filter prototype of order N = 3 ,
are given by (Table 8.4, [1]),
g1 = 1.5963
g 2 = 1.0967
g3 = 1.5963
g 4 = 1.0000

The scaled element values for the inductor and capacitors are given by,
R 
Ln = g n ×  s 
 ωc 
 1 
Cn = g n ×  
 Rsωc 
We know, Rs = 50Ω and ωc = 2π f c = 2π × 2 × 109 = 4π ×109 rad / sec .

Then,
Rs
L1 = g1 × = 6.351× 10−9 = 6.351nH
ωc
1
C2 = g 2 × = 1.745 × 10−12 = 1.745 pF
Rsωc
Rs
L3 = g 3 × = 6.351× 10 −9 = 6.351nH
ωc
2.1.2. Simulation and Results
The low pass filter with the lumped element circuit was implemented in ADS is shown in
Figure 1. The scattering parameters of the filter are plotted as shown in Figure 2 and S11
is plotted in the Smith chart in Figure 3.

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 S-PARAMETERS

S_Param
SP1
Start=0.0 GHz
Stop=8.0 GHz
Step=.02 GHz

L L
L1 L2
Term L=6.351 nH L=6.351 nH
C Term
Term1 R= R=
Num=1 C1 Term2
C=1.745 pF Num=2
Z=50 Ohm
Z=50 Ohm

Figure 1 Low pass filter with lumped elements

1.0
0

0.8
-10

mag(S(1,1))
dB(S(1,1))

0.6
-20

0.4
-30

-40 0.2

-50 0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

m5
freq=1.740GHz
m1 m2 m5 m5=1.000
0 freq=3.000GHz freq=5.000GHz 1.0
m1m1=-10.363 m2=-25.680
-10 0.8
m3
mag(S(2,1))
dB(S(2,1))

-20 m2 freq=8.000GHz 0.6

m3=-38.609
-30 0.4
m3
-40 0.2

-50 0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

200
200

150 100
phase(S(2,1))
phase(S(1,1))

100
0
50
-100
0

-50 -200
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

Figure 2 Scattering Parameters of the low pass filter with lumped elements

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 m4
freq=1.740GHz
m4=0.008 / 161.057
impedance = Z0 * (0.985 + j0.005)
m4

S(1,1)
freq (0.0000 Hz to 8.000GHz)

Figure 3 S11 of the low pass filter with lumped elements on a Smith Chart
2.2. Filter realization with shunt stubs
Richard's Transformations and Kuroda's Transformations
2.2.1. Theoretical Analysis
Richard's transformations can be used to convert the series inductors to series stubs and
shunt capacitors to shunt stubs. If the electrical length of the stub is β l = π / 4
or l = λ / 8 , then the characteristic impedance of the series stub is Z 0 = ωc L = 79.815Ω
and the characteristic impedance of the shunt stub is Z 0 = 1/(ωc C ) = 45.591Ω . The low
pass filter after Richard’s transformation is shown in Figure 4.

Kuroda's transformations can be used to convert the series stub to shunt stubs. We can
convert the series stub into shunt stub
Z0
n2 = 1+
ωc L1
50
= 1+
79.815
= 1.6264

Then, the characteristic impedance of the series TL is,

n 2ω L = 129.815Ω
n 2 Z 0 = 81.328Ω
The low pass filter after Kuroda’s transformation is shown in Figure 5.

In this case, length of all the transmission lines are given by,
c 3 × 108
l = λ /8 = = = 9.375 ×10−3 m = 9.375mm
ε r f × 8 2 × 2 ×10 × 8
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2.2.2. Simulation and Results

The final circuit for the low pass filter with the shunt stubs, implemented in ADS, is
shown in Figure 6. The scattering parameters of the filter are plotted in Figure 7 and S11
is plotted in the Smith chart in Figure 8.

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 Z 0 = 79.815Ω
Z 0 = 79.815Ω
50Ω

50Ω

Z 0 = 45.591Ω

Figure 4 Richard's Transformation to convert inductors and capacitors into series and shunt stubs

50Ω
Z 0 = 129.815Ω Z 0 = 129.815Ω

50Ω

Z 0 = 45.591Ω Z 0 = 81.328Ω
Z 0 = 81.328Ω

Figure 5 Applying Kuroda's identities to convert series stub into shunt stubs

S-PARAMETERS

S_Param
SP1
Start=0.0 GHz
Stop=8.0 GHz
Step=.01 GHz

TLIN TLIN TLIN

TL3 TL4 TL5
Z=81.322 Ohm Z=45.591 Ohm Z=81.322 Ohm
E=45 E=45 E=45
F=2 GHz F=2 GHz F=2 GHz

TLIN TLIN
TL1 TL2
Term Z=129.815 Ohm Z=129.815 Ohm Term
Term1 E=45 E=45 Term2
Num=1 F=2 GHz F=2 GHz Num=2
Z=50 Ohm Z=50 Ohm

Figure 6 Low Pass filter with shunt stubs

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 0
1.0

-10
0.8

dB(S(1,1))

mag(S(1,1))
-20
0.6

-30 0.4

-40 0.2

-50 0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

m1 m2 m3
freq=3.000GHz freq=5.000GHz freq=8.000GHz m5
m1=-24.691 m2=-24.691 m3=-2.927E-9
freq=1.800GHz
m5=1.000
m3 m5
0 1.0

-10 0.8
dB(S(2,1))

mag(S(2,1))
-20 m1 m2
0.6

-30 0.4

-40 0.2

-50 0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

200
200

100
phase(S(1,1))

100
phase(S(2,1))

0
0

-100 -100

-200 -200
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

Figure 7 Scattering Parameters of the Low pass filter with shunt stubs

m4 m4
freq=2.000GHz
S(1,1)

m4=0.330 / 44.873
impedance = Z0 * (1.390 + j0.726)

freq (0.0000 Hz to 8.000GHz)

Figure 8 S11 of the low pass filter with shunt stubs on a Smith chart

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2.3. Stepped Impedance Low Pass filter
2.3.1. Theoretical Analysis
Alternate sections of high and low characteristic impedance transmission lines can be
used to implement the low pass filter in micro strip or stripline. The electrical lengths of
the high - Z h , low - Zl , transmission line sections to replace the series inductors and
shunt capacitors are given by,
RL g1 50 × 1.5963
β l1 = h
= = 0.399rad = 22.87o
Z0 200
g 2 Z 0l 1.0967 × 15
β l2 = = = 0.329rad = 18.85o
RL 50
We know,
2π 2π f 2π f ε r 2π × 2 × 109 × 4 80π
β= = = = = = 83.776
λ vp c 3 × 108 3
Then, the physical length
the of
low impedance line is
−3
ll = 0.329 / 83.776 = 3.927 × 10 m = 3.927 mm and the physical length of the high
impedance line is lh = 0.399 / 83.776 = 4.764 × 10−3 m = 4.764mm .

2.3.2. Simulation and Results

The final circuit of the low pass filter realization with high and low characteristic
impedance transmission lines, implemented in ADS, is shown in Figure 9, the scattering
parameters are plotted in Figure 10, and the S11 is plotted in the Smith chart in Figure
11.

S-PARAMETERS

S_Param
SP1
Start=0.0 GHz
Stop=8.0 GHz
Step=.01 GHz

TLIN TLIN TLIN

TL1 TL2 TL3
Term Z=200 Ohm Z=15 Ohm Z=200 Ohm Term
Term1 E=22.87 E=18.85 E=22.87 Term2
Num=1 F=2 GHz F=2 GHz F=2 GHz Num=2
Z=50 Ohm Z=50 Ohm

Figure 9 Low pass filter with stepped impedance transmission lines

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 0 1.0

0.8
-20

mag(S(1,1))
dB(S(1,1))
0.6
-40
0.4

-60
0.2

-80 0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

m5
freq=1.640GHz
m5=1.000
m1 m2 m5
0
freq=3.000GHz freq=5.000GHz 1.0
m1=-9.905 m2=-22.278
-5 0.8
m1 m3

mag(S(2,1))
-10 freq=8.000GHz
dB(S(2,1))

0.6
m3=-28.240
-15
0.4
-20 m2
0.2
-25 m3
-30 0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

200
200

150 100
phase(S(2,1))
phase(S(1,1))

100
0

50
-100
0

-50 -200
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

Figure 10 Scattering Parameters of the low pass filter with stepped impedance lines

m4
freq=0.0000 Hz
m4=8.046E-4 / 0.000
impedance = Z0 * (1.002 + j0.000)
m4
S(1,1)

freq (0.0000 Hz to 8.000GHz)

Figure 11 S11 of the low pass filter with stepped impedance lines

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 2.4. Analysis
Linearity:
We can see from the phase plots of | S11 | and | S 21 | of the low pass filter, shown in
Figure 12, that all the filter realizations yield somewhat linear phase response over the
pass band which is as per expected because the order of the filter is small, N = 3 .
Between the two filters with transmission lines, the phase response of the filter with shunt
stub is the worst, whereas the phase response of the filter with stepped impedance line is
similar to that of the filter with lumped elements. This is because the filter with shunt
stubs consists of the commensurate lines, where the change in impedance values with
frequency is exactly the same for all the sections whereas the change in the impedance
values with frequency in the filter with the stepped impedance lines is different in the
high and low impedance sections.

phase(filter_with_stepped_impedance..S(1,1))
phase(filter_with_Lumped_elements..S(1,1))
phase(filter_with_stepped_impedance..S(2,1))
phase(filter_with_Lumped_elements..S(2,1))

phase(filter_with_shunt_stubs..S(1,1))
phase(filter_with_shunt_stubs..S(2,1))

200
200

100
100

0
0

-100
-100

-200 -200

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

freq, GHz freq, GHz

Figure 12 Comparing Phase response of the filters

Insertion Loss:
We have ω1 / 2π = 3GHz , ω2 / 2π = 5GHz ω3 / 2π = 8GHz and ωc / 2π = 2GHz , so
ω1
− 1 = 0.5
ωc
ω2
− 1 = 1.5
ωc
ω3
− 1 = 3.0
ωc

Then, the insertion losses at these frequencies are measured in the simulation and
analytical values are estimated from the Figure 8.27 in the book ("Microwave
Engineering, David Pozar") and are shown in Table 1.

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 Table 1 Insertion Loss
Frequency IL (Analytical) IL (Lumped IL (Shunt IL (Stepped
Elements) Stubs) Impedances)
3 GHz 10 dB 10.363 dB 24.691 dB 9.905 dB
5 GHz 25 dB 25.680 dB 24.691 dB 22.278 dB
8 GHz 38 dB 38.609 dB 0 dB 28.240 dB

From the results, we see that the insertion losses of the filter with lumped elements are
closer to the analytical results. This is because ideal lumped elements (inductors and
capacitor) were used during the filter realization. Insertion loss of the filters realized with
the shunt stubs and stepped impedance deviate from the analytical expectations.

The amplitude response of the low pass filter with shunt stubs have sharper cutoff but are
periodic in nature. This is because all the transmission line elements are of same length
λ / 8 at the design frequency ωc , so the transmission line elements has the lumped
element values at multiple frequencies, repeating every 4ωc . Therefore, the amplitude
response of the low pass filter with shunt stubs is periodic in frequency, repeating
every 4ωc .

The amplitude response of the low pass filter with the stepped characteristic impedance
transmission lines gives much lower attenuation as compared to that of the lumped
elements or the analytical expectations. This is because the stepped impedance filter
elements depart significantly from the lumped element values at higher frequencies.

Low pass filter with Shunt stubs

Advantages:
• Easier to construct and fabricate in microstrips.
• Higher attenuation near the cutoff frequency.

Disadvantages
• The periodic nature of the distributed elements results in harmonic responses. In
this case there are responses centered on 4nf c , where n is a positive integer. This
can be a serious problem if unanticipated in system designs.

Low pass filter with stepped impedance transmission lines

Advantages
• Easier to design and take up less space than a similar low pass filter using stubs.

Disadvantages
• Because of the approximations involved, electrical performance is not as good,
so the use of such filters is usually limited to applications where a sharp cutoff is
not required.

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mag(filter_with_stepped_impedance..S(2,1))

dB(filter_with_stepped_impedance..S(2,1))
mag(filter_with_Lumped_elements..S(2,1))

dB(filter_with_Lumped_elements..S(2,1))
mag(filter_with_shunt_stubs..S(2,1))

dB(filter_with_shunt_stubs..S(2,1))
1.0 0

0.8 -10

0.6 -20

0.4 -30

0.2 -40

0.0 -50
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
freq, GHz freq, GHz

Figure 13 Comparing the scattering parameters of the filters

Comparing the phase and magnitude responses of the filters plotted in Figure 12 and
Figure 13, the filter with stepped impedance lines behaves closer to the filter with the
lumped elements. However, because of the approximations used in the stepped
impedance filter, the electrical performance is not as good as that of the lumped element
filters. Therefore the filter with stepped impedance line would be better suited as a
wideband filter (like preselection filter) whereas the shunt stub filter would be better if
we require the sharp cutoffs.

Smith Chart Analysis

At the zero frequency, the curve is nearest to the center of the Smith chart in the low pass
filter in all three different realizations. This is because when the dc signal is passed
through the filter; the inductors will behave as if short circuit and capacitors will behave
as if open circuit. Therefore, there will be no reflections and the reflection coefficient is
zero.

In case of the filter with lumped elements, the curve on the Smith chart is nearest to the
center when f = 1.74GHz , because this frequency represents the peak of one of the
ripple in the pass band and the peak value (of | S 21 | ) is unity, which means the power
transmission coefficient is equal to one and the reflection coefficient is zero.

m4
freq=1.740GHz
m4=0.008 / 161.057
impedance = Z0 * (0.985 + j0.005) m4
m6
S(1,1)

m6
freq=0.0000 Hz
m6=0.000 / 0.000
impedance = Z0 * (1.000 + j0.000)

freq (0.0000 Hz to 8.000GHz)

Figure 14 Zooming the smith chart for S11 of the low pass filter with lumped elements

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 In case of the filter with the shunt stubs, the curve on the Smith chart is nearest to the
center when f = 1.8, 6.19,8 GHz . Here 1.8GHz represents the peak of one of the ripples
in the pass band and the peak value (of | S 21 | ) is unity, which means the power
transmission coefficient is equal to one and the reflection coefficient is zero. And the 6.19
and 8GHz represent the ripples in the passband, which occurs because of the periodic
nature of the shunt stub filter structure.

m4
freq=6.180GHz m6
m4=0.004 / -79.542 freq=1.820GHz
impedance = Z0 * (1.001 - j0.007) m6=0.004 / 79.542
m6
m7 impedance = Z0 * (1.001 + j0.007)
m4

S(1,1)
m7
freq=8.000GHz
m7=2.596E-5 / -89.999
impedance = Z0 * (1.000 - j5.193E-5)

freq (0.0000 Hz to 8.000GHz)

Figure 15 Zooming the smith chart for S11 of the low pass filter with shunt stub elements
In case of the filter with stepped impedance lines, the curve on the Smith chart is nearest
to the center, when f = 1.64 GHz , because this frequency represents the peak of one of
the ripples in the passband and the peak value (of | S 21 | ) is unity, which means the power
transmission coefficient is equal to one and the reflection coefficient is zero.
.

m4
freq=0.0000 Hz
m4=8.046E-4 / 0.000
impedance = Z0 * (1.002 + j0.000) m4
m6
S(1,1)

m6
freq=1.640GHz
m6=0.004 / -18.862
impedance = Z0 * (1.007 - j0.002)

freq (0.0000 Hz to 8.000GHz)

Figure 16 Zooming the smith chart for S11 of the low pass filter with stepped impedance line
elements

3. Conclusion
In this project, we designed and simulated the third order Chebyshev (0.5dB ripple)
filter using the lumped elements, shunt stubs, and stepped impedance transmission
lines. We also studied the magnitude and phase response of the filters.
4. Reference
[1] David Pozar, “Microwave Engineering”, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons Inc.

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