LAB NO.

3 11/12/2020

DESIGN OF A MICROSTRIP STEPPED IMPEDANCE LOW-PASS

FILTER WITH LUMPED TO DISTRIBUTIVE ELEMENTS
CONVERSION AND ANALYZE IT IN ADS MOMENTUM
Lab outcomes:
After completing this lab, students will be able to;
 Design a microstrip stepped impedance low pass filter from lumped elements.
 Evaluate the different performance parameters of a filter.
Corresponding CLO and PLO:
 CLO-1, PLO-5 (Modern Tool Usage)
Theory:
Equipment:
 PC or Laptop
 Keysight ADS

Design a lumped element 2.2 GHz Chebyshev-response lowpass filter having 0.1 dB passband
ripple and -40 dB rejection at 6 GHz. Convert all the lumped elements to microstrip
transmission lines. The microstrip substrate is Rogers’s 6010 material (ε r= 10.2) with a 0.025
inch dielectric thickness.
Procedure:
Following the procedure discussed in lab 2 a lumped element filter is created.

 The low pass filter is shown in Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1 Lowpass filter sub-network (N=5)

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 Figure 3.2 Simulated results of Lumped element Lowpass filter

 After a Filter DesignGuide SmartComponent has been designed, the lumped inductors
and capacitors can be transformed into equivalent distributed element counterparts
using the ADS Transformation Assistant. The Filter Transformation Assistant helps us to
quickly and easily transform an ideal filter topology to a form that is realizable for RF
and microwave systems.
 The Transformation Assistant is opened from the Filter DesignGuide Control window, by
selecting Tools > Distributed Element Transformations. When the Transformation
Assistant is opened, the SmartComponent subnetwork appears in the schematic window
and a dialog box is opened. The transformations are then accomplished using the
controls on the dialog box.
 After the Transformation Assistant has been selected, the graphical area displays the
components that can be transformed. Black components represent elements included in
the original circuit available for transformation, while gray components represent
elements not included in the original circuit.
 Check the LC, TLine to Microstrip transformations and select the series inductors L1, and
L2 to be transformed to microstrip transmission lines.
 Set the characteristic impedance of the microstrip line to Z 0 = 80 Ohm and enter the
microstrip substrate parameters, as shown in Figure 3.3.

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 Figure 3.3 Transformation Assistance window

Figure 3.4 Series inductors transformed to microstrip lines

From the graphical area, use the left red arrow to select the shunt capacitors for
transformation. The graphical area changes to reveal the other distributed element
equivalents available for substitution. Repeat the same process for the capacitors but select
Z0 = 20 Ohm, as shown in Figure 3.5.
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 Figure 3.4 Simulated Response of the low pass filter
 Click Transform and then click OK. Now the capacitors have also been transformed to
microstrip lines.

Figure 3.5 Initial schematic of the distributed low pass filter

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 Figure 3.6 Simulated results of distributed low pass filter
 Generate the layout of the filter as discussed in lab 01. The generated layout for the filter is
shown in Figure 3.8.

Figure 3.7 Generated layout of the distributed low pass filter

 Perform the EM simulation of the generated layout in ADS using the method discussed in
Lab 01. Make the frequency sweep up to 10 GHz. Don’t forget to change the substrate
information as discussed in lab 01. Figure 3.8 shows the generated mesh from EM-
simulation, which looks fine.

Figure 3.8 Generated Mesh from EM simulation of the distributed low pass filter

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  Figure 3.9 shows a comparison of linear (schematic level in thick blue color) and
electromagnetic (ADS momentum in thin red color) simulation of the filter. We can see that
there is some shift in frequency.

Figure 3.9 Generated Mesh from EM simulation of the distributed low pass filter

Observations: (write your observations here)

Design a microstrip stepped impedance high pass filter that passes frequencies in the 420
MHz to 450 MHz range. The High Pass Filter specifications are:
 The pass band cutoff frequency (not the -3 dB frequency) is 420 MHz.
 The filter has a Chebyshev response with 0.1 dB pass band ripple.
 The reject requirement is at least -60 dB rejections at 146 MHz.

Q1: Draw the schematic of microstrip stepped impedance high-pass filter obtained from
Keysight ADS?

Q3: Draw the 2D layout of the filter obtained from ADS layout window?

Q2: Compare the frequency response of high-pass filter in terms of scattering from EM
simulation and schematic?

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 Conclusion:
This lab provides method for designing and analyzing a microwave stepped impedance filter in
Keysight Advanced Design System. Also, it provides procedure for performing EM simulation
of the filter’s layout.

References:
Behagi, Ali (2015). RF and Microwave Circuit Design A Design Approach Using
(ADS)  (3 ed.). Techno Search. pp. 1–68.

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Rubrics
Student is Student can Student has Student has Student
unable to understand followed constructed perfectly
follow the the provided instructions the implemented a
provided laboratory to construct functional/ working
instructions instructions the working model/ logic/
properly. and familiar fundamental schematic/ circuit/ block
The student with the lab schematic/ model/ block diagram/ code
can name the environment block diagram/ and
hardware or (Trainer/ diagram/ code, and successfully
Demonstration Absent
simulation software/ code/ model have executed the
platform, but IDE), but on the successfully lab objective
unable to cannot protoboard/ executed the in Realtime or
implement implement trainer/ program/ run in a
anything on the simulation circuit on simulation
practically or platform software. software environment
on the practically or platform and produced
software on the the desired
software results
Category Ungraded Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent
Percentage [0] [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100]
Marks 0.0 0.01 - 0.20 0.21 - 0.40 0.41 - 0.60 0.61 - 0.80 0.81 - 1.0
Date Total Marks Instructor’s Signature

Correctly
drawn
Plagiarized Requirements Observations Appropriate
conclusion
content are listed and are recorded computations
Laboratory Report not with
presented or experimental along with or numerical
Reports submitted exact results
incomplete procedure is detailed analysis is
and complete
submission presented procedure performed
report in all
respects
Category Ungraded Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent
Percentage [0] [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100]
Marks 0.0 0.01 - 0.20 0.21 - 0.40 0.41 - 0.60 0.61 - 0.80 0.81 - 1.0
Date Total Marks Instructor’s Signature

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