ELEC4502 Microwave Circuits September, 2019

Carleton University
Department of Electronics
ELEC4502 Microwave Circuits

PROJECT 1 – DESIGN OF AN MIC EDGE-COUPLED BAND-PASS FILTER

1.0 Introduction

There are many ways to make a band-pass filter. The most common band-pass filter in
general use for microstrip applications is the side-coupled (or edge-coupled) filter making use
of open-circuited, half-wave resonators. This same filter may be constructed with short-
circuited, quarter-wave resonators but for microstrip applications the latter technique raises the
problem of producing a good quality short-circuit. A half-wave resonator, on the other hand,
can be readily printed and has the additional advantage of providing DC isolation. Its general
configuration is shown in Figure 1.1. The insertion loss and return loss responses for a
Chebyshev filter are shown in Figure 1.2.

Input

Output

Figure 1.1 Side-coupled half-wave resonator microstrip filter configuration.

(A three resonator filter is shown).

The passband insertion loss of any bandpass filter is a function of the filter’s relative bandwidth
and the available unloaded Qo of the transmission line being used to fabricate it. In general,
the insertion loss of the filter increases as its bandwidth decreases. It will increase as the
number of resonators in the filter increases, although not always at the same rate. It may be
desirable, where sharp skirts and narrow bandwidths are required, to broaden the bandwidth
slightly and to increase the number of sections in order to maintain the necessary stop-band
rejection while minimizing the insertion loss in the pass-band.

For any bandwidth or any number of resonators, the fundamental governing limit on insertion
loss is the available unloaded Qo where

1 1 1
= + ………(1.1)
Qo Qc Qd

Qc and Qd represent the unloaded Q contribution as a result of copper losses and dielectric
losses, respectively.
ELEC4502 Microwave Circuits September, 2019

Figure 1.2 Insertion loss and return loss response for a Chebyshev bandpass filter

These are given by

Qc = 2π ε eff / (λα c ) ..........(1.2)

and
Qd = 1 / tan δ ........(1.3)

where αc is the attenuation constant (Neper/m) of the microstrip line, tan δ is the dielectric loss
tangent, and εeff is the effective permittivity. Both εeff and αc must be evaluated at the centre
frequency of the bandpass filter.
ELEC4502 Microwave Circuits September, 2019
1.2 Coupled Transmission Lines

The edge-coupled filter uses the coupling between transmission lines which occurs when they
are in close proximity to each other. Two parallel microstrip lines will couple energy between
them if brought close together. In fact, the wave which propagates on the coupled structure
has different characteristics than the wave which exists on each line separately. Two
independent modes can exist on the coupled structure; these are called the even mode and
the odd mode. If the two transmission lines are excited in phase (even mode), the resulting
characteristic impedance for the even mode is the even mode impedance Zoe. The propagation
constant for the even mode is βe. If the two transmission lines are excited 180o out of phase
(odd mode), the resulting characteristic impedance for the odd mode is the odd mode
impedance Zoo. The propagation constant for the odd mode is βo. The field patterns for the
quasi-TEM even- and odd modes in coupled microstrip lines are shown in Figure 1.3. If the
coupled lines are λ/4 long, the voltage coupling factor k is given by
Z − Z oo
k = oe …(1.4)
Z oe + Z oo
The reference impedance for the coupled structure is

Z o = Z oe Z oo ...(1.5)

Figure 1.3 Coupled microstrip lines showing even- and odd mode excitation

1.3 Design Theory

A filter design can often be based on a low-pass prototype network [1]. An n-element low-pass
filter prototype and its low-pass Chebyshev insertion loss response is shown in Figure 1.4.
Note that ω′ is the low-pass filter frequency variable.

Figure 1.3 Low-pass Chebyshev filter prototype.

ELEC4502 Microwave Circuits September, 2019

For such a filter, with Am(dB) ripple and normalized cut-off frequency ω1′ = 1.0 rad/s,

1 for n odd
r= ..........(1.6)
tanh (β /4 ) for n even
2

β = ln {coth (A m / 17.37 )}, A m in dB ..........(1.7)

g1 = 2a1 / γ ..........(1.8)

a k −1 a k
gk = 4 , k = 2,3, ... , n ..........(1.9)
bk −1 g k −1

γ = sinh (β / 2n ) ..........(1.10)

bk = γ 2 + sin 2 (kπ / n ) , k = 1,2, ... , n ..........(1.11)

ak = sin[(2k − 1)π / 2n] , k = 1,2, ... , n ..........(1.12)

The low-pass response (in dB) is given by

A= { ( ) ( )}
10 log10 1 + 10 Am / 10 − 1 cos 2 n cos −1 ω ′ , ω ′ ≤ 1
{1 + (10 − 1)cosh (n cosh ω ′) },
..........(1.13)
10 log10 Am / 10 2 −1
ω′ ≥ 1

The normalized element values gk, k=1,2, ... , n for an n-resonator low-pass Chebyshev filter
with various ripple values are calculated from (1.6) to (1.13). Note that the values for gk are
normalized to the input terminating impedance Zo.

When the correct low-pass to band-pass transformation is used, a band-pass filter with the
same shape of response as the low-pass filter either side of the centre frequency is obtained.
The low-pass frequency variable ω′ is transformed to the band-pass frequency variable ω by

ωo  ω ωo 
ω′ =  −  ..........(1.14)
ω 2 − ω1 ω o ω 

where ωo = 2πfo is the band centre frequency

and ω1 = 2πf1, ω2 = 2πf2 are the pass-band edges. The corresponding band-pass response
is shown in Figure 1.5.

The resulting band-pass filter elements can be determined from the low-pass prototype
elements gk, k=1,2,...,n depending on the type of band-pass filter. For an edge-coupled λ/2
resonator filter as used here the design is based on the even- and odd-mode impedances of
the coupled-transmission lines forming the resonators.
ELEC4502 Microwave Circuits September, 2019

The midband insertion loss of the bandpass filter is given by

ω 1' n
L A (0) = 4.343
w Σg
k =1
k / Qk , (dB) ..........(1.15)

where Qk is the quality factor of the kth resonator, w is the fractional bandwidth, ω1′ is the
cutoff frequency of the low-pass prototype filter, and gk are the element values of the low-pass
prototype filter

Figure 1.4 Low-pass to band-pass transformation

The design parameters are given by:

1 ≅ λo / 4 where λo = wavelength in the transmission line at fo.

1
Zo π  f − f1   1  2
= ' 2   ; i = 1,2,3,..., n + 1 ..........(1.16)
K i −1,i ω 1  f 2 + f1   g i −1 g i 

fo = (f1 + f2)/2 is the centre frequency.

(Note that Ki-1,j is the impedance of an impedance inverter which is part of the process of
converting parallel resonators to series resonators during the low-pass to band-pass
transformation. It is not the voltage coupling parameter.)

g1, g2,...,gn = prototype elements in Farads and Henries

calculated from (1.6) to (1.12) and

π  f 2 − f1 
go =   ..........(1.17)
ω 1'  f 2 + f1 
ELEC4502 Microwave Circuits September, 2019
π  f 2 − f1 
g n +1 =   ..........(1.18)
rω 1'  f 2 + f1 

where r = right-hand load resistance in the schematic of Fig. 1.4(a)

ω1′ = pass band edge of the prototype filter (= 1 rad/sec)

f1, f2 = corresponding pass band edges of the band-pass filter

The even- and odd-mode characteristic impedances of the coupled structures are given by:

  Zo 
2
Zo
Z oe = Z o 1 + +   ; i = 1,2,...,n + 1 ..........(1.17)
 K i −1, i  K i −1, i  
   

  Zo 
2
Zo
Z oo = Z o 1 − +   ; i = 1,2,...,n + 1 ..........(1.18)
 K i −1, i  K i −1, i  
   

where Zoe = even-mode characteristic impedance with respect to ground of each

conductor in the ith section

and Zoo = odd-mode characteristic impedance with respect to ground of each

conductor in the ith section.

[1] Matthaei, G., Young, L., Jones, E.M.T. Microwave Filters, Impedance-Matching Networks,
and Coupling Structures, New York:McGraw-Hill.

Chapter 8 in the textbook will also be helpful to understand the design theory.
ELEC4502 Microwave Circuits September, 2019
2.0 The Project Assignment

You are required to design, fabricate and test a three element edge-coupled half-wave
microstrip resonator filter having the following specifications:

Center frequency assigned in class (approx 4 GHz )

Chebyshev response with pass-band ripple 0.3 dB
Equal-ripple bandwidth 600 MHz
Terminations 50Ω
Minimum line width or spacing 10 mil (= .010 in).

The microstrip substrate you will use is Rogers RT/Duroid 5880 having the following
specifications:

Substrate thickness 31 mil (0.031 in)

Relative permittivity 2.20 at X-band Loss tangent .0009 at 10GHz
Copper thickness 0.70 mil ( .0007 in) ) Surface Roughness 55 micro- inch

As help for your design, perform the following steps.

1) Calculate the elements of the appropriate low-pass prototype filter.

2) Plot the theoretical low-pass insertion loss response (dB) from dc to the frequency where
30dB rejection is obtained. You can use MATLAB or MATHCAD.
3) Plot the corresponding band-pass filter response.
4) Calculate the required even- and odd-mode impedances and coupling coefficients for the
edge-coupled resonators of the bandpass filter.
5) Make a schematic using the ideal element CLIN and run Keysight/ADS to check your
bandpass filter design.
6) Using LineCalc (Keysight/ADS) determine the width of the input and output microstrip lines,
as well as the required width and spacing for each resonator section (use MCLIN element).
Record the transmission line data from LineCalc. Sketch the filter layout with the required
dimensions.
7) Use Keysight/ADS to analyze your filter design. Note that you should use symmetry when
describing your filter in the schematic: i.e., it is only necessary to describe half the filter; define
it as a sub-element; then connect it inverted to form the complete filter. (See the example
where MCFIL is used). Plot the initial responses |S11| and |S21|. Optimize your design to meet
the filter specifications. You should use |S11| to tune your filter, since it is more sensitive than
|S21|. To do this convert the in-band ripple spec to a return loss spec assuming a lossless
filter. Plot the optimized responses |S11| and |S21|.
8) Now include any parasitic effects you feel should be included in the model for your band-
pass filter. Re-analyze your circuit and plot the resulting filter responses. Note that MCFIL
includes parasitic end-effects.
9) Optimize your circuit to meet the filter specifications and still be physically realizable. Plot
the optimized filter responses |S11| and |S21|.
10) Produce a circuit layout using ADS. The filter must fit on a circuit board 4.0in x 2.0in. Keep
the metal tracks at least 0.5 inch from the circuit board edge. Modify the layout if required and
re-analyze the filter if substantial changes in the layout are made (this is called post-layout
simulation ). Why would this step sometimes be necessary?
ELEC4502 Microwave Circuits September, 2019
11) When you have your final layout, add some identification in the top right hand corner. You
should use your initials in capital block letters about 0.1 in high. The letters should be .020 in
thick You should also add some chevron marks (squares 0.1 in x 0.1 in ) marking the corners
of your circuit like this:

Corners should touch !!!

ID Max. outside dimension 4.0in by 2.0 in

12) Produce a plot 4x actual size on the HP plotter. Submit this to me by October 9 for
checking. Mark the critical dimensions on your plot. If it is okay, make a copy of the ADS
layout file (filename.dxf) on a 3.5 inch floppy disk. Also place gerber format layout file on the
disk. Submit the disk and a copy of your layout to Nagui by October 11.
13) Pick up your circuit by October 18 (we hope !!).
14) Attach RF connectors to your circuit. Measure and plot the return loss |S11| and insertion
loss |S21| on the network analyzer. Describe your calibration procedure. Discuss your
measured results.
15) Complete your report and submit it by October 30.