Microwave filters

Updated October 11, 2007

Click here to go to a page that explains filter schematic symbols (link

fixed thanks to Rhian!)

Click here to go our page on lumped element filters

Click here to go to a page on filter group delay

Click here to go to a page on diplexers

Click here to go to our page on YIG components

A note from the Unknown Editor: many textbooks have been devoted
to filter design. We don't intend to assimilate all of this knowledge
here, our goal is, as always, to provide you with a basic understanding
of the subject and hook you up with some vendors that can help you
out. For the near future we will concentrate mostly on planar band-
pass filters, then follow up with some lumped element examples.

Got some filter data you'd like to share with us? Shoot it in!

Below is a clickable outline for our filter discussion (some stuff is still
missing!)

Common filter terminology

Absorptive versus reflective filters

Low-pass, high-pass and band-pass
Multiplexers
Diplexers (separate page)
Reentrant modes
Resonances of RLC circuits
Parallel LC resonance
Series LC resonance
Quality factor
Bandwidth
Order of a filter
Poles and zeros
Stopband attenuation
Overshoot
Group delay flatness
Some seemingly simple filter examples

RF choke
DC return
DC block
Bias tee
EMI filter

Filter response types

Chebyshev
Bessel-Thomson
Butterworth
Gaussian

Lumped element filters (separate page)

Group delay of filters (separate page)

Planar resonator filters for microstrip or stripline (coming soon on a

separate page)

Will include: topologies, design considerations, tolerance effects, cover

effects for microstrip filters, design equations, detailed design
procedure, and references.

Waveguide filters - how about someone out there contribute on this

topic for us?

Commonly used terminology for microwave filters

Filters are typically two port networks. They rely on impedance

mismatching to reject RF energy. Where does all the energy go? That's
up to you as a designer to figure out, and a big reason why filters are
typically located between attenuators or isolators. Our page on
transmission line loss will explain the difference between attenuation
and rejection.

Absorptive versus reflective filters

Filters that are matched outside of their stop band are called
"absorptive filters". One way to make a reflective filter into an
absorptive filter is to add an isolator to the filter's input. Another way
to do this is to use a diplexer and terminate the unwanted band.

Lowpass filter (LPF)

This is a filter that passes lower frequencies down to DC, and rejects
higher frequencies. A series inductor or shunt capacitor or combination
of the two is a simple low-pass filter. Yes we will add some figures here
soon!!!

High-pass filter (HPF)

The opposite of a low pass filter, an HPF passes higher frequencies and
rejects lower ones. A series capacitor or shunt inductor or combination
of the two is a simple high-pass filter.

Band-pass filter (BPF)

A band-pass filter has filter skirts both above and below the band. It
can be formed by cascading a LPF and HPF, or using resonant
structures such as a quarter-wave coupled lines.

Multiplexer
A multiplexer is a network that separates signals from a common port
to other ports, sorted according to their frequency. A diplexer is a pair
of filters arranged in a three port network, such that a signal at port
one will be delivered to port 2 if it is a certain frequency band, and
delivered to port 3 if it is in another frequency band. Not to be
confused with a "duplexer", which is another word for a circulator. A
way to remember which word applies to which device... diplexer has an
"i" in it, so does the word filter. Duplexer has a "u" in it, so does the
word circulator.

Triplexers are four port filters, where one input is split into three
different frequency bands which each have a dedicated output port.
Somewhere out there there are even higher orders of multiplexers, but
we've never run across a "quadraplexer!"

Reentrant modes
Sometimes when you design a band-pass filter for 10 GHz, it also
passes RF at 20 GHz or 30 GHz or 40 GHz. These are called reentrant
modes.

Below is an example of an coupled-line filter, It uses quarter-wave

sections as couplers, they couple similarly at their 3/4 wave, 5/4 wave,
etc. frequencies. These are the third, fifth etc. harmonic frequencies. In
the figure you can see the passband at 10 GHz, and the reentrant
mode at 30 GHz (3/4 wave frequency).
 Reentrant mode example

Often band-pass filters are followed by a low-order low-pass filter to

dispose of the reentrant modes.

Resonance of RLC circuits

Resonance is a term used to describe the property whereby a network
presents a maximum or minimum impedance at a particular frequency,
for example, an open circuit or a short circuit. Resonance is an
important concept in microwaves, especially in filter theory. One
simple form of resonator are lumped element RLC circuits, sometime
called "tank circuits". Why the term "tank?" Because an LC resonator
can store energy in the form of an AC sinewave, much like a pendulum
"stores" gravitational energy.

The resonance of a RLC circuit occurs when the inductive and

capacitive reactances are equal in magnitude but cancel each other
because they are 180 degrees apart in phase. When the circuit is at its
resonant frequency, the combined imaginary component of the its
admittance is zero, and only the resistive component is observed. The
sharpness of the minimum depends on the value of R and is
characterized by the "Q" of the circuit.

The formula for resonant frequency (in Excelese) of an LC circuit is:

F=1/(2*PI()*SQRT(L*C/1000))
where F is in GHz, L is in nano-Henries and C is in pico-Farads. Click
here to go to our resonant frequency calculator!

Parallel LC resonance
Resonance for a parallel RLC circuit is the frequency at which the
impedance is maximum. Plotted below is the special case where the
resistance of the circuit is infinity ohms (an open circuit). With values
of 1 nH and 1 pF, the resonant frequency is around 5.03 GHz. Here the
circuit behave like a perfect open circuit. Note that for R=Z0, at the
resonant frequency the response would hit the center of the Smith
chart (the arc would still start at the short circuit but would be half the
diameter shown). At zero GHz (DC) as well as infinite frequency, the
ideal parallel LC presents a short circuit.

Parallel Resonance, C=1pF, L=1nH, R=open circuit

Series LC resonance
Resonance for a series RLC circuit is the frequency at which the
impedance is minimum. Plotted below is the special case where the
resistance of the circuit is infinity ohms (an open circuit). With values
of 1 NH and 1 pF, the resonant frequency is around 5.03 GHz. Here the
circuit behave like a perfect short circuit. Note that for R=Z0, at the
resonant frequency the response would hit the center of the Smith
chart. At zero GHz (DC) as well as infinite frequency, the ideal parallel
LC presents a open circuit.

Parallel Resonance, C=1pF, L=1nH, R=short circuit

Some seemingly simple filter examples
Sure, these look like very simple designs. But nothing is ever as easy
as it seems in microwaves!

RF choke
An RF choke is what engineers call something that doesn't pass an RF
signal, but allows a DC or low frequency signal to pass through. Series
inductors are often used as RF chokes, as well as quarter-wave
structures like the one shown below. Here a capacitor forms an RF
short circuit, which is transformed to an open circuit at the input. Such
a capacitor is called a "bypass capacitor".

A high-value resistor can also be used to form an effective choke. If the

resistance is high compared to your transmission line's characteristic
impedance, it chokes off the RF.

DC return
This is used to add a DC ground to an RF line. For example, in a PIN
diode switch, you need a path for a series diode's current to return to.

DC block
A DC block is nothing more than a capacitor that has low series
reactance at the RF frequency, and allows you to separate DC voltages
along a transmission line. A parallel coupled line can also serve as a DC
block.

DC blocks can be placed in the "hot" conductor of a transmission line

such as coax, or the ground plane, or both, as shown below. Many
vendors offer coaxial DC blocks in all three arrangements. When would
you want a DC block in the ground plane? Perhaps you want to inject a
voltage onto the source of a shunt FET, which is grounded to your
fixture. Users of this type of DC block must be aware that their
equipment could provide a voltage when they touch it. Careful where
you drop that wrench!
 Three types of DC blocks

Bias tee
Bias tees are used to supply DC currents or voltages to RF devices,
such as the FETs that are used in amplifiers. Bias tees are everywhere,
from your cell phone's power amp to the front panel of your network
analyzer. A bias tee is a classic example of a diplexer. In the figure
below, an RF signal incident to the upper right port (labeled RF & DC)is
delivered only to the upper left port (RF only). A DC signal (or very low
frequency, or video, signal) can be passed from the upper right port to
the lower right port (DC only). Properties that are important to a bias
tee are RF bandwidth, insertion loss and mismatch at the two RF ports,
the maximum DC current, and video bandwidth of the DC port.

Check out our example of a bias tee design using quarter-wave

transmission lines.

A simple bias tee

EMI filter

EMI stands for "electromagnetic interference", but you'd already know

that if you studied our Acronym Dictionary. EMI filters are used to keep
stray signals from polluting your design. Commonly known as
"feedthroughs", the basic EMI filter is a low-pass filter, and uses a
combination of shunt capacitance and series inductance to prevent EM
signals from entering your housing our enclosure.

Filter response types

Chebyshev (equal-ripple amplitude)
The Chebyshev filter is arguably the most popular filter response type.
It provides the greatest stopband attenuation but also the greatest
overshoot. It has the worst for group delay flatness (OK for CW
applications such as a frequency source). Check out our page on
lumped-element filters. You should also check out the instruction page
for our our free download for designing three, four and five-pole
Chebyshev filters!

Bessel-Thomson (maximally flat group delay)

Best in-band group delay flatness, no overshoot, lowest stopband
attenuation for given order and percentage bandwidth (ideal for
receiver applications such as image-rejection filters).

Butterworth (maximally flat amplitude)

Best in-band amplitude flatness, lower stopband attenuation than
Chebyshev, better than Chebyshev for group delay flatness and
overshoot (usually used as a compromise). All of the above are
realizable in parallel-coupled, direct-coupled, and interdigital filter
topologies.

Gaussian
This filter provides a Gaussian response in both frequency and time
domain. It is useful in IF receiver matched filters for radar.