Narrowband Microstrip

Filter Design With

NI Microwave Office

Daniel G. Swanson, Jr.

SW Filter Design
Westford, MA

d.swanson@ieee.org

www.swfilterdesign.com
 Narrowband Microstrip Filters
There are many topologies
we can choose from.
The interdigital filter has
been very popular.
But it has some design and
fabrication challenges.

D. G. Swanson, Jr., Narrow-Band Microwave

Filter Design, IEEE Microwave Magazine,
vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 105-114, Oct. 2007.

Microstrip Filter Design 2

 Microstrip Interdigital

y
+y metal pattern
misalignment
x
1 2 3 4 5 Resonators 1, 3, 5
get longer
Resonators 2 & 4
get shorter
The filter is badly
mistuned

Standard metal pattern to via alignment spec is +/- 2 mils

Interdigital at X-band requires something like +/- 0.2 mils

Microstrip Filter Design 3

 Microstrip Combline
Microstrip interdigital topology
Has been a workhorse for many years
Very compact in terms of wavelengths
Very sensitive to absolute via placement
Very sensitive to alignment of metal pattern to vias
Y-axis misalignment rapidly detunes filter
Microstrip combline topology
Has not been studied in detail
Also very compact in terms of wavelengths
True combline requires loading capacitors and extra vias
Microstrip combline is not pure TEM, allows longer resonator
All resonators are grounded at the same end
Y-axis misalignment should only shift center frequency

Microstrip Filter Design 4

 Conventional Combline

Resonators are typically 50

to 60 degrees long for
moderate bandwidths.
For octave band filters
resonators may be in the
30 degree range.
30-80 For narrow band filters
deg resonators may be in the
70 to 80 degree range.
Some form of capacitive
loading is used to achieve
resonance.
If the medium is pure TEM,
90 degree long combline
resonators do not couple.

Microstrip Filter Design 5

 Microstrip Combline

If we want to build a microstrip combline it is tempting to adopt the

conventional topology.
But we need an extra set of vias for the capacitive loading.
And we need to accurately realize the capacitive loading, possibly
with an interdigital capacitor structure to get significant loading.

Microstrip Filter Design 6

 10% BW Microstrip Combline
15 mil alumina
L = 94 mils 25 mil wide resonators

What if we arbitrarily throw away the capacitive top loading?

Our first assumption is that resonators will be close to 90 degrees
long and we may not get much coupling.
This assumes the vias are ideal short circuits, which of course
they are not.
It also assumes a pure TEM environment, which microstrip is not.
In fact, we can port tune this structure to be a 10% bandwidth filter.
Microstrip Filter Design 7
 Port Tuned Response

Microstrip Filter Design 8

 10% BW Microstrip Combline

After optimization, the printed

parts of the resonators are 73
to 77 degrees long, depending
on the assumed reference
plane for the vias.
We have some capacitive
73-77
deg
loading due to the open end
fringing.
And we have significant
loading due to the finite
inductance of the vias.
There is also some mutual
inductance between the vias.
Compared to the conventional
approach, this microstrip
combline is both bottom
loaded and top loaded.

Microstrip Filter Design 9

 Combline Filter Fabrication

Absolute via placement is still

a problem with the combline
Metalized slot replaces vias
Misalignment variables
Slot or pattern Y-axis shift
Slot or pattern XY rotation
Efficient thin-film process
Applied Thin-Film Products
www.thinfilm.com
EM modeling is simpler
and faster without vias

Metalized slot

Microstrip Filter Design 10

 Microstrip Combline Example

N = 5 Microstrip Interdigital
Center Frequency: 2.44 GHz
Bandwidth: 244 MHz (10%)
Insertion Loss: < 2 dB
Return Loss: 20 dB (.044 dB ripple)

Microstrip Filter Design 11

 Design Flow
Estimate order of filter and stopband rejection
Choose waveguide channel dimensions
Distributed filters couple to the waveguide channel
Build model of proposed resonator (with loss)
Compute available Qu
Estimate insertion loss
Build Kij design curve (no loss)
Build Qex design curve (no loss)
Build model of complete filter and apply port tuning
Use port tuning corrections to refine filter dimensions
Do final run of filter with loss turned on
Verify insertion loss in passband
Verify rejection in stopbands
Microstrip Filter Design 12
 Chebyshev Lowpass Prototype
Chebyshev Lowpass Prototype: 0.044 dB ripple, 20 dB return loss, 1.22 VSWR
N g0 g1 g2 g3 g4 g5 g6 g7 g8 g9 g10 g1 - gN
2 1.0000 0.6682 0.5462 1.2222 1.2144
3 1.0000 0.8534 1.1039 0.8534 1.0000 2.8144
4 1.0000 0.9332 1.2923 1.5795 0.7636 1.2222 4.5727
5 1.0000 0.9732 1.3723 1.8032 1.3723 0.9732 1.0000 6.4989
6 1.0000 0.9958 1.4131 1.8950 1.5505 1.7272 0.8147 1.2222 8.4011
7 1.0000 1.0097 1.4368 1.9414 1.6216 1.9414 1.4368 1.0097 1.0000 10.4028
8 1.0000 1.0189 1.4518 1.9682 1.6570 2.0252 1.6104 1.7744 0.8336 1.2222 12.3447
9 1.0000 1.0252 1.4618 1.9852 1.6772 2.0662 1.6772 1.9852 1.4618 1.0252 1.0000 14.3710

N is the lowpass or bandpass filter order.

The gis are frequency and impedance scaled values for a
lowpass filter with a cutoff frequency of = 1 radian and a
return loss of 20 dB.
Any given passband ripple / return loss level requires a
unique table.
Other tables are available in the literature or the gis can
be computed.
Microstrip Filter Design 13
 Microstrip Qu
EMSight
AWRDE V11 25mil (.635mm) thick alumina
assumed r = 9.8

50mil by 435mil
(1.27mm by 11.05mm)

150 mil
25 mil
600 mil
Vertical via metal

Microstrip Filter Design 14

 Microstrip Qu From Group Delay

230

Microstrip Filter Design 15

 Midband Insertion Loss
Chebyshev Lowpass Prototype: 0.044 dB ripple, 20 dB return loss, 1.22 VSWR
N g0 g1 g2 g3 g4 g5 g6 g7 g8 g9 g10 g1 - gN
2 1.0000 0.6682 0.5462 1.2222 1.2144
3 1.0000 0.8534 1.1039 0.8534 1.0000 2.8144
4 1.0000 0.9332 1.2923 1.5795 0.7636 1.2222 4.5727
5 1.0000 0.9732 1.3723 1.8032 1.3723 0.9732 1.0000 6.4989
6 1.0000 0.9958 1.4131 1.8950 1.5505 1.7272 0.8147 1.2222 8.4011
7 1.0000 1.0097 1.4368 1.9414 1.6216 1.9414 1.4368 1.0097 1.0000 10.4028
8 1.0000 1.0189 1.4518 1.9682 1.6570 2.0252 1.6104 1.7744 0.8336 1.2222 12.3447
9 1.0000 1.0252 1.4618 1.9852 1.6772 2.0662 1.6772 1.9852 1.4618 1.0252 1.0000 14.3710

N
4.343 g i f 0
4.343 6.4989 2.44
Loss ( f 0 ) = i =1
= = 1.23 dB
f Qu 0.244 230

Loss will be higher at the band edges.

Microstrip Filter Design 16

 Dishals Method
As early as 1951, Milton Dishal [2] recognized that any narrow
band, lumped element or distributed bandpass filter could be
described by three fundamental variables:
the synchronous tuning frequency, f0
the couplings between adjacent resonators, Kr,r+1
the singly loaded or external Q, Qex
The Kij set the bandwidth of the filter and the Qex sets the
return loss level.
For any narrowband filter (<10% bandwidth) we can compute
the required Kij and Qex from the Chebyshev lowpass prototype.
The K and Q concept is universal and can be applied to any
lumped element or distributed filter topology or technology [4,5].

Microstrip Filter Design 17

 Definition of Kij and Qex
f 0 g 0 g1 g 0 g1
Qex = =
f 2 f1 BW
( f 2 f1 ) BW
K ij = =
f0 gi g j gi g j
f1 + f 2 f 2 f1
f0 = BW =
2 f0
f1 = bandpass filter lower equal ripple frequency
f2 = bandpass filter upper equal ripple frequency
f0 = bandpass filter center frequency
BW = percentage bandwidth
gi = prototype element value for element i
Note: Equations assume Qu is infinite.

Microstrip Filter Design 18

 Our Filter: N = 5, BW = 10%
Chebyshev Lowpass Prototype: 0.044 dB ripple, 20 dB return loss, 1.22 VSWR
N g0 g1 g2 g3 g4 g5 g6 g7 g8 g9 g10 g1 - gN
2 1.0000 0.6682 0.5462 1.2222 1.2144
3 1.0000 0.8534 1.1039 0.8534 1.0000 2.8144
4 1.0000 0.9332 1.2923 1.5795 0.7636 1.2222 4.5727
5 1.0000 0.9732 1.3723 1.8032 1.3723 0.9732 1.0000 6.4989
6 1.0000 0.9958 1.4131 1.8950 1.5505 1.7272 0.8147 1.2222 8.4011
7 1.0000 1.0097 1.4368 1.9414 1.6216 1.9414 1.4368 1.0097 1.0000 10.4028
8 1.0000 1.0189 1.4518 1.9682 1.6570 2.0252 1.6104 1.7744 0.8336 1.2222 12.3447
9 1.0000 1.0252 1.4618 1.9852 1.6772 2.0662 1.6772 1.9852 1.4618 1.0252 1.0000 14.3710

BW 0.1
K1, 2 = = = 0.0882
g1 g 2 0.9393 1.3677
BW 0.1
K 2,3 = = = 0.0643
g2 g3 1.3577 1.7691
g 0 g1 1.0 0.9393
Qex = = = 9.393
BW 0.1

Microstrip Filter Design 19

 Computing Spacings and Tap Height
Our resonator geometry is now fixed.
We have enough Qu to meet the insertion loss goal.
We have goals for the Kijs and Qex
Now we need to compute the spacings between
resonators and the tap height.

Microstrip Filter Design 20

 Computing Coupling Coefficients
Compute coupling coefficient as function
of spacing between resonators.
Lossless model
Faster
No corrections to Kij
Via ports for tuning in our circuit simulator
MoM mesh may not be
perfectly symmetrical
Faster than making geometry
changes in the EM model

EMSight
AWRDE V11

Microstrip Filter Design 21

 Computing Coupling Coefficients
EMSight
AWRDE V11

150 mil
25 mil
600 mil
Vertical via metal

Microstrip Filter Design 22

 Extracting Coupling Coefficients

Loosely couple
with transformers.

We want to force
synchronous tuning.
At resonance:
mag (im(Y (1,1))) = 0
mag (im(Y (2,2))) = 0

Microstrip Filter Design 23

 Extracting Coupling Coefficients

-30 dB min

f 2 f1
Coupling Coefficient = = 0.0607
f0
Coupling Bandwidth = f 2 f1 = 148 MHz

Microstrip Filter Design 24

 Coupling Curve: Fit in Mathcad

150 mil
Spacing = 0.1137 1.2903 K 3.9600 K 2
25 mil
600 mil

Microstrip Filter Design 25

 Computing Qex

Tune to center frequency at Port 2.

Measure reflected group delay at Port 1.
Tap height sets the return loss level
of our filter.
Note this resonator is longer than the
resonators used to compute couplings.

Microstrip Filter Design 26

 Port Tuned Reflected Delay

Tap_Height = 93 mils
2 f (GHz) t d (nS)
Qex =
4
3.1416 2.44 2.605
Qex = = 9.98
2

Microstrip Filter Design 27

 Qex Curve: Fit in Mathcad

150 mil
4
Tap Height = 0.2012 0.0158 Delay 4.498 10 Delay 2
25 mil
600 mil

Microstrip Filter Design 28

 First Iteration Geometry

S1 = 31 mils
S2 = 47 mils

L1 = 442 mils
L2 = 437 mils

Tap Height = 97 mils

Microstrip Filter Design 29

 Default Meshing

Microstrip Filter Design 30

 First Iteration Response

4350 Unknowns 150 mil

AFS Sweep
15 Frequencies 25 mil
600 mil

Microstrip Filter Design 31

 Arbitrary Channel Height Change

100 mil
25 mil
600 mil

Microstrip Filter Design 32

 Internal Ports for Port Tuning

Internal nodes

External port
Tuning element

Low error
Very effective for
frequency tuning
Limited to lumped
elements by the
transformer
How do we tune
couplings?

Microstrip Filter Design 33

 Impact of Internal Ports

Microstrip Filter Design 34

 Port Tuning With Internal Ports
Custom symbol

zero tuning = +20 pH

Dummy
element Mutual couplings

M ij = K ij Li L j
Coupled Li > 0
inductor array
1 < K ij < 1

Mutual couplings
tune EM circuit
couplings

Add negative offset

inductors so coupled
Ls dont go negative.

Microstrip Filter Design 35

 Port Tuning with EQR_OPT
General purpose optimizers may work
fine for low order filters, but they can
be inefficient for more complex filters.
EQR_OPT_MWO is a dedicated
optimizer for microwave filters.
It finds an exact equal ripple response
with a very small number of iterations.
It communicates with Microwave Office
via the COM interface.
It works on any Chebyshev filter that
can be defined in Microwave Office.
We can also use it to port tune
an S-parameter file from any
EM simulator.
www.swfilterdesign.com

Microstrip Filter Design 36

 Second Iteration: Port Tuned

X X X X X

X EM simulation frequencies

Microstrip Filter Design 37

 What Do The Tunings Tell Us?
Center resonator tuning is almost perfect
(remember zero is +20 pH)
The outer resonators want to be longer
The first and last gaps want to be smaller
The inner gaps want to be larger
Return loss tells us the tap position wants
to move down very slightly
The resonator and coupling tunings
will interact
The general strategy is to go after the
largest errors at each step

Next step: Resonators 1, 2, 4, 5 each one mil longer

Move tap down one mil
Microstrip Filter Design 38
 Third Iteration

Microstrip Filter Design 39

 Fourth Iteration

Resonator tunings are all pretty close

The first and last gaps want to be smaller
The inner gaps want to be larger
Return loss is perfect

Next step: First and last gaps one mil smaller

Inner gaps one mil larger

Microstrip Filter Design 40

 Fifth Iteration

Coupling corrections are small and in the

numerical noise (note opposite signs)
Resonator tunings have shifted
We need less than a full one mil change
in resonator length and resonator
spacing.

Next step: Fine tune open ends

Fine tune couplings

Microstrip Filter Design 41

 Fine Tunings

Reso 1 Reso 2 Reso 3

Add and subtract bits of metal at the open

ends to fine tune the resonators.

We have to go back and

forth a little between
frequency and coupling
adjustments.

Adding or subtracting metal at the base of

the resonators fine tunes the coupling.

Microstrip Filter Design 42

 Final Tuning

If we set the tunings to zero

and see very little movement
in the response we are done.
Next step is to remove the
tuning ports and do a two
port analysis of the filter.

Microstrip Filter Design 43

 Two Port EM Simulation

Microstrip Filter Design 44

 Two Port EM Simulation

Microstrip Filter Design 45

 Summary
Dishals K and Q method leads us to a simple design flow
for narrowband filters.
We can modernize the method by using EMSight to build
the Kij and Qex design curves that we need.
We can then build a complete model of our filter in EMSight,
port tune it and get a very good prediction of performance.
These virtual prototypes in our EM simulator avoid the
time and expense of multiple hardware prototypes.
Experience has shown that we can rely on the
EM simulator models.

Microstrip Filter Design 46

 Follow Up Classes
If you would like a more detailed introduction to filter design methods:

Class #1: Filters and Multiplexers for Military Systems

Class #2: Cavity Filters and Multiplexers for Wireless Applications
Class #3: PCB Filters and Multiplexers using Standard SMT Components

Besser Associates www.besserassociates.com

CEI - Europe www.cei.se

Microstrip Filter Design 47

 References
[1] R. Levy, R. Snyder and G. Matthaei, Design of Microwave Filters,
IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. MTT-50, pp. 783-793, March
2002.
[2] M. Dishal, Alignment and adjustment of synchronously tuned multiple
resonate circuit filters, Proc IRE, vol. 30, pp. 1448-1455, Nov. 1951.
[3] M. Dishal, A simple design procedure for small percentage bandwidth
round-rod interdigital filters, IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol.
MTT-13, pp. 696-698, Sept. 1965.
[4] J. Wong, Microstrip tapped-line filter design, IEEE Trans. Microwave
Theory Tech., vol. MTT-27, pp. 44-50, Jan. 1979.
[5] D. G. Swanson, Jr., Narrow-Band Microwave Filter Design, IEEE
Microwave Magazine, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 105-114, Oct. 2007.
[6] D. G. Swanson, Jr., Corrections to Narrow-Band Microwave Filter
Design, IEEE Microwave Magazine, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 116, Feb. 2008.

Microstrip Filter Design 48