This paper presents a compact structure composed of an upper high-impedance transmission line, a middle extended parallel coupled line, and a pair of inter-coupled symmetrical stepped impedance stubs. Detailed investigation into this structure based on an equivalent circuit analysis reveals that this proposed structure exhibits a quasi-elliptic low-pass filtering response with three transmission zeros. Moreover, the positions of the three transmission zeros can be tuned and reallocated flexibly by choosing the proper circuit parameters. Finally, the design concept is validated through the design, fabrication, and measurement of two exemplary low-pass filters (LPFs) with one single unit and two cascaded asymmetric units. The measured results agree well with the simulated results. In addition, in the range of 1.42
fc
to 7.03
fc
, the fabricated quasi-elliptic LPFs experimentally demonstrate a very wide upper-stopband of 20 dB using a compact size of only 0.0089
λg2
, where
λg
is the guided wavelength of a 50 Ω transmission line at the central frequency.
Microwave low-pass filters (LPFs) are frequently required in many types of wireless communication systems to suppress unwanted harmonics and spurious signals. Conventional LPFs adopting a stepped-impedance configuration cannot meet the requirements of modern communication systems because of their large size and narrow stopband [1]. Therefore, new LPFs with a compact size, low insertion loss, and wide stopband are highly desirable today.To address the above mentioned problems, many methods have been recently proposed. To obtain wide stopband lowpass filtering responses, different electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structures are employed in [2]. However, it is well known that the periodic characteristic of an EBG causes a very large size. Defected ground structures (DGSs) have also been used in [3] and [4] to obtain a performance-improved LPF. However, a minimum air-space volume beneath the ground plane is required for the structure to function effectively. Additionally, these DGS structures with an aperture etched on the ground plane bring about many other disadvantages such as complex configuration and fabrication difficulties. Different structures with multiple transmission zeros are also employed to create an elliptic-function low-pass response with a wider stopband. In [5], elliptic-function LPFs based on microstrip stepped-impedance hairpin resonators have been presented by creating two coupling routes between non-adjacent sections. However, the filter transition in [5] is still gradual since the only transmission zero is far from the cutoff frequency. Different LPF topologies with two transmission zeros have also been investigated in [6]-[8]. However, since only two transmission zeros are provided, these filters are unavailable for the application when a wide and high-rejected stopband are required. Though multi-section structures composed of two asymmetrical cascaded units are employed in [7] and [8] to expand the stopband, this will greatly increase the filter size and design complexity. To generate more transmission zeros, a tightly coupled hairpin unit [9] and a capacitive loaded anticoupled line [10] are presented to realize an LPF with three transmission zeros. However, the narrow zero-separation of the LPF in [9] and the larger size in [10] seriously limit their application. More than three transmission zeros using a stubloaded coupled-line hairpin resonator are generated in [11]. However, several fluctuations in the stopband result in a significant deterioration of the stopband-rejection performance of an LPF.In this paper, a compact structure is proposed to construct LPFs with an improved stopband performance. The investigation of this structure based on an equivalent circuit analysis reveals that this proposed structure exhibits a quasielliptic low-pass filtering response with three transmission zeros. Moreover, the mechanism for reallocating and adjusting the transmission zeros is also explained in detail. It was found that a larger zero separation can be easily achieved by choosing the proper circuit parameters. A simultaneously sharpened, high-rejected, and expanded stopband can thus be obtained. Finally, two LPFs using a single unit and two asymmetrical units, respectively, were optimally designed. The measured results agree well with the simulation results. Both the simulations and measurements of the two fabricated filters exhibit a good quasi-elliptic low-pass response including a sharp skirt, a lower passband insertion loss, an expanded stopband, and a compact size.
II. Filter Theory
Figure 1 shows a schematic of the proposed LPF. Assuming the structure is lossless that and all discontinuity effects can be neglected, the proposed structure can be divided into three shunt networks: one is the upper high-impedance transmission line, shown in Fig. 2; another is a mid-extended parallel coupled line, shown in Fig. 3; and the lower one is a pair of inter-coupled symmetrical stepped-impedance stubs, shown in Fig. 4.
As shown in Fig. 2, the upper single transmission line with a characteristic impedance of Z0u and a length of lu can be modeled as an equivalent L-C π-network. For this upper lossless transmission line, the ABCD matrix is given bywhere βu and Y0u = 1/Z0u are the phase constant and characteristic admittance of the single transmission line, respectively. In addition, the equivalent inductance and capacitance of the lumped π-network circuit are given by [5]For the mid-extended parallel coupled line, the total ABCD matrix is obtained as [1]where
{ A 1 =cos( β m l m1 ), B 1 =j Z 0m sin( β m l m1 ), C 1 =jsin( β m l m1 )/ Z 0m , A 2 = Z 0em + Z 0om Z 0em − Z 0om , B 2 =−j 2 Z 0em Z 0om cot( β m l m2 ) ( Z 0em − Z 0om ) , C 1 =j 2tan( β m l m2 ) Z 0em − Z 0om .
The mid-section can also be represented by the lumped π-network circuit in Fig. 3, and the equivalent capacitance of Cmg and Cmp can be given byThe lower section in Fig. 4 consists of one cascaded structure composed of two bilateral high-impedance transmission lines and one symmetric parallel coupled-line. For the bilateral transmission line with a characteristic impedance of Z0l and a length of ll1, the ABCD matrix is given bywhere βl1 is the phase constant of the bilateral transmission line. This transmission line can be represented by the lumped π-network circuit in Fig. 4. In addition, the equivalent inductance and capacitance [5] are given byFor the symmetric parallel low-impedance coupled-line with odd- and even-mode characteristic impedances of Z0ol and Z0el, and a length of ll2, the ABCD matrix of the lossless parallel coupled-line [1], [5] can be expressed aswhere βl2 is the phase constant of the lower coupled lines. The equivalent π-network lumped model can be obtained as shown in Fig. 4, and the capacitances of the π-network are found [5] asFurthermore, if the discontinuity effects are ignored, the lumped equivalent circuit of the proposed structure is shown in Fig. 5 by combining the above derived equivalent circuits of the three single sections, where L1 = Lu, C1 = Cmg, L2 = Ll1, C2 = Cl1 + Cl2p, C3 = Cl2g, and C4 = Cu + Cmp + Cl1. To gain insight into this structure, we first assume C3 = 0, which is a reasonable approximation since C3 << C2 for a loose coupled-line. When C3 is removed, the model in Fig. 5 can be considered as a three-pole LC LPF.
Equivalent lumped model of the proposed structure.
In addition, as observed from the simplified model, two transmission zeros positioned at fz1 and fz2 are generated as the result of the parallel resonance between L1 and C1 and serial resonance between L2 and C2. Clearly, fz1 and fz2 can be derived asLet fz1 > fz2 by choosing the appropriate L1, C1, L2, and C2, and the transmission zero at fz2 then creates a sharpened transition, and the transmission zero at fz1 contributes to the stopband expansion. Clearly, a larger transmission zero separation will help to sharpen and extend the stopband. However, the stopband rejection between two transmission zeros is also deteriorated with an increase in the zero separation since only two transmission zeros exist. To obtain a sharpened, extended, and high-rejected stopband, C3 is introduced to create an extra transmission zero between fz1 and fz2. To gain insight into the effect of C3 on the structure’s response, the odd- and even-mode analysis method is employed to investigate this filter by utilizing the symmetry of the equivalent model. The equivalent odd- and even-mode circuits are given in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b), which were obtained from the replacement of the reference plane with magnetic and electric walls, respectively.
Equivalent circuit of proposed filter: (a) odd-mode and (b) even-mode.
Clearly, C3 exerts an effect on Yino, but has no effect on Yine. Network theory [1] relates the transmission coefficient of the filter to the odd- and even- mode input admittances through the following formula:where Y0 = 1/Z0 is the input and output microstrip line characteristic admittance.By letting S21 = 0, the transmission zeros are positioned at the frequencies whereBased on the above theoretical analysis, the theoretical transmission responses of the LPF with different C3 varying from 0 pF to 0.3 pF are as shown in Fig. 7. In each of these cases, L1 = 18 nh, C1 = 0.1 pF, L2 = 2.5 nh, C2 = 6 pF, and C4 = 1.5 pF. As illustrated in Fig. 7, only two transmission zeros appear on the S21 curve when C3 = 0. In fact, (19) will be inevitably satisfied when f = fz1 or fz2, which coincides well with (13) and (14). When C3 increases from 0, though the two transmission zeros on the left and right sides are both drawn to the lower area, the zero separation, that is, the stopband bandwidth, remains almost unchanged. Moreover, since the left transmission zero shifts to the passband with an increase in C3, a sharpened filter transition is easily obtained. Furthermore, owing to the introduction of C3, an extra transmission zero appears between the original two transmission zeros. This additional transmission zero also moves to the upper area with an increase in C3. Therefore, the stopband rejection can be effectively improved by choosing a proper C3 to properly relocate the zeros. Additionally, the change in C3 hardly alters the filter’s passband, which largely facilitates the filter design and adjustment.
Theoretical transmission responses of the LPF with different C3.
III. Compact Low-Pass Filter Design
Figure 8 shows the geometry of the LPF using one of the proposed structures. The filter was fabricated on a 0.5 mm substrate with a relative dielectric constant of 2.65. The optimized dimensions of the LPF are arranged as follows: lu = 24.6 mm, wu = 0.2 mm, w50 = 1.35 mm, wm = 0.2 mm, wl1 = 0.2 mm, ll1 = 1.2 mm, wl2 = 8.1 mm, ll2 = 7.9 mm, sl = 0.4 mm, lm1 = 2.7 mm, lm2 = 10.8 mm, and sm = 0.3 mm. The simulated and measured results, which show a good agreement, are illustrated in Fig. 9. This LPF has a measured 3 dB cutoff frequency of fc at about 0.85 GHz. The measured passband insertion loss is within 0.5 dB including the SMA connector loss in the frequency range up to 0.7 GHz. The three transmission zeros can be observed to be located at 1.65 GHz with 54.5 dB, at 2.65 GHz with 67 dB, and at 3.17 GHz with 36.25 dB, respectively. The transmission zero located at 1.65 GHz contributes to a sharper transition; the one at 3.17 GHz extends the stopband; and the one at 2.65 GHz provides additional rejection between the lower and upper transmission zeros. Owing to the co-operation of these three transmission zeros, the rejection band is extended from 1.31 GHz (1.54 fc) to 3.23 GHz (3.8 fc) over 20 dB, resulting in a 20 dB stopband bandwidth of 2.26 fc. Moreover, the filter occupies a compact size of 16.6 mm × 14.65 mm corresponding to 0.0042λg2 (0.068λg × 0.061λg), where λg is the guided wavelength of a 50 Ω transmission line at fc.
Simulated and measured results of initial single-unit filter.
To obtain an even broader stopband and strengthen the stopband attention, a LPF with two cascaded asymmetrical proposed units is designed, fabricated, and tested. Figure 10 shows the LPF developed from the filter shown in Fig. 9 by cascading the second unit with different dimensions, corresponding to different cutoff frequencies and positions of the transmission zeros. The two cells are connected by a short high-impedance line with a narrow width of 0.16 mm and a length of 6.5 mm. The dimensions of the second smaller unit are lur = 12.8 mm, wur = 0.2 mm, wmr = 0.2 mm, wl1r = 0.2 mm, ll1r = 1.1 mm, wl2r = 4.5 mm, ll2r = 5.6 mm, slr = 0.3 mm, lm1r = 2.1 mm, lm2r = 4.7 mm, and smr = 0.32 mm. This smaller-sized unit is designed to extend the stopband and suppress the harmonic resonance at around 4 GHz, as shown in Fig. 9. The smaller optimized unit has three transmission zeros at 2.68 GHz, 4.72 GHz and 5.75 GHz. The HFSS simulation and measurement are shown in Fig. 11. As shown in Fig. 11, this LPF exhibits a good low-pass response with a measured fc at about 0.875 GHz. The filter exhibits a good passband performance with a return loss of larger than 22 dB. In addition, multiple transmission zeros can be clearly observed to be positioned at 1.62, 2.48, 3.14, 4.79, and 6.18 GHz. As a result of the effects of these multiple transmission zeros, the 20 dB rejection stopband is extended from 1.275 GHz (1.457 fc) to 6.3 GHz (7.2 fc) over 20 dB, indicating a very wide 20 dB stopband bandwidth of 5.743 fc. The attenuation rates at the passband to stopband transition knees are 87 dB/GHz (the measured attenuations being 5 and 65 dB at 0.96 GHz and 1.65 GHz, respectively). Furthermore, the filter’s size is only 32.4 mm × 14.65 mm, corresponding to 0.0089λg2 (0.14λg × 0.0635λg), where λg is the guided wavelength of a 50 Ω transmission line at 0.875 GHz.
Simulated and measured results of two-unit filter.
Table 1 shows a performance comparison of the proposed LPF with some recently reported compact and high-performance LPFs. As shown in the table, the proposed LPF in this paper exhibits a good return loss, compact size, and significantly wider stopband than the other LPFs.
Performance comparison with some reported compact LPFs.
Reference
fc (GHz)
20 dB stopband
Size (λg2)
Minimum return loss (dB)
f20dBL (fc)
f20dBU (fc)
BW= f20dBU−f20dBL (fc)
3
2.75
1.07
3
1.93
0.063
17
4
2.5
1.07
3
1.96
0.056
18
6
2.14
1.236
4.37
3.07
0.022
24
7
1.5
1.4
5
3.6
large
13.6
8
1.0
1.38
6
4.62
0.012
20
9
2.5
1.28
4.72
3.44
0.022
14
10
1.99
1.36
4.20
2.84
0.008
29
11
0.53
1.6
5.1
3.6
0.022
16.3
This work
0.875
1.457
7.2
5.743
0.0089
22
IV. Conclusion
This paper presented a compact structure with three inherent transmission zeros and its application in a compact and high-performance LPF design. A theoretical analysis reveals that the stopband performance of the LPFs based on the proposed structure can be effectively upgraded by adjusting the circuit’s electrical parameters to generate and reallocate the multiple transmission zeros. Finally, after a single-unit LPF was extensively studied, an improved LPF with two cascaded asymmetric units was developed. The measured results of the cascaded LPF demonstrate many desirable features as compared with a conventional LPF, particularly its ultra-wide 20 dB rejection stopband and compact size.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grants (61101052, 61070063), Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation under grants (Y1110297).
BIO
lilin_door@hotmail.comLin Li received his BS in electrical engineering from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China in 1999, his MS in electronic science and technology from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China in 2005, and his PhD in electromagnetic field and microwave technology from Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China in 2009. His current research interests include microwave integrated circuits and antenna technologies.
baojia@zstu.edu.cnJia Bao received her BS in applicative electron technology from Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China in 2000, and her MS in power electronics and power transmission from South West Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China in 2003. She is currently a PhD candidate of mechanical engineering at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China. Her current research interests include embedded systems, network applications, and protocol development.
Jingjdu@163.comJing-jing Du received her BS in electronic and information engineering from Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China in 1999, and her MS in circuits and systems from Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China in 2006. She is currently a PhD candidate of mechanical engineering at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China. Her current research interests include EDA, image processing, and information fusion.
ywang@zist.edu.cnYaming Wang earned his PhD degree in biomedical engineering from Zhejiang University, China. He is currently a professor of computer science at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Zhejiang, China. He was a visiting researcher and visiting scientist at Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, HKUST. His current title is Dean of the School of Information Science and Technology at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. His research interests include computer vision, pattern recognition, signal processing, and medical image processing.
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@article{ HJTODO_2014_v36n2_286}
,title={Stopband-Extended and Size-Miniaturized Low-Pass Filter with Three Transmission Zeros}
,volume={2}
, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.4218/etrij.14.0113.0430}, DOI={10.4218/etrij.14.0113.0430}
, number= {2}
, journal={ETRI Journal}
, publisher={Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute}
, author={Li, Lin
and
Bao, Jia
and
Du, Jing-jing
and
Wang, Yaming}
, year={2014}
, month={Apr}
TY - JOUR
T2 - ETRI Journal
AU - Li, Lin
AU - Bao, Jia
AU - Du, Jing-jing
AU - Wang, Yaming
SN - 1225-6463
TI - Stopband-Extended and Size-Miniaturized Low-Pass Filter with Three Transmission Zeros
VL - 36
PB - Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
DO - 10.4218/etrij.14.0113.0430
PY - 2014
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.4218/etrij.14.0113.0430
ER -
Li, L.
,
Bao, J.
,
Du, J. J.
,
&
Wang, Y.
( 2014).
Stopband-Extended and Size-Miniaturized Low-Pass Filter with Three Transmission Zeros.
ETRI Journal,
36
(2)
Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute.
doi:10.4218/etrij.14.0113.0430
Li, L
,
Bao, J
,
Du, JJ
,
&
Wang, Y
2014,
Stopband-Extended and Size-Miniaturized Low-Pass Filter with Three Transmission Zeros,
ETRI Journal,
vol. 2,
no. 2,
Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.4218/etrij.14.0113.0430
[1]
L Li
,
J Bao
,
JJ Du
,
and
Y Wang
,
“Stopband-Extended and Size-Miniaturized Low-Pass Filter with Three Transmission Zeros”,
ETRI Journal,
vol. 2,
no. 2,
Apr
2014.
Li, Lin
Bao, Jia
Du, Jing-jing
et al.
“Stopband-Extended and Size-Miniaturized Low-Pass Filter with Three Transmission Zeros”
ETRI Journal,
2.
2
2014:
Li, L
,
Bao, J
,
Du, JJ
,
Wang, Y
Stopband-Extended and Size-Miniaturized Low-Pass Filter with Three Transmission Zeros.
ETRI Journal
[Internet].
2014.
Apr ;
2
(2)
Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.4218/etrij.14.0113.0430
Li, Lin
,
Bao, Jia
,
Du, Jing-jing
,
and
Wang, Yaming
,
“Stopband-Extended and Size-Miniaturized Low-Pass Filter with Three Transmission Zeros.”
ETRI Journal
2
no.2
()
Apr,
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http://dx.doi.org/10.4218/etrij.14.0113.0430