Compact filters based on stub-loaded parallel-coupled resonators

M. Garcia, E. Pistono, H. Maouche, and P. Ferrari

Institute of Microelectronics, Electromagnetism, and Photonics (IMEP-LAHC), Grenoble INP-UJF-University of Savoy-CNRS
UMR 5130, BP 257, 38016 Grenoble Cedex 1, France

Abstract — Results of compact bandpass filters based on with a 5.8 % relative -3dB bandwidth are carried out. The
stub-loaded parallel-coupled resonators are presented in this paper is concluded in section V.
paper. The working frequency corresponds to the low UHF
band. These resonators behave like short-circuited quarter II. BACKGROUND THEORY
wavelength resonators, allowing to obtain compact filters in a
planar technology. Such filters seem to be efficient candidates to
achieve selective and compact size filters. Measurement results
A. Topology of the stub-loaded resonator
carried out on a single resonator are first presented to validate Fig. 1 presents the topology of the proposed stub-loaded
the background theory. Next, results of two-and three pole resonator.
filters are shown. Measurements and simulations are in good
agreement. Relative bandwidth from 3.3 % to 5.8 % is Fig. 1.
obtained, with 3.65 dB and 2.5 dB insertion loss, respectively. Schematic
Also, dual-band bandpass filters could be designed by using the view of a
first spurious appearing about twice the centre frequency, stub-loaded
because the frequency of this spurious can be adjusted quite resonator. Ζscc θscc
independently.
Index Terms — Filters, microstrip filters, compact filters. This
resonator
I. INTRODUCTION consists of Ζco Ζco
Since a compact electronic system is cheaper, lighter, and an open- θco
θco
usually more reliable, the miniaturization of RF and ended
millimetre circuits involves nowadays active researches. In elementary
order to obtain compact RF and microwave filters based on resonator of
planar technologies, several miniaturization approaches exist. electrical
First, semi-lumped filters based on a hybrid technology length 2θco,
putting together transmission lines and lumped capacitors can and
be realized [1,2]. Second, the distributed approach
considering meandered transmission lines can be used, but at
the expense of an important work to model parasitic
couplings, for limited miniaturization. Another issue is
related to the use of high permittivity substrates, but only low
characteristic impedance (lower than 50 Ω) can be achieved,
and large gaps have to be realized for couplings, thus
limiting the practical realizable filters. It is also possible to
carry out filters based on lumped elements, but an important
work of modelling must be performed, due to case parasitics. characteristic impedance ZCO, loaded by a short-circuited stub
Also high insertion loss is expected due to the poor quality of electrical length θ sc and characteristic impedance Zsc.
factor of inductors. The resonance condition can be easily derived by
In this paper, a new distributed but compact filter considering the open-ended condition for the elementary
topology is proposed, based on parallel-coupled stub-loaded resonator, and the short-ended condition for the stub. It is
resonators. In section II, a background theory of such given by the relation:
resonators is presented, with a careful comparison between
Z
measurement and simulation results for the determination of 2 ⋅ Tan ( θ sc ) ⋅ Tan ( θ oc ) = oc . (1)
the resonant frequency. In section III, results of two-pole Z sc
bandpass filters are presented. A first bandpass filter working In a first approximation, considering small electrical
around 800 MHz with a 3.3 % relative -3dB bandwidth (for lengths, the resonance frequency fr can be estimated by:
broadcast applications) is simulated and measured. Next, to c Z oc Z sc
fr = 0 ⋅ ⋅
reduce the area of the filter, it is folded by using microstrip
bends. In section IV, results of a three-pole bandpass filter
2 ⋅π ( )( )
2 ⋅ ε reff _ sc ⋅ lsc ⋅ ε reff _ oc ⋅ loc
(2)
where ε reff_sc and ε reff_sc are the relative effective permittivities
of the short-circuited stub and the open-ended elementary
resonator, respectively. From this straightforward relation, it
is obvious that the resonance frequency is inversely
dependent to the short-circuited stub length lsc and to the
open-ended elementary resonator length loc. Moreover, the
smaller the Z oc Z sc ratio is, the smaller resonant frequency
is. So, highly miniaturized resonators can be designed by
choosing a small Z oc Z sc ratio.
The comparison between the electrical length of the stub-
loaded resonator described in Fig. 1 and that of classical half-
wavelength open-ended and quarter-wavelength resonators is
carried out in Fig. 2.
200
180
Half-wavelength open-ended resonator
160
140
Electrical length (°)
value lsc = loc = 15.2 mm, to obtain a resonance frequency
fr = 804 MHz.
Fig. 3 shows the photograph of the unloaded resonator. In
order to measure the resonance frequency, the resonator was
“slightly” coupled to near and far end feeding transmission
lines, with a 2 mm gap width. Let us notice that the physical
length of the open-ended resonator (2loc) equals 30.4 mm that
is 0.14 ⋅λ , which is more than three times smaller than a
typical half-wavelength resonator. Fig. 4 shows the
comparison between the measured and simulated
transmission for this resonator. Measurement results show a
resonant frequency equal to 795 MHz, i.e. 9 MHz (or 1 %)
lower than the circuit simulation prediction. This value is
confirmed by an electromagnetic simulation carried out with
Agilent ADS Momentum, which shows a resonance
frequency equal to 793 MHz. The difference between circuit
Zoc/Zsc=1
and EM simulation is probably due to the parasitic coupling

quarter-wavelength resonator
120
at the end of the feeding lines. The via modelling can also
100
Zoc/Zsc=0.5 introduce some differences, because the realization of the via
v
80
did not exactly follows the one simulated in ADS.
60 Minimum = 49°
40 Zoc/Zsc=0.2

20

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Stub electrical length (°)

Fig. 2. Electrical length of the sub-loaded resonator. Dot lines:

total electrical length θ sc + 2θoc. Line: 2θoc.
Fig. 3. Slightly coupled short-circuited open-ended resonator.
The total electrical length θsc + 2θoc and the electrical length
of the open-ended resonator alone 2θoc have been plotted,
-20
versus the stub electrical length θsc, for three different -25
EM simulation
characteristic impedance ratios η = Zoc/Zsc. A great reduction -30
Circuit simulation
Measurement
can be achieved by considering small ratios. η = 0.2 leads to a -35
|S | (dB)

minimum 49° total electrical length, that is the half of a -40

classical quarter-wavelength resonator used in interdigitated
21

-45
filters. Such a small ratio is achievable in practical -50
realizations, for example with Zsc = 120 Ω, and Zoc = 24 Ω. -55
This value of Zoc looks small. However, it has to be -60
0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9
considered that Zoc will be the result of coupled transmission Frequency (GHz)
lines for the filter, thus lowering this characteristic
impedance.
Fig. 4. Measured and simulated transmission parameter for a
B. Measurement of the resonance frequency slightly coupled short-circuited open-ended resonator.
In order to verify the resonance condition given by relation
(1), a resonator was designed with Agilent ADS™ on a III. TWO-POLE BANDPASS FILTERS
RO4003 Rogers substrate (relative permittivity εr = 3,36 ; In order to validate the background theory, a first two-pole
dielectric loss tangent tgδ = 0, 0023 ; dielectric thickness bandpass filter was designed with upright short-circuited
h = 813 µm; copper thickness t = 8 µm). stubs, like in Fig. 3. Next, in order to reduce the occupied
For this resonator, the characteristic impedances Zsc and Zoc area, a two-pole bandpass filter with folded stubs was
are equal to 80 Ω and 35 Ω, respectively, leading to a ratio designed. These filters were carried out on the RO4003
η equal to 0.44. The microstrip widths are Wsc = 0.8 mm and Rogers substrate specified above.
Woc = 3.2 mm, respectively. The effective relative In practice, the short-circuited stubs must be shifted from
permittivities are ε reff_sc = 2.50 and ε reff_oc = 2.78, respectively. the centre of the open-ended resonators, in order to avoid a
The physical lengths lsc and loc have been fixed to the same short circuit between the stub and the adjacent open-ended
resonator. Indeed, the position of the stub on the resonator parameters of the bandpass filter (upright short-circuited stubs),
and its length will be used as degrees of freedom to adjust the versus frequency.
bandwidth and the centre frequency. A frequency shift appears between simulation and
The gap width between the open-ended resonators was measurement results and the bandwidth is quite small. The
fixed to the limit resolution of metallization engraving, 300 centre frequency fc is shifted from 800 MHz for the circuit
simulation to 781 MHz for the measurement, that is 2.4 %.
µm. Then, the electrical length θoc of the open-ended The measured bandwidth equals 26 MHz, compared to
resonators was optimized to reach the desired bandwidth. 23 MHz for the simulations, leading to loaded quality factors
Finally the centre frequency was adjusted by modifying the Q=30 (relative bandwidth 3.3 %) and Q=34.8 (2.9 %,
stub electrical length θsc. respectively), respectively. The minimum insertion loss is
The photographs of the two realised filters are given in 3.65 dB for the measurement, and 3.05 dB for the simulation,
respectively. The measured return loss is bad, -7.5 dB,
Fig. 5. Let first consider the two-pole bandpass filter with compared to -15.5 dB predicted by the simulation. An
upright short-circuited stubs. The characteristic impedances electromagnetic simulation was carried out after the filters
Zsc = 48 Ω (microstrip width Wsc = 2.02 mm) and Zoc = 40 Ω were realized and measured in order to explain the
(Woc = 2.7 mm) lead to a ratio η equal to 0.83. In order to discrepancy between simulation and measurement results.
obtain the desired centre frequency of fc = 800 MHz, the Results are given in Fig. 7.
physical lengths were fixed to lsc = 12.2 mm, loc1 = 35.63 mm 0 0
and loc2 = 14.4 mm. The physical dimensions of this filter are
89.7 mm * 24.4 mm, that is XX ⋅λ * XX ⋅λ . -10 -5

|S | (dB)
|S | (dB)

11
-20 -10
lsc

21
-30 simulation
EM simulation -15

loc1 Measurement
-40
loc2 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9
-20

Frequency (GHz)
Fig. 7. Comparison between the measured and simulated (EM
Momentum) S parameters of the bandpass filter (upright short-
circuited stubs), versus frequency.

The agreement is better between the simulation and the

measurement results in term of the centre frequency
(792 MHz for the EM simulation), bandwidth (26 MHz), and
return loss (-9.2 dB). However, the agreement is not perfect.
The discrepancy can be due to the vias modelling or some
fabrication tolerances. This is under study.
(a) Results are quite similar for the filter realized with folded
stubs, with a very poor return loss (-4.65 dB), leading to high
insertion loss. Careful electromagnetic-based optimizations
are being carried out now, with improved results expected to
be presented in the final paper. However, the efficiency of
the new topology of resonators presented in this paper can be
considered as validated. A summary of the performance of
these filters is given in Table I.
(b)
TABLE I
Fig. 5. Photographs of (a) two-pole bandpass filter with upright PERFORMANCE OF BOTH TWO-POLE BANDPASS FILTERS .
short-circuited stubs and (b) folded two-pole bandpass filter. LEFT : CIRCUIT SIMULATION, RIGHT : MEASUREMENT
BPF upright
Folded
0 0 short-circuited
BPF
stubs
-10 -5 Centre frequency fc 800 MHz /
800 MHz / 781 MHz
792 MHz
|S | (dB)
|S | (dB)

11

-20 -10
Absolute bandwidth 23 MHz / 26 MHz 23 MHz / 33 MHz
Q-factor 34.8 / 30.0 34.8 / 24.0
21

Insertion loss at fc -3.05 dB / -3.65 dB -2.9 dB / -4.65 dB

-30 -15
Return loss in the pass
Circuit
Circuit simulation -15.5 dB / -7.5 dB -15.6 dB / -4.2 dB
Fig. Measurement 6. band
-40 -20
0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9
Measured and Frequency (GHz) simulated (circuit) S
 IV. Three-Pole Bandpass Filter 0 0

A three-pole bandpass filter was realised, with a greater -10 -5

bandwidth (4.4 %) compared to the two-pole filter (3 %).

|S11| (dB)
The photograph of the three-pole filter is given in Fig. 8,

|S | (dB)
-20 -10
where also are indicated the dimensions of the filter.

21
Fig. 9 shows measurement and simulation results, versus
-30 -15
frequency, between 0.7 GHz and 0.9 GHz. EM simulation

Measurement
-40 -20
0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9
Frequency (GHz)

Fig. 10. Measured and simulated (EM Momentum) S parameters of

the three-pole bandpass filter, versus frequency.
A fairly good agreement is obtained between EM simulation
31.43mm and measurement results. The simulated bandwidth equals
40 MHz (45 MHz for the measurement), the centre frequency
equals 790 MHz (780 MHz), leading to a loaded quality
Fig. 8. Photographs of the 12.35
three-pole bandpass12.77mm
filter. equal to 20 (5 % relative bandwidth). The simulated
39.94 mm mm minimum insertion loss is 1.7 dB and the simulated return
loss is -13.8 dB.
0 0 Next, large band measurements, from DC to 2 GHz, have
been carried out in order to investigate spurious resonances.
-10 -10
They are shown in Fig. 11.
|S | (dB)
|S | (dB)

0 0
11

-20 -20
-10
21

-5

-30 -30 -20 -10

|S | (dB)
Circuit
Circuit simulation
simulation
|S | (dB)

-30 -15

11
Measurement
Measurement
-40 -40
0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 -40 -20
21

Frequency (GHz)
Fig. 9. Measured and simulated (circuit) S parameters of the
three-pole bandpass filter, versus frequency.
Here again, measurement and simulation results are in a quite
good agreement, if we consider the small bandwidth of the
filter. The centre frequency fc is shifted from 800 MHz for the
circuit simulation to 780 MHz for the measurement, i.e.
2.5 %. The measured bandwidth equals 45 MHz, compared to
35 MHz for the simulations, leading to 17.3 (relative
bandwidth 5.8 %) and 22.8 (4.4 %, respectively) loaded
quality factors, respectively. The minimum insertion loss is
2.5 dB for the measurement, and 2.85 dB for the simulation,
respectively. The higher insertion loss for the simulations can
be explained by a lower bandwidth. The measured return loss
is bad, -8 dB, compared to -28 dB predicted by the
simulation. Like for the two-pole filters, an electromagnetic
simulation was carried out after the filters were realized and
measured in order to explain the discrepancy between
simulation and measurement results. Results are given in Fig.
10.
-50 -25
-60 -30
-70 -35
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Frequency (GHz)
Fig. 11. Large band measurements for the three-pole filter, from
DC to 2 GHz.
Spurious appear at about 1.7 GHz, about twice the filter’s
centre frequency fc. The attenuation in the rejected band is
very high in the low frequency side; it is greater than 70 dB
at 500 MHz, only 300 MHz apart from the centre frequency.
It also reaches more than 50 dB between the first spurious
and the centre frequency. Some solutions are under study in
order to remove the first spurious frequency, such as use
Stepped-Impedance Resonators to realize the open-ended
resonator.
However, these large band measurements also show the
possibility to realize dual-band bandpass filters. The first
pass-band is given by the relation (1), while the second pass-
band is given by the resonance due to the open-ended
resonators.
V. CONCLUSION
A novel topology of resonators has been demonstrated.
They are based on open-ended resonators loaded by short-
circuited stubs. The total electrical length of the new
resonators can be as small as the half of a classical quarter-
wave length resonator used for example in interdigitated
filters, depending of the desired bandwidth and the gap width
between the coupled resonators.
Compact and selective two-pole and three-pole pass-band
filters have been designed with this new topology of
resonators. Relative bandwidths between 3.3 % and 5.8 %
have been demonstrated, with insertion loss of 3.65 dB and
2.5 dB, respectively. The filters were designed using only
circuit simulations, this explains a poor return loss, (>-10 dB).
The next step will be to carry out careful optimisations in
order to improve the agreement between simulation and
measurement results. The out-of-band rejection is very high,
more than 70 dB in the low frequency side, and more than
50 dB between the centre frequency and the first spurious
frequency, appearing at about twice the centre frequency. The
next issue will be to reject this spurious, for example by using
Stepped-Impedance Resonators for the realization of the
open-ended resonator. This spurious could also be used to
realize dual-band bandpass filters. The two centre frequencies
would be easy to control, because the higher is controlled by
the length of the open-ended resonators, while the short-
circuited stubs’ length control the lower.

REFERENCES
[1] E. Pistono, et al., “Compact Fixed and Tune-All Bandpass
Filters Based on Coupled Slow-Wave Resonators”, IEEE
Trans. on Mic. Theory and Tech., Vol. 54, no. 6, pp. 2790-
2799, June 2006.
[2] H. Issa, et al, "Miniaturized DBR Filter: Formulation and
Performances Improvement", Proc. IEEE Int. Mic. Theory and
Tech. Symp., MTT-S 2008, Atlanta, USA, June 10-15, 2008.
[2] G. Matthaei, et al, Microwave filters, impedance-matching
networks, and coupling structures, 2nd ed. Norwood, MA :
Artech House, 1980.