Compact circular-patch-based bandpass filter for ultra-wideband wireless communication systems

Ultra-wideband (UWB) is a radio technology that enables low-power-level, short-range, and wide-bandwidth communication, and it has been widely applied in personal area networks, precision geolocation, medical, surveillance, and vehicular radar systems. Since Federal Communications Commission released the unlicensed use of the UWB range (3.1–10.6 GHz), a significant attention has been paid to the development of UWB devices, particularly UWB bandpass filters. In this paper, we propose a novel UWB bandpass filter based on circular patch resonator that is grounded by via and perturbed by slits and defected ground structures. The resonator’s behaviour is analysed in detail and it is shown that its specific configuration allows a flexible control of the three lowest resonant modes, which are used to form UWB passband. To demonstrate the potential of the resonator, a UWB filter has been designed, fabricated, and measured. The filter is characterized by the insertion loss lower than 1 dB and return loss higher than 17 dB within the passband, as well as by very small group delay variation of only 0.07 ns. Also, the filter exhibits suppression higher than 19 dB up to 30 GHz, and very small overall dimensions of only 0.31λ_g × 0.31λ_g, and thus it outperforms other published UWB filters.     

Broadband bandpass filters using slotted resonators fed by interdigital coupled lines for improved upper stopband performances

This paper proposes new broadband microstrip bandpass filters based on slotted linear tapered-line resonator (SLTR) and slotted step impedance resonator (SSIR) structures for size reduction and improved stopband performances. A comprehensive treatment of slotted resonators and both ends of the resonator with interdigital coupled lines is described. The design concept is demonstrated by two filter examples including one with an SLTR and another one with an SSIR. These filters have not only compact size but also a wider upper stopband resulting from resonator bandstop characteristics. The simulated and experimental results of stopband performances are better than 15 dB for a frequency range up to 25 GHz.     

Miniaturized microstrip bandpass filter designed using rectangular dual spiral resonator

A miniaturized microstrip bandpass filter based on a rectangular dual spiral resonator (DSR) is proposed in this paper. The rectangular DSR bandpass filter is centered at 3.65 GHz to suit for Wireless LAN (IEEE802.11y) application. The proposed filter offers transmission zero at the high side of out-of-band response. Across the bandwidth, the measured minimum insertion loss is about 1.7 dB, while the measured return loss is better than 19 dB. Measurement results are good agreement and closed to the simulated ones. The total circuit size of the miniaturized bandpass filter is about 0.145λ_g by 0.135λ_g, where λ_g is the guided wavelength at 3.65 GHz.     

Improved performance step impedance lowpass filter

Performances of the conventional Butterworth step impedance lowpass filters (LPF) are significantly improved by placing transmission zero either closer to the cut-off frequency (f_c) or away from it. It is achieved by using transverse resonance width of the capacitive line sections. We report method of designing transverse resonance type LPF (TR-LPF) for 5 to 11-pole filters. At f_c = 2.5 GHz, we obtained selectivity in the range 113.3–56.66 dB/GHz and 20–60 dB rejection BW in the range 9.61–7.29 GHz. The TR-LPF can suppress the stopband signal by 60 dB up to 5f_c. Insertion loss in passband is within 0.72 dB. Improved performance of TR-LPF can be designed for f_c up to 7.5 GHz.     

On design of a novel class of selective CIC FIR filter functions with improved response

The Cascaded-Integrator-Comb (CIC) filter is a non-recursive (FIR) filter which is multiplier free, consisting only of two building blocks (simple integrator stage and simple comb filter stage) and has a linear phase. This paper summarizes some key points of classical CIC filters and proposes a novel class of CIC FIR filter functions. A novel class of CIC filter functions maintains simplicity of FIR filters by avoiding the multipliers, but shows excellent performances in term of insertion loss in stopband and selectivity with respect to conventional CIC filters. A set of simulations along with illustrative examples is conducted in order to compare the attenuation characteristics of the classical CIC filter functions and the proposed novel class of selective CIC FIR filter functions. For the same level of a constant group delay τ = 45.5 s, a classical CIC filter function has insertion loss of 166.3 dB, and designed novel filter function has a higher level of insertion loss 206.55 dB.     

Miniaturized dual-band bandpass filter with good frequency selectivity using SIR and DGS

A miniaturized dual-band bandpass filter (BPF) using stepped impedance resonator (SIR) and defected ground structure (DGS) is presented. In order to get two desired passbands, two different transmission paths and source–load cross coupling have been implemented. One path is the SIR, and the other is the DGS. Meanwhile, it is easy to obtain good frequency selectivity by introducing several transmission zeros. The coupling scheme and current distributions are applied to demonstrate the flexible design approach. A dual-band BPF is designed, simulated, and fabricated to demonstrate the performance of the proposed dual-band filter. The measured results show that the fabricated dual-band BPF has two passbands centered at 2.41 and 3.52 GHz with the fractional bandwidth of 5.8 and 7.7%, respectively. The measured insertion loss is about 2 dB and 2.2 dB at the lower and upper passbands. The measured results show good agreement with the simulated ones.     

A compact broadband MMIC sub-harmonic mixer using quasi-lumped transmission lines

A compact broadband monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) sub-harmonic mixer using an OMMIC 70 nm GaAs mHEMT technology is demonstrated for 60 GHz down-converter applications. The present mixer employs an anti-parallel diode pair (APDP) to fulfill a sub-harmonic mixing mechanism. Quasi-lumped components are employed to broaden the operational bandwidth and minimize the chip size to 1.5×0.77 mm². The conversion gain is optimized by a quasi-lumped 90° phase shift stub. Experimental results show that from 50 GHz to 70 GHz, the conversion gain varies between −12.1 dB and −15.2 dB with a LO power level of 10 dBm and 1 GHz IF. The LO-to-RF, LO-to-IF and RF-to-IF isolations are found to be greater than 19.5 dB, 21.3 dB and 25.8 dB, respectively. The second harmonic component of the LO signal is suppressed. The proposed mixer has an input 1 dB compression point of -2 dBm and exhibits outstanding figure-of-merits.     

Design of a microstrip diplexer with a novel structure for WiMAX and wireless applications

In this paper, a novel combination of coupled lines, loops, step impedance and low impedance sections are used to design a compact microstrip diplexer. The designing method is based on obtaining transmission matrices and finding the effective parameters in tuning the resonance frequencies. T-shape tapped lines feed structures are added to three terminals of the proposed diplexer to decrease insertion losses at the both passbands without increasing the overall size. The proposed diplexer with a total size of 573.11 mm² operates at 2.6 GHz for IEEE 802.16 and 802.20 WiMAX technology and 6 GHz for wireless applications. The insertion losses at the lower and higher resonance frequencies are 0.6 dB and 0.9 dB, respectively. The proposed structure is simulated, fabricated and measured. The measurement results are in a good agreement with the simulations.     

A low-voltage low-power CMOS fully differential linear transconductor with mobility reduction compensation

A highly linear fully differential CMOS transconductor architecture based on flipped voltage follower (FVF) is proposed. The linearity of the proposed architecture is improved by mobility reduction compensation technique. The simulated total harmonic distortion (THD) of the proposed transconductor with 0.4V_pp differential input is improved from ?42 dB to ?55 dB while operating from 1.0 V supply. As an example of the applications of the proposed transconductor, a 4th-order 5 MHz Butterworth Gm-C filter is presented. The filter has been designed and simulated in UMC 130 nm CMOS process. It achieves THD of ?53 dB for 0.4V_pp differential input. It consumes 345 μw from 1.0 V single supply. Theoretical and simulated results are in good agreement.     

Log-domain high-order low-pass and band-pass filters

Continuous time current-mode high-order low-pass and band-pass filters based on the log-domain concept are presented in this paper. The passive RLC ladder networks are used as the prototype to achieve the proposed filter by simulating the RLC network synthesis method. The achieved filters have inherited the good sensitivity performance from the RLC passive prototype. Fifth-order RLC ladder low-pass filter and sixth-order RLC ladder band-pass filter are used as prototypes and the signal flow graph (SFG) technique is used for the synthesis. The SFG can identify group of integrators and several signal paths. Log-domain lossy and lossless integrators based on BJT technology are deployed to achieve the integrators for realization of proposed filters. The simulations were carried out and the results exhibited several features which are in agreement with the RLC prototype. The frequency response of filters along 100 kHz to 10 MHz can be electronically tuned through 5–500 µA of bias currents. The THD lower than 1% of LP and BP filters were measured at 10 MHz input. The multi-tone tested was included in the paper for verifying the performance of proposed LP and BP filters. The intermodulation distortions around −50 dB and −60 dB were also investigated for the proposed LP and BP filters.     

A slow wave structure and its application in bandpass filter design

This paper presents a new slow wave open-loop resonator filters with reduced size and improved stopband characteristics. A comprehensive treatment of different kind of coupling in this structure is demonstrated. Two and four resonator band pass filters at center frequency 2.15 and 2.30 GHz with different bandwidth are designed. The simulated results are verified with the help of two different software packages (IE3D and Sonnet Lite).     

Design and analysis of implantable CPW fed bowtie antenna for ISM band applications

A novel implantable coplanar waveguide (CPW) fed crossed bowtie antenna is proposed for short-range biomedical applications. The antenna is designed to resonate at 2.45 GHz, one of the industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) bands. It is investigated by use of the method of moments design equations and its simulation software (IE3D version 15). The size of the antenna is 371.8 mm³ (26 mm × 22 mm × 0.65 mm). The simulated and analyzed return losses are −23 and −25 dB at the resonant frequency of 2.45 GHz. We have analyzed some more performances of the proposed antenna and the results show that the proposed antenna is a perfect candidate for implantation. The proposed antenna has substantial merits like low profile, miniaturization, lower return loss and better impedance matching with high gain over other implanted antennas.     

Design of a novel bandwidth-enhanced double-slot TSA and analysis according to the microwave network theory

In this paper, a novel bandwidth-enhanced ultra-wideband (UWB) tapered slot antenna with Y-shaped corrugated edges, is proposed. In the double-slot structure, the two slots are separated by a V-shaped metal surface with straight edges, which is beneficial to improve the directivity of the antenna. Meanwhile, an exponential Y-shaped corrugated edge is designed. This novel corrugated edge can not only improve the impedance bandwidth, but also enhance the gain of the antenna. Additionally, according to the theory of microwave network, this paper analyzes the reason of bandwidth enhancement realized by double-slot structure. The proposed antenna provides 167% fractional bandwidth from 2.5 GHz to 28 GHz. The gain of the proposed antenna is more than 10 dB from 3.5 GHz to 25 GHz, and more than 8 dB at the whole operating band.     

Compact differential bandpass filter with a narrow notched band using APCL structure suitable for UWB application

A compact differential band pass filter with asymmetric parallel-coupled lines (APCL) and center frequency of 5.6 GHz is proposed in this paper. The APCL suppresses unwanted RFID signals by introducing a fully tunable notched band at 6.8 GHz. By combining the concept of transmission matrix with modal analysis and extracting a novel model for symmetric three parallel coupled lines (SPCL), role of each resonant frequency is clearly explained. Measurement results in the differential mode show a pass band from 3.1 to 8.1 GHz and a wide stop band from 9.1 to 16 GHz with attenuation of more than 20 dB. In addition, S₂₁ in common mode is lower than −10.5 dB over the pass band.     

A wideband RF receiver with extended statistical element selection based harmonic rejection calibration

In this paper we present a wideband harmonic rejection (HR) RF receiver design. Both gain mismatch and phase mismatch of the HR mixer have been calibrated using a design and calibration method called extended statistical element selection to achieve best-in-class HR ratio (HRR) performance. The achieved concurrent 3rd order HRR and 5th order HRR are greater than 80 dB and 70 dB, respectively, after calibration. The even order HRR is also calibrated to greater than 80 dB. A single calibration performed at 750 MHz was further observed to be effective over more than two octaves of bandwidth with greater than 70 dB HRR. The receiver was manufactured in 65 nm CMOS technology. Input RF frequency range was 0.15–1 GHz and the receiver consumes 64 mW at 1 GHz. Noise figure is 3.2 dB and out-of-band IIP3 is −7 dBm at a total gain of 48 dB.     

Design of selective CIC filter functions

The aim of this letter is to provide graphs which can be used to design a novel class of selective CIC (Cascaded-Integrator–Comb) filters given insertion loss specification. The goal is to choose the free integer filter parameters such that the filter function yields a desired frequency response. To determine the filter parameters needed to satisfy the desired specifications, one can use the graphs of normalized passband and stopband cut-off frequencies versus filter order N. Two graphs, one for maximum attenuation in the passband and one for minimum attenuation in the stopband, are given here. Achieved improvement of performances of the novel class of CIC filter functions over the classical CIC filters is also given. In case of N = 7, the novel class of CIC filter functions gives improvements of 27.68 dB, 47.29 dB and 66.53 dB for different values 1, 2 and 3 of free parameter L, respectively.     

Low power dissipation SiGe HBT dual-band variable gain amplifier

A dual-band variable gain amplifier operating at 0.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz was designed based on high performance RF SiGe HBT for large amount of signals transmission and analysis. Current steering was adopted in gain-control circuit to get variable trans-conductance and then variable gain. Emitter degeneration and current reuse were considered in amplifying stage for low noise figure and low power dissipation respectively. A single-path circuit resonating at two frequency points simultaneously was designed for input impedance matching. PCB layout parasitic effects, especially the via parasitic inductor, were analyzed theoretically and experimentally and accounted for using electro-magnetic (EM) simulation. The measurement results show that a dynamic gain control of 26 dB/16 dB in a control voltage range of 0.0–1.4 V has been achieved at 0.9/2.4 GHz respectively. Both S₁₁ and S₂₂ are below than –10 dB in all the control voltage range. Noise figures at both 0.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz are lower than 5 dB. Total power dissipation of the dual-band VGA is about 16.5 mW at 3 V supply.     

3.1–10.6 GHz ultra-wideband LNA design using dual-resonant broadband matching technique

This paper presents an ultra-wideband low noise amplifier design using the dual-resonant broadband matching technique. The proposed LNA achieves a 10.2 dB gain with ±0.9 dB gain flatness over a frequency range of 3.1–10.6 GHz and a ?3-dB bandwidth of 2.4–11.6 GHz. The measured noise figure ranges from 3.2 to 4.7 dB over 3.1–10.6 GHz. At 6.5 GHz, the measured IIP3 and input-referred P1dB are +6 dBm and ?5 dBm, respectively. The proposed LNA occupies an active chip area of 0.56 mm² in a TSMC 0.18 μm RF-CMOS process and consumes 16 mW from a 1.8 V supply.     

A compact planar ultra-wideband bandpass filter with multiple resonant and defected ground structure

A compact bandpass filter with dumbbell shape Defected Ground Structure (DGS) operating on ultra wide pass band (UWB – 3.1 to 10.6 GHz) is proposed. It is based on hybrid microstrip coplanar waveguide (dual sided metal) structure. A Multiple Resonant Structure (MRS) is constructed using coplanar waveguide (CPW) planar transmission line. The MRS makes the resonance using quarter wavelength and half wavelength open-ended CPW. The equispaced three resonances at lower (3.1 GHz), center (6.85 GHz) and higher edge (10.6 GHz) of the whole Ultra Wide Band is achieved using CPW MRS. To make the band as flat as possible, two more resonances are introduced using quarter wavelength microstrip patches on top of the commonly shared substrate, so the proposed filter becomes a five pole bandpass filter. A dumbbell shaped defected ground structure on either side of CPW MRS improves the return loss almost less than 20 dB over the whole UWB passband. The simulated results of proposed filter show good transmission response within passband and good rejection in out of the band. The simulated and measured results are very close to each other which proves the efficacy of proposed design.     

Ultra wideband bandpass filter with dual-notched bands using stub-loaded rectangular ring multi-mode resonator

This paper presents a new ultra wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) with dual-notched bands (at 5.2/5.7 GHz) using the stub-loaded rectangular ring multi-mode resonator (MMR). The proposed resonator consists of the dual embedded open-circuited stubs for introducing the dual notch bands and connected with a stub-loaded rectangular ring structure for controlling the two transmission zeros (at 3/11 GHz) at both sides of the UWB passband edge. This study mainly provides a simple method to design a UWB bandpass filter with high passband selectivity and dual-notched bands for satisfying the Federal Communications Commission (FCC-defined) indoor UWB specification. Experimental verification is provided and good agreement has been found between simulation and measurement.