SAW filters with high stopband rejection based on a cascadeconnection of selective elements

To achieve a high stopband rejection in surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters a construction that includes a cascade of some elements (interdigital transducers (IDT) and multistrip couplers (MSC)) is used. In this case each element has to maintain a comparatively low frequency selectivity, and this permits a simple model and a high-speed calculation process to be employed for its design. The proposed constructions have an apodized transducer with a metal coating instead of a passive electrode region as the input IDT and broadband withdrawal weighted unapodized transducer as the output IDT. One or two group-type multistrip couplers (MSC) provide an additional frequency selectivity. The original synthesis algorithms have been developed for design of IDT and MSC structure     

Miniaturized SAW filters using a flip-chip technique

This paper describes a miniature surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter, 3.2×2.5×0.9 mm³, which is applicable for radio frequency (RF) stage filters in mobile phones. The SAW filter is reduced in size by using a flip-chip assembly technique. The technique uses gold bumps on the SAW chip and gold-gold thermosonic face-down bonding. The gold bumps are formed onto the wafer by a conventional wire bonding machine using gold wire. The thermosonic face-down bonding enables the connection of gold bumps on the SAW chip, with gold metallized pads, on a ceramic package at a temperature below 200°C. This bonding ensures that the SAW chip is fixed mechanically, and connected electrically, with the package. Frequency responses of a 950-MHz flip-chip SAW filter are compared with responses of a SAW filter with a conventional package. The results of reliability tests for flip-chip SAW filters are shown     

Design technique for nonlinear phase SAW filters using slanted finger interdigital transducers

This paper describes a useful design technique to achieve a nonlinear phase SAW filter using slanted finger interdigital transducers (SFITs) or tapered interdigital transducers which are suitable for wide-band filters in intermediate frequency stages. A required nonlinear phase response in the passband can be obtained by changing center-to-center distances between input and output SFITs along an axis perpendicular to the SAW propagation axis. The design is based on a building-block approach in the frequency domain. A nonlinear phase SAW filter with a center frequency of 70 MHz and a fractional bandwidth of about 10% is demonstrated on x-cut 112.2 degrees y-propagating LiTaO(3 ). Because the substrate has a power flow angle of 1.55 degrees, the SFIT pattern is tilted along that angle. Good agreement between theoretical and experimental results is obtained.     

Optimization of broadband withdrawal weighted interdigital transducers for high selective SAW filters

The problem under discussion is the design of highly selective broadband surface acoustic wave (SAW) interdigital transducers (IDT) with uniform electrodes. In most SAW filters, such transducers are used with apodized IDTs or instead of them. The proposed optimization algorithms are intended for improvement of IDT selectivity by means of a withdrawal weighting (WW) technique. Unlike the familiar methods of WW transducer optimization, these algorithms choose the best IDT structure on the basis of how well it meets the specifications, not in the time but in frequency domain directly. This approach is more effective for broadband WW transducers. A number of SAW filters have been designed using the described algorithms. Their experimental characteristics follow: bandwidths of 0.5 to 15%, stopband rejection of 40 to 50 dB, 3 dB/40 dB shape factors of 1.07 to 1.3.     

Optimal cut for leaky SAW on LiTaO3 for high performance resonators and filters

The paper describes how the characteristics of leaky surface acoustic wave (LSAW) propagation depend on the thickness of Al grating electrodes on rotated Y-X LiTaO3. It is shown that the propagation loss arising from leaky nature changes parabolically with both the grating electrode thickness and rotation angle and becomes zero when electrode thickness and rotation angle are properly determined. This means that even when thick grating electrodes are needed in device design, zero propagation loss is always realized by properly determining the rotation angle. When the grating electrode thickness is 0.07 to 0.1 in wavelength for example, LSAWs on 40-42 degrees Y-X LiTaO3 give zero propagation loss without deteriorating other characteristics. Ladder-type filters for the 800-MHz range were fabricated, which essentially need thick Al grating electrodes of about 0.1 wavelength thickness. As predicted by theoretical calculation, experimental results showed that if the rotation angle is increased to circa 420 from a conventional value of 36 degrees, the insertion loss and shape factor are markedly improved compared with devices based on 36 degrees Y-X LiTaO3. This is essentially a result of the minimized propagation loss.     

High-reliability SAW bandpass filters for space applications

High-reliability surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) bandpass filters have been developed for use in transponders for more than 25 earth-orbital and deep-space satellite programs. SAW filters have been incorporated in several NASA standard TTandC transponders and NASA standard tracking and data relay satellite system (TDRSS) user transponders. The author gives examples of the electrical performance, summarizes the manufacturing processes, and discusses qualification testing for these SAW devices. He identifies reliability problems encountered and their solutions.     

Spectrum shaping SAW filters for high-bit-rate digital radio

The structure of a QAM radio system is explained. Some novel designs that demonstrate the current status of spectral shaping SAW (surface acoustic wave) filters are presented. Compensation of second-order effects is discussed. Experimental results for a filter for a 140-Mb/s 16 QAM cochannel system with a roll-off factor of 0.19 are shown. Two other examples of filters for a 140-Mb/s, 64 QAM system with a 35% relative bandwidth are also presented     

Combination of e-beam lithography and of high velocity AIN/diamond-layered structure for SAW filters in X band

In this work, we report on the fabrication results of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices operating at frequencies up to 8 GHz. In previous work, we have shown that high acoustic velocities (9 to 12 km/s) are obtained from the layered AIN/diamond structure. The interdigital transducers (IDTs) made of aluminium with resolutions up to 250 nm were successfully patterned on AIN/diamond-layered structures with an adapted technological process. The uniformity and periodicity of IDTs were confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analyses. A highly oriented (002) piezoelectric aluminum nitride thin film was deposited on the nucleation side of the CVD diamond by magnetron sputtering technique. The X-ray diffraction effectuated on the AIN/diamond-layered structure exhibits high intensity peaks related to the (002) AIN and (111) diamond orientations. According to the calculated dispersion curves of velocity and the electromechanical coupling coefficient (K2), the AIN layer thickness was chosen in order to combine high velocity and high K2. Experimental data extracted from the fabricated SAW devices match with theoretical values quite well.     

Design techniques for SAW filters using slanted finger interdigital transducers

This paper describes useful design techniques for wide-band linear phase SAW filters using slanted finger interdigital transducers (SFITs): to increase stop band attenuation, to flatten the pass band response, and to draw SFIT patterns for photo-masks. In order to increase stop band attenuation, a withdrawal-weighted SFIT is employed. A combination of a withdrawal-weighted SFIT and an unweighted SFIT provides good stop band responses, even though the number of finger pairs is small. In order to achieve a desired amplitude response in the pass band, an aperture-weighting technique for divided channels of SFITs is presented. A design method for drawing SFIT patterns for photo-masks is also described. A linear-phase SAW filter using SFITs with a 50% fractional bandwidth is designed and fabricated on 128 degrees y-x LiNbO(3). A sidelobe suppression of 40 dB and a 3 dB to 40 dB shape factor of 1.12 were realized. Good agreement between theoretical and experimental results is obtained.     

Design of SAW FIR filters for quadrature binary modulation systems

Approaches for designing surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters used in pulsed quadrature binary modulation (QBM) systems are presented. Several previously defined pulse shapes were implemented by a SAW filter and showed good QBM system performance with respect to modulation envelope nonuniformity (AM) and intersymbol interference (ISI). A new approach to QBM pulse shape definition using both frequency- and time-domain design criteria is described. This approach allows families of new pulse shapes having various levels of AM and spectral confinement to be designed. The approaches to the design equations are presented, and examples of specific pulse shapes and their implementation using SAW filters are given. Time- and frequency-domain results of iteratively designed pulse shapes for application to QBM systems are also presented, showing good performance.     

Inductive grid filters for rejection of infrared radiation

Abstract

Inductive grid filters are metallic mesh structures, which reject long wavelengths but transmit short wavelengths. Our interest is in filters with the rejection cut-off at around 1 μm. In this region the finite conductivity of metals must be considered. An extensive theoretical investigation is carried out by rigorous diffraction theory to determine the best choice of metal and the influence of the grid parameters on the spectral transmittance of the filter. Experimental results with nickel and gold grids fabricated on dielectric substrates are presented. Their fabrication process involves thin-film deposition, electron beam lithography, reactive ion etching and electroplating. The optical characterization results performed with spectrophotometry are in reasonable agreement with the theoretical predictions.     

Narrow-bandpass filters with broad rejection band for single-mode waveguides

Fabry-Perot bandpass filters made of mirrors with both high- and low-Dn (refractive-index modulation) have simultaneously a broad rejection band and a narrow passband. The higher Dn's are obtained with multilayer mirrors and the lower with Bragg gratings (BG's). Implementation of a sampling calculation technique based on the characteristic matrix formalism used for interference coatings allows for simulation of hybrid filters constructed from multilayer mirrors and BG's. The possible defects of hybrid filters are extensively analyzed. Bandpass filters made purely of both high- and low-Dn BG's are also simulated. All these filters are useful for wavelength division multiplexing applications.     

Distortion cancellation performance of miniature delay filters for feed-forward linear power amplifiers

The technique of feed-forward amplitude control has been widely used in the linearization of power amplifiers for wireless communication systems. In this technique, an error signal due to third order intermodulation distortion (IMD) is extracted, amplified, and used to correct the delayed main line distorted signal. For example, a miniature prototype base station for the Global System for Mobile Communications/Code Division Multiple Access (GSM/CDMA) cellular system uses feed-forward amplifiers with bulky and expensive coaxial cables, about 20 feet in length, to provide about 25 ns of delay. This paper shows alternate space-saving approaches of achieving these delays using three different types of delay filters: electromagnetic interdigital/lumped (<2.5"), ceramic (<1.8"), and ladder-type surface acoustic wave (SAW) (0.15"). The delay lines introduce phase and amplitude imbalance and delay mismatch in the linearization loop due to fabrication tolerances. These adversely affect the IMD cancellation. Using an RF system simulation tool, this paper critically compares the IMD cancellation performance achieved using the three technologies. Simulation results show that the optimization of delay mismatch can achieve the desired cancellation more easily than other parameters. It is shown that, if the critical system parameter (phase deviation from linearity), is maintained at <2.5/spl deg/ peak-to-peak over a 20 MHz bandwidth in the frequency range 855 MHz to 875 MHz, one can achieve 25 dB of IMD cancellation performance. This paper concludes with the suggestion of a set of realistic specifications for a miniature delay filter for the low power loop of the feed-forward amplifier.     

The use of linear programming for the design of SAW filters andfilterbanks

A linear programming algorithm is proposed for designing surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters or filterbanks with arbitrary amplitude and phase responses. A modified sampling theorem representation is employed for the transducer frequency responses which allows the number of independent variables to be minimized without degrading the filter characteristics. The method can also be used as part of an iterative procedure to generate optimal corrections for second order effects such as diffraction and circuit loading. A simplified algorithm for this procedure is given, and the method is illustrated with theoretical and experimental data from a three channel contiguous SAW filterbank design. Although the method given in this paper is formulated primarily for SAW filters, it is equally applicable to FIR digital filter design     

Investigation of new low-loss and high-power SAW filters for reverse-frequency-allocated cellular radios

Japanese cellular radios employ reverse frequency-allocations of the transmitter and receiver frequency bands. A rather narrowband surface acoustic wave (SAW) transmitter prefilter and a new type of SAW low-loss and high-power transmitter final stage filter-dual configurations to previously developed US cellular radio system filter-have been developed. The dual configurations provide the stopbands for the filter at the lower side of the pass bands, which is a requirement for reverse frequency-allocation systems. Design procedures, including those for the piezoelectric substrates and the experimental results obtained for the filters of 1.5 dB low insertion-loss and over 30 dB stop band rejection at 920 MHz, are also presented. In addition, the frequency characteristics of the SAW antenna duplexer module used in Japanese new common carrier (NCC) systems are discussed.     

Sidelobe suppression in chiral optical filters by apodization of the local form birefringence

Chiral optical filters are characterized by circular Bragg effects, including the preferential reflection and transmission of circular polarization states. The selective response to circularly polarized light is caused by stratified birefringent plates twisted into a helical arrangement, as seen in cholesteric liquid crystals and columnar thin films produced by oblique-angle physical vapor deposition. A refinement of the latter, glancing angle deposition employs substrate rotation to control the optical anisotropy of columnar thin films, and was used in this study to suppress the reflection sidelobes of chiral optical filters by modulating the local birefringence of helically structured thin films using an apodization function. Both theoretical simulations based on Berreman formalism, and experimental results involving evaporated TiO(2) thin films are presented and compared.     

Bicorn filters with strong and broad rejection for single-mode waveguides

The design of hybrid and pure grating filters with two passbands (bicorn) is explained. The limitations on their performance due to temperature fluctuations and fabrication difficulties are considered. We show that hybrid bicorns with a 500-nm-broad 20-dB rejection band and a 10-pm FWHM with 300-pm peak separation are conceivable. They are useful for telecommunication applications. In addition, these filters are shorter than 1 mm and thus well adapted to micro-optics and integrated optics.     

An alternative method for suppressing undesired transverse modes inlongitudinally coupled SAW resonator filters

As known, perturbing transverse modes arising from the waveguide properties of the interdigital transducers and reflectors can appear in SAW resonator filters. Usually, these undesired modes are suppressed by transducer apodization. This method has the disadvantage of increasing the transducer impedance. We propose a longitudinally coupled resonator filter, the basic elements of which are able to guide the two slowest waveguide modes alone, but to excite and receive the first mode only. The basic elements are arranged side by side forming the complete filter permitting coupling with each other weak enough to fulfill the filter specification. The suppression of undesired modes by the construction is demonstrated by transmission measurements     

Variable narrowband transmission filters with a wide rejection band for spectrometry

Variable narrowband transmission filters are useful for the development of compact spectrometers. For this purpose the filter should be directly coupled to the detector and the wavelength of the transmission peak should move in one surface direction over a length of a few millimeters. To obtain both a wide measurement spectrum and high accuracy, the ratio of extreme operating wavelengths is required to be greater than 2:1 and the width of the transmission band narrower than 10 nm. A metal-dielectric variable transmission filter, with an operating range of 400-1000 nm, is proposed. The method for obtaining variable transmission filters, with dimensions of a few millimeters, is described.     

Dual SAW sensor technique for determining mass and modulus changes

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, which are sensitive to a variety of surface changes, have been widely used for chemical and physical sensing. The ability to control or compensate for the many surface forces has been instrumental in collecting valid data. In cases in which it is not possible to neglect certain effects, such as frequency drift with temperature, methods such as the "dual sensor" technique have been utilized. This paper describes a novel use of a dual sensor technique, using two sensor materials (quartz and GaAs) to separate out the contributions of mass and modulus of the frequency change during gas adsorption experiments. The large modulus change in the film calculated using this technique and predicted by the Gassmann equation provide a greater understanding of the challenges of SAW sensing.