6-15 GHz RF MEMS tunable filters

Capacitive RF MEMS switches can be used to adaptively tune microwave filter elements for use in communications and radar. This work describes progress towards building a 6-15 GHz tunable bandpass filter bank. Three banks of tunable high-pass and low-pass filters covering 6-15 GHz were designed and tested. The low-pass filters showed loss ranging from 2 to 4 dB with rejection better than 60 dB. The high-pass filter showed insertion losses ranging from 3 to 5 dB with similar rejection. These filters were cascaded in series in three banks to obtain a tunable bandwidth/center frequency bandpass filter that covers 6-15 GHz.