Compact Quasi-Elliptic-Type Inline Waveguide Bandpass Filters With Nonlinear Frequency-Variant Couplings

This work presents the design techniques to synthesize a class of compact inline quasi-elliptic-type waveguide cavity bandpass filters based on novel nonlinear frequency-variant couplings (NFVCs). These highly dispersive frequency-variant couplings (FVCs) are realized by means of a pair of partial-height posts that are placed at the junctions between every two cavity resonators. Each NFVC produces a transmission pole in between a pair of independently adjustable transmission zeros (TZs). Although the pole is added to the overall filtering function to augment its order, the TZs can be placed at each side of the filter passband to attain sharp rejection capability and increase the stopband attenuation levels. To synthesize these filters, two coupling-routing-diagram (CRD) approaches for the NFVC are presented that either consider: 1) an arbitrary FVC (AFVC) or 2) two resonating nodes interacting with a zero-susceptance nonresonating node through constant inverters. An equivalent lumped-element circuit model associated with both CRD approaches is provided. It is demonstrated that both CRD models can be exploited for the theoretical synthesis of this type of filter, whereas the equivalent lumped-element circuit model can provide a deeper insight into the systematic dimensioning of the posts. For experimental validation purposes, three design examples are synthesized, and 10-GHz proof-of-concept filter prototypes of two of them are EM-simulated, fabricated, and characterized. The measured results agree well with the simulations and the design theory, thus verifying the concept of inline waveguide cavity filters with TZs using NFVCs.