Model-Driven Design of Microwave Filters Based on Scalable Circuit Models

Most microwave filters are currently designed using direct electromagnetic (EM) optimization. This method holds several disadvantages regarding the provided physical insight to designers and duration of the optimization process. To circumvent these drawbacks, we propose a filter design based on scalable circuit models. This model-driven design competes with EM optimization by maintaining the accuracy of the optimization results while providing a very significant speedup and gaining physical insight on the EM working mechanism of the filter of interest. This paper discusses the advantages of using the proposed model-driven design by the illustration on a defected ground structure filter. A scalable equivalent circuit model is used in the design procedure to provide physical insight to the designer and to speed up the design process enormously.