Simplify The Design Of Evanescent-Mode WG Filters

1. This simple block diagram shows a classical T network.

For the coupling coefficient (k) between the two loops of the T-coupled structure, Eq. 2 can be applied:

2. This block diagram represents a classical Π network.

Figure 2 shows a Π-coupled structure. Using a delta-star transformation yields the relationships of Eq. 3:

Substituting the definitions of Eq. 3 into Eq. 2 yields Eq. 4:

3. This block diagram shows the evanescent-waveguide equivalent circuit.

Figure 3 shows the schematic of an evanescent-mode waveguide length as a Π network. The relationships in Eq. 5 are valid for any of the internal resonators:

where:

X₀ = the reactive impedance of the evanescent waveguide filter;

γ = the complex propagation constant in the evanescent waveguide; and

L = the length of the evanescent waveguide resonator. 

For the end resonators, the relationships in Eq. 6(a)-6(c) can be used:

Similarly, for the output resonator, Eqs. 6(d-f) can be used:

From Seymour Cohn’s classic work on filters:⁵

where:

w = 2πf = 1 = the cutoff frequency of the lowpass prototype;

g = the normalized elements of the lowpass prototype; and

k_{i, i + 1} = the coupling coefficient between sections i and i + 1.

From Eqs. 4 and 8, it is possible to obtain Eq. 9:

From Eqs. 9 and 7, the coupling coefficient, k_{i, i + 1}, can be found in Eq. 10:

Finally, by rearranging Eq. 10, length L can be calculated from Eq. 11:

For the first and the last resonators, Eqs. 12-15 provide important insights:

A pair of filter design examples may help to demonstrate the effectiveness of the current, non-iterative design method. An evanescent mode filter can be designed using closed-form Eqs. 11 and 15. To check the results of the current design approach, they are compared in Table 1 with the example presented in ref. 3, which employed a lengthier iterative design approach. Given that the center frequency, f_c, is 6.5571 GHz, and the cutoff frequency, f₀, is 3 GHz, the ripple for this example lowpass filter is 0.01 dB and the minimum stopband attenuation is 50 dB at 328 GHz. The design employs WR-90 ridged waveguide, with a length, L, of 0.9 in. (2.29 cm) and width, W, of 0.4 in. (1.02 cm), which leads to:

The prototype parameters for this first example lowpass filter include g₀ = 1; g₁ = 0.7969; g₂ = 1.3924; g₃ = 1.7481; g₄ = 1.6331; g₅ = 1.7481; g₆ = 1.3924; g₇ = 0.7969; and g₈ = 1, with differential, Γ, given by Eq. 17:

Solving for the inner resonators yields Eq. 18:

and results in the following values for the inner resonators:

l₁ = l₆ = 2.1026 cm; l₂ = l₅ = 2.4060 cm; and l₃ = l₄ = 2.4682 cm.

To solve for outer resonators, the largest g values are used. Since the outer resonator lengths are arbitrary, the largest g values are chosen to minimize the reflection from the end walls of the filter:

resulting in the following values: l₀ = l₇ = 2.7242 cm.

Table 2 compares the resonator values of this first filter example to the example produced in ref. 3. The results of the comparison are also depicted in Fig. 4. As can be seen from the comparison of the two example filters, while the closed-form equations presented in the current report are not quite as accurate as the relations used in ref. 3, they are easier to implement and deliver reasonable results.

4. These graphs represent the iterative method developed by Howard and Lin³ (blue line) and the results of using the closed-form equations from the current report (red line).

For a second comparison of example filters, the example of ref. 2 will be used. It is a five-section Chebyshev filter with 0.01-dB ripple and 1% bandwidth at 4 GHz. The lowpass prototype parameters for this filter design are g₀ = 1; g₁ = 0.7563; g₂ = 1.3049; g₃ = 1.5773; g₄ = 1.3049; g₅ = 0.7563; and g₆ = 1. Using Eq. 17, Δ is found to be 0.7716. Using Eq. 18 to find the inner resonators result in the following: l₁ = l₄ = 3.9964 cm and l₂ = l₃ = 4.3303 cm.

Equations 13 and 15 are used to find the outer resonator lengths. Since these are arbitrary, the largest g values are chosen to calculate the lengths for the outer resonators. The outer lengths then are l₀ = l₅ = 4.6432 cm.

As Fig. 5 shows, the results of the interactive method of ref. 2 and the closed-form method of the present report are much closer, as the bandwidth for these example filters is much more narrow (1%). The bandwidth plotted in Fig. 4 is much wider (about 7.5%) and the results between those two methods (the present approach and ref. 3) are more diverse.

5. These graphs offer the iterative method of Craven and Mok² (blue line) and the results of using the closed-form equations from the current report (red line).

6. These diagrams show (a) a magnetic-loop RF launcher and (b) an electric-field-probe RF launcher.

The resistance of an evanescent-mode waveguide filter can be calculated by applying Eq. 35 from ref. 3; it can also be found by experimental methods. To tune the launcher, the probe or the magnetic loop can be moved closer to or further from the first resonator on the filter. An evanescent-mode waveguide filter is a unique type of filter that provides high Q in a relatively small size compared to other types of filters. By using the design methods shown here, reasonable results can be achieved without the long times required for iterative methods.

Dr. John Howard, President

Steve Jalil, Wireless Engineer

Electromagnetic Technologies Industries, Inc., 50 Intervale Rd., Boonton, NJ 07005; (973) 379-1719, FAX: (973) 379-1651.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to express their thanks to Mr. Sertac Sayin for his helpful comments on the subject.

References

1. John Howard and M. Lavey, “Simplified Method Eases The Design Of Bandpass Filters,” Microwaves & RF, Vol. 39, No, 13, December 2000, pp. 97, 98, 230, 232.

2. G. Craven and C. Mok, “The Design of Evanescent Waveguide Bandpass Filter for a Prescribed Insertion Loss Characteristic,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. MTT-19, March 1971.

3. John Howard and W. Lin, “Evanescent Mode Filter: Design and Implementation,” Microwave Journal, Vol. 32, October 1983, pp. 121-136.

4. Richard V. Snyder, “New Applications of Evanescent Mode Waveguide Filter Design,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. MTT-25, December 1977.

5. Seymour B. Cohn, “Direct Coupled Resonator Filters,” Proceedings of the IRE, Vol. MTT-5, February 1957, pp. 187-196.