volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

This paper presents a miniaturized tunable bandpass filter, consisting of two coaxial dielectric resonators and a pair of parallel-coupled lines. A coaxial dielectric resonators and a microstrip line form a new step-impedance resonator (SIR), which is different from a conventional SIR. Varactor diodes are connected to SIRs to tune the center frequency. The gap between parallel-coupled lines controls the inter-stage coupling coefficient. Lumped inductors used for coupling to I/O ports can reduce design complexity. The variations of coupling coefficient and external quality factor with tuning frequency are analyzed using HFSS software. A appropriate coupling coefficient which satisfies with constant fractional bandwidth within the tuning range is available. A tunable filter has been made of dielectric ceramics with dielectric constant of 38, fabricated on dielectric substrate and measured using Networks analyzer. Center frequencies vary from 0.43 GHz to 0.78 GHz, 3 dB fractional bandwidth from 6.4% to 6.8% when bias voltages are applied from 0 V to 10 V. The measured results validate the approach and agree with the simulation.

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Professor Liangzu Cao

Dr. Guangwen Li

Dr. Jian Hu

Dr. Lixia Yin