Parallel-coupled bandpass filters with directly coupled input and output resonators

Abstract

A novel method for modifying input and output coupling in the parallel-coupled bandpass filters, which allows for direct connection of source and load to the outer resonators, is proposed. In the filter modification a coupled-resonator approach is utilized, which allows one for calculating both the impedance of the introduced new quarter-wave section and the necessary coupling modification of the first and second resonators. The proposed filter modification allows for realization of wider bandwidth filters by removing the necessity of narrow gap realization. Further the following gap in the filter is also enhanced, what helps in wide band filter realization. The presented theoretical approach has been confirmed by theoretically calculated responses of three- and seven-resonator filters. The theoretically investigated filter modification has been confirmed with the experiment in which a seven-resonator modified bandpass filter has been fabricated and measured. The presented measurement results confirm the theoretical predictions and prove the proposed design method.