Tunable microwave devices based on left/right-handed transmission line sections in multilayer implementation

Abstract

Metamaterial transmission lines can be realized as a combination of right- and left-handed transmission line (TL) sections exhibiting positive and negative dispersion. This approach gives additional degrees of freedom for improving the performance of microwave devices. Artificial right- and left-handed sections, which are based on lumped-element unit cells consisting of inductance and capacitances (LC-cells), are used. This makes it possible to decrease dimensions of the devices drastically. Furthermore, using variable capacitors in LC-cells allows designing tunable devices. This paper presents the results of design, numerical simulation, and experimental investigation of a tunable rat-race ring and free-of-spurious response dual-band filter manufactured as integrated ceramic multilayer circuits based on low-temperature co-fired ceramics. Commercial semiconductor varactors have been used as tunable components.