Ultra-wideband bandpass microstrip filter with electronically tunable notch-band

Abstract

This paper introduces a compact ultra-wideband (UWB) microstrip filter featuring both a fixed and an electronically tunable notch band. Operating within the frequency range of 3.27 GHz to 5.61 GHz, the filter incorporates a permanent notch at 4.08 GHz and a tunable notch at 4.88 GHz. Utilizing a traditional ground plane and a short-circuited transmission line, we develop a bandpass filter with a stable notch-band positioned and another tunable notch band. Systematic defects are made to the ground plane to increase the coupling between input and output ports leading to UWB response. The stable notch band is created using a rectangular slot resonator, while the tunable notch employs a varactor diode (NXP BB135 Varactor Diode) integrated into a rectangular stub. Operating in the even-mode with symmetrical current distribution, the filter exhibits a -3dB passband bandwidth of 740 MHz, 610 MHz, and 240 MHz across its respective passbands. Notch band attenuation measures at -10 dB and -9 dB, respectively. Experimental results from the prototype demonstrate excellent agreement with simulated results, confirming the efficacy of the design.