A new tunable bandstop filter square-ring resonator using varactor diodes

Abstract

This work presents the development of a bandstop filter with a tunable response. Varactor diodes are used as control elements. Studies and investigations demonstrate the influence of the variable capacitance on the input admittance and on the S-parameters frequency responses of the proposed square-ring resonator geometry. The design of the square-ring resonator is based on mathematical modeling of ideal transmission lines, considering parameters of characteristic admittance and electrical length for odd and even excitation modes. Based on S-parameters in ports, an equivalent circuit model of the resonator geometry is presented. The corresponding results are compared with numerical simulations. Comparative analyses are presented in order to guide the process of optimizing the physical dimensions of the layout. A prototype with dimension 0.0272 λg2 was designed, fabricated, and tested. As a measured result, a filter with two rejection bands was obtained, the first at 0.6–1.15 GHz and the second at 1.71–2.28 GHz, with 63.0 and 29.0% tuning range, respectively. In comparison with bandstop filters from the literature, the proposed reconfigurable filter presents a larger tuning range for the first band, sufficient inband rejection levels for several applications, and reduced physical dimensions. The proposed configuration is an attractive reconfigurable filtering device for use in modern communication systems operating below 3.0 GHz.