Microwave filters are key devices in the equipment of many communication systems which perform signal processing functions, specifically to remove unwanted frequency components from the signal. If we focus on microwave filters for satellite applications, the continuous increase of the services to be provided by communication satellites has crowded the electromagnetic spectrum. This fact has provoked a huge demand for high-performance filters that meet stringent specifications

Microwave filters for space systems have been historically implemented in metallic waveguide technology, mainly due to low losses and high power handling capability issues. As a result, this area has experienced significant improvements in theoretical, technological, and performance subjects. However, these filters have significant drawbacks, especially when they are designed for satellite and other spatial applications, since their weight and size may often be too high, and due to work on vacuum the Multipactor effect limits considerably the power that the filter can handle.
 
Nowadays, new topologies of H-plane waveguide filters loaded with dielectric resonators are been developed. These new topologies show a 50% reduction on weight and volume compared with all-metal technology and a great thermal stability for high power applications. Moreover, these topologies have also reduced the risk of Multipactor effect between the metallic surfaces, consequently the filter can handle more power without inducing a Multipactor breakdown. 

Over the past years, the extremely fast development of precise electromagnetic (EM) analysis tools as well as the increase in the computation capabilities of modern computers, have made possible the accurate simulation of this type of structures. Nevertheless, from a designer point of view, more efforts should be devoted to the integration of such fast and accurate simulation methods into automated Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools.

The main aim of this Thesis is the development of new strategies for the automated design of advanced filters for satellite communication systems in order to integrate them into CAD tools. To do this, classical design techniques described in the bibliography will be followed and adapted to the new topologies under design. This will involve the development and implementation of different optimization strategies based on: structure segmentation, hybrid optimization and space mapping. However, all these strategies have to meet the following characteristics: robustness, efficiency and accuracy.

These new design strategies have been used in the design of several new H plane filters presented in this Thesis, with different topologies from all metallic H plane filters to evanescent mode H plane filters. The performance of these filters in terms of frequency response, out of band rejection and power handling without risk of Multipactor has been evaluated through the analysis and, sometimes, measurements of the manufactured filters.