Distributed Models for Filter Synthesis

The limitations of filter synthesis methods based on classic equivalent circuits with the enhanced distributed models and synthesis procedures able to overcome such limitations are presented. A modified procedure that corrects the waveguide lengths has been proposed. The input and output reflection coefficients of the ideal prototype steps are real. The shunt capacitive effect introduces a phase shift in the reflection coefficients of each waveguide step. The representation of the filter structure can be improved if the waveguide steps are analyzed with a full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulator, and their responses are stored in the form of ABCD matrices. The desired filter passband cutoff frequency was 11 GHz, with a specified return loss of 25 dB, and a gap height greater than 4.25 mm. High-power applications with wide stopbands often require impractical waveguide sections. The accurate EM simulators are used to find an almost exact equivalence between the prototype and the filter parts.