Design of planar wideband bandpass filters from specifications using a two-step aggressive space mapping (ASM) optimization algorithm

Abstract

This paper is focused on the automated and unattended optimization of a type of planar wideband bandpass filters by means of aggressive space mapping (ASM). The considered filters are microstrip filters implemented through a combination of shunt connected stepped impedance resonators (SIRs) and grounded stubs coupled through admittance inverters. The most relevant and novel aspect of this paper is the fact that the filter layout is automatically generated from filter specifications, i.e., central frequency, fractional bandwidth, in-band ripple and order, without the need of any external aid to the design process. To achieve this layout generation, filter optimization has been divided into two independent ASM processes. The first one generates the filter schematic (circuit element values) providing the required specifications. This first iterative process is necessary since, due to the narrow band operation of the admittance inverters, the target specifications are achieved by compensating the effects of such narrow band operation. The purpose of the second ASM algorithm is to automatically generate the layout from the filter schematic resulting from the first ASM process. To validate the new two-step ASM optimization tool, two sets of filter specifications (inputs of the developed tool), are considered. The generated filter layouts exhibit frequency responses that satisfy the specifications, and are in excellent agreement with the responses of the schematics.