Compact Ultra-Wideband Bandpass Filters Using
Microstrip-Coplanar-Waveguide
Simplified Structure
Wang Haimeng
Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications
College of Communications and Information Engineering
Nanjing, China
13770699205@139.com
AbstractA novel compact ultra-wideband bandpass filter (BPF)
is proposed on the back-to-back composite microstrip-to-
coplanar waveguide (CPW) structure. In this study, the CPW is
composed by the defected ground structure (DGS). The
microstripCPW transitions and the CPW shorted stubs are
adopted as quasi-lumped-circuit elements for realizing a three-
pole high-pass filter prototype. By introducing a cross-coupled
capacitance between input and output ports of this high-pass
filter and suitably designing the transition stretch stubs, a
compact three-pole ultra-wideband bandpass filter is
implemented with two transmission zeros located close to the
passband edges as well as good out-of-band response. Being
developed from the quasi-lumped elements, and not from the
transmission lines, the proposed ultra-wideband filters have sizes
more compact. The proposed ultra-wideband filters have the
merits of compact size, flat group delay, good insertion/return
loss, and good selectivity. Simulated responses of these filters are
demonstrated.
Keywords-%DQGSDVV filter; FRSODQDU waveguide(CPW);FURVV
Qin Weiping
College of Mathematics and Physics
Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications
Nanjing, China
qinwp@njupt.edu.cn
microstrip line and CPW embedded on the ground has been
reported as an alternative BPF design availability in UWB
passband. Because of merits of the broadside-coupled
structures associated with the electromagnetic coupling, great
more attentions have been paid on it.
In this paper, compact UWB bandpass filters are
developed by adopting the high-pass filter prototype and
transition stretch stubs to create the lower and upper stopbands,
respectively. Specifically, a composite microstripCPW
structure is proposed to realize a lumped-element high-pass
filter prototype, which is essential in developing the UWB
bandpass filters. First, by using the microstrip-to-CPW
transition structures to implement two series lumped capacitors,
using a CPW shorted stub structure to implement the shunt
inductor, and also introducing a suitable cross-coupled
capacitor between the input and output ports, a very wideband
three-pole bandpass filter with two transmission zeros out-of-
band is developed from the corresponding three-pole high-pass
filter prototype. Second, by suitably modifying the shape of
FRXSOLQJ ; KLJK-pass filter; PLFURVWLSFSZXOWUDZLGHEDQG8:%
I. INTRODUCTION
The interest in ultra-wideband (UWB) radio systems has
been tremendously increased since the Federal Communica-
tions Commission (FCC) in the U.S. has released the
unlicensed use of UWB in February 2002 [1]. There are several
advantages for UWB radio system, such as transmitting higher
data rates, needing lower transmit power, and simplifying the
error control coding. In such a system an UWB filter is one of
the key components, but the BPF is required to have 110%
fractional bandwidth at the center frequency of 6.85GHz with
low insertion loss over the whole band. In order to meet the
FCC limit, good selectivity at both lower and higher frequency
ends and flat group-delay response over the whole band are
required. In recent years, UWB bandpass filters have been
investigated in several approaches, such as composite lowpass-
highpass structures [2],[3],non-periodical shunt-stub loading [4]
and multiple-mode resonator (MMR) [5]-[7]. These wideband
filters have good suppression on-out-band response; however,
they have the drawback of large circuit size or imperfect group
delay over the passband. In the papers [8-10], new UWB BPFs
using broadside coupling with open or shorted stubs between a
1-4244-2424-5/08/$20.00 2008 IEEE
CPW for adjusting the position of the upper transmission zero,
a four-pole UWB bandpass filter is fabricated with two
transmission zeros properly located. Finally, in order to
accurately locate the frequency range of passband within 3.1 to
10.6GHz as well as good insertion/return loss, the
lengths W2 , L , L2 need to be properly adjusted and optimized.
Being that the quasi-lumped elements in the filter design is
adopted, the proposed UWB filters exhibit the slow wave
behavior and have sizes more compact than those of published
wideband filters.
II. UWB BANDPASS FILTER:SCHEMATIC AND
PRINCIPLE
A. Structure and Equivalent Circuit of UWB FILTER
Lets start to construct and characterize a CPW and a
surface-to-surface microstrip/CPW coupling structure [9]. As
shown in Fig. 1(a), the CPW is formed by bottom-layer circuit
layout which is named by DGS(Defect Ground Structure). As
well, Fig.1 (b) shows the three-dimensional and top-/bottom-
layer circuit layout of the proposed filter. Obviously, the circuit
layout indeed constructs the compact structure of microstrip to
626 ICCS 2008
CPW. These designs of the similar structures are found in
many papers [8-10], which have much advantage such as tight
structure, tight coupling and small measurements. In addition,
the structure is apt to realize broad bandwidth filter, especially
with good out-of-band response as well as fine insertion/return
loss. Overall, the layout is a symmetrical structure between left
parts and right, not but between the front and rear.

Fig.2 Equivalent circuit of Fig. 1 (b)

As it is shown in Fig.2, which is an equivalent circuit of the

Fig.1 (b), the series capacitors C1 are implemented by the
microstrip-to-CPW transitions, and the shunt inductor L is
implemented by the CPW shorted stub connected to the ground.
The cross-coupled capacitor C2 is formed between the
adjacent microstrip parts of the two capacitors C1 . The frequent
point of lower transmission zero is controlled by the cross-
(a) coupled capacitance C2 .

B. Simulated Results Of UWB Filter

Here, the parameters of Fig.1 are provided. First, constant
parameters include the length W1 = W3 =0.2mm, W4 =0.2mm,
W5 =0.4mm, L3 =1.4mm, W6 =0.4mm and W7 =0.4mm.
When the lengths L and L2 are set up with 4.2mm, W2 is set
up with 0.2mm and L1 is equal to 1.5mm, the simulated results
of the proposed structure are shown in Fig.2.

(b)

Fig.1. (a) Bottom-layer circuit layout of CPW (b) Top-/bottom-layer circuit

layouts to show the relative location between top microstrip and bottom CPW
layers of proposed wideband filter.

The simulation and optimization carry out using the

commercial software IE3D based on the finite element of
moment. The BPF is fabricated on the substrate with a
dielectric constant of 10.0 and a thickness of 0.5mm for tight
coupling and broad bandwidth. So impedance of input is 50.

(a) | S 21 | & | S11 |

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 group delay, the frequency range surpasses the regulation of
UWB filter.

(b) Group Delay Display

Fig.3 Simulated results of the proposed filter (a) | S 21 | & | S11 |

As it is shown in Fig.3.(a), this implemented filter has a

very wideband with a 3dB fractional bandwidth of 120% from
3.1 to 12.0 GHz and two transmission zeros are found at 2.0
and 13.5 GHz. On the basis of the Fig.2, the first transmission
zero is created by the cross-coupled capacitance C2 and second
transmission zero is generated by the resonance associated with
the microstrip parts of the capacitors C1 , C3 and the CPW
shorts stub. The filter has a minimum insertion loss of 0.09, and
the return loss is greater 17dB than within the passband. In
addition, the Fig.2.(b) shows that this wideband filter exhibits a
flat group-delay response between 0.25ns and 0.5ns over the
whole passband. A great segment of group delay response
locates from 0.25ns to 0.35ns. Note that the group delay
exhibits negative numbers around the frequencies at which the
transmission zeros are observed. With the transmission zeros,
the proposed filters have good selectivity and stopband
rejection.
So, a very wideband bandpass filter is successfully
constructed. In order to develop a filter meeting the UWB (b) Group Delay Display
standard, the high-frequency response needs to decay early. In
other words, the frequency of the upper transmission zero is to Fig.4 Simulated results of the proposed UWB filter With parameters of length
be cut down. Analyzing the factors of influence on the upper L=5mm, L2 =4.2mm, W2 =0.2mm
transmission zero, there is a resolution that length of central
metal belt of CPW has to be adjusted. Last time, set the length For this reason, three parameters have to be modified and
L to be equal by 4.2mm. Now, set it to be equal with 5mm. On optimized. In accordance with factors of influencing the
the side, for the time being, keep the other parameters frequency point of lower and upper transmission zeros, it is
changeless. necessary to increase capacitor C3 and reduce inductor L
Obviously, in Fig.4, 3dB fractional bandwidth of the BPF through augmenting the length W2 , L and diminishing the
has changed from 2.83 to 10.75GHz, which by and large meets
the requisition of frequency band of UWB. However in the length L1 in order to raise the frequency position of the lower
wake of the frequency of the upper transmission zero transmission zero and cut down the frequency position of upper
descending from 13.5 to 11.8GHz, the frequency of lower transmission zero. In the end, optimize UWB filter by properly
transmission zero slightly changes from 3.1 to 2.83GHz. Even adjusting the length L2 .
though there are good insertion/return loss, selectivity and flat

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 Set the parameters as bellow, L=5.2mm, L2 =5.2mm and
W2 =1.0mm. The simulated results of the proposed UWB filter
are shown in Fig.5. As shown in it, this UWB filter has a
wideband with a 3dB fractional bandwidth of 113.4% from
3.12 to 10.58GHz and two transmission zeros are found at 2.15
and 11.83 GHz.
S S
(a) | 21 | & | 11 |
(b) Group Delay Display
Fig.5 Simulated results of the proposed UWB filter With parameters of length
L=5.2mm, L2 =5.2mm, W2 =1.0mm
By comparison with the front simulated results, the
insertion/return loss become to be better from 610.5GHz,
however, it deteriorates at lower frequency from 34GHz. It
slightly changes in out of the pass band, none the less, which
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doesnt influence the selectivity out of band. It successfully
carries out that the bandwith merits the requirement of UWB
through slight adjusting the detail parameters. As it is shown in
Fig.5 (b), group delay slightly fluctuates between 0.3ns and
0.7ns, furthermore, bellow 0.4ns in great part of frequency
range. Comparing with the front results, there are very tiny
changes. In the mass, the group delay keeps relatively flat. So,
a novel UWB filter is successfully accomplished with good
insertion/return loss as well as flat group delay.
III. CONCLUSION
In this paper, UWB bandpass filters based on the
microstrip-to-CPW transitions and CPW shorted stub
connected to the ground have been successfully implemented.
Lower and upper transmission zeros have been generated and
properly located. With the transmission zeros, the proposed
filters have good selectivity and stopband rejection. In addition,
the dimensions of proposed UWB bandpass filters are much
simpler and less than those of the published UWB filters. The
proposed filters with good frequency performance and flat
group delay are attractive for UWB radio applications.
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