CHAPTER 2

INTRODUCTION TO MICROSTRIP AND DGS

2.1 MICROSTRIP
Microstrip is a type of electrical transmission line which can be fabricated using printed circuit
board technology, and is used to convey microwave-frequency signals. It consists of a conducting
strip separated from a ground plane by a dielectric layer known as the substrate. Microwave
components such as antennas, couplers, filters, power dividers etc. can be formed from microstrip,
with the entire device existing as the pattern of metallization on the substrate. Microstrip is thus
much less expensive than traditional waveguide technology, as well as being far lighter and more
compact. Microstrip was developed by ITT laboratories as a competitor to strip line (first published
by Grieg and Engelmann in the December 1952 IRE proceedings).

Microstrip is one of many forms of planar transmission line, others include strip line and
coplanar waveguide, and it is possible to integrate all of these on the same substrate. A differential
microstrip a balanced signal pair of microstrip lines is often used for high-speed signals such as
DDR2 SDRAM clocks, USB Hi-Speed data lines, PCI Express data lines, LVDS data lines, etc.,
often all on the same PCB. Most PCB design tools support such differential pairs.

For lowest cost, microstrip devices may be built on an ordinary FR-4 (standard PCB) substrate.
However it is often found that the dielectric losses in FR4 are too high at microwave frequencies,
and that the dielectric constant is not sufficiently tightly controlled. For these reasons, an
alumina substrate is commonly used. On a smaller scale, microstrip transmission lines are also built
into monolithic microwave integrated circuits.

Fig 2.1 Cross-section of microstrip geometry.

Conductor (A) is separated from ground plane (D) by dielectric substrate (C). Upper dielectric
(B) is typically air.
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2.2 IN HOMOGENEITY
The electromagnetic wave carried by a microstrip line exists partly in the dielectric substrate, and
partly in the air above it. In general, the dielectric constant of the substrate will be different (and
greater) than that of the air, so that the wave is travelling in an inhomogeneous medium. In
consequence, the propagation velocity is somewhere between the speed of radio waves in the
substrate, and the speed of radio waves in air. This behavior is commonly described by stating the
effective dielectric constant (or effective relative permittivity) of the microstrip, this being the
dielectric constant of an equivalent homogeneous medium (i.e., one resulting in the same
propagation velocity).

Further consequences of an inhomogeneous medium include:

 The line will not support a true TEM wave; at non-zero frequencies, both the E and H fields
will have longitudinal components (a hybrid mode). The longitudinal components are small
however, and so the dominant mode is referred to as quasi-TEM.
 The line is dispersive. With increasing frequency, the effective dielectric constant gradually
climbs towards that of the substrate, so that the phase velocity gradually decreases. This is true
even with an on-dispersive substrate material (the substrate dielectric constant will usually fall
with increasing frequency).
 The characteristic impedance of the line changes slightly with frequency (again, even with a
non-dispersive substrate material). The characteristic impedance of non-TEM modes is not
uniquely defined, and depending on the precise definition used, the impedance of microstrip
either rises, falls, or falls then rises with increasing frequency. The low-frequency limit of the
characteristic impedance is referred to as the quasi-static characteristic impedance, and is the
same for all definitions of characteristic impedance.
 The wave impedance varies over the cross-section of the line.
 Microstrip lines radiate and discontinuity elements such as stubs and posts, which would be
pure reactance in strip line, have a small resistive component due to the radiation from them.

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2.3 CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDANCE
A closed-form approximate expression for the quasi-static characteristic impedance of a
microstrip line was developed by Wheeler.

𝟖 𝟖 𝟐 𝟏
𝒛𝟎 𝟒𝒉 𝟏𝟒+ 𝟒𝒉 𝟏𝟒+ 𝟒𝒉 𝟏+
+ √(
𝜺𝒓 𝜺𝒓 𝒕𝒓
𝒁𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑= ln 𝟏 + 𝝎 ( ) + 𝝅𝟐 ) (2.1)
𝟐𝝅√𝟐(𝟏+𝜺𝒓 ) 𝒆𝒇𝒇 𝟏𝟏 𝝎𝒆𝒇𝒇 𝟏𝟏 𝝎𝒆𝒇𝒇 𝟐

( )
Where eff is the effective width, which is the actual width of the strip, plus a correction to
account for the non-zero thickness of the metallization,

𝟏
𝟏+ 𝟒𝒆
𝒕𝒓
𝝎𝒆𝒇𝒇 =𝝎 + 𝒕 ln (2.2)
𝟐𝝅 𝟐
𝟐
√( 𝒕 ) +(𝟏 𝟏 )
𝒉 𝝅 𝝎+𝟏𝟏
( 𝒕 𝟏𝟎 )
Here Z0 is the impedance of free space, εr is the relative permittivity of substrate, w is the width
of the strip, h is the thickness ("height") of substrate, and t is the thickness of the strip metallization.
This formula is asymptotic to an exact solution in three different cases
1. 𝜔≫ ℎ, any ℇr (parallel plate transmission line),
2. 𝜔≪ℎ,ℇr (wire above a ground-plane) and
3. ⍵≪ 1, ℇr ≫1

It is claimed that for most other cases, the error in impedance is less than 1%, and is always less
than 2%. By covering all aspect-ratios in one formula, Wheeler 1977 improves on Wheeler 1965
𝜔
which gives one formula for ℎ > 3.3. Curiously, Harold Wheeler disliked both the terms 'microstrip'

and 'characteristic impedance', and avoided using them in his papers. A number of other
approximate formulae for the characteristic impedance have been advanced by other authors.
However, most of these are applicable to only a limited range of aspect-ratios, or else cover the
entire range piecewise.

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 In particular, the set of equations proposed by Hammers tad, who modifies on Wheeler, are
perhaps the most often cited:

𝒁𝟎 𝒉 𝝎 𝝎
𝒍𝒏 (𝟖 𝝎 + 𝟒𝒉) , 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 ≤𝟏
𝟐𝝅√𝜺𝒆𝒇𝒇 𝒉
Zmicrostrip = 𝒁𝟎 𝝎 (2.3)
, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 ≥𝟏
𝜺 𝝎 𝝎 𝒉
{√ 𝒆𝒇𝒇[ +𝟏.𝟑𝟗𝟑+𝟎.𝟔𝟔𝟕 𝒍𝒏( +𝟏.𝟒𝟒𝟒)]
𝒉 𝒉 }

Where ℇeff is the effective dielectric constant, approximated as

𝛆𝐫 +𝟏 𝛆𝐫 −𝟏 𝟏
𝛆𝐞𝐟𝐟 = + ( ) (2.4)
𝟐 𝟐 𝐡
√𝟏+𝟏𝟐( )
𝛚

2.4 BENDS
In order to build a complete circuit in microstrip, it is often necessary for the path of a strip to
turn through a large angle. An abrupt 90° bend in a microstrip will cause a significant portion of the
signal on the strip to be reflected back towards its source, with only part of the signal transmitted on
around the bend. One means of affecting a low-reflection bend, is to curve the path of the strip in an
arc of radius at least 3 times the strip-width. However, a far more common technique, and one
which consumes a smaller area of substrate, is to use a mitred bend.

Fig 2.2 Mitred bend

Microstrip 90˚mitred bend. The percentage os 100x/d. To a first approximation, an abrupt un-
mitred bend be haves as a shunt capacitance placed between the ground plane and the bend in the
strip. Mitring the bend reduces the area of metallization, and so removes the excess capacitance.
The percentage mitre is the cut-away fraction of the diagonal between the inner and outer corners of
the un-mitred bend.
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 Optimum mitre for a wide range of microstrip geometries has been determined experimentally
by Douville and James. They find that a good fit for the optimum percentage mitre is given by

𝟐𝟕𝝎
𝒙
M = 100𝒅 % = (𝟓𝟐 + 𝟔𝟓 𝒆− 𝟐𝟎𝒉 ) % (2.5)

2.5 DEFECTED GROUND STRUCTURE

Rapid growth of modern communication systems has encouraged the development of a number
of different compact filters with special specifications, such as multiband operation. The concept of
DGS is originated from photonic band gap structures (PBG) in the optical field Defected ground
structures (DGS) have been employed in a growing number of RF/microwave components,
including power dividers/combiners and filters, to achieve high performance with small size. The
concept of DGS is originated from photonic band gap structures (PBG) in the optical field.

A DGS is constructed by etching a defected pattern on a printed-circuit boards (PCB) metallic

ground plane, changing the effective capacitance and inductance of a microstrip line formed on that
circuit and altering the current distribution on the ground plane. As a result, a DGS exhibits slow-
wave characteristics and rejects harmonics in microwave circuits, improving the performance of
filters and other microwave circuits.

An inductive-capacitive (LC) equivalent circuit can be used to model a DGS resonator for
calculations and circuit simulations. Different DGS resonators used in microwave filters include
lowpass, bandpass, and bandstop circuits consisting of certain resonators or transmission lines with
the DGS added to improve filter performance. For example, a bandstop filter (BSF) can be
implemented using all shunt stubs or by means of series-connected high-low stepped impedance
lines.DGS resonators have been proposed for improving the spurious responses of microstrip filters.
When attempting to achieve good performance with high selectivity, microwave filters with
transmission zeros should be designed. Having transmission zeros at finite frequencies provides
sharp cutoff slopes at transitions from passbands to stopbands, which can be useful for many
applications.

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2.5.1 DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION OF DGS

Fig 2.3 Variations of Dumbell shaped DGS

Fig 2.4 Microstrip and DGS

Fig 2.5 Other DGS configurations

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2.6 LITERATURE SURVEY INTRODUCTION
It is very essential to know the perception of various authors in the recent past about their
contribution in microstrip DGS filters. There results with reference to return loss, gain,
directivity radiation pattern are analyzed. The pitfalls in the results are highlighted so that
necessary improvements in can be made to achieve better results. This chapter drives through
the papers published by different authors which enable us to analysis essential parameters that
are required to be considered while designing the microstrip filter.

 Cong tang, xianqi Lin, wangmao Liu, yong Fan, “WIDENSTOPBAND BANDPASS
FILTER BASED ON QUARTER-WAVELENTH RESONATOR”, IEEE antenna and
wave propagation.
Bandpass filter (BPF) is one of the most essential elements in modern wireless
communication system. Particularly, in order to meet the requirement of decreasing the
electrical system dimensions and reducing the manufacturing cost of the radio frequency (RF)
front-end systems, several RF/microwave sub circuits are often integrated in tone system.
However, these approaches bring new challenges or noises over a wide stopband. Therefore,
BPFs with good frequency selectivity and wide stopband are in great demand.

 R.A.Rahim, S.I.s.Hassan, M.N.Junita, N.A.M.Damrah, “MICROSTRIP DUAL- BAND

BANDPASS FILTER FOR ISM BAND APPLICATION”, IEEE antenna and propagation.
The microstrip filter is a two port network, which used to control the frequency response
which attenuate the unwanted frequency signal of the filter while allow transmission of the
desired frequency signal within the passband of the filter. Generally, microwave filters are
classified into four typical frequencies characteristic namely low pass, high pass, bandpass,
and bandstop filters. Nowadays, microwaves are extensively used in industrial and medical
uses for microwave heating, domestic microwave ovens for rapid cooking and environmental
remote sensing.

 S.R.Ab Rashid, A.A.M.Isa, and Rammah A. Alahnomi, “HIGH EFFICIENCY

MUCROWAVE PLANAR RESONATOR SENSOR BASED ON BRIDGE SPLIT RING
TOPOLOGY”, IEEE Antenna and wave propagation.
Microwave planar resonator structure is suggested as the alternative to develop sensors
with a compact, low cost, and easy to integrate with other electronics components. Therefore,
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 a bridge multiple split ring resonators (BMSRR) Sensor are presented to provide high
sensitivity and accurate measurement in the characterization of liquid solvents. The narrow
bandwidth of insertion loss contributes to a high Q-factor of sensor capability. At the same
time, the drawbacks of Conventional planar resonator sensor can be overcome. The analysis
focuses on the sensor performance and the new equation is generated to identify the unknown
permittivity of liquid solvent. The performance of BMSRR is verified by comparing the
simulated and measured results.

 Arjun Kumar, Kumar Goodwill, Ashwini K.Arya, “A COMPACT NARROWBAND

MICROSTRIP BANDPASS FILTER WITH DEFECTED GROUND STRUCTURE”,
IEEE.
A compact narrow band bandpass filter is proposed with hexagonal dumbbell shaped
defected ground structure in ground plane of a 50Ω microstrip line and a closed loop
resonator in the conducting strip. This arrangement provides better coupling in passband.
Using DGS structure forward transmission loss is-0.5dB and return loss is -26.7 dB at the
centre frequency 5.4 GHz with narrow bandwidth of 500 MHz A conventional parallel
coupled line bandpass filter has also been implemented with exactly same design goals for the
sake of comparison .The proposed bandpass filter with DGS is quite promising with 60% size
reduction.

 ZhiliLi ,Wen Shi ,Ye Yuvan, “A NOVEL COMPACTED MICROSTRIP BANDPASS

FILTER USING STEPPED IMPEDANCE RESONATOR (SIR)AND DEFECTED
GROUNDSTRUCTURE(DGS)”, IEEE
A compact dual - mode bandstop filter realized using stepped impedance resonator (SIR)
and defected ground structure (DGS) with tuning range from 2.65GHzto 3.85GHz.The
proposed filter is composed of three resonators, a folded half wavelength SIR resonator and a
T-types tub-loaded resonator on the top layer and a defected ground structure (DGS)is used
for its property of miniaturizing the size of microwave filter and also improving the mutual
coupling between resonators. The filter gives an insertion loss of -0.46 dB, return loss of 27.5
dB and dielectric constant of 2.2.
 K.G.Avinash, I.Srinivasa Rao, “DESIGN OF MICROSTRIP NARROW BAND FILTER
USING A STAR SHAPED DEFECTED GROUND STRUCTURE”, IEEE

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 A bandpass filter using a new star shaped defected ground structure (DGS) is proposed. It
consists of two coupled star shaped slots with small opening etched etched on the ground
plane and is fed by ‘T’ shaped microstrip feed lines on the top of the microstrip .This
prototype filter simulates to an insertion loss of 1.1dB,return loss of 22dB,and narrow
fractional bandwidth (FBW) of12.55% centered at2.24GHz.

 SherifHekal, Adel – Rahman, HongtingJia, “COMPACT WIRELESS POWER

TRANSFER SYSTEM USING DEFECTED GROUND BANDSTOPFILTERS”, IEEE.
The stopband is created by etching a defected ground structure on the ground plane, and
the power is transferred through electromagnetic resonant coupling with the two BSF’s are
coupled back to back. The proposed system achieves a measured WPT efficiency of 68.5% at
a transmission distance of 50mm.This results in a figure of merit of 0.856 and the ratio of
transmission distance/ lateral size is 1.25 that is the highest among the WPT systems proposed
so far using planar structures.

 X. Jin, Z.-H. Zhang, L.Wang and B.-R.Guan, “COMPACT DUAL-BAND BANDPASS

FILTER USING SINGLE MEANDER MULTIMODE DGS RESONATOR”, IEEE.
A novel dual-band Bandpass Filter (BPF) with a dual –plane structure is proposed. The
dual-plane structure consists of a pair of microstrip feed lines with capacitive source-load
coupling on the top layer and a meander defected ground structure resonator (MMDGSR) on
the bottom layer. Using the intrinsic characteristics of the MMDGSR ,two passbands and four
transmission zeros can be generated simultaneously .Two passbands operating
at2.58/5.86GHz,with a fractional bandwidth of 12.8/14.7%and a minimal insertion loss of
1.1/1.0 are achieved.

 G.-L.Wu, W.Mu, X.-W.Du and Y.-C.Jiao, “DESIGN OF NOVEL DUAL-BAND

BANDPASS FILTER WITH MICROSTRIP MEANDER-LOOP RESONATOR AND
CSRRDGS”, IEEE.
A novel dual band bandpass filter with meander -loop resonator and complement split-ring
resonator (CSRR) defected ground structure (DGS) is proposed .Microstrip meander -loop
resonator and CRSS DGS are operated for respective passbands. Several finite attenuation
poles in stopbands are used to improve the selectivity of the proposed bandpass filter and

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 isolation between the two passbands of frequency 1.55 and 2.68GHz.The Insertion loss in
passband is mainly due to conductor loss of the meander loop resonators.

2.7 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

To design a Compact octo-mode band pass filter using DGS configuration. The above filter is
simulated, fabricated, measured and their performances are compared.

2.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE PROJECT

Chapter 1: Deals with the introduction of the project. It mainly comprises of Wireless services
and satellite bands.
Chapter 2: Deals with Introduction to microstrip and DGS, Literature Survey.
Chapter 3: Deals with Existing Model of compact Quad- Mode BPF with DGS Resonator.
Chapter 4: Deals with the proposed model of Compact Octo-Mode BPF with DGS resonator.
Chapter 5: Deals with the Conclusion and Future work of the proposed OMBPFR.

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