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Wideband Microstrip Bandpass Filter Using

Coupled Line Method
Yogi Prasetio
Radio Telecommunication and Microwave Laboratory
School of Electrical Eng. And Informatics
Institut Teknologi Bandung
Bandung, Indonesia
prasetio@s.itb.ac.id
Achmad Munir
Radio Telecommunication and Microwave Laboratory
School of Electrical Eng. And Informatics
Institut Teknologi Bandung
Bandung, Indonesia
munir@ieee.org

AbstractA compact bandpass filter using coupled line
method is proposed in this paper. The filter is designed to
operate in wide bandwidth and center frequency 4 GHz.
The proposed filter has double coupled line which is an
improvement from previous single coupled line design. By
using double couple line, the bandwidth of the filter is
increased. The desired frequency response of the filter is
acquired by choosing dimension of microstrip from
simulation. The proposed filter is deployed on FR-4 Epoxy
substrate with relative permittivity of 4.4 and thickness
0.8 mm. The measured bandpass filter has less than 3 dB
insertion loss in bandwidth frequency.
KeywordsBandwidth, double coupled line, insertion loss,
return loss.

I. INTRODUCTION
Microwave filters with high performance and compact
size are highly demanded in many communication systems
[1]. Filter can be made by using lumped elements such as
capacitor and inductor. In high frequency, it isnt practical to
use lumped element for filter because distances between the
filter components need to be taken into account. Further,
discrete components at such frequencies may cease to operate
due to associated parasitic elements and need to be
approximated with distributed components [2]. High
frequency filters are usually made of microstrip, dielectric
resonator, or wave guide. The microstrip planar filters are still
drawing much attention due to the advantages of low cost and
easy fabrication [1].
Communication system with high data rate is forced to
use large bandwidth which can be obtained by using
wideband technology. Therefore, wideband filter is needed to
assist the system especially in signal processing function.
Coupled line is made when two unshielded transmission
lines are close together [3]. Because of its closeness, power
can be coupled between the lines due to the interaction of the
electromagnetic fields of each line. Coupled line method can
be used to create microstrip bandpass filter. A stub is added
between coupled line in [1]. The stub has function to achieve
the high rejection and wide bandwidth in stopband.
In this letter, a new coupled line is added to filter design
in [1]. By using 3D simulation software, the effects of
microstrips changed dimension to S
11
and S
12
responses are
observed. The final microstrips dimension is acquired by
selecting the dimension which has better frequency response
from simulation.

II. Filter Theory
A bandpass filter can be built from lowpass filter
prototype. To built a bandpass filter, first is to determine filter
bandwidth. Center frequency can be obtained from:

0
=

2
(1)
Order of filter is determined by using bandpass filter
transformation to normalized low-pass filter by using:

1

[
o
o
0

o
0
o
(2)
where
=
o
2
- o
1
o
0
(3)
Order of filter can be seen from attenuation vs frequency
of normalized low-pass filter.
Parallel coupled transmission line can be used to
construct many types of filters [3]. Wide bandwidth filter by
using coupled line require very tightly coupled line. Figure1
show a parallel coupled line microstrip model.

Figure1. Parallel coupled microstrip

III. FILTER SIMULATION
Filter design is shown in Figure1. Filter is deployed on
FR4 substrate with 0.8 mm thickness. Substrate is 11 mm
width and 32 mm length. Strip1 and Strip2 are not changed in
simulation. All microstrips are 0.035 mm thickness in
simulation. Filter is designed symmetrically making S
11
is
same as S
22
and S
12
is same as S
21
in simulation. Initial

dimension of each microstrip is as follow: Strip1 is 1.8 mm
length and 1.2 mm width, Strip2 is 2.7 mm length and 0.8 mm
width, Strip3 is 10.9 mm length and 0.3 mm widt
13.2 mm length and 0.2 mm width, stub is 2.5 mm length and
1.6 mm width, distance between Strip3 and Strip4 is 0.14
mm.
Figure2. Filter design
Initial S
11
and S
12
value can be seen in Figure2. From
simulation, it is obtained that microstrip Strip3, Strip4, and
stub changed dimensions have more effects on
Figure3. Initial value of S11 and S
Strip3s length is changed from 10.6 to 10.9 mm
produces in increase of S
11
from 5 GHz to 6 GHz when Strip3
is lengthened and when Strip3 is shortened,
from 2.75 GHz to 3.5 GHz. Strip3s width is changed from,
0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. When Strip3 is widened,
in 2.75 to 4.75 GHz and increased from 5 GHz to 5.5 GHz.
Figure4. S11 and S12 when Strip3s width is changed from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm
Stubs length is changed from 2.2 to 2.7 mm. When stub
is lengthened, S
11
is decreased from 5 GHz to 5.75 GHz and
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1 3 5
S
1
1
,

S
1
2
(
d
B
)
frequency (GHz)
S11
S12
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1 3 5
S
1
1
,

S
1
2
(
d
B
)
frequency (GHz)
S11 = 0.3 mm
S11 = 0.1 mm
S11 = 0.4 mm
S11 =0.5 mm
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dimension of each microstrip is as follow: Strip1 is 1.8 mm
2.7 mm length and 0.8 mm
width, Strip3 is 10.9 mm length and 0.3 mm width, Strip4 is
13.2 mm length and 0.2 mm width, stub is 2.5 mm length and
1.6 mm width, distance between Strip3 and Strip4 is 0.14

value can be seen in Figure2. From
simulation, it is obtained that microstrip Strip3, Strip4, and
stub changed dimensions have more effects on S
11
than S
12
.

S12
changed from 10.6 to 10.9 mm
from 5 GHz to 6 GHz when Strip3
is lengthened and when Strip3 is shortened, S
11
is increase
width is changed from,
0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. When Strip3 is widened, S
11
is decreased
reased from 5 GHz to 5.5 GHz.

changed from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm
length is changed from 2.2 to 2.7 mm. When stub
is decreased from 5 GHz to 5.75 GHz and
from 2.75 GHz to 5.75 GHz; while
GHz to 4.75 GHz. Stubs width is changed from 1.5 mm to
1.8 mm. When stub is widened,
to 5.75 GHz and 2.5 GHz to 3.25 GHz;
from 3.5 GHz to 4.75 GHz.
Figure5. S11 and S12 when stubs length
Strip4s length is changed from 12.5 mm to 13.3 mm.
When Strip4 is lengthened, S
11

GHz; while S
11
is decreased from 5.5 GHz to 6 GHz. Strip4 is
changed from 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm. When Strip4 is widened,
is increased from 2.5 GHz to 3.5 GHz and from 4.75 GHz to 6
GHz; while S
11
is decreased from 3.75 GHz to 4.5 GHz.
Figure6. S11 and S12 when Strip4s width is changed from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm
After microstrips changed dimension
obtained, further simulation is focused on stub changed
dimension, Strip3 changed dimension, and Strip4 width
changed. Final mictrostrips dimension is as follow: Strip1 is
1.8 mm length and 1.2 mm width, St
0.8 mm width, Strip3 is 10.6 mm length and 0.4 mm width,
Strip4 is 13.2 mm length and 0.3 mm width, stub is 2.7 mm
length and 1.5 mm width, distance between Strip3 and Strip4
is 0.16 mm. S
11
and S
12
responses are shown from Figure
7
7
S12 = 0.3 mm
S12 = 0.1 mm
S12 = 0.4 mm
S12 =0.5 mm
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1 3
S
1
1
,

S
1
2
(
d
B
)
frequency (GHz)
S11 = 2.5 mm
S11 = 2.2 mm
S11 = 2.4 mm
S11 = 2.7 mm
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1 3
S
1
1
,

S
1
2
(
d
B
)
freque
S11 = 0.2 mm
S11 = 0.3 mm
S11 = 0.4 mm
while S
11
is increased from 3.25
width is changed from 1.5 mm to
1.8 mm. When stub is widened, S
11
is decreased from 5 GHz
.75 GHz and 2.5 GHz to 3.25 GHz; while S
11
is increased

when stubs length is changed from 2.2 mm to 2.7 mm
length is changed from 12.5 mm to 13.3 mm.
is increased from 2.5 GHz to 3
is decreased from 5.5 GHz to 6 GHz. Strip4 is
m. When Strip4 is widened, S
11

is increased from 2.5 GHz to 3.5 GHz and from 4.75 GHz to 6
is decreased from 3.75 GHz to 4.5 GHz.

when Strip4s width is changed from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm
After microstrips changed dimension effects are
obtained, further simulation is focused on stub changed
dimension, Strip3 changed dimension, and Strip4 width
changed. Final mictrostrips dimension is as follow: Strip1 is
1.8 mm length and 1.2 mm width, Strip2 is 2.7 mm length and
0.8 mm width, Strip3 is 10.6 mm length and 0.4 mm width,
Strip4 is 13.2 mm length and 0.3 mm width, stub is 2.7 mm
length and 1.5 mm width, distance between Strip3 and Strip4
responses are shown from Figure3.
5 7
frequency (GHz)
S11 = 2.5 mm S12 = 2.5 mm
S11 = 2.2 mm S12 = 2.2 mm
S11 = 2.4 mm S12 = 2.4 mm
S11 = 2.7 mm S12 = 2.7 mm
5 7
quency (GHz)
S11 = 0.2 mm S12 = 0.2 mm
S11 = 0.3 mm S12 = 0.3 mm
S11 = 0.4 mm S12 = 0.4 mm
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Figure7. S11 and S12 responses of final microstrips dimension

IV. RESULT
Bandpass filter is implemented by using final microstrip
dimension. The implemented bandpass filter can be seen from
Figure4.

Figure8. Implemented filter (unit in cm)
The measured result and the simulated results are
compared in Figure5. Measurement result shown that filter
has 3.8 GHz bandwidth which is from 2.3 GHz to 6.1 GHz.
From simulation, its obtained that filter has 4.04 GHz
bandwidth which is from 2.14 GHz to 6.18 GHz. The
implemented filter has 0.24 GHz narrower bandwidth from
simulation result. Measured filter has return loss more than 10
dB and less than 3 dB insertion loss in bandwidth frequency.

Figure9. Comparison of simulated and implemented filter

V. CONCLUSION
In this letter, a novel bandpass filter by using coupled line
method is proposed and implemented. The filter has coupled
line in both side of the feed line. By using coupled line on
both side of the feed line, more power is transmitted to filter
end which result in increased of filter bandwidth. The
fabricated filter has 3.8 GHz bandwidth with more than 10 dB
return loss and less than 3 dB insertion loss in bandwidth
frequency.

REFERENCES
[1] Ma, K., Boon Liang, K.C, Jayasuriya, R.M., dan Seng Yeo, K., "A
Wideband and High Rejection Multimode Bandpass Filter Using Stub
Pertubation," IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, vol.
19, no. 1, Jan. 2009.
[2] Misra, D.K., Radio-Frequency and Microwave Communication Circuits
Analysis and Design, John Wiley & Sons inc, 2003.
[3] Pozar, D. M., Microwave Engineering, John Wiley & Sons inc, 1998.
[4] Alaydrus, M., "Designing Microstrip Bandpass Filter at 3.2 GHz,"
International Journal on Electrical Engineering and Informatics, vol.2,
no. 2, 2010.
[5] Yang, G.M., Jin, R., Victoria, C., Harris, V.G., Sun, N.X., "Small Ultra-
Wideband (UWB) Bandpass Filter With Notched Band," IEEE
Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, vol. 18, no. 3, Mar 2008.
[6] Sadiku, A., Fundamental of Electric Circcuits, McGraw-Hill, 2008.

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S
1
1
,

S
1
2
(
d
B
)
frequency (GHz)
S11
S12
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0
1 3 5 7
S
1
1
,

S
2
1
(
d
B
)
frequency (GHz)
S11 simulated S21 simulated
S11 measured S21 measured