volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

A novel balanced bandpass reconfigurable microstrip filter is presented, where in differential mode, the filter operates in seven different bands, and each inductor LM represents a state of frequency. The common mode rejection ration (CMRR) is better than 30 dB for all the states. The central frequency of the filter is changed by liquid metal droplets flowing along a microfluidic channel placed at the middle of the inductors LM. For demonstration, a third-order filter is designed, simulated, and fabricated, operating in the S-band. Good agreement between simulation and measurement is presented.

1. Rais-Zadeh, M., J. T. Fox, D. D. Wentzloff, and Y. B. Gianchandani, "Reconfigurable radios: A possible solution to reduce entry costs in wireless phones," Proc. IEEE, Vol. 103, No. 3, 438-451, 2015.
doi:10.1109/JPROC.2015.2396903 Google Scholar

2. Zhang, S. X., Z. H. Chen, and Q. X. Chu, "Compact tunable balanced bandpass filter with novel multi-mode resonator," IEEE Microw. Wirel. Components Lett., Vol. 27, No. 1, 43-45, 2017.
doi:10.1109/LMWC.2016.2629965 Google Scholar

3. Deng, H. W., L. Sun, F. Liu, Y. F. Xue, and T. Xu, "Compact tunable balanced bandpass filter with constant bandwidth based on magnetically coupled resonators," IEEE Microw. Wirel. Components Lett., Vol. 29, No. 4, 264-266, 2019.
doi:10.1109/LMWC.2019.2902328 Google Scholar

4. Rebeiz, G. M., K. Entesari, I. C. Reines, S.-J. Park, M. A. El-Tanani, A. Grichener, and A. R. Brown, "Tuning into RF MEMS," IEEE Microwave Magazine, Vol. 10, No. 6, 55-72, Oct. 2009.
doi:10.1109/MMM.2009.933592 Google Scholar

5. Amir, S., M. Dousti, and K.Mafinezhad, "A novel analytical technique to design a tunable bandpass filter with constant bandwidth," International Journal of Electronics and Communications (AEU), Vol. 70, 1433-1442, 2016. Google Scholar

6. Dang, J. H., R. C. Gough, A. M. Morishita, A. T. Ohta, and W. A. Shiroma, "Liquid-metal-based reconfigurable components for RF front ends," IEEE Potentials, Vol. 34, No. 4, 24-30, 2015.
doi:10.1109/MPOT.2014.2360938 Google Scholar

7. Liu, T., P. Sen, and C. J. Kim, "Characterization of nontoxic liquid-metal alloy galinstan for applications in microdevices," J. Microelectromechanical Syst., Vol. 21, No. 2, 443-450, 2012.
doi:10.1109/JMEMS.2011.2174421 Google Scholar

8. Guo, S., B. J. Lei, W. Hu, W. A. Shiroma, and A. T. Ohta, "A tunable low-pass filter using a liquid-metal reconfigurable periodic defected ground structure," IEEE MTT-S Int. Microw. Symp. Dig., 1-3, 2012. Google Scholar

9. Mumcu, G., A. Dey, and T. Palomo, "Frequency-agile bandpass filters using liquid metal tunable broadside coupled split ring resonators," IEEE Microw. Wirel. Components Lett., Vol. 23, No. 4, 187-189, 2013.
doi:10.1109/LMWC.2013.2247750 Google Scholar

10. Pourghorban Saghati, A., J. S. Batra, J. Kameoka, and K. Entesari, "A miniaturized microfluidically reconfigurable coplanar waveguide bandpass filter with maximum power handling of 10 Watts," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., Vol. 63, No. 8, 2515-2525, 2015.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2015.2446477 Google Scholar

11. McClung, S. N., S. Saeedi, and H. H. Sigmarsson, "Band-reconfigurable filter with liquid metal actuation," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., Vol. 66, No. 6, 3073-3080, 2018.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2018.2823307 Google Scholar

12. Park, E. and S. Lim, "Microfluidic dual-band bandpass filter," 2017 IEEE Asia Pacific Microwave Conference (APMC), 762-764, 2017.
doi:10.1109/APMC.2017.8251559 Google Scholar

13. Kaur, T. K., L. Osorio, J. L. Olvera Cervantes, J. R. Reyes-Ayona, and A. Corona-Chavez, "Microfluidic reconfigurable filter based on ring resonators," Progress In Electromagnetics Research Letters, Vol. 79, 59-63, 2018. Google Scholar

14. Zhou, W. J. and J. X. Chen, "Novel microfluidically tunable bandpass filter with precisely-controlled passband frequency," Electron. Lett., Vol. 52, No. 14, 1235-1236, 2016.
doi:10.1049/el.2016.1298 Google Scholar

15. Zhou, W. J., H. Tang, and J. X. Chen, "Novel microfluidically tunable differential dual-mode patch filter," IEEE Microw. Wirel. Components Lett., Vol. 27, No. 5, 461-463, 2017.
doi:10.1109/LMWC.2017.2690874 Google Scholar

16. Arbelaez-Nieto, A., E. Cruz-Perez, J. L. Olvera-Cervantes, A. Corona-Chavez, and H. Lobato-Morales, "The perfect balanced — A design procedure for balanced bandpass filters [Applications Notes]," IEEE Microwave Magazine, Vol. 16, No. 10, 54-65, Nov. 2015.
doi:10.1109/MMM.2015.2465712 Google Scholar

17. Arbelaez-Nieto, A., J. L. Olvera-Cervantes, C. E. Saavedra, and A. Corona-Chavez, "Balanced liquid metal reconfigurable microstrip filter," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 31, No. 14, 1453-1466, 2017.
doi:10.1080/09205071.2017.1351402 Google Scholar

18. Pozar, D. M., Microwave Engineering, 4th Ed., Vol. I, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2012.

19. Hong, J.-S. and M. J. Lancaster, Microstrip Filters for RF/Microwave Applications, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2001.
doi:10.1002/0471221619

20. Wu, C. H., C. H. Wang, and C. H. Chen, "Novel balanced coupled-line bandpass filters with common-mode noise suppression," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., Vol. 55, No. 2, 287-294, 2007.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2006.889147 Google Scholar

21. Struck, C. J., "Group delay," Comput. Sci. Commun. Dict., 697-697, 2000. Google Scholar

Dr. Miguel-Antonio Romero-Ramirez

Dr. Jose Luis Olvera Cervantes

Dr. Tejinder Kaur Kataria

Dr. Alonso Corona-Chavez