Proceedings of the 48th European Microwave Conference

Application of a Series Open Circuit Stub Transform

to Bandpass Filter Design
J.A.G. Malherbe
Department of Electrical, electronic and Computer Engineering
University of Pretoria, South Africa
jagm@up.ac.za

Abstract — A bandpass filter design is proposed that is based transform has only limited use in the realization of filters from
on a transmission line transform that transforms an open circuit lumped element prototypes, because of the series element that
series stub to a short circuited shunt stub. The transform was presents a difficulty in planar realization. The new bandpass
originally proposed for the design of pseudo-highpass filters, and transform [3] is shown in Fig.2 where a u.e. is transformed
is exact only at the band-edge frequency of the design. In this
over a series capacitor; however, the u.e. has a length of λ0/4,
paper the transform is applied to the design of bandpass filters
that is based on the classic redundant filter design, but with the while the reactive elements are of lengths of λ0/8.
application of the new transform.
Keywords — Microwave filters, bandpass filter design, C = 1/Z2, λ0/4 C = 1/(n2Z2), λ0/4
network transforms, series open circuit stubs. 1:n2
n2Z
I. INTRODUCTION ZA A
λ0/4 λ0/4
Bandpass filters find wide application in microwave
circuits. In this paper, the design of a class of bandpass filter
n2 = Z2/Z1 + 1
is described that is ideally suited to planar realization. In
classic exact filter design, the designs are based on the Fig. 1. Second Kuroda identity; transformation of a u.e. over a series
insertion loss method. The Kuroda transforms [1] are applied capacitor.
to transform sections of quarter-wave transmission line (unit
elements) over distributed reactive elements that have been C = 1/ZC, λ0/8 L = n2Z0, λ0/8
obtained from lumped element prototypes by means of ZU =
Richards’ transform [2]. Z0 n2ZC
This redundant synthesis procedure works extremely well λ0/4 λ0/4
for bandstop filters, as distributed series inductors transform to n2 = Z0/ZC
shunt distributed capacitors and vice versa. In the process,
series elements are eliminated. However, transformed lumped Fig. 2. Bandpass transform for a u.e. and series capacitor.
element prototypes cannot be used in the case of bandpass The cascade matrix of the L.H. circuit in Fig. 2 is
filters, as the Kuroda transforms over series capacitors yield compared to that of the R.H. circuit cascade matrix, and the
once again series capacitors, and transforms over shunt cascade matrices are equated at f0, where
inductors yield shunt inductors. Only in singular cases can
useful networks be realized, except for narrowband-bandpass l2 = λ0/4, or Ω2 = tan(π/2) = ∞
designs where coupled lines are employed. l1 = λ0/8, or Ω1 = tan(π/4) = 1,
In order to realize distributed pseudo-highpass filters, a
to give, for the transform from series C to shunt L, [3]
novel approach to a network transform has been proposed [3].
Rather than employ commensurate line networks where all n2 = Z0/ZC (1)
lines have a length of λ0/4, transmission lines of length λ0/4 L = n2Z0 = Z02/ZC (2)
are transformed over distributed prototypes with elements of ZU = n2ZC = Z0. (3)
length λ0/8. The resultant transform is exact at only one Note that the transform is only completely valid at a single
frequency, but succeeds in transforming distributed series frequency, f0.
capacitors to distributed shunt inductors, spaced by a unit
element. The transform is briefly discussed below. III. APPLICATION TO FILTER DESIGN: THIRD ORDER
II. BANDPASS TRANSFORM This transform is now applied to a third order Butterworth
lumped element prototype, as shown in Fig. 3. While the
Fig. 1 shows the second Kuroda identity [1], in which a
derivation in [3] was for lines of λ0/4, and reactive elements of
unit element (u.e.) is transformed over a series capacitor. The

978-2-87487-051-4 © 2018 EuMA 368 25–27 Sept 2018, Madrid, Spain

λ0/8, there is no reason why the line lengths cannot be f3 fA
redefined to be λ0/2 and λ0/4, respectively. 0
It is noted that the transform has a peculiar property, in that
the unit elements that result from the transform are equal to Amax
-10
the starting values.
C1 C3 S21

S11 and S21 dB

-20
Z0 S11
Z0

-30
L2
(a)
L1 -40
L2 L3

Z0 Z0
-50
0 f0
Normalized Frequency
(a)
(b)
rd
Fig. 3. Prototype 3 order filter prototype and unit elements, (a). Resultant f3 fA
circuit after employing the bandpass transform (b). 0

If Z0 = Z0′ = 50 Ω, the frequency response shown in

BA
Fig. 4(a) is obtained for Ωc = 1 (the unmodified case). -10
However, if Z0 is adjusted to Z0 = 66.7, equal passband ripples
S11 and S21 dB

result; the response of Fig. 4(b) is obtained (the modified case). S21
The performance of the resultant filter is described by the -20
S11
key parameters,
Amax
Ωc = tan = Distributed parameter cutoff frequency, -30

f0 = filter centre frequency,

f3 = −3 dB frequency, -40
B3 = −3 dB bandwidth (%),
Amax = the passband ripple level,
fA = lower passband edge frequency, -50
BA = maximum ripple level passband (%). 0 f0
Normalized Frequency
Note that B3 would represent the way in which the
passband of a Butterworth filter is defined, while BA is more (b)
equivalent to that of a Chebyshev response; all the frequencies Fig. 4. Transmission and Reflection responses of transformed (a) and
are normalized to a centre frequency of f0 = 1. modified transformed (b) bandpass filters.
Table 1 shows the key parameters for the example based
on the 3rd order bandpass prototype and the bandpass
transform of [3]; the element values are shown in Table 2.
Table 1. Key Parameters for 3rd order filter.
Filter Ωc f3 B3 Amax fA BA
Unmodified 1.00 0.500 100.0 −10.5 0.575 85.0
Modified 1.00 0.521 95.8 −29.1 0.649 70.2

Table 2. Element values for 3rd order filter (Ω)

Filter Z0 Z1 = Z3 Z2 Fig. 5. Sonnet layout of filter.
Unmodified 50.0 50.0 25.0
Modified 66.7 66.7 33.4 IV. APPLICATION TO FILTER DESIGN: HIGHER ORDERS
The inverse of the bandpass transform is shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 5 shows the layout for a full-wave analysis in The relationships are given by
SONNET. The full-wave analysis is compared to the
ZC = Z02/ZL (4)
theoretical calculation in Fig. 6.
ZU = Z0 (5)

369
 0
From Fig. 9(b) to Fig. 9(c), unit elements are transformed
over C1, C2, and C4, C5, to yield inductors ZLi = Z02/ZCi,
-10
i = 1,2,4,5.
This process is not limited to filter order. In the examples,
S11 and S21 dB

S21 odd orders have been shown, but there is no reason why even
-20 or higher orders cannot be used.
S11
C2 C4
-30
50 Ω Z0 Z0 Z0 Z0 50 Ω

L1 L3 L5
-40
(a)

C1 C2 C4 C5
-50
0 f0 50 Ω Z0 Z0 Z0 Z0 50 Ω
Normalized Frequency
L3
(b)
Fig. 6. Comparison of full-wave analysis (solid lines) to calculated response
(dashed lines).

L, λ0/4 C = 1/ZC, λ0/4 50 Ω Z0 Z0 Z0 Z0 50 Ω

ZU = L1 L2 L3 L4 L5
Z0 n2ZC
(c)
λ0/2 = Z0
λ0/2
n2 = Z0/ZC Fig. 9. Transformation of a 5th order filter prototype.

Fig. 7. Inverse of the bandpass transform: u.e. over a shunt inductor. B. Fifth Order Butterworth Example.
As an example, a 5th order Butterworth filter is designed,
Apart from the fact that all unit elements remain the same, using the procedure outlined above. Key parameters for
transforming a u.e. of Z0 twice over a series capacitor yields Z0 = 50 Ω, Ωc = 1 are shown in Table 3, and element values in
another series capacitor of the same value, as illustrated in Table 4. The corresponding frequency response is shown in
Fig. 8; it can be shown that the same holds for shunt inductors. Fig. 10(a). Z0 was then modified to give the response shown in
These latter properties have twofold advantages. Firstly, it Fig. 10(b); key parameters are given in Table 3, and element
ensures that the transforms do not result in ever increasing values in Table 4.
extremities of levels of impedance, making them applicable
over a wide range of bandwidths. Secondly, transforms can Table 3. Key Parameters for 5th order filters.
virtually be performed by inspection. Filter Ωc f3 B3 Amax fA BA
Unmodified 1.00 0.536 92.9 −10.5 0.575 85.0
C = 1/ZC L = Z02/ZC ZC = Z02/ZL = ZC Modified 1.00 0.506 98.8 −19.7 0.544 91.2

Z0 Z0 Z0 Z0 Z0 Z0 Table 4. Element values for 5th order filters (Ω)

Filter Z0 Z1 = Z5 Z2 = Z4 Z3
n2 = Z0/ZC n2 = Z0/ZC Unmodified 50.0 80.9 30.9 25.0
Modified 61.7 99.8 38.1 30.85
Fig. 8. Transformation of two u.e.’s over a series capacitor.
The unmodified response in Fig. 10(a) shows a “shoulder”
A. Fifth Order Network in the return loss before the first reflection zero. This is a
Fig. 9 shows a 5th order distributed element prototype vestigial ripple; as Z0 is increased, a reflection zero appears,
which has been scaled to Z0 and Ωc, embedded in a 50 Ω and a new ripple is formed. At the same time the second and
system, with u.e.’s of Z0 to be transformed into the circuit third ripples (and fourth and fifth) begin to merge into the
from each terminal. form seen in Fig. 10(b). Further increase in Z0 causes the
From Fig. 9(a) to Fig. 9(b), one unit element of Z0 is outside ripple levels to increase rapidly, while the large inside
transformed over the extreme inductors, to yield the element ripples split again. But the best passband match is achieved
values ZC1 = Z02/ZL1 = ZC5. for the case shown in Fig. 10(b).

370
 f3 A. Butterworth Third order.
0
The limiting values for 3rd order Butterworth designs are
given in Table 5.
-10 Table 5. Limiting bandwidths for Butterworth 3rd order.
B Ωc BA % Amax dB Limitation
S11 and S21 dB

S21 Max 0.3 99.8 −34.7 Z1 = 185 Ω

-20
S11 Min 6.0 36.3 −25.0 Z2 = 10 Ω
B. Chebyshev Third Order, 0.1 dB Ripple.
-30
The realizability of filters based on a Chebyshev prototype,
is much more limited than for the Butterworth case, as shown
-40 in Table 6.
Table 6. Limiting bandwidths for Chebyshev 3rd order, 0.1 dB ripple.
B Ωc BA % Amax dB Limitation
-50
Max 0.25 127.0 −17.9 Z1 = 163 Ω
0 f0
Min 1.0 104.6 −10.0 Amax =10 dB
Normalized Frequency
(a)
C. Butterworth Fifth Order

f3 fA The limits of realizability for 5th order Butterworth

0 prototypes are given in Table 7.
Table 7. Limiting bandwidths for Butterworth 5th order.
B Ωc BA % Amax dB Limitation
-10 Max 0.5 108.4 −22.2 Z1 = 170 Ω
S11 and S21 dB

Min 5.0 50.0 −15.9 Z3 = 10 Ω

Amax S21
-20 D. Chebyshev Fifth Order, 0.1 dB Ripple.
As with the third order design, the 5th order filter based on
S11 a Chebyshev prototype, has a much more limited bandwidth of
-30
realizability, as shown in Table 8.
Table 8. Limiting bandwidths for Chebyshev 5th order, 0.1 dB ripple.
-40 B Ωc BA % Amax dB Limitation
Max 0.2 144.2 −10.0 Z1 = 170 Ω
Min 0.6 114.0 −10.5 Amax =10 dB
-50
0 f0
Normalized Frequency VI. CONCLUSION
(b)
It has been shown that the proposed bandpass transform [3]
can be successfully applied to bandpass filter design. All the
Fig. 10. Transmission and Reflection responses of transformed (a) and
modified transformed (b) 5th order bandpass filters. designs yield impedance levels that are readily realizable in
planar format, and the design procedure is extremely simple.
V. REALIZABILITY The full-wave analysis shows good agreement with the
theoretical calculations
A substantial number of designs were performed, in order
to establish the realizability of bandpass filters by this design REFERENCES
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pp. 217-220, Feb. 1948.
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realizable. Transmission lines with impedances below 20 Ω open circuit series stub to a short circuit shunt stub for the
become very wide, so the lower impedance limit is considered implementation of high-pass Butterworth filter,” Microw. Optical
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