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A Review on Filter-Antennas

Article  in  Applied Mechanics and Materials · February 2015

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.735.289

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Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 735 (2015) pp 289-293 Submitted: 2014-07-31
© (2015) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Revised: 2014-11-26
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.735.289 Accepted: 2014-12-01
Online: 2015-02-25

A Review on Filter-Antennas

Ali Nyangwarimam Obadiah1,a, Mohamad Rijal Hamid1,b,

Mohamad Kamal Abd. Rahim1.c, Noor Asniza Murad1.d

1
Communication Engineering Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
a
baruch2011@yahoo.com, brijal@fke.utm.my, cmkamal@fke.utm.my, dasniza@fke.utm.my

Keywords: Filtenna; Skirt selectivity; Bandpass filter; Radio Frequency front end.
Abstract. A review on the recent advancements made on filtennas are presented in this paper. RF
fronts ends continue to generate a lot of research attention in communication systems due to the
effect it has on the overall bit error rate and SNR. Issues such as compactness, interference and
noise are addressed by embedding the bandpass filter into the antenna to form a filtenna. Designing
a filtering antenna has its own challenges also. Various techniques (synthesis approach, T shaped
resonator or slots.) are being used to design filtennas in order to achieve “weak coupling between
the feed and the radiating structure” hence yielding better selectivity. The filter-antenna gain results
compared to that of the conventional antennas show better rejection of the out of band gain. This
helps reduce interference with adjacent frequency band. This paper presents a review of the
techniques, challenges faced and potential research trend in filtering antennas.

Introduction

The last decade has experienced an unprecedented improvement in wireless and

communication services, devices and equipment. Substantial amounts of research work are being
embarked upon with the aim of providing a more effective and efficient services to the end users.
These efforts include the introduction of standards such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), Wi-Fi, and
WiMAX; which offer better bit rate and quality of service. On the other hand the optimization of
RF receiver front ends has continuously generated much research interest. All these have been with
the aim of improving wireless communication services.
Multifunctional antennas such as reconfigurable antennas and filtering antennas are being
looked into lately due to the benefit they possess in terms of reduced overall size, cost and
complexity. The RF receiving front end is made up of various components which include the
antenna, band pass filter, low noise amplifiers, and down mixers. RF front end performance affects
the overall communication system in terms of the possible bit error rate and SNR. Concerted efforts
are being made to further improve upon the RF receiving front ends in terms of its complexity, size,
cost and losses. These losses (transition loss, insertion loss and external noise) occur between the
filter and the antenna which further degrades the system performance.These losses have however
become the main point of concern to researchers. A viable approach has been to integrate the
antenna and the filter into one single structure known as a filtenna (filter-antenna) so as to improve
the system performance, however quite a few bottle necks have been faced with this concept over
the years [1-2].
This paper presents a review on the recent advances made on filtering antennas. The paper
provides a comparative study on the various methods used to achieve filtennas, their benefits and
challenges as well as the trade-offs brought about by this integration. The paper also identifies
potential areas of optimization [3-10].

Design concepts and Issues

While the antenna is responsible for the transmission and reception of signals, the role of the
band pass filter is to select the needed signals in the operating band while rejecting the other signals.

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290 Technology and Engineering Reviews and Research Advances I

The need for a reduction in system size, cost and complexity has necessitated the integration of the
filter and antenna into a single structure in order to perform both radiation and filtering
purposes.The filtenna brings aboutvarious benefits which include
1. Reduction of the signal transmission path
2. Elimination of additional losses along the antenna and filter transmission line
3. Elimination of interference between filter and antenna.
4. Reduction in system size, complexity and cost.
However these benefits are not easy to achieve. The implementation and design of a filtering
antenna comes with some trade-offs in terms of size, complexity and performance. This has been
addressed through various designs in literature. In designing a good filtering antenna, the filtenna
structure must retain both a good antenna operation (in terms of the radiation pattern, directivity,
polarization) and good filter performance (i.e. High selectivity, good out-of-band rejection with fast
roll off). There must also be a reliable isolation between the radiating and filter parts on the
structure [1].From the previousworks done, achieving the filtering antenna is done by basically by
either mounting the filter directly on the feed line or using filter synthesis technique.
Mounting the filter on the feed line involves designing a filter which has good skirt selectivity
and ensuring it is properly matched to the antenna during integration. While filter synthesis still
involves integration of a filter on the feed line but often through indirect coupling in order to yield
good skirt selectivity [7-8].
Filtering antenna Analysis

For the purpose of this review, the implementation of the filter-antenna finds its relevance under
two broad categories which are important for modern wireless communication systems. The two (2)
categories are wide band to narrow band filtennas and fixed narrowband filtennas.
Wideband to narrowband filtenna. A Wideband to narrowband filtenna is shown in [3]. A
filter is embedded on a wideband antenna in order to obtain a narrower frequency band tuneable by
a varactor. This reconfigurable filtenna is a better approach for achieving reconfiguration as
compared with the conventional method which requires the presence of biasing lines. Biasing lines
affect the radiation pattern of the antenna. Hence [3], shows a method of wideband to narrowband
reconfiguration, which does not affect the radiation pattern. Filtenna design goes beyond the
combination of a filter and antenna. The filter characteristics are quite important in a filtenna
structure. If the wideband to narrowband filtenna is to perform the function of a filtenna which
eliminates the need for Bandpass filter, then it must also be concerned about the gain performance.
Wideband to narrowband filtenna designs thus need to put into cognisance the gain performance.
This kind of filtenna finds its application in cognitive and software defined radios.

Figure 1- S11 performance of filtenna [3]

 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 735 291

In [4], a T shaped slot which has a bandpass filter response characteristics is placed at the
feed alongside horizontal slots adjacent to the T shaped slot. The coupling between this slot lines
gives a filter response. Copper tapes are used across the slots to yield various operating frequencies
based on their various ON or OFF states as seen in figure 2.

Figure 2- Structure of filtenna [4]

Narrowband filtenna. The narrowband filtenna being designed in most literatures are fixed
at a specific frequency. Their main performance measurement criterion is theirbroadband gain.In
[5], the T shaped slot is used as a resonatorwithfilter response at the feed of a U shaped microstrip
antenna structure. The antenna yields a quasi-ellipticalgain response. Thisdesign is relatively
compact in size and has animprovedselectivity as comparedwith the conventionaldesign. Its flat
pass band and steepskirt selectivityhaving a fast roll off at the edge of the broadbandgainmakesit
stand out.A T shaped slot is alsoused at the feed line of the circular radiatingpatch in [6] which
gives similar performances as in [5].

Figure 3- S11 and broadband gain performance of filtenna [5]

The synthesis approach is used to implement the third order filter design structure. In [7], a
three pole filtenna is presented. The design uses the synthesis approach and includes square open
loop resonators, a coupled line as well as a г shaped patch antenna acting as the third resonator of
the filter as seen in figure 5. The response of this filtenna is such that it does not seriously degrade
the filter or antenna properties.
The fixed narrowband filtenna has various advantages amongst which include; the steep
skirt selectivity of gain performance thus eliminating the need for bandpass filter. The gain is
characterised by flat in-band gain which results in uniform antenna characteristics. However,the
concerns arising from this design is the reduction of gain as skirt selectivity is improved upon.
292 Technology and Engineering Reviews and Research Advances I

Filtennas are useful as they yield a narrower bandwidth needed in certain applications. Furthermore
most currently designed narrowband filtennas do not portray modern communication system trends
such as reconfigurability of narrowband to make it operates in more than one frequency. Table 1
gives a brief summary on filtering antenna designs and issues that need to be addressed in the filter-
antenna designs.

Figure 4- S11 and broadband gain performance of filtenna [6]

Figure 5- Filtenna structure using filter synthesis technique [7]

Table 1- A review summary on filter-antennas.
Filtenna Operating Characteristics Limitation Method
Descrip- frequency employed
tion
[3] Wideband 6 – 7 Use of varactor diode to tune from Selectivity of Use of slot on
GHz wideband to various narrowband broadband gain not feedline
Narrow band – frequencies. Radiation pattern is taken into cognizance.
6.2, 6.3, 6.4 not affected due to the absence of
GHzetc biasing lines
[5] 5GHz Flat pass band gain, and quasi Difficult synthesis of T shaped slot
elliptic gain admittance resonator at
feedline
[6] 5.75GHz Higher suppression of gain in stop Reduction in peak gain T shaped slot
band by 0.14dB resonator at
feedline
[8] 2GHz Good gain response and well Slight reduction of in- Hairpin resonators
shaped radiation pattern band gain and presence
of ripples
[9] 2.4 and 5.2GHz Ability to control bandwidth and Broadband gain of the Filter synthesis
good gain performance for WLAN filtering antenna not approach
taken into cognizance
after integration of the
filter and antenna.

Table 1 presents the limitations encountered in various filter-antenna designs. These

limitations include the presence of ripples in broadband gain, slight reduction in gain as selectivity
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 735 293

of the filtenna is improved. All these shortcomings are experienced in most designs. Hence, they
need to be tackled in upcoming researches in other to make the filter-antenna function optimally.

Conclusion

A Review on the recent advances made in filtering antennas have been presented in this
paper. Various methods used in antenna and filter integration are shown. A lot of challenges arises
from this integration in matching the antenna and filter properly. The classification of filtennas into
wideband to narrowband filtenna and fixed narrowband filtenna depicts some key issues arising
from filtenna design. The wideband to narrowband filtenna need to be more concerned with the
broadband gain performance. Therefore it could fulfil its function as a filtenna beyond just
achieving reconfigurability.
The filter antenna still has various limitations amongst which is the presence of gain ripples,
skirt selectivity roll off deficiencies and decrease in peak gain. These limitations are the main
research focus these days. Filtenna design needs to fully overcome these challenges. Currently
filtering antennas are being designed at fixed frequency, which does not depict modern day
communication systems. As research trends move towards multifunctional antennas. The design of
filtennas to suit modern communication system realities is necessary.

Acknowledgment

The authors appreciate the support of the sponsors with Project No Q.J.130000.2523.04H83.

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 Technology and Engineering Reviews and Research Advances I
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A Review on Filter-Antennas
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.735.289

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