DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION

Microstrip Stub filter simulation using ADS software

Submitted by

JATEEN RATHOD

1RV20EC078

ISHAN RAHMAN

1RV20EC074

Under the guidance of

Dr. Mahesh A,
Associate Professor

2023-2024
 Go, Change the World

RV COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING®
(Autonomous Institution Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND

COMMUNICATION

CERTIFICATE

Certified that the FCPS experiential work titled ‘Microstrip stub filter simulation on ADS
software’ is carried out by Jateen Rathod (1RV20EC078), Ishan Rahman (1RV20EC074)
in partial fulfilment for the requirement of degree of Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics
and Communication Engineering of the Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi
during the year 2023-2024.

Dr. Mahesh A,
Associate Professor,
Department of ECE
RVCE, Bengaluru
1. About the software
Advanced Design System (ADS) is an electronic design automation software system
produced by PathWave Design, a division of Keysight Technologies. It provides an
integrated design environment to designers of RF electronic products such as mobile
phones, pagers, wireless networks, satellite communications, radar systems, and high-
speed data links.

Keysight ADS supports every step of the design process — schematic capture, layout,
design rule checking, frequency-domain and time-domain circuit simulation, and
electromagnetic field simulation — allowing the engineer to fully characterize and
optimize an RF design without changing tools.

Keysight has donated copies of the ADS software to the electrical engineering
departments at many universities.

Figure 1 ADS software

2. Stubs

In microstrip filter design, a stub refers to a short length of transmission line that is
connected to the main transmission line. Stubs are used to create additional impedance
values at specific frequencies, allowing for the manipulation of the filter's frequency
response.

Microstrip stub filters typically consist of a main transmission line with one or more
stubs connected to it. These stubs can be open-circuited or short-circuited at one end,
depending on the desired filtering characteristics. By adjusting the length and
termination of the stub(s), designers can achieve various filtering functions such as
bandpass, bandstop, or other frequency-selective responses.
 Stubs in microstrip filters are important components for achieving desired filter
characteristics such as bandwidth, centre frequency, and stopband attenuation. They
provide additional degrees of freedom in the design process and can be tuned to meet
specific performance requirements.

3. Microstrip Stub filter

A microstrip stub filter is a type of microwave or RF filter that utilizes stubs (short
lengths of transmission lines) to achieve desired filtering characteristics. These filters
are commonly used in various applications such as wireless communication systems,
radar systems, and microwave circuits. Microstrip stub filters offer several advantages,
including compact size, low cost, and ease of fabrication.

Figure 2 Microstrip Stub filter

4. Working of Microstrip Stub Filter

 Configuration: A microstrip stub filter is usually constructed using a planar

transmission line structure, where the main transmission line is typically a
microstrip line (a type of transmission line fabricated on a printed circuit
board).

 Stub Placement: Stubs are short sections of the transmission line that are
connected to the main transmission line at specific points. These stubs can be
open-circuited or short-circuited, depending on the desired filtering response.

 Filtering Action: The stubs act as impedance discontinuities along the main
transmission line, causing reflections at certain frequencies. By appropriately
designing the lengths and positions of the stubs, it's possible to create a filter
 response that selectively attenuates or passes certain frequencies while
allowing others to pass through relatively unaffected.
 Design Flexibility: Microstrip stub filters offer flexibility in terms of design
parameters such as stub length, placement, and termination. This allows
engineers to tailor the filter's response to meet specific requirements such as
bandwidth, selectivity, and insertion loss.

5. Schematic

Figure 3 Schematic of Microstrip Stub Filter

The schematic above shows a microstrip stub filter. We have the transmission lines
depicted by TL1, TL6, TL7 and TL2. The Magic Tee are used to connect the
transmission lines with the stubs. The Magic Tee is shown by Tee1, Tee2 and Tee3.
The stubs are shown by TL3, TL5 and TL4. Various widths have been used as
parameters to make it easier to run the simulation for different widths. The
simulation runs from 1GHz to 15GHz in the steps of 0.01GHz. The substrate hasn’t
been added to this schematic and would be added in the later stage.

6. Layout
 Figure 4 Layout

Figure 5 3D View

7. Results

Figure 6 Magnitude and Phase of S(1,1)

 Figure 7 Magnitude and Phase of S(2,1)

The magnitude and the phase of the different S parameters can be plotted from the simulation
and the characteristics can be determined based on the trends in the graph.

8. Applications

Microwave stub filters find application in a wide range of RF and microwave systems
where selective frequency response or signal conditioning is required. Here are some
common uses:

Communication Systems: Microwave stub filters are extensively used in

communication systems such as cellular networks, satellite communication systems,
and wireless communication devices. They help in isolating or rejecting unwanted
frequency bands, reducing interference, and improving signal quality.

 Radar Systems: Radar systems utilize microwave stub filters for frequency
selection, rejection of unwanted frequencies (e.g., clutter), and noise reduction.
They help in enhancing the radar's ability to detect and track targets accurately
by filtering out undesired signals.

 Military and Defense: In military and defense applications, microwave stub

filters are employed in radar systems, communication systems, electronic
warfare systems, and missile guidance systems. They play a crucial role in
ensuring secure and reliable communication, target detection, and threat
identification.
 Broadcasting: Microwave stub filters are used in broadcasting systems such
as television and radio transmission to remove unwanted interference and noise
from the transmitted signals, ensuring high-quality audio and video reception.

 Satellite Systems: Microwave stub filters are utilized in satellite

communication systems for frequency selection, interference rejection, and
noise reduction. They help in improving the reliability and performance of
satellite links by filtering out unwanted signals and noise.