A Coupled Line Impedance Transformer for High Termination Impedance with a Bandpass Filtering Response

Article information

J. Electromagn. Eng. Sci. 2018;18(1):41-45
Publication date (electronic) : 2018 January 31
doi : https://doi.org/10.26866/jees.2018.18.1.41
Division of Electronics and Information Engineering, IT Convergence Research Center, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea
*Corresponding Author: Yongchae Jeong (e-mail: ycjeong@jbnu.ac.kr)
Received 2017 July 5; Revised 2017 September 26; Accepted 2017 December 24.

Abstract

In this study, a short-ended coupled line with a short-circuit stub transmission line bandpass filtering impedance transformer is presented. The general designed equations are derived on the basis of circuit theory. The design curves are provided to examine the characteristic of the proposed impedance transformer. The proposed circuit is suitable for high termination impedance. To validate the design formulas, a 400–50 Ω impedance transformer is designed and fabricated at the operating center frequency (f0) of 2.6 GHz. The measured results show a good agreement with the simulation. The measured insertion and return losses are 0.6 dB and 22.5 dB at f0, respectively. The measured return loss is higher than 20 dB within the passband frequency of 2.51–2.7 GHz. Moreover, the stopband attenuation is higher than 25 dB from DC to 1.64 GHz of the lower stopband and from 3.12 GHz to 6.4 GHz of the higher stopband.

I. Introduction

The bandpass filtering impedance transformer (IT) is rapidly developing in modern communication systems. This IT is increasingly becoming necessary in many applications, such as power dividers [1], antenna feeding lines [2], and amplifier design [3]. Indeed, a conventional quarter-wavelength transformer is a well-known IT [4], but this network has some limitations, such as difficulty in the realization of a high impedance transforming ratio and poor out-of-band suppression. In recent years, various structures of filtering IT have been proposed [511]. A mixed lumped and distributed IT with low-pass filtering response is designed in [5]. However, the shunt capacitors can produce a self-resonance frequency, which introduces additional parasitic effects at high frequency. Wideband ITs are proposed using an open-circuit parallel-coupled line with an interconnecting transmission line (TL) [6] and a multiple-section stepped-impedance TL with input/output couplings [7]. However, their impedance transforming ratio is low. In [8], an open-circuit stub coupled-line IT with a bandpass filtering response is designed to transform 20 Ω to 50 Ω. In [9], a bandpass response coupled-line IT with an ultra-high impedance transforming ratio is presented by using two-section open-ended coupled lines. This IT is applicable to low termination impedance. Therefore, a short-ended coupled-line IT with an ultra-high impedance transforming ratio is proposed [10] for high load termination impedance. High selectivity is obtained by increasing the number of stages, but the insertion loss is degraded. Moreover, the stopband characteristic is limited. In [11], a bandpass filtering IT is designed with a section of open-ended coupled lines and an open-circuit stub TL. The transformer is valid for low termination impedances at the source and/or load terminals.

In this study, an IT with a short-circuit stub parallel-coupled line and a TL with a bandpass filtering response is presented. The proposed network can be applied to high load termination impedance. A short-circuit stub TL can produce several transmission zeros in the stopband. Moreover, a bandpass filtering response with high selectivity can be obtained.

II. Design Equation

Fig. 1(a) shows the schematic of the proposed IT, which is composed of a short-end parallel-coupled line and a short-circuit stub TL with a characteristic admittance of Y1 connected at coupling port 2 of the coupled line. The electrical lengths of the parallel-coupled line (θ) and the short-circuit stub TL (2θ) are given as a quarter-wavelength (λ/4) and a half-wavelength (λ/2) at f0, respectively. A short-circuit stub TL is used to create two transmission poles in the passband and three transmission zeros in the stopband [11], where the transmission zeros are located on the lower and upper sides of the passband, respectively. The proposed circuit is efficient at high termination impedance. Fig. 1(b) shows the schematic of the impedance transformer in [11] with an open-end parallel-coupled line and an open-circuit stub TL. The network is used only for low termination impedance.

Fig. 1

Schematic of the impedance transformer. (a) Proposed network and (b) network in [11].

The reflection and transmission coefficients of the proposed IT network, where input port 1 and output port 3 are terminated with the admittances YS and YL, respectively, can be derived as (1).

(1a) S11=(Y11-YS)(Y22+rYS)-Y12Y21(Y11+YS)(Y22+rYS)-Y12Y21
(1b) S21=2Y21YSYL(Y11+YS)(Y22+rYS)-Y12Y21,

where

(2a) Y11=jcotθ2[(Y0o-Y0e)2cotθ2Y1cot 2θ+(Y0e+Y0o)cotθ-(Y0e+Y0o)]
(2b) Y12=Y21=jY0o-Y0e2cscθ[(Y0e+Y0o)cotθ2Y1cot2θ+(Y0e+Y0o)cotθ-1]
(2c) Y22=jY0e+Y0o2[(Y0e+Y0o)csc2θ2Y1cot 2θ+(Y0e+Y0o)cotθ-cotθ]
(2d) θ=π2ff0.

Moreover, YS = 1/ZS, YL = 1/ZL, Y0e = 1/Z0e, and Y0o = 1/Z0o. By solving (1a), the even-mode characteristic admittance Y0e of the coupled line with the specified S11, YS, and r at f0 can be derived as (3).

(3) Y0e=Y0o-2YSr(1+S11|f=f0)(1-S11|f=f0),

where

(4) r=YLYS=ZSZL.

r is an impedance transforming ratio of ZS to ZL. S11 and Y0o are the predefined magnitude of return loss and odd-mode admittance of the coupled line at f0, respectively. By giving (1a) equal to zero, the characteristic admittance of Y1 can be derived as (5).

(5) Y1=Y0e+Y0or-1.

Using (5), two transmission poles can be obtained in the passband [11].

From the above design equations, the relationship of Z0e and Z0o with r is plotted in Fig. 2. Z0e dramatically decreases as r increases. With the same r, Z0e increases as Z0o increases. Therefore, a higher r requires a relatively looser coupling than a lower r, where the coupling coefficient is given by C = 20 log[(Z0eZ0o)/(Z0e + Z0o)] [dB]. The calculation is conducted by choosing ZL = 50 Ω, S11 = −20 dB at f0, Z0o = 27 Ω, 30 Ω, 35 Ω, and r varies from 2 to 12.

Fig. 2

Variations of Z0e according to r and Z0o.

Similarly, Fig. 3 shows the variations of Z1 according to r and Z0o. Z1 increases as r increases. Moreover, Z1 increases more with a higher Z0o. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a low r prevents the realization of the coupled line, whereas a high r hinders the realization of a short-circuit stub TL. Therefore, a trade-off between r and the characteristic impedances of Z1 and Z0e is required.

Fig. 3

Variations of Z1 according to r and Z0o.

Fig. 4 shows the S-parameter characteristics of the proposed IT with different r. The stopband attenuation is improved with a high r; but the bandwidth of the passband becomes narrow. Moreover, two transmission poles occur in the passband.

Fig. 4

S-parameter characteristics with different r.

Transmission zeros are produced in the stopband, and a wide stopband characteristic can be obtained. Transmission zeros at 0.5f0, 1.5f0, and 2.5f0 are produced by a short-circuit stub TL. Moreover, a transmission zero at 2f0 is produced by a coupled line. The simulation is conducted by fixing Z0o = 27 Ω and varying r = 4, 6, 8, and 10. Fig. 5 illustrates the S-parameter characteristics of the proposed IT with different Z0o. The bandwidth of a 20 dB return loss is improved with a high Z0o, but the stopband attenuation is degraded. The simulation is conducted by fixing r = 8 and varying Z0o = 27 Ω, 30 Ω, and 35 Ω. The calculated values of all variables of the simulation in Figs. 4 and 5 are shown in Table 1.

Fig. 5

S-parameter characteristics with different Z0o.

Calculated variables of the proposed impedance transformer

III. Simulation and Measurement Results

An experimental validation was conducted by designing the IT and fabricating it on an RT 5880 substrate, with ɛr = 2.2 and h = 0.787 mm. The proposed IT network with a 400–50 Ω (r = 8) of termination impedance, Z0o = 27 Ω, and reflection coefficient of 20 dB at f0 = 2.6 GHz was designed. All the calculated variables are listed in Table 1. An electromagnetic (EM) simulation was performed using the Ansoft HFSS v15.

Fig. 6 shows the EM simulation layout and photograph of the fabricated IT network. The physical dimensions of the fabricated circuit are listed in Table 2. To minimize the circuit size, a half-wavelength short-circuit stub TL is designed as a mean-der structure. The overall circuit size of the proposed IT is 24 mm × 16 mm.

Fig. 6

The fabricated IT: (a) EM simulation layout and (b) photograph.

Physical dimensions of the fabricated IT (unit: mm)

Fig. 7 illustrates the EM simulation and measurement results. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulations. The insertion and return losses are obtained 0.6 dB and 22.5 dB at f0, respectively. Similarly, the bandwidth of the 20 dB return loss is 0.19 GHz, which extends from 2.51 GHz to 2.7 GHz. The insertion loss of the passband is better than 0.8 dB. Moreover, one transmission zero on the lower side and three transmission zeros on the upper side of the passband are obtained, and these transmission zeros provide a wide stopband characteristic. The lower- and upper-side stopband attenuations of 25 dB are obtained from dc to 1.64 GHz and from 3.12 GHz to 6.4 GHz, respectively.

Fig. 7

EM simulation and measurement results of the proposed IT.

IV. Conclusion

An IT with a bandpass filtering response for high termination impedance is proposed and demonstrated in this study. The designed equations are derived with a predefined return loss. To show the validity of the proposed analysis, an IT is designed, fabricated, and measured. The simulated and measured results agree well with the analysis. The proposed IT with high selectivity, multi-transmission zeros, and bandpass response can be obtained simultaneously. The proposed IT is simple to design and is expected to be applied in various applications, such as baluns, power dividers, and antenna feeding lines.

References

1. Kim P, Jeong J, Chaudhary G, Jeong Y. A design of unequal termination impedance power divider with filtering and out-of-band suppression characteristic. In : Proceedings of the 45th European Microwave Conference (EuMC). Paris, France; 2015. p. 123–126.
2. Xiang BJ, Zheng SY, Pan YM, Li YX. Wideband circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna with bandpass filtering and wide harmonics suppression response. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation 65(4):2096–2101. 2017;
3. Zhang B, Dong G, Wu Y, Yu C, Liu Y. Filtering push-pull power amplifier based on novel impedance transformers. Electronics Letters 52(17):1467–1468. 2016;
4. Matthaei GL, Young L, Jones EMT. Microwave Filters, Impedance-Matching Network and Coupling Structures Norwood, MA: Artech House; 1980.
5. Zhang R, Luo S, Zhu L. Synthesis and design of mixed lumped and distributed low-pass filters/low-passing impedance transformers with Taylor series. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 64(4):1265–1272. 2016;
6. Ang KS, Lee CH, Leong YC. A broad-band quarter wavelength impedance transformer with three reflection zeros with passband. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 52(12):2640–1644. 2004;
7. Wu QS, Zhu L. Wideband impedance transformers on parallel-coupled and multisection microstrip lines: synthesis design and implementation. IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology 6(12):1873–1880. 2016;
8. Kim P, Park J, Jeong J, Jeong S, Chaudhary G, Jeong Y. High selective coupled line impedance transformer with second harmonic suppression. Journal of Electromagnetic Engineering Science 16(1):13–18. 2016;
9. Kim P, Chaudhary G, Jeong Y. Ultra-high transforming ratio coupled line impedance transformer with bandpass response. IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters 25(7):445–447. 2015;
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Biography

Phirun Kim (S′11–M′17) received his B.E. degree in electronics engineering from the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC), Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2010, and his M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in electronics engineering from Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea, in 2013 and 2017, respectively. He is currently a post-doctoral researcher at HOPE-IT Human Resource Development Center-BK21 PLUS, Division of Electronics Engineering, Chonbuk National University. He has authored and co-authored over 40 papers in international journals and conference proceedings. His research interests include RF filters, power dividers, impedance transformers, baluns, and high-efficiency power amplifiers.

Yongchae Jeong (M′99–SM′10) received his BSEE, MSEE, and Ph.D. degrees in electronics engineering from Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea in 1989, 1991, and 1996, respectively. From 1991 to 1998, he worked as a senior engineer at Samsung Electronics. In 1998, he joined the Division of Electronics Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea. From July 2006 to December 2007, he was a visiting professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. Currently, he is a professor, member of the IT Convergence Research Center, and director of HOPE-IT Human Resource Development Center of BK21 PLUS in Chonbuk National University. He currently teaches and conducts research on microwave passive and active circuits, mobile and satellite base station RF system, design of periodic defected transmission line, negative group delay circuits and its applications, in-band full duplex radio, and RFIC design. Prof. Jeong is a senior member of IEEE and is a member of the Korea Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science. He has authored and co-authored over 170 papers in international journals and conference proceeding.

Article information Continued

Fig. 1

Schematic of the impedance transformer. (a) Proposed network and (b) network in [11].

Fig. 2

Variations of Z0e according to r and Z0o.

Fig. 3

Variations of Z1 according to r and Z0o.

Fig. 4

S-parameter characteristics with different r.

Fig. 5

S-parameter characteristics with different Z0o.

Fig. 6

The fabricated IT: (a) EM simulation layout and (b) photograph.

Fig. 7

EM simulation and measurement results of the proposed IT.

Table 1

Calculated variables of the proposed impedance transformer

ZL = 50 Ω and S11 = −20 dB at f0

Z0o (Ω) Z0e (Ω) Z1 (Ω)
r = 4 27 66.99 57.73
r = 6 27 52.68 89.25
r = 8 27 46.72 119.78
30 56.5 137.17
35 77.3 168.64
r = 10 27 43.38 149.77

Table 2

Physical dimensions of the fabricated IT (unit: mm)

Parameter Value Parameter Value
Wc 3.1 L1 = L3 4
W1 0.4 L2 19
Sc 0.1 L4 15.7
Lc 19.2 LA 1.5