Compact Tunable Balanced Bandpass Filter With Constant Bandwidth Based on Magnetically Coupled Resonators

In this letter, a compact high-selectivity and common-mode (CM) suppression tunable balanced microstrip bandpass filter (BPF) with constant bandwidth is designed by adopting the magnetically coupled resonators with step-impedance parallel coupling feedline (SIPCF) structure. The desired coupling coefficient K_{12} and external quality factor Q_{e} can be obtained by the mixed coupling between the two resonators and SIPCF structure, respectively. Two differential-mode (DM) transmission zeros (TZs) near the lower and upper passband edges are created by the mixed coupling and source-load coupling, respectively. Furthermore, intrinsic high CM suppression in the DM tunable operating passband can be maintained because of the magnetically coupled resonator structure. Finally, a compact tunable balanced BPF prototype with constant fractional bandwidth of 6.5% is implemented and fabricated. The measured results agree well with the simulated ones.