6-15 GHz RF MEMS tunable filters

Abstract

Capacitive RF MEMS switches can be used to adaptively tune microwave filter elements for use in communications and radar. This work describes progress towards building a 6-15 GHz tunable bandpass filter bank. Three banks of tunable high-pass and low-pass filters covering 6-15 GHz were designed and tested. The low-pass filters showed loss ranging from 2 to 4 dB with rejection better than 60 dB. The high-pass filter showed insertion losses ranging from 3 to 5 dB with similar rejection. These filters were cascaded in series in three banks to obtain a tunable bandwidth/center frequency bandpass filter that covers 6-15 GHz.