A Varactor-Tuned RF Tunable Bandpass Filter with Improved Passband Flatness

A RF tunable bandpass filter using dielectric resonators and varactor diodes is redesigned to improve the passband flatness. Since the tunable liters are generally of narrow bandwidth and the Q value of the varactor diode is usually very low, the passband flatness is strongly deteriorated by sizeable distortion loss. To remedy this problem, we construct modified Chebyshev type filter by use of network synthesis techniques. The key of modified Chebyshev type filter is the rearrangement of the passband poles to improve the passband flatness. To maintain the constant passband bandwidth, design techniques of input/output stage and coupling windows are also applied. Experimental results show that the passband flatness can be improved by purposed method without any additional RF amplitude equalizer.