A tunable low-pass filter using a liquid-metal reconfigurable periodic defected ground structure

A new type of tunable low-pass filter is demonstrated that uses liquid metal to reconfigure a defected ground structure (DGS). By filling in different DGS lattices with Galinstan liquid metal, the tunable low-pass filter provides tuning of up to eight cutoff frequencies. Measurements of four of the cutoff frequencies show a 62% tuning range while maintaining a stopband of more than 5 GHz.

[1]  Gabriel M. Rebeiz,et al.  Compact Low-Loss Tunable $X$-Band Bandstop Filter With Miniature RF-MEMS Switches , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[2]  D. Peroulis,et al.  Liquid RF MEMS Wideband Reflective and Absorptive Switches , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[3]  R.P. Martins,et al.  Miniaturized microstrip lowpass filter with wide stopband using double equilateral U-shaped defected ground structure , 2006, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[4]  C. Kim,et al.  Electrostatically actuated metal-droplet microswitches integrated on CMOS chip , 2006, Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems.

[5]  D. Peroulis,et al.  Electrostatic Liquid-Metal Capacitive Shunt MEMS Switch , 2006, 2006 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[6]  Bao Jun Lei,et al.  A Wideband, Pressure-Driven, Liquid-Tunable Frequency Selective Surface , 2011, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[7]  P. Ferrari,et al.  Tunable Bandstop Defected Ground Structure Resonator Using Reconfigurable Dumbbell-Shaped Coplanar Waveguide , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[8]  Y. Qian,et al.  A design of the low-pass filter using the novel microstrip defected ground structure , 2001 .

[9]  Jun-Fa Mao,et al.  An improved 1D periodic defected ground structure for microstrip line , 2004 .

[10]  Gabriel M. Rebeiz,et al.  High-Performance 1.5–2.5-GHz RF-MEMS Tunable Filters for Wireless Applications , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[11]  Jae-Bong Lim,et al.  A novel 1-D periodic defected ground structure for planar circuits , 2000 .

[12]  Dimitrios Peroulis,et al.  A 12–18 GHz electrostatically tunable liquid metal RF MEMS resonator with quality factor of 1400–1840 , 2011, 2011 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium.

[13]  Shao Ying Huang,et al.  A Compact E-Shaped Patterned Ground Structure and Its Applications to Tunable Bandstop Resonator , 2009 .