Ceramic Additive Manufactured Monolithic X-Shaped TM Dual-Mode Filter

This paper presents a monolithic 3D-printed ceramic X-shaped dual-mode microwave filter. The filter is manufactured utilizing a lithography-based ceramic manufacturing (LCM) process, allowing the realization of the resonator as well as the housing in one single piece. Therefore, contact as well as alignment problems, usually arising between a ceramic in $TM$ mode operation and a metallic enclosure, can conveniently be avoided. A fourth order dual-mode filter with a designed center frequency of 6 GHz and a bandwidth of 279 MHz is realized in alumina material. Practical design rules to be considered in the filter layout process as well as limitations imposed by the LCM approach are discussed. The outer surface of the ceramic cavity is subsequently metallized using a silver spray-coating. Advantageously, the metallization is only a few micrometers thick, wherefore the weight of the component can be reduced. The measurement results are compared to the simulation and reveal good agreement. A temperature stability measurement shows a center frequency downward shift of 0.22%.

[1]  M. Höft,et al.  Dielectric TM Dual-Mode Filters with Y-shape , 2021, 2021 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Filter Workshop (IMFW).

[2]  M. Höft,et al.  Triple-Mode Bandpass Filter Based on TM Dielectric Rod Resonators , 2021, Intelligent Memory Systems.

[3]  M. Hoft,et al.  Hybrid Inline TE/TM Mode Dielectric Resonator Filters with Wide Spurious Free Range and Controllable Transmission Zeros , 2021, 2020 50th European Microwave Conference (EuMC).

[4]  Wang,et al.  Additive Manufacturing of Monolithic Microwave Dielectric Ceramic Filters via Digital Light Processing , 2019, Electronics.

[5]  M. Höft,et al.  Realization of Cross-Coupled X- and Y-Shaped Dual-Mode Dielectric Resonator Filters , 2018, 2018 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference (APMC).

[6]  S. Bila,et al.  Bandpass Filter Based on Skeleton-like Monobloc Dielectric Pucks Made by Additive Manufacturing , 2018, 2018 48th European Microwave Conference (EuMC).

[7]  Fabrizio Gentili,et al.  Emerging technologies and concepts for 5G applications — A. making additive manufactured ceramic microwave filters ready for 5G , 2018, 2018 International Symposium on VLSI Design, Automation and Test (VLSI-DAT).

[8]  F. Gentili,et al.  Ceramic additive manufacturing as an alternative for the development of miniaturized microwave filters , 2017, 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on Advanced Materials and Processes for RF and THz Applications (IMWS-AMP).

[9]  W. Bosch,et al.  Development of monoblock TM dielectric resonator filters with additive manufacturing , 2017 .

[10]  M. Hoft,et al.  A new class of compact dual-mode dielectric resonator filters , 2016, 2016 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS).

[11]  Fan Zhang,et al.  A Lightweight 3-D Printed $X$-Band Bandpass Filter Based on Spherical Dual-Mode Resonators , 2016, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[12]  Jun Xu,et al.  A 3-D Printed Lightweight X-Band Waveguide Filter Based on Spherical Resonators , 2015, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[13]  Serge Verdeyme,et al.  Wide-band dielectric filter at C-band manufactured by stereolithography , 2014, 2014 44th European Microwave Conference.

[14]  S. Verdeyme,et al.  Compact Ku band filter based on BMT dielectric resonators made in a single part using 3D ceramic stereolithography process , 2012, 2012 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[15]  M. Chatras,et al.  Ku band filter based on low loss alumina octagonal dielectric resonators made by 3D ceramic stereolithography , 2009, European Microwave Conference.

[16]  M. Hoft.  Bandpass filter using TM-mode dielectric rod resonators with novel input coupling , 2009, 2009 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[17]  A. Pothier,et al.  Compact Low Loss Alumina Band-Pass Filter in Ku Band Using Layer-by-Layer Stereolithography Technology , 2009, 2009 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[18]  Raafat R. Mansour,et al.  Microwave Filters for Communication Systems: Fundamentals, Design and Applications , 2007 .

[19]  D. Baillargeat,et al.  Innovative Shielded High $Q$ Dielectric Resonator Made of Alumina by Layer-by-Layer Stereolithography , 2007, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[20]  D. Baillargeat,et al.  Ceramic Layer-By-Layer Stereolithography for the Manufacturing of 3-D Millimeter-Wave Filters , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[21]  S. Delage,et al.  Narrow Ka Bandpass Filters Made Of High Permittivity Ceramic By Layer-By-Layer Polymer Stereolithography , 2006, 2006 European Microwave Conference.

[22]  R.R. Mansour,et al.  Filter technologies for wireless base stations , 2004, IEEE Microwave Magazine.

[23]  R. Cameron.  Advanced coupling matrix synthesis techniques for microwave filters , 2003 .

[24]  S. J. Fiedziuszko,et al.  Dielectric resonators raise your high-Q , 2001 .

[25]  W. D. Blair,et al.  High-Q TE01 mode DR filters for PCS wireless base stations , 1998 .

[26]  Shin Abe,et al.  Compact transmitting dielectric resonator filter using capacitive loaded dual mode method for PCS microcellular base station , 1996, 1996 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[27]  K. Wakino,et al.  Miniaturization technologies of dielectric resonator filters for mobile communications , 1994 .

[28]  Yoshio Kobayashi,et al.  4GHz Band Band-Pass Filter using an Orthogonal Array Coupling TM110 Dual Mode Dielectric Resonator , 1989, European Microwave Conference.

[29]  Jia-Sheng Hong,et al.  Microstrip Filters for RF Microwave Applications 2nd Edition , 2011 .

[30]  M. Höft,et al.  Compact Base-Station Filters Using TM-Mode Dielectric Resonators , 2006 .

[31]  P. Guillon,et al.  Dielectric resonators , 1988, Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Frequency Control Symposium, 1988..