Frequency Tunable Non-Reciprocal Bandpass Filter and Diplexer Using Time-Modulated Microstrip λg/2 Resonators

This paper presents novel designs of frequency reconfigurable distributed non-reciprocal bandpass filter and diplexer based on spatio-temporally modulated microstrip λg/2 resonators. The modulation is achieved by loading both ends of the λg/2 transmission line resonators with time-modulated capacitors. To provide an inherent biasing isolation between the RF and the modulation signals, the modulation voltage source is connected at the center of the resonator, where there is a natural voltage null. A single inductor is used to further enhance such biasing isolation. The wideband nature of this isolation scheme enables the tuning of the devices over a wide frequency range. With more than 30-dB RF to modulation isolation, the proposed resonator structure also enables low insertion loss by eliminating RF signal leakage to the modulation ports. Two examples of a 3-pole bandpass filter and a diplexer are demonstrated with good agreement between the measurement and the simulation. The fabricated filter shows a minimal insertion loss of 3.9 dB, a 20-dB isolation bandwidth of 42 MHz at 1.0 GHz, and frequency tuning range of 885-1031 MHz. The measured diplexer has two non-reciprocal bandpass channels at 829 MHz and 997 MHz, respectively. The two channels can be independently reconfigured without affecting each other.