Unequal termination impedance parallel-coupled lines band-pass filter with arbitrary image impedance

This paper presents an analytical design for a microstrip parallel-coupled line bandpass filter (BPF) with arbitrary termination and image impedances. Using the proposed design formulas, multistage arbitrary termination impedance BPFs can be designed with a very high impedance transforming ratio (r). The fractional bandwidth and return losses are maintained even though the r and image impedance are varied. To validate the design formulas, two- and three-stage BPFs are fabricated and measure at the center frequency (f₀) of 2.6 GHz. The filter 1 and filter 2 are designed with termination impedances of 50–300 Ω and 20–50 Ω, respectively. The measured results of both filters show a good agreement with the simulations. The measured passband insertion and return losses of filter 1 are better than 0.8 and 19.6 dB, respectively. Similarly, the measured passband insertion and return losses of filter 2 are better than 1.5 and 19 dB, respectively.