Open Access
Synthesis of one dimensional electromagnetic bandgap structures with fully controlled parameters
(IEEE, 2017) Arnedo Gil, Israel; Chudzik, Magdalena; Percaz Ciriza, Jon Mikel; Arregui Padilla, Iván; Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Benito Pertusa, David; Lopetegui Beregaña, José María; Gómez Laso, Miguel Ángel; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
In this paper, we propose a novel synthesis strategy for the design of one dimensional electromagnetic bandgap (1- D-EBG) structures where all the performance parameters of these devices can fully be controlled, i.e., the central frequency of the forbidden band, its attenuation level and bandwidth, and the ripple level at the passbands. The novel synthesis strategy employs a new inverse-scattering technique to accurately synthesize the 1-D-EBG structure, targeting a properly interpolated version of a classical periodic filter fulfilling the required frequency specifications. The new inverse-scattering technique follows a continuous layer peeling approach and relies on the coupled-mode theory to precisely model the microwave structures. Telecommunication and radar systems, as well as material characterization devices, will be profited by this proposal with which enhanced filters, sensors, power dividers, couplers, mixers, oscillators, and amplifiers can be designed in many different technologies. As a proof of concept, a 1-D-EBG structure in microstrip technology with a single forbidden band (free of spurious stopband replicas), with attenuation level of 30 dB, fractional bandwidth larger than 100%, and return loss level at the passbands of 20 dB, has been designed and fabricated. The measurements obtained are in very good agreement with the simulations and target specifications, being free of spurious replicas up to the 15th harmonic, showing the robustness and very good performance of the novel design strategy proposed.
Open Access
Resonant quasi-periodic structure for rectangular waveguide technology with wide stopband and band-pass behavior
(EMW Publishing, 2016) Arregui Padilla, Iván; Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Arnedo Gil, Israel; Percaz Ciriza, Jon Mikel; Gómez Torrent, Adrián; Chudzik, Magdalena; Gómez Laso, Miguel Ángel; Lopetegui Beregaña, José María; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
In this paper, a novel quasi-periodic structure for rectangular waveguide technology is proposed. The constituent unit cells of the structure feature a resonant behavior, providing high attenuation levels in the stopband with a compact (small period) size. By applying a smooth taper-like variation to the height of the periodic structure, very good matching is achieved in the passband while the bandwidth of the stopband is strongly increased. Moreover, by smoothly tapering the width of the structure, a band-pass frequency behavior is obtained. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the novel quasi-periodic structure proposed, a band-pass structure with good matching, wide rejected band, and high-power handling capability has been designed, fabricated, and measured obtaining very good results.
Open Access
A novel ku-band circularly-polarized horn antenna based on a ridged wall
(IEEE, 2023) Marzo Oyarbide, Andoni; Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Teniente Vallinas, Jorge; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
In this paper, a novel wideband (31.5 % bandwidth) circularly-polarized antenna based on a ridged wall is presented. A pair of ridges on the inner wall of the horn serves as an inbuilt polarizer, which can generate left-hand or right-hand circular polarization without any additional polarizer. The ridged wall is placed at 45° with respect to the input port linearly polarized wave to generate a 90° phase delay and obtain the desired circular polarization at the aperture. The simulated results show that the antenna works great in the whole Ku satellite band (from 10.7 to 14.7 GHz) with more than 20 dB return loss and below 1 dB axial ratio. The antenna can be fabricated using traditional computer numerical control machining techniques or the new 3D metal additive manufacturing processes.
Open Access
New filter design methods and topologies for the future microwave and millimeter-wave high-capacity satellites
(2018) Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Gómez Laso, Miguel Ángel; Lopetegui Beregaña, José María; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
In this thesis, several novel design techniques for waveguide low-pass filters (LPFs) and band-pass filters (BPFs) are proposed. Firstly, a quasi-analytical technique for classical corrugated waveguide LPFs is presented. It allows to reduce the design-times and its associated costs, since the final dimensions of the final prototype are computed by closed-form expressions. This technique has been extended to include the inherent rounded corners due to the fabrication by conventional milling techniques. In this case, the novel method is based on very simple equations which can be easily computed by an EM solver tool in a negligible CPU time. Additionally, a new method to embed routing capability in the classical corrugated LPF avoiding subsequent bending structures is also proposed. It permits to reduce the insertion loss, volume/weight, and PIM. The previous filters are the classical solution when the suppression of only the fundamental mode is needed. However, if the suppression of the higher-order modes is also a requirement, the classical solution is the waffle-iron filter. This filter has a cumbersome time-consuming design method mainly based on approximations and optimizations. In this Thesis, an accurate and simple design procedure for classical waffle-iron filters is also proposed. With this technique, waffle-iron filters with and without transmission zeros can be designed in a matter of minutes. Besides, a new type of waffle-iron filter is also presented. This novel structure is more compact and has lower insertion loss than its classical counterpart. The main issue of the previous classical filters is that it is not possible to achieve a wide rejected band and a high-power behavior simultaneously. This issue has been surpassed with the novel LPFs with smooth profile presented in this Thesis. Specifically, a synthesis technique has been developed, which permits to obtain larger gaps and very wide rejected bands at the same time. These new structures allow their use in high-power applications such as the output stage of satellite payloads. However, although their fabrication following space-compatible procedures has been demonstrated, it is quite difficult and expensive to be utilized in mass-production. Therefore, a new design method which accomplishes easy-to-manufacture LPFs with the same performance in terms of frequency and high-power behavior has been proposed. In this case, the objective is to reduce the fabrication costs and to develop a fully-customized technique that opens the range of potential applications of these devices. Indeed, its feasibility to be utilized as output filter in broadband satellite payloads, between the amplifiers and the diplexers in multi-beam payloads, and in high-performance diplexers is demonstrated. Furthermore, a combination between the latter low-pass filtering structure and a classical high-pass filtering function is utilized to develop a new class of BPF which can be used in high-performance compact satellite diplexers. Finally, a different BPFs with reduced sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances is also proposed. This structure finds its niche market in the upcoming Q/V-band satellite payloads. Indeed, the fabrication yield of a novel BPF intended for Q-band payloads has been dramatically improved in comparison with the one obtained from its classical counterpart. Last but not least, the size of the previous structures can be reduced with the new meandered topology developed in this Thesis. This technique permits to reduce the size of the previous BPFs (and also in classical LPFs) along with embedding routing capabilities, opening the door to more complex and compact terminals due to their adaptable and flexible layout. Additionally, it also allows to include several transmission zeros to enhance the out-of-band rejection of the LPFs. Low-power and high-power measurements have been performed in several manufactured prototypes to validate the frequency behaviour and the power-handling capability of the designed devices, respectively.
Open Access
Chirping techniques to maximize the power-handling capability of harmonic waveguide low-pass filters
(IEEE, 2016) Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Arregui Padilla, Iván; Gómez Torrent, Adrián; Arnedo Gil, Israel; Chudzik, Magdalena; Zedler, Michael; Goertz, Franz-Josef; Jost, Rolf; Lopetegui Beregaña, José María; Gómez Laso, Miguel Ángel; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
A novel chirping technique is applied to the design of very high-power waveguide harmonic low-pass filters. The technique could be used, for instance, to avoid multipactor testing in multicarrier systems such as the output multiplexer of a communications satellite. The novel chirped filter shows low insertion loss, all higher order mode suppression, and broad stopband rejection up to the third harmonic. This paper focuses on the maximization of the filter power-handling capability without affecting its excellent frequency behavior. Given a certain frequency response, the E-plane mechanical gap of the structure and the length (in the propagation direction) of the waveguide sections between its constituent bandstop elements can be considered to improve the high-power behavior. However, the power performance may not be sufficient yet in some applications if we wish, for instance, multipactor testing to be avoided. This becomes feasible by chirping the length (in the propagation direction) of the bandstop elements. An example for Ku band is discussed for relevant frequency specifications. An improvement from ∼8 kW (non-chirped filter) to more than 100 kW (chirped filter) is obtained. As a reference, the equivalent waffle-iron filter can handle only 0.15 kW. Such high-power threshold levels have never been reported before for such kind of filters.
Open Access
Robust tolerance design of bandpass filter with improved frequency response for Q-band satellite applications
(IEEE, 2021) Sami, Abdul; Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Miranda Santafé, Luis; Arnedo Gil, Israel; Martín Iglesias, Petronilo; Benito Pertusa, David; Lopetegui Beregaña, José María; Gómez Laso, Miguel Ángel; Arregui Padilla, Iván; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
A rectangular waveguide bandpass filter for Q-band with simple fabrication is proposed in this letter. The design is based on the use of the first passband replica of commensurate-line stepped-impedance structures and achieves the suppression of their inherent low-pass response. In order to do it, the filter is implemented by rectangular waveguide sections with different widths and heights that can be analytically calculated. The technique is validated by a 9th order Chebyshev filter with passband between 40 and 43 GHz and fabrication yield equal to 84 % for a manufacturing error of ± 20 μm. The measured results of the prototype fabricated with CNC milling are in good agreement with the simulated ones.
Open Access
Metal 3D printing for RF/microwave high-frequency parts
(Springer, 2022) Martín Iglesias, Petronilo; Gómez Laso, Miguel Ángel; Lopetegui Beregaña, José María; Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Arregui Padilla, Iván; Marechal, M.; Calves, P.; Hazard, M.; Pambaguian, L.; Brandao, A.; Rodríguez Castillo, S.; Martin, T.; Percaz Ciriza, Jon Mikel; Iza, V.; Martín-Iglesias, Santiago; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Space Systems have been historically characterised by high performance, high reliability and high cost. Every new generation of space systems tends to improve performance, keep as much as possible reliability, speeding the lead time and lower the cost. Aggressive approach is nowadays followed by some of the players of the new space ecosystem where, for instance, reli- ability can be relaxed thanks for the in-orbit redundancy or robustness to failures by having a constellation with a high number of satellites. This push towards the technology and system limit requires to investigate new methods for the manufacturing of RF/Microwave parts. RF devices such as those based on waveguide structures, benefit from an additive manufacturing approach in terms of radio frequency (RF) performance and compactness. However each manufacturing approach comes with specific features and limitations which need to be well understood and, in some cases, even taking advantage of them. This paper provides a short review of some of the RF/Microwave parts already manufactured using this technology. The paper will focus mainly on metal 3D printing parts since this technology is, at the moment, well accepted by the space community.
Open Access
Synthesis of rectangular waveguide filters with smooth profile oriented to direct metal additive manufacturing
(IEEE, 2023) Percaz Ciriza, Jon Mikel; Hussain, Jabir; Arregui Padilla, Iván; Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Benito Pertusa, David; Martín Iglesias, Petronilo; Arnedo Gil, Israel; Gómez Laso, Miguel Ángel; Lopetegui Beregaña, José María; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
In this paper, a novel design method for rectangular waveguide filters intended for fabrication using direct metal additive manufacturing is proposed. The synthesized filters will feature a smooth profile that allows us to fabricate them orienting the filter propagation axis in the vertical building direction, achieving an optimum configuration for direct metal additive manufacturing fabrication. The novel design method is valid for any all-pole transfer function, which is initially implemented with a commensurate-line distributed unit element prototype. The impulse response of that initial prototype is then properly interpolated to obtain the target response for a smooth-profiled filter with similar length and profile excursion. Finally, the target impulse response just generated is implemented in rectangular waveguide technology employing a novel inverse scattering synthesis technique that relies on the coupled-mode theory to model the electromagnetic behavior of the waveguide filter. The novel inverse scattering synthesis technique is general and also valid for the case of filters with very high rejection levels, which is of great relevance in rectangular waveguide technology. A Ku-band low-pass filter with stringent satellite specifications is designed using the proposed method, fabricated by means of a direct metal additive manufacturing technique, and measured with a vector network analyzer. A very good agreement is achieved between the simulated and measured results, fulfilling the required specifications and demonstrating the feasibility and performance of the novel design method.
Open Access
Multipactor breakdown analysis of Ku-band meandered low-pass filter
(2022) Sami, Abdul; Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Arnedo Gil, Israel; Martín Iglesias, Petronilo; Lopetegui Beregaña, José María; Gómez Laso, Miguel Ángel; Arregui Padilla, Iván; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
In this work, a very compact rectangular waveguide low-pass filter with meandered topology based on commensurate lines for Ku-band satellite applications is analysed for high-power handling capabilities. The device consists of rectangular waveguide sections properly cascaded to form a meandered topology to obtain the desired value of the local reflection coefficients. which are essential to achieve the target frequency response and also to keep large mechanical gaps. Hence, this technique allows us not only to design a filter with compact size but a filter geometry which is suitable for high power applications. In the paper, the low-pass filter based on commensurate lines is first designed by cascading E-plane mitered bends (±90° EMBs) in CST Microwave Studio (MWS) and then the values of the electromagnetic fields at the passband frequencies are exported to Spark3D to perform a multipactor analysis. The critical areas inside the device where the multipactor discharge occurs will also be identified in the high-power analysis. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7343236
Open Access
Integrating multiple stubs in stepped-impedance filter aiming for high selectivity
(IET, 2022) Sami, Abdul; Gómez Laso, Miguel Ángel; Lopetegui Beregaña, José María; Arnedo Gil, Israel; Calero Fernández, Ibai; Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Martín Iglesias, Petronilo; Benito Pertusa, David; Arregui Padilla, Iván; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
A design technique to include multiple and fully-controlled transmission zeros (TZs) in the frequency response of rectangular waveguide commensurate-line stepped-impedance filters is presented in this letter. These bandpass filters (BPFs) are known for having reduced sensitivities against manufacturing inaccuracies and are composed of multiple waveguide sections. In order to improve their selectivity, 3λg/4 and λg/4-stubs are included to create multiple TZs around the passband. The proposed technique allows us to add multiple stubs in a single section and, therefore, only minor adjustments in the affected part of the filter are required, which simplifies the overall design process. The technique has been verified with a design example with four TZs (two on each side) near the passband.