Compact low-loss narrow-band duplexer using low-impedance open-loop resonators for K-band radiometers

Design and implementation of a low-loss K-band duplexer consisting of two narrow bandpass filters with low-impedance open-loop resonators (OLRs) is presented. Narrow bandpass filters of 4%-7% bandwidth were often implemented with OLRs, but previous designs used OLRs mostly with 50 Ω linewidth. The design process was complicated due to multiple coupling mechanisms and multiple spurious response frequencies, often resulting in excessive insertion loss, especially at higher center frequencies. With the proposed design procedure for OLR filters, the values of the low-impedance line (less than 50 Ω) and proper coupling spacing are determined in the process of optimizing the filter performance, resulting in low insertion loss up to above K-band frequencies. The size of the proposed filter is also reduced to 64% of the conventional OLR filters. As an example of the proposed design method, a duplexer consisting of 4% narrow bandpass filters centered at 18.7 GHz and 22.5 GHz was implemented and measured, and the maximum insertion loss in each passband was 1.2 dB, which is much less than those of the previous design approaches.