Application of Exact Synthesis Methods to Multichannel Filter Design

An exact design procedure is presented for contiguous-band multichannel filters. The procedure is theoretically valid at all frequencies for filters which employ TEM-mode (transverse-electro-magnetic-mode), quarter-wave line networks. The design of diplexing is considered in detail with multichannel filters being realized as a cascade of suitable diplexers. Microwave complementary component filters are shown to fulfill the requirement for the design of diplexing and multichannel filters with theoretically perfect match at all frequencies. A design procedure using component networks with Chebyshev characteristics is given. This allows a narrow crossover region and high isolation to be obtained for a given network complexity at the cost of a slight increase in input-port VSWR (Voltage Standing-Wave Ratio). The design procedure makes use of published tables and does not require a detailed knowledge of synthesis techniques. Experimental results for two diplexing networks, one a complementary and the other a Chebyshev pair, are given in verification of the theory presented.