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This paper introduces an effective way to build efficient miniature C-band filters using high-permittivity ceramics. The objective was to evaluate the feasibility of such filters using commercial electromagnetic simulators and a conventional fabrication process. For the demonstration, the substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology was chosen. Compared with planar solutions, this configuration offers good quality factors and good electrical performances as a consequence. However, its dimensions are large, leading to unacceptably large footprints for many applications. The solution proposed in this paper is based on a ceramic substrate with a permittivity of 90, which allowed us to work with shorter wavelengths. In comparison with a standard alumina substrate (permittivity $\varepsilon _{r}= 9.9$ ), this approach makes it possible to reduce the footprint up to nine times. Two prototypes were realized on a Trans-Tech ceramic substrate ( ${\rm thickness}=635~\mu \text{m}$ , $\varepsilon _{r} = 90$ , and tan $\delta = 9\cdot 10^{-4})$ . The first prototype is a folded sixth-order SIW filter including a cross coupling combining coplanar waveguide probes and a thin microstrip line on an InterVia substrate. The second one is a folded eighth-order SIW filter without cross couplings. Here, we compare the sixth-order prototype with an identical one built on alumina. The eighth-order filter, which had no alumina counterpart, is a potentially useful alternative for situations where complex technological steps must be avoided.

This article presents a procedure for the design of bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filters. The procedure consists of optimizing the modified Butterworth-Van Dyke model of each resonator, considering appropriate technological parameters. The approach is demonstrated first to design a classical aluminum nitride-based BAW filter but remains valid for other piezoelectric layers, considering either longitudinal or transverse acoustic wave coupling. The approach is finally applied to the design of a lithium niobate (LiNbO3) BAW filter for wide-band filtering applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.