Low temperature cofired ceramic (LTTC) technology for ridge waveguide filters and multiplexers

Summary form only given. Low temperature cofired ceramic (or LTCC) is a relatively new technology that promises significant advantages in miniaturization of passive components, reduction of manufacturing costs for mass production, ease of integration and packaging with other electronic and microwave devices. LTTC has been typically used in multiplayer planer RF transmission structures (e.g. microstrip lines, coplanar waveguides, strip lines, etc.). These structures have higher losses than rectangular waveguides, due to their narrow conductors widths. In this paper a technique for the realization of rectangular and ridge waveguides 3-dimensional structures using LTTC technology is discussed. Comparison between various transmission media losses, using EM simulations and measurements, in the LTTC implementation are presented. Methods for the design and realization of band pass filters and multiplexers using LTTC rectangular waveguides inductive windows and ridge waveguides are explored. Examples of practical designs obtained using rigorous EM simulation (mode matching) and optimization are given. Comparisons of several designs with experimental filters show the advantages of the technology and the powerfulness of the techniques presented.