How to Generate the Coupling Matrix

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 Customer Requirements
Specifications Requirements
Frequency Range (MHz) 3300 ~ 3400
Insertion Loss (dB) < 1.5
0.09 ~ 3190 > 100 dB
3190~3280 > 40 dB
Rejection (MHz)
3420~3460 > 40 dB
3460~6800 > 80 dB
Return Loss (dB) > 17
Peak Power (Watts) 100
Operating Temperature
-30~80
(ºC)
Connector Type SMA

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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step1: Input the Customer specification to generate the specification “Mask”

1 Spec. Requirements

Freq Range 3300 ~ 3400 MHz

IL < 1.5 dB
0.09 ~ 3190 > 100 dB
Click to activate 2

3190~3280 > 40 dB the specification

Click “Add” to add
Rejection analysis
1 the specification
3420~3460 > 40 dB
3460~6800 > 80 dB 3

Return Loss > 17dB

Click to select the proper Input the frequency range and specification values
specification name

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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step1: Input the Customer specification to generate the specification “Mask”

Display range is too wide

Tip: Users don’t need to input a wideband rejection specification; it will squeeze the
overall filter performance and result in inaccurate results.
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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step2: Input the frequency specification and the Return Loss (RL)

2 1. Filter order and Unloaded Q are experience-based

parameters. Users may optimize these parameters until
the specifications can be achieved. Initially, we can set
the unloaded Q value as infinite.

2. RL is usually set 3dB lower than the customer

specification for design margin purposes.

3. The “Shift” function is also called fine-tune function. It is

Freq Range: 3300~3400Mhz used for fine-tuning the filter performance when users
Insertion Loss: < 1.5 dB
Return Loss: > 16 dB
incorporate the temperature drift analysis. Initially we can
set these values to 0.

Tip: Click the blue radio button to switch different Frequency input formats
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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step2: Design the transmission zeros to meet the specification

Normalized Frequency Real Frequency

Tip: Click “NOR” or “GHZ” to switch Frequency input formats Rejection

3190~3280 > 40 dB
✓ Initially the transmission zero (TZ) value can start with the 3420~3460 > 40 dB
rejection frequency either at the beginning or end of the rejection 3460~6800 > 80 dB
specification.
TZ1 TZ2
✓ All TZ values need to be tuned and optimized, step by step, (3280) (3420)
based on the customer’s specification. Sometimes more TZs TZ3
need to be added to provide sharp isolation performance to (3460)
satisfy the rejection requirement.

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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step2: Transmission zeros knowledge— The Filter Transfer Function

𝐹(𝑠) 𝑃(𝑠)
𝑆11 (𝑠) = and 𝑆21 (𝑠) =
𝜀𝑟 𝐸(𝑠) 𝜀𝐸(𝑠)
Root of F:
Transmission Poles

▪ F(s) is a polynomial with real coefficients, and its roots lie along the
imaginary axis as conjugate pairs; P(s) is a pure even polynomial with real
coefficients. Its roots lie on the imaginary axis in conjugate pairs.

▪ Filter requirements call for low loss in the passband and high loss in other
frequency bands. Such a requirement can be achieved by assigning all the
zeros of F(s) to the j𝜔 axis in the passband region and all zeros of P(s) to the Root of P: Reflection Poles
j𝜔 axis in the high loss frequency bands.

▪ For some applications, the zeros of P(s) have a non-j𝜔-axis location. This
results in an improved phase and group delay response in the passband at
the expense of attenuation in the stopband. Such a trade-off is sometimes
beneficial for the overall system requirements.

**References: Cameron, R. J., Kudsia, C. M., & Mansour, R. R. (2007). Microwave filters for communication systems: Fundamentals, design, and applications

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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step2: Transmission zeros knowledge j
ω
+j

-j

Position of roots of P(s)

Case1: Complex Pair
j
• In the normalized format, the “Complex Pair Zero” transmission ω
+j
zeros is always in pairs. This is true with symmetric and
asymmetric filter responses. Therefore the number of real zeros
and the number of complex zeros must be even numbers. σ

• For “Pure Finite Zeros” transmission zeros, the number of -j

transmission zeros is even for symmetric responses or odd for
asymmetric responses. Case2: Complex Pair
Position of roots of P(s)

j
ω

𝐹(𝑠) 𝑃(𝑠) +j
𝑆11 (𝑠) = and 𝑆21 (𝑠) =
𝜀𝑟 𝐸(𝑠) 𝜀𝐸(𝑠) σ

-j

Case3: Pure Imaginary

Position of roots of P(s)

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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step3: Define the physical topology (if necessary)

Topology Setup

• SynMatrix defaults to the folded-type topology

• If the user-defined topology is not synthesizable, SynMatrix

Dispersive Effect Prediction will either return the optimized result or an error message
Edit the check box to
using Coaxial-type filter modify the topology
• SynMatrix now supports up to 90% of all topologies which
can be used for a wide variety of engineering applications

Cascade Triplet(CT)

CT+ Cascade Quadruplet(CQ) CT+CQ Triple Mode+CT Extend Box+ CQ

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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step4: Click “ to start the synthesis process
• After adjusting the filter order and TZs position, the final filter
order is 9 and the TZ number is 4

• The unloaded Q value can be based on experience or the

simulation

• To mitigate the risks from structural design and post-tuning

>7dB >7dB workflow issues, the margin rules need to be applied as
follows:
• Set RL to be less than 3dB from the customer’s
specification
• The rejection level needs to be at least 3dB lower than
the customer specification

>10dB
• A lower RL level requires higher coupling energy, which may
result in impractical coupling coefficients (ex. Planar and co-
planar structures). Likewise, the lower rejection level may
result in a small coupling coefficient value that can not be
realized in real life.

• Additionally, lower RL and transmission zeros levels may

cause difficulties during test and tuning

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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step5: Fine-tune the matrix and keep the proper design margins

>7dB
• Choose the material. The corresponding coefficient of thermal
>7dB
expansion (CTE) will be automatically selected. Input the
customer’s environment requirement, then click “ ”.
The thermal drift value will be returned
• The specification analysis tool is under “Thermal Settings”. By
considering the thermal drift value, the margins will be shown

>10dB

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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step5: Fine-tune the matrix and keep the proper design margins

Left Margin Right Margin

• The red square box means the current design fails to meet the thermal
drift variation during ambient change
• The fine-tune function will be applied to either expand/narrow the BW or shift
up/down the frequency to balance the right/left frequency margins

• During fine-tuning, the TZ position may be optimized to obtain the best

performance and achieve the desired frequency margins

Freq Shift BW tuning

Frequency Margin: The distance between the S

Tip: The first value indicates the frequency shift and the second is parameter (S11/S21) and the specification line
BW tuning; all units for both parameters are in “MHz”

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 How to generate the coupling matrix—BPF case
Step5: Fine-tune the matrix and keep the proper design margins

Group Delay Additional features allow users to analyze results from different aspects

Stored Energy

Edit matrix. Export matrix&S2P. Load matrix. Change the sign.

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