X-Band Cavity Filter
In the x-band the relation between used wave length and size of their antennas is quite a bit better than lower frequency bands. This band is one of the quite popular radar band for military application like all airborne radars for performing the following roles fighter, inceptors and also attack of enemy fighters and ground targets. These small antennas provide good performance.
X-Band frequency is designated as the band of frequency from 8-12GHz.
This frequency band is very widely used for the maritime civil and the military navigational radars. These very small and rather cheap antennas with their high rotation speed are adequate for a fair maximum range and also good accuracy. Slotted waveguide and small patch antennas are used as radar antennas under a protective radome mostly.
These x band cavity filters are supplied by various suppliers and there is also various models available for use. All of them have different specifications and you will have to find the one suitable for you and your needs.
ABPF-9600MBW1800-01
Take for example, ABPF-9600MBW1800-01. This is an X-Band cavity filter that was developed for use in an X-Band transceiver.
It operates in the range of 8.7 – 10.5 GHz. With a 5 pole design topology, it has excellent attenuation performance.
The temperature compensation techniques ensure that this filters delivers less than 1 MHz of drift on an 8-10 GHz device operating over -35 degree Celsius to + 85 degree Celsius temperature range.
This x band filter is housed in a compact package which measures 58mm X 17mm X 8 mm and comes with SMA connectors.
This filter also feature a highly symmetrical 1 dB passband of 1.8GHz also with low group delay variation and low ripple.
The detailed specifications of ABPF-9600MBW1800-01 is listed in the table below.
AWG Tech is actively adding x-band cavity filters to our continual expansion of these product portfolios.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Part Number | ABPF-9600MBW1800-01 |
| Center Frequency | 9600 MHz |
| Passband frequency (1dB) | 8.7 – 10.5 GHz |
| Insertion Loss | 1.0 dB max |
| VSWR | 1.7:1 max |
| Rejection | >50dBc @ dc – 7.7 GHz >50 dBc @ 11.5 – 15GHz |
X-Band Cavity Filter: The Usefulness of An X-Band Cavity Filter
When it comes to microwave (MW) and radio frequency (RF) applications, filters are one of the building blocks of certain components. The microwave and RF range of frequencies is used most often in communications (television, Wi-Fi, etc.), and so certain signals are bound to cross. Hence the need for a device that can filter out what is unneeded and then transmit the desired signal.
When it comes to filters, there are four general functions – band-pass, band-stop, low-pass, and high-pass – and several types of filter technologies. Among these is the cavity filter, usually manufactured for use in the 40 MHz (megahertz) to 960 MHz frequency range. An X-band cavity filter, however, can function at a higher frequency range.
What is the X-Band?
According to the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), the X-band in radar engineering is specified as being in the 8 GHz (gigahertz) to 12 GHz range. In communications engineering, however, it’s slightly lower – 7 to 11.2 GHz.
This frequency range is usually found in applications involving satellite communications, with stipulations for such aspects as fixed-satellite services.
Merits of Cavity Filters
Cavity filters are much desired in applications that require low insertion loss (loss of power when a current passes through a component) and high performance are desired. They are capable of high selectivity, and well-constructed ones – like those supplied by AWG Tech – also offer a high Q, or quality factor.
In the microwave range of frequencies, cavity filters are the more practical choice, both in terms of size and performance, compared to lumped element resonators and filters.
Where X-band cavity filters are used in
Cavity filters usually are used in duplexers and diplexers. While the names may sound interchangeable, they are not the same device. All the same, cavity filters help make constructing these components considerably easier.
Duplexer – An electronic device used to make bi-directional communication over a single channel possible. In both radar and radio communications, duplexers help to isolate the transmitter from the receiver, while still allowing them to share just the one antenna. Cavity filters are used for this component because of their high Q factor, compared to other types of filters.
Diplexer – A passive device that allows two signals from different frequency bands to co-exist on a single port, doing so without causing either signal to interfere with the other. Typically, the first signal will occupy a low frequency band, while the second will occupy a high frequency one. It can also be done the other way around, as long as there’s no possibility of the frequencies interfering.
This is not the same as a power splitter or combiner because the ports are selective about the frequencies, while the ports in a power splitter are not selective. Cavity filters become useful here when medium- to high-frequency bands are involved, due once again to their high Q factor.
So whether your applications are commercial or military, finding the best X-band cavity filter can take some time, but it’s well worth it if your applications work as planned. AWG Tech already offers several off-the-shelf models, although you can have these filters customized to better suit your needs.