ATTENUATORS / FILTERS / DC BLOCKS

ATTENUATORS

An attenuator is a passive microwave component which, when inserted in the signal path of a system, reduces the
signal by a specified amount. They normally possess a low VSWR which makes them ideal for reducing load VSWR in
order to reduce measurement uncertainties. They are sometimes used simply to absorb power, either to reduce it to a
measurable level, or in the case of receivers to establish an exact level to prevent overload of following stages.
Attenuators are classified as either fixed or variable and either reflective or non-reflective. The fixed and variable
attenuators are available in both waveguide and coaxial systems. Most of the receivers under 20 GHz use coaxial type
attenuators.

FIXED

The performance characteristics of a fixed attenuator are:

1. input and output impedances
2. flatness with frequency
3. average and peak power handling capability
4. temperature dependence

VARIABLE

The variable attenuator can be subdivided into two kinds: step attenuator and continuously variable attenuator.
In a step attenuator, the attenuation is changed in steps such as 10 dB, 1 dB or 0.5 dB. In a continuously variable attenuator,
the attenuation is changed continuously and a dial is usually available to read the attenuation either directly or indirectly
from a calibration chart.
For a variable attenuator, additional characteristics should be considered, such as:
1. amount or range of attenuations
2. insertion loss in the minimum attenuation position
3. incremental attenuation for step attenuator
4. accuracy of attenuation versus attenuator setting
5. attenuator switching speed and switching noise.

REFLECTIVE

A reflective attenuator reflects some portion of the input power back to the driving source. The amount reflected
is a function of the attenuation level. When PIN diodes are zero or reverse biased, they appear as open circuits when
shunting a transmission line. This permits most of the RF input power to travel to the RF output. When they are forward
biased, they absorb some input, but simultaneously reflect some back to the input port. At high bias current, most RF will
be reflected back to the input resulting in a high input VSWR and high attenuation.

ABSORPTIVE

The VSWR of a non-reflective (absorptive) PIN diode attenuator remains good at any attenuation level (bias state).
This is accomplished by configuring the diodes in the form of a Pi network that remains matched for any bias state or by
use of a 90E hybrid coupler to cancel the waves reflected to the input connector.

6-5.1
 MICROWAVE FILTERS

INTRODUCTION

Microwave filters are one of the most important components in receivers. The main functions of the filters are:
(1) to reject undesirable signals outside the filter pass band and (2) to separate or combine signals according to their
frequency. A good example for the latter application is the channelized receiver in which banks of filters are used to
separate input signals. Sometimes filters are also used for impedance matching. Filters are almost always used before and
after a mixer to reduce spurious signals due to image frequencies, local oscillator feedthrough, and out-of-frequency band
noise and signals. There are many books which are devoted to filter designs. There are many kinds of filters used in
microwave receivers, so it is impossible to cover all of them.

If a filter is needed on the output of a jammer, it is desirable to place it approximately half way between the jammer
and antenna vs adjacent to either. The transmission line attenuation improves the VSWR of the filter at the transmitter.
This may allow use of a less expensive filter, or use of a reflective filter vs an absorptive filter.

A filter is a two-port network which will pass and reject signals according to their frequencies. There are four kinds
of filters according to their frequency selectivities. In the examples that follow, fL = low frequency, fM = medium frequency,
and fH = high frequency. Their names reflect their characteristics, and they are:

1. A low-pass filter which passes the low frequency signals below a predetermined value as shown in Figure 1.

Input Output
Strength Strength
0 dB

- dB
f L f M fH
fL fM fH Frequency fL fM fH

Figure 1. Low-Pass Filter

6-5.2
 2. A high-pass filter which passes the high frequency signals above a predetermined value as in Figure 2.

Input Output
Strength Strength
0 dB

- dB
fL fM fH
f L fM f H Frequency f L fM f H

Figure 2. High-Pass Filter

3. A band-pass filter which passes signals between two predetermined frequencies as shown in Figure 3.

Input Output
Strength Strength
0 dB

- dB fL fM fH

f L fM fH Frequency f L fM fH

Figure 3. Band-Pass Filter

A band-pass filter with different skirt slopes on the two sides of the pass band is sometimes referred to as an
asymmetrical filter. In this filter the sharpness of the rejection band attenuation is significantly different above and below
the center frequency. One additional note regarding band-pass filters or filters in general, their performance should always
be checked in the out-of-band regions to determine whether or not they posses spurious responses. In particular they should
be checked at harmonics of the operating frequency.

6-5.3
 4. A band reject filter (sometimes referred to as a bandstop or notch filter) which rejects signals between two
predetermined frequencies such as high power signals from the aircraft's own radar as shown in Figure 4.

Input Output
Strength Strength
0 dB

- dB
fL fM fH
fL fM fH Frequency fL fM fH

Figure 4. Band-Reject Filter

In general, filters at microwave frequencies are composed of resonate transmission lines or waveguide cavities that,
when combined, reflect the signal power outside the filter frequency pass band and provide a good VSWR and low loss
within the frequency pass band. As such, specifications for filters are maximum frequency, pass band loss, VSWR, and
rejection level at a frequency outside of the pass band. The trade-offs for filters are a higher rejection for a fixed frequency
pass band or a larger frequency pass band for a fixed rejection, which requires a filter with more resonators, which produce
higher loss, more complexity, and larger size.

DC BLOCKS

DC Blocks are special connectors which have a capacitor (high pass

filter) built into the device. There are three basic types:
1. INSIDE - The high pass filter is in series with the center conductor
as shown in Figure 5. DC is blocked on the center conductor.
2. OUTSIDE - The high pass filter is in series with the cable shield
as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 5. Inside DC Block
3. INSIDE/OUTSIDE - A high pass arrangement is connected to
both the inner and outer conductors.

DC Blocks are ideal for filtering DC, 60 Hz, and 400 Hz from the RF line.

In general, capacitors with a large value of capacitance do not have the

least loss at microwave frequencies. Also, since capacitance is proportional
to size, a large size produces more capacitance with more inductance. Because
of these reasons, D.C. blocks are typically available with a high pass frequency
band starting in the region of 0.1 to 1 GHz.
Figure 6. Outside DC Block

6-5.4