Two-zero four-pole building block for microwave waveguide filters using all-resonant modes at their cutoff frequency

This article describes a basic building block for microwave waveguide filters. It uses a new coupling scheme where all resonant modes are used at their cutoff frequency. It is composed of a cascade of basic nonloaded rectangular cavities where the modes are alternately single mode and dual mode. These cavities are coupled directly, without any iris. Neither coupling nor tuning screws are needed. The analysis of the discontinuities is performed by the method of moments (MoM). The synthesis makes use of an optimization method based on the genetic algorithm. Prototypes have been realized and measurements are shown to confirm the analysis results. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.