This document provides supplementary information for a module that introduces RF/microwave filter design using the CAD tool Microwave Office (MWO). It describes the specific steps shown in setting up a low-pass filter project in MWO and provides instructions for a band-pass filter design project. It also includes step-by-step instructions for obtaining a student version of MWO.

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1 Filter_Demo_Project_090910.doc
Filter Design & Analysis using Microwave Office
Overview
This document provides supplementary information for the module entitled Filter_Demo_MWO.
The purpose of the module is to introduce the subject of RF/microwave lumped element filter
design, looking at both low-pass and band-pass topologies. In addition, the module provides an
introduction to the circuit simulator features of the CAD tool Microwave Office (or MWO, from
Applied Wave Research). In another module the use of MWO for system simulations is
presented.
The supplementary information provided in this document is a) a description of the specific steps
that are taken in the part of the module that shows how the low-pass filter project is set-up (since
audio could not be included in that portion of the video), and b) a description of the short project
assignment that is associated with the demonstration. The latter information is also included in
the module but is repeated here for ease of reference.
You should review this document while you watch the video.
Instructions for obtaining a node-locked (for personal use) educational version of MWO:
Go to https://awrcorp.com/register/customer.aspx?univ. Here you can make your own license
which will be sent to you through email. You will also be provided a link to the software
download area. If you are already registered on the AWR website you will use that same account
to get the software. If you are not previously registered the license generation will send you
another email with the account login information. (See end of document for step-by-step
procedure.)
Specific Steps Shown in the Module to Set Up the Low-Pass Filter Project
1. Start MWO and click on File New Project (you can select File Save As to give it a
specific name)
2. Click on Project Options Global Units and select the desired values (here we want pF
for capacitance and nH for inductance)
3. Click on Project Options Frequencies. Enter the desired start, stop and step values and
click Apply. (Use 0 GHz for the start, 4 GHz for the stop, and 0.025 GHz for the step.
You must click Apply to activate the new settings.)
4. Right click on Circuit Schematics and select New Schematic. Give your schematic a
name (LPF_1).
5. Click on the Elements tab, expand the Lumped Element listing and click on Inductor.
(The Projects, Elements and Layout tabs are in the lower left-hand corner of the main
window.)

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6. Click on the IND (closed form) icon and drag it to the schematic window and drop a
copy. Double-click on the inductor and set the value to 12.7 nH.
7. Click on Edit Copy. Then click on Edit Paste and place a copy of the inductor into
the schematic. Make sure the icons are connected (a circle will appear at the connection if
it is properly made).
8. Click on Capacitor and select CAP (closed form). Drag the capacitor icon into the
schematic window.
9. Click on Edit Rotate and turn the icon 90 degrees. Double click on the icon and set
the value to 3.5 pF.
10. Click on the ground symbol and place the ground at the bottom of the capacitor. (The
ground symbol is located along the top menu bar, when a circuit schematic window is
active.)
11. Click on the Port symbol and place one port on each end of the circuit. The second port
can be rotated using the Edit Flip command. (The port symbol is located along the top
menu bar, when a circuit schematic window is active.)
12. Your schematic is now ready, so we’ll proceed to set up a graph.
13. Click on the Project tab. Right-click on Graphs and Add Graph. Give the graph a name
(LPF_1).
14. Right-click on the LPF_1 graph and Add Measurement (this tells MWO what to plot on
your graph).
15. We want to plot the magnitude of S21 and S11 in dB. For S21, the “To Port Index” is 2,
and the “From Port Index” is 1. In the Complex Modifier box select Mag and check the
dB box. (To add measurements after the first one is defined you can modify the “To Port
Index” or “From Port Index” and click Apply again, or you can close the window and
repeat the previous step.) The Measurement Type we are interested in here is a Port
Parameter. With this selected you will see options for typical network parameters in the
Measurement List, including S (for S (scattering) parameter).
16. To simulate, click on the lightning icon at the top of the window.
17. Right-click on the graph and select Properties. Adjust the Left 1 axis limit to -60 dB.
Click Apply and OK.
18. You are done. Click on File Save (or Save As… if you haven’t already named the
project) or just click on the “disk” icon to save the project.
Band-Pass Filter Design and Simulation Project
1. The goal of this assignment is for you to essentially follow the same steps as in the low-
pass filter, to gain more experience/confidence, and also to look at a band-pass response
versus a low-pass response.

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2. The process is the same as that for the low-pass filter. The only difference is that the
topology will include LC resonators in place of the individual L and C components. The
topology you should use is shown on page 9 of the PPT/PDF file. You can form each
resonator by using individual inductor and capacitor components. Alternatively, you can
click on the Elements tab, select Circuit Elements and Lumped Element, and then click
on the Resonators icon. Use the PLC (parallel LC) and SLC (series LC) components to
construct your filter.
3. The element values from the low-pass filter design need to be transformed to the
corresponding values for the band-pass filter design using the equations on slide 11.
Keep in mind that the equations on slide 11 use Ln and Cn, not the primed values. The
equations for Ln and Cn can be determined by examining the equations on slide 5.
4. Reporting requirements are given near the end of the PPT/PDF file. The report will
include:
a. The schematic
b. The element values, including the calculations that you used to determine them
c. A plot of S21 and S11 from 0 – 4 GHz (with the plot window active you can
select Edit View to Clipboard and paste the plot into your report).
d. Determine the out-of-band rejection at 3 GHz

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Step by step guide (example from an NAU student)
1. Go to https://awrcorp.com/register/customer.aspx?univ
2. Enter NAU Email address, name, professor, Computer HostID, and HostID type
1) To find your hostID follow the directions from the help window (pops)
3. You should get the following Message:
1) Preferred University Registration Successful
Thank you for registering with AWR. A confirmation email and your 120 day demo license has been sent
to username@nau.edu.
4. Log into your email and retrieve your account information (Login ID and password)
5. Download the license attached to the second email in a place that you will be able to find it again
6. Go to the page the second email directs you to for the download: https://awrcorp.com/download
7. Log in using the information received in the first email
8. Install Version 9.0 from the list (first one on the list on the products tab)
9. Follow the instructions in the installer
1) You can select anything you want for the default units type since it is changeable inside of the program
10. Attempt to open AWR Design Environment where it was saved
11. Open the License Configuration window
12. Click the button "Set Location"
13. Type in the location of the license that you downloaded in step 5 (or just browse for it)
14. Hit ok
15. Close the License Configuration window
16. Open AWR Design Environment
17. Press OK
18. Read and accept the agreement
19. Press OK
20. Congratulate yourself for an install done right