To help our customers with filter selection, we generally provide a lot of detailed information on what our various filters can do. However, we thought it also might be really helpful for our customers if we took a step back and covered some background information on how filters do what they do. Regardless of the technology behind the filter, there are several key concepts that all filters share. Therefore, we decided it was time to bring together our top engineers so that we could compile their extensive filtering knowledge into a comprehensive Filter Basics ebook. 

As discussed in previous blog posts, resonators are the building blocks used to create filters. Recently, we published a blog post that discussed two different types of resonators – coaxial ceramic and dielectric. In this post, we will cover the details of a third type of resonator – the cavity resonator.

The generation of RF energy is critical for a wide range of technologies including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), semiconductor manufacturing, industrial lasers, and wireless charging systems that require high-frequency current and minimal instances of power loss. For example, with an industrial laser, the RF plasma excitation, which is when electrons are broken off an atomic bond and plasma forms, requires RF sources ranging from 1kHz to 40.68MHz depending on the energy required, and a CO₂ laser RF power supply that contains a standard source at 13.56MHz, 81MHz, or 125MHz.

After decades of viewing MIL-SPECs as the gold standard for qualifying and screening parts for viability in space, NASA has recently changed course, and is adopting commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) parts as an option for a variety of space applications. Burgeoning changes in industry trends, a drive to remain competitive, and the desire to guide budget-constrained missions pushed the organization to commission a NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) study to evaluate the reliability of COTS parts. Upon completion of the study, NASA aims to create a consistent set of requirements at the agency level to minimize risk and impact of part selection/usage on the performance of NASA spaceflight technology.

To help customers with filter selection, we generally provide a lot of information on what our filters can do. But in this new Filter Basics Series, we are taking a step back to cover some background information on how filters do what they do. Regardless of the technology behind the filter, there are several key concepts that all filters share that we will dive into throughout this series. By providing this detailed fundamental filter information, we hope to help you simplify your future filtering decisions. 

In part 11, the last post in our Filter Basics series, we review the information S-parameters can tell you about a filter’s performance and show an example of how to plot a filter’s S-parameters using a free open-source tool.

To help customers with filter selection, we generally provide a lot of information on what our filters can do. But in this new Filter Basics Series, we are taking a step back to cover some background information on how filters do what they do. Regardless of the technology behind the filter, there are several key concepts that all filters share that we will dive into throughout this series. By providing this detailed fundamental filter information, we hope to help you simplify your future filtering decisions.

At Knowles Precision Devices, we are well known for our expertise delivering high-performance mmWave filtering options. But did you know we also excel at providing a wide variety of lower frequency filtering options using a lumped element filter construction? In this blog post, we explore the basics of lumped element filter design, general lumped element filter characteristics, and how we can push lumped element filter design limits to develop a wide variety of high-performance low-frequency filtering options.

To help customers with filter selection, we generally provide a lot of information on what our filters can do. But in this new Filter Basics Series, we are taking a step back to cover some background information on how filters do what they do. Regardless of the technology behind the filter, there are several key concepts that all filters share that we will dive into throughout this series. By providing this detailed fundamental filter information, we hope to help you simplify your future filtering decisions. 

Innovating essential high technology systems with demanding specifications is always challenging; making any sort of difference requires extensive resources and deep subject matter knowledge.

But that’s what keeps it interesting.

To help customers with filter selection, we generally provide a lot of information on what our filters can do. But in this new Filter Basics Series, we are taking a step back to cover some background information on how filters do what they do. Regardless of the technology behind the filter, there are several key concepts that all filters share that we will dive into throughout this series. By providing this detailed fundamental filter information, we hope to help you simplify your future filtering decisions. 

In part 8 of this series, we dive deeper into bandwidth by looking at the history of bandwidth, how bandwidth dictates data rate, and why the type of filter required will vary depending on an application’s bandwidth requirements.