Choosing the right filter type for RF applications depends on several key parameters and application requirements. Here’s a structured approach to selecting between LTCC, LC, Cavity, and Waveguide filters:
1. Frequency Range
LTCC (LowTemperature Cofired Ceramic):
Best for 500 MHz – 6 GHz (e.g., WiFi, 5G sub6 GHz, IoT).
Limited performance at higher frequencies due to parasitic effects.
Suitable for DC – 3 GHz (lower frequencies).
Suffers from poor Qfactor at higher frequencies.
Ideal for 1 GHz – 40 GHz (cellular base stations, radar, satellite).
High Qfactor, good for narrowband applications.
Best for 10 GHz – 100+ GHz (mmWave, radar, aerospace).
Excellent performance at extremely high frequencies.
2. Insertion Loss & QFactor
LTCC: Moderate Q (~100300), insertion loss ~13 dB.
LC: Low Q (~50200), higher insertion loss (~25 dB).
Cavity: High Q (~1,00010,000), low insertion loss (~0.11 dB).
Waveguide: Very high Q (~10,000+), ultralow loss (~0.050.5 dB).
3. Size & Integration
LTCC: Very compact, surfacemountable, good for integrated modules.
LC: Small but suffers from parasitic effects at high frequencies.
Cavity: Bulky, used in base stations and highpower systems.
Waveguide: Largest, used in aerospace.
4. Power Handling
LTCC & LC: Low to medium power (up to a few watts).
Cavity: High power (10s to 100s of watts).
Waveguide: Extremely high power (kW range).
5. Cost & Manufacturing
LTCC: Low to medium cost, massproducible.
LC: Cheapest but limited performance.
Cavity: Higher cost due to precision machining.
Waveguide: Most expensive, used in highend applications.
6. Application Examples：
Decision Flowchart：
1. Frequency > 10 GHz? → Waveguide (if power & budget allow).
2. Need ultralow loss & high power? → Cavity.
3. Small size & moderate performance? → LTCC.
4. Lowcost, lowfrequency? → LC.
Final Recommendation：
5G/WiFi (Sub6 GHz, compact): LTCC.
Cellular Base Stations (High power, low loss): Cavity.
mmWave/Radar (Extremely high frequency): Waveguide.
Consumer Electronics (Low cost, <3 GHz): LC.
Yun Micro, as the professional manufacturer of rf passive components, can offer the cavity filters up 40GHz,which include band pass filter, low pass filter, high pass filter, band stop filter.
Welcome to contact us: liyong@blmicrowave.com