Authors:

Wrigley Alan Starkweather

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About Paper:

The biggest problem faced when using resonators in a microwave device is the precision required to create the desired characteristics. Often, they, have to be constructed with sub-millimeter precision to prevent the resonant frequency from shifting beyond the design constraints. A common solution to this is to make the dimensions of the cavity adjustable, an exemplary solution that accounts for both manufacturing error and changing environmental conditions assuming it is properly tuned. For simple single-resonator systems, this is easily accomplished either by the diligence of a human operator or an automated frequency monitoring and adjusting system. However, this becomes far more complicated with the introduction of multiple resonators. Calibration becomes far more difficult, as changes in any one resonator can change the total output in unintuitive ways. This research is intent on the development of an automated system for tuning a multi-resonator device utilizing the s-parameters of the real device and a simulated version of the system to automate the tuning process and optimize the properties according to operator's specifications. The biggest part of this research is a microcontroller-driven control board for high-precision actuators. It was created in Altium Designer to interface a Raspberry Pi Pico with four actuators controlling the physical properties of the component cavities of the device. It does this with SPI or I2C which allows for quick, reliable adjustment of the actuators to under a micron of precision. Recent tests demonstrate the effectiveness of this system; even being adjusted manually, the ability to adjust the cavities in a more quantitative way than the set screws had allowed makes the tuning process not only easier, but also less necessary, as once a tuning is established it can be saved and repeated without having to go through the process again. The main purpose of this research is to develop a precise system for the tuning of a cavity-based quadrature filter. The eventual goal is to be able to tune the filter far more effectively and efficiently than was previously possible, possibly with the addition of computer-driven automated tuning. Keywords: Microwave † Presenting Undergrad Author; ‡ Contributing Undergrad Author; * Undergrad Acknowledgment

Source:

Purdue University / 2025

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Co-authors:

Wrigley Alan Starkweather