Waveguide Ceramic Filter: ClearPlex®
Wide arrays of RF filters are currently available in the wireless industry. They run the gamut from SAW and ceramic monoblock filters on the low-end, to air-cavity filters on the high-end. The ClearPlex® ceramic filter is based off of waveguide technology and has been designed to bridge the gap between low-end and high-end filters.
The wireless industry has responded to the challenge of increased bandwidth and capacity requirements by adopting a macro-cell (or small cell) architecture. In the past, a handful of high-power base stations were used to provide coverage over a large geographical area. Macro-cell topology uses smaller cells to cover smaller areas simultaneously. When grouped together, they provide the same coverage and have the ability to increase capacity.
In macro-cells, air-cavity filters were the best option due to their high performance and power handling. However, their cost coupled with their size and weight made them less than ideal for small-cell applications. The ClearPlex® waveguide ceramic filter has been designed to take the place of air-cavity filters in macro-cell applications. This line maintains a high level of performance despite its size (the largest available model in this series is 63.5 x 38.1 x 12.7 mm) and is less expensive than a typical air-cavity filter.
ClearPlex® Waveguide Ceramic Filter Features:
- 50 Watt (at certain bands) average power
- 500 Watt peak power
- <2.5 dB insertion loss
- -110 dBm (typical) PIM levels
- Higher Q than traditional monoblock filters (roughly 30% more)
- Fully sealed, humidity tolerant package
For a full list of features and additional information, download the datasheet. You can also see a video on the filter here.