A Compact 6-Cavity LTCC Filter Featuring Four Transmission Zeros and Wide Stopband Based on a Single Cross-Coupling

The high-density integration of low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) filters inevitably induces complex parasitic coupling. Traditional designs rely on forced isolation to mitigate this issue, often at the expense of increased physical footprints. To overcome this limitation, this paper proposes a strategy for the controlled utilization of parasitic effects. Methodologically, localized grounding structures are introduced to construct a controlled electromagnetic boundary. The system’s main path exhibits alternating inductive-capacitive (L-C) coupling, with a single explicit capacitive cross-coupling introduced between specific nodes (resonators 2 and 5). Based on the principle of multi-path signal cancellation, this explicit path synergizes with the implicit parasitic environment. By satisfying conditions of equal amplitude and a 180° phase difference at specific frequencies, a high-order hybrid network is equivalently reconstructed, generating four transmission zeros (TZs). A compact sixth-order LTCC filter was fabricated and tested. Measured results demonstrate a fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 38.6%, a shape factor of 1.16 (based on the 20-dB/3-dB bandwidth ratio), and a 20-dB upper stopband extending beyond 4.28f0. In conclusion, the rational utilization—rather than forced isolation—of inherent parasitic effects provides an effective solution for enhancing frequency selectivity and stopband performance in high-density integrated RF front-ends.