Xun Gong
The focus of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) Filters Technical Committee (TC-5) is evaluating new developments in the synthesis and analysis of passive and active elements that are interconnected to realize a specified transfer function. This committee consists of 29 regular members, two Young Professional (YP) affiliate members, and two emeritus members. There are 12 IEEE Fellows among the TC-5 regular members. The main expertise from this committee includes but is not limited to microwave filter synthesis, design, fabrication, and measurement. Particularly in recent years, there have been many developments in reconfigurable filters, multiband filters, multifunctional filters, and the additive manufacturing of 3D filters. Despite the challenges due to COVID-19, the TC-5 committee resumed the summer meeting in Denver, CO, USA, as part of IMS2022 in a hybrid mode (Figure 1). The TC-5 website is https://mtt.org/technical-committees/tc-5-filters-committee/.
Figure 1. The TC-5 committee meeting during IMS2022 at Denver, CO, USA.
For the first time, TC-5 organized a topical conference: the International Microwave Filter Workshop (IMFW) 2021 in Perugia, Italy, which was technically cosponsored by the European Microwave Association (EuMA) (Figure 2). The conference was held at the Brufani Hotel, a historic five-star hotel situated in the heart of medieval Perugia in a panoramic location. At the conference, 117 papers were presented in 20 oral sessions and poster sessions. The total number of registrants was 154 with 86 people attending in person. This was quite amazing since it was still in the middle of the pandemic. IMFW will rotate between different continents biennially and provide an opportunity for the filter community to share new results without the need for long-distance travel. The second IMFW will be held at beautiful Cocoa Beach, FL, USA, from 21 to 23 February 2024 (https://imfw-ieee.org/).
Figure 2. A technical session at IMFW 2021.
TC-5 has sponsored student design competitions at IMS for many years. However, the student design competitions were canceled in 2020 and marginally existed in 2021. At IMS2022, Eric Naglich and Kamal Samanta resumed our competition with the design topic “Packaged C-Band Filter” (Figure 3). A team from Purdue University won first place; team members Alden Fisher and Michael Sinanis were graduate students advised by Prof. Dimitrios Peroulis.
Figure 3. The Student Design Competition at IMS. Front left: Eric Naglich.
Prof. Raafat Mansour from the University of Waterloo, Canada, was selected as an MTT-S Distinguished Microwave Lecturer (DML) in 2022–2024. The DMLs are available to present talks to local Chapters worldwide and serve as ambassadors for the Society. The title of his talk is “Multifunction Multiband Reconfigurable High-Q Filters” (Figure 4). In addition, Charles Jackson, Chandra Kudsia, and Cristiano Tomassoni are available to provide presentations close to their respective home locations under the support of the MTT-S Speakers Bureau.
Figure 4. The cover page of the talk by DML Raafat Mansour.
Dimitra Psychogiou and Roberto Gomez-Garcia co-organized a workshop at IMS2022 titled “Advanced Manufacturing and Design Techniques for Emerging 3D Microwave and mm-Wave RF Filters.” This workshop focused on recent advances in emerging manufacturing and integration processes for 3D microwave and mm-wave RF filters for the next generation of wireless and satellite communication systems. Filter workshops at IMS are usually well attended since filters are widely used in various wireless systems.
Dr. Richard (Dick) Snyder received the 2021 Distinguished Service Award from the MTT-S and the 2021 Outstanding Career Award from the EuMA and was elected an Honorary Life Member of the MTT-S Administrative Committee (AdCom), also in 2021. In 2022, Anthony Ghiotto received the Outstanding Young Engineer Award for outstanding early-career achievements in substrate integrate waveguide technologies and exemplary service to the Society. In the same year, Xun Luo received the Outstanding Young Engineer Award for outstanding early-career achievements in the field of microwave passive and integrated circuits with applications in wireless communication.
TC-5 members are actively engaged in various activities and roles in the MTT-S. Roberto Gomez-Garcia is the current editor-in-chief of IEEE Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters (MWTL). Miguel Laso, Kamal Samanta, and Cristiano Tomassoni served as associate editors of IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Technology. Dimitra Psychogiou, Xun Luo, and Hjalti Sigmarsson served as associate editors of MWTL. Roberto Gomez-Garcia, Kamal Samanta, and Simone Bastioli were associate editors of IEEE Microwave Magazine. Roberto Gomez-Garcia and Kamal Samanta were also associate editors of the new open access journal IEEE Journal of Microwaves. Xun Gong is an elected voting member of the MTT-S AdCom and is the chair of the Education Committee. He also served as the assistant treasurer, Education Committee vice chair, and MTT-S monthly webinar coordinator. He currently serves as the chair of IMFW 2024.
TC-5 has been actively recruiting YP and women members. In 2021–2022, two YP members were admitted. In addition, another two members were introduced to TC-5 as YP affiliate members, including a woman in microwaves, Yi Zeng. Right after joining TC-5, she contributed an article titled “Future Trends in Microwave Filters” to IEEE Microwave Magazine to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the MTT-S.
TC-5 will continue to provide expertise in filters in various activities within the MTT-S. We will host the second IMFW in February 2024. In future IMSs, TC-5 will organize workshops and student design competitions. It is expected that in the next year or so, TC-5 will propose a special issue on filters in IEEE Microwave Magazine. With our active members serving different roles, we will be able to capture the new trends in filter development and sponsor new initiatives in technology advancement and knowledge dissemination. By working with the Education Committee in the MTT-S, TC-5 will strongly support student and YP education.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MMM.2023.3303669