Patent ID: 7782158

Claim:
A filter for processing an RF signal comprising: an input port and an output port and a plurality of resonators; the resonators arranged in a sequentially-coupled arrangement between the input and output ports to affect an RF signal there between; each resonator including a cavity and resonant element; the resonant elements of at least two resonators being made of two different types of materials to effect higher and lower Q factors for the at least two resonators; the resonators being arranged to provide at least one resonator of the type of material having a lower Q factor proximate at least one of the input and output ports while a resonator of the type of material having a higher Q factor is provided proximate the inside of the sequentially-coupled arrangement and sequentially spaced from the input and output ports; a lower Q material resonator that is proximate at least one of the input and output ports being coupled to a sequentially adjacent higher Q material resonator and also cross-coupled with at least one other higher Q material resonator that is proximate the inside of the sequentially-coupled arrangement and not sequentially adjacent with the lower Q material resonator proximate the input and output ports.