Stackable rf filter for a receiver or transmitter

An RF filter stack for mounting on a PCB and including a plurality of filters, each filter configured for filtering a selected frequency range from an input signal, and configured for connecting to one of a plurality of outputs from an input switch receiving the input signal, and to one of a plurality of inputs from an output switch for outputting a filtered output signal;

• wherein the plurality of filters are superposed one top of another, each filter comprising:
• a filter layer;
• a dielectric layer on each side of the filter layer;
• and
• metal insulation layers above and below the dielectric layers for insulating each filter from other filters above and/or below.

An RF filter device for mounting on a PCB comprising:

• an electrical to optical transducer for converting an electrical input signal to an optical input signal;
• an input optical switch including at least one input for inputting the input optical signal and a plurality of outputs;
• an optical filter stack including a plurality of optical filters, each optical filter connected to one of the plurality of outputs from the input switch and capable of filtering a selected frequency range;
• an output optical switch including a plurality of inputs, and at least one output for outputting a filtered optical signal, each input connected to one of the plurality of optical filters;
• an optical to electrical transducer for converting the filter optical signal to a filtered electrical signal;
• wherein the filter stack comprises a plurality of superposed filters, each optical filter comprising:
• an optical filter layer;
• and
• a dielectric layer on each side of the optical filter layer.