Tunable cavity filters using electronically connectable pieces

A tunable waveguide cavity filter, comprising:

• a waveguide;
• a metal insert attached to a substrate, wherein the metal insert provides at least one resonant waveguide cavity, wherein the at least one resonant waveguide cavity comprises:
• at least two pieces of material;
• and
• circuitry selected from the group consisting of varactors, pin diodes, and field effect transistors (FETs), wherein the circuitry can connect or disconnect the at least two pieces of material to alter the electric and magnetic fields inside the cavity;
• and
• means for connecting the waveguide and the metal insert.

A tunable waveguide cavity filter, comprising:

• a waveguide;
• a metal insert attached to a substrate, wherein the metal insert provides at least one resonant waveguide cavity, wherein the at least one resonant waveguide cavity comprises:
• at least two pieces of material;
• and
• MEMS circuitry, wherein the MEMS circuitry can connect or disconnect the at least two pieces of material to alter the electric and magnetic fields inside the cavity;
• and
• means for connecting the waveguide and the metal insert.

A method of creating an electronically tunable cavity filter comprising at least one resonant cavity, wherein the method comprises:

• inserting at least two pieces of material into the at least one resonant cavity;
• interconnecting the at least two pieces of material with MEMS circuitry, wherein the MEMS circuitry can connect or disconnect the at least two pieces of material;
• and
• controlling the MEMS circuitry to enable tuning of the cavity filter.