An 18–50-GHz Δ–Σ Modulated Quasi-Continuous Digital Vector-Modulation Phase Shifter With Variable Gain Control

Abstract

This letter presents a high precision wideband active vector-modulating phase shifter with high dynamic range gain control ability. Compared with conventional switching-filter phase shifter and vector-modulation phase shifter, this Δ -Σ modulated vector phase shifter can provide quasi-continuous phase and gain control capability. According to the experimental results, the dynamic range of gain control is greater than 35.5 dB. The output reflection is lower than -10 dB through the 18-50-GHz band, and the input reflection is lower than -10 dB from 18 to 45 GHz. The phase shifter occupies 700 μm x 900 μm on 0.13-μm SiGe bipolar complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (BiCMOS) technology, and the core size is only 400 μm x 500 μm. After digital calibration, the proposed phase shifter has achieved the highest phase and gain control precision compared with the state-of-the-art digital controlled phase shifters.