Low power digital TTL command for 1 bit 60 GHz RF MEMS phase shifter

Abstract

This paper presents a circuit used to actuate Radio Frequency MicroElectroMechanical Systems (RF MEMS) based phase shifters for 60GHz beam forming. Wireless transmission in the 60GHz band show a dramatic free space loss, thus making it mandatory to use antennas with high gain in a desired direction. Beam forming is then necessary to optimize the link budget between communicating nodes. Antenna arrays can be used for beam forming. The work done at LAAS was aiming to provide RF MEMS based phase shifters working with a standard digital command. RF MEMS commonly have high actuation voltages usually obtained with charge pumps. This paper presents a full 1bit phase shifter with a digital translation part, an analog DC–DC converter, and an RF MEMS based loaded line phase shifter for 60GHz signals. This converter is built using boost converters as an alternative to the use of charge pumps for driving RF MEMS in the field of wireless communications. Boost converters, despite relatively high current peaks, allow shorter settling times compared to charge pumps.