Phase Shift Tuning Range Research Articles

A W-Band Digitally Controlled Bidirectional Transmission Line Phase Shifter in 22-nm FDSOI

In this letter, a passive bidirectional integrated tunable transmission line (TL) phase shifter (PS) is proposed and demonstrated in the W-band (75–110 GHz). The PS is based on a modified coplanar waveguide (CPW) structure with a conditional meandering ground return path located below the coplanar metal layer on the ground wall. The modified CPW structure achieves a wide phase shift tuning range with a compact PS unit cell A 5-bit digitally controllable PS based on the proposed topology is implemented in the 22-nm fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) process. The PS achieves a worst case phase resolution and loss of 4.4 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^\circ$</tex-math> </inline-formula> and 11.5 Db, respectively, in the W-band for a total phase shift of up to 115 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^\circ$</tex-math> </inline-formula> . To the authors’ knowledge, this represents the highest frequency range for a constant length integrated tunable TL PS in a silicon-based integrated circuit (IC) technology.

Broadband multi-frequency microwave photonic up-conversion with tunable phase shift

A broadband multi-frequency microwave photonic up-conversion scheme with a tunable phase shift is proposed and demonstrated based on a cavity-less ultrashort optical pulse source and a dual-polarization dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator (DP-DPMZM). In this scheme, the intermediate-frequency (IF) signal is loaded onto the optical frequency comb from a cavity-less ultrashort pulse source via carrier-suppressed double-sideband (CS-DSB) modulation by using a DP-DPMZM and a 90° electric hybrid coupler (HC). Through mutual beating between multi-groups of optical modulation sidebands and multi-tone optical carrier at the photodetector (PD), multi-frequency up-converted microwave signals are obtained after coherent superposition. Meanwhile, the phase of the generated signals can be continuously tuned through varying the bias voltages of the DP-DPMZM. Simulation results show that the multi-frequency up-conversion is with a 3-dB operation bandwidth of 36 GHz and a phase shift tuning range over 360°. Hence, this scheme is a potential candidate to simultaneously realize broadband multi-frequency operation and generate the large-scale tunable phase shift in modern radar systems.

Continuously Tunable True-Time-Delay Phase Shifter With Extended Tuning Range

A continuously tunable true-time-delay phase-shifter topology based on switchable varactor-tuned transmission lines is presented. By introducing p-i-n diodes to switch different varactor-tuned transmission lines, the phase shift tuning range can be doubled compared with the conventional design, which results in 50% size reduction. For verification, two cascaded four-unit and eight-unit microstrip phase shifters are designed and fabricated on a 0.787-mm-thick Rogers RT/Duroid 5880 substrate with $\varepsilon _{r} =2.2$ and tan $\delta =0.0009$ . The measured microstrip phase shifts of the four-unit and eight-unit phase shifters are about 107° and 191° at 4 GHz, respectively, with insertion loss of less than 2.4 and 3.6 dB. The return loss is better than 15 dB from 0.5 to 4.65 GHz for all states.

Continuously Tunable True-Time-Delay Phase Shifter Based on Transmission Lines With Simultaneously Reconfigurable Impedance and Phase Constant

This article reports on the design of continuously tunable true-time-delay (TTD) phase shifter using transmission lines with simultaneously reconfigurable impedance and phase constant. The reconfigurable transmission lines are designed with an independent control of equivalent series inductance and capacitance, which thus can achieve tunable phase constant (i.e., phase shift) while maintaining constant characteristic impedance. With the perfect matching property for all tuning states of phase constant, the proposed reconfigurable transmission-line units are cascaded to construct a tunable TTD phase shifter. For the proof-of-concept demonstration, three TTD phase shifters based on the proposed reconfigurable transmission lines with phase shifts of 45°, 90°, and 180° at center frequency of 1 GHz ( $f_{0}$ ) are designed and fabricated. The measured 2-unit phase shifter is tuned from −128° to −175° at $f_{0}$ while the insertion loss is better than 0.8 dB. The return loss is better than 15 dB from dc to $1.28f_{0}$ . For the 4-unit phase shifter, the phase shift tuning range is 93° at $f_{0}$ with insertion loss better than 1.4 dB. The return loss is better than 15 dB from dc to $1.03f_{0}$ for all states. The 8-unit phase shifter shows a measured tuning range of 183° at $f_{0}$ with insertion loss better than 2.0 dB. The return loss is better than 15 dB from dc to $1.03~ f_{0}$ for all states. The measured continuously tunable delay time is 507 ps. The measured 1-dB compression point is better than 12 dBm at $f_{0}$ for all states. As compared with the state-of-the-arts, the main merits of the proposed phase shifter are large phase shift/unit and wide matching bandwidth.

360° Phase Shifter Design Using Dual-Branch Switching Network

This letter presents a reflective-type phase shifter with single-stage varactor diodes at the reflective networks. Dual-branch switching network is proposed and cascaded to the output of the phase shifter. The switching network is composed of a quarter-wavelength transmission line branch and a phase inverter branch. Phase inverter produces additional 180° phase delay to the phase shifter. A single branch in the switching network is selected and directed to the output port one at a time. Simulations and experimental results demonstrate that insertion loss of the proposed phase shifter is constant, irrespective of branch chosen. The measured insertion loss variation is less than ±0.5 dB over phase shift tuning range of 360° at 2.45 GHz.

Microwave photonic phase shifter based on birefringence effects in a semiconductor optical amplifier

A continuously tunable microwave photonic (MWP) phase shifter based on birefringence effects in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is presented and the theoretical fundamentals of the design are explained. This proposed device provides a high efficiency phase-shift tuning range beyond 2π rad by controlling the SOA launch power. A prototype of the MWP phase shifter with a frequency of 10 GHz and 2π rad tuning range is experimentally demonstrated.

A novel photonic RF phase shifter based on polarization controller

A novel radio frequency (RF) photonic phase shifter based on polarization controller is presented and the theoretical fundamentals of the design are explained.This phase shifter provides broad operational bandwidth and a full 360° phase shift tuning range with a commercial polarization controller. A prototype of the RF photonic phase shifter with a frequency of 26.75 GHz and 360° tuning range is experimentally demonstrated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52:2598–2600, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25533

Photonic radio-frequency phase shifter based on polarization interference

An rf photonic phase shifter based on polarization interference is presented, and the theoretical fundamentals of the design are explained. This phase shifter provides broad operational bandwidth and a full 360 degrees phase-shift tuning range with a single external electrical control. A prototype of the rf photonic phase shifter with a frequency of 26.75 GHz and 360 degrees tuning range is experimentally demonstrated.

An X‐band 185° CMOS phase shifter MMIC for multiple‐antenna systems

AbstractThe design and implementation of an X‐band phase shifter MMIC using the standard 0.18‐μm CMOS process is presented. A transformed doublet varactor load is analyzed and applied to a 3‐dB quadrature coupler to exhibit large phase shift tuning range and low insertion loss with minimal variation. By using the derived design equations, the implemented CMOS reflection‐type phase shifter demonstrates a continuous phase shift tuning range greater than 185°, an average insertion loss of 5.2 dB with ±0.4 dB variation, and return losses better than 13 dB in 9–11 GHz. The total chip size including I/O pads is 0.76 × 0.79 mm2. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 645–648, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24131

A Full-360$^{\circ}$ Reflection-Type Phase Shifter With Constant Insertion Loss

A new reflection-type phase shifter with a full 360deg relative phase shift range and constant insertion loss is presented. This feature is obtained by incorporating a new cascaded connection of varactors into the impedance-transforming quadrature coupler. The required reactance variation of a varactor can be reduced by controlling the impedance ratio of the quadrature coupler. The implemented phase shifter achieves a measured maximal relative phase shift of 407deg, an averaged insertion loss of 4.4 dB and return losses better than 19 dB at 2 GHz. The insertion-loss variation is within plusmn0.1 and plusmn0.2 dB over the 360deg and 407deg relative phase shift tuning range, respectively.

Design of a Reflection-Type Phase Shifter With Wide Relative Phase Shift and Constant Insertion Loss

<para xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> A reflection-type phase shifter with constant insertion loss over a wide relative phase-shift range is presented. This important feature is attributed to the salient integration of an impedance-transforming quadrature coupler with equalized series-resonated varactors. The impedance-transforming quadrature coupler is used to increase the maximal relative phase shift for a given varactor with a limited capacitance range. When the phase is tuned, the typical large insertion-loss variation of the phase shifter due to the varactor parasitic effect is minimized by shunting the series-resonated varactor with a resistor <formula formulatype="inline"><tex>$R_{p}$</tex></formula>. A set of closed-form equations for predicting the relative phase shift, insertion loss, and insertion-loss variation with respect to the quadrature coupler and varactor parameters is derived. Three phase shifters were implemented with a silicon varactor of a restricted capacitance range of <formula formulatype="inline"><tex>$C_{v,\min}=1.4$</tex> </formula> pF and <formula formulatype="inline"><tex>$C_{v,\max}= 8\ $</tex></formula> pF, wherein the parasitic resistance is close to 2 <formula formulatype="inline"><tex>$\Omega$</tex></formula>. The measured insertion-loss variation is 0.1 dB over the relative phase-shift tuning range of 237<formula formulatype="inline"><tex>$^{\circ}$</tex></formula> at 2 GHz and the return losses are better than 20 dB, excellently agreeing with the theoretical and simulated results. </para>

Phase self-calibrated scheme for zero-IF receiver

A new phase self-calibrated scheme maintains the quadrature is proposed in the letter, which mainly includes quadrature phase detector (QPD), charge pump, comparator, controller and variable delay buffer (VDB) etc. The primary idea behind the scheme is that the quadrature phase error is converted to the voltage variation on the capacitor, and then the voltage variation drives the controller to tune the VDB to the proper control word. The phase calibration is digitally controlled and considers the mismatch effect of charge pump, removing the disadvantage of conventional analog calibration circuit whose performance is sensitive to process and temperature variations and aging. It is shown that the two VDBs have an 8°quadrature phase shift tuning range, and an 8 mA current at 1.7 HGz, and the calibration process takes less than 160 μs.

Broad-band RF photonic phase shifter based on stimulated Brillouin scattering and single-sideband modulation

We introduce a novel RF photonic phase shifter based on Brillouin signal processing of optical single-sideband signals. The theoretical fundamentals of the design are explained and the main factors influencing its performance are analyzed. This phase shifter provides broad operational bandwidth and a full 360/spl deg/ phase-shift tuning range with a single external electrical control. A prototype of the phase shifter with 18-GHz bandwidth and full 360/spl deg/ tuning range is experimentally demonstrated.