System and method for calibrating a ferroelectric phase shifter
US5479139A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01P1/181
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A ferroelectric phase shifter for shifting the phase of a radio frequency F) signal. The phase shifter includes a conductor line, a ground plane and a ferroelectric element between the conductor line and the ground plane to form a microstrip circuit through which the RF signal propagates. The ferroelectric element has a dielectric constant that can be varied as a function of a DC voltage applied to the ferroelectric element wherein the speed of the RF signal propagating through the ferroelectric element is a function of the dielectric constant. The phase shifter further includes a DC voltage source connected across the conductor line and the ground plane. The DC voltage source applies a variable DC voltage to the ferroelectric element in response to a control signal thereby to vary the dielectric constant of the ferroelectric element. The phase shifter further includes a controller circuit operating at a test frequency having a synchronous detector for detecting changes in the dielectric constant of the ferroelectric element. The controller circuit provides the control signal to the DC voltage source to vary the applied DC voltage as a function of the detected changes. In this mann…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.