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An electronically controlled transmission‐line phase shifter
Author(s) -
Shin ChangSeok,
Nevels Robert,
Strieter Frederick,
Biard J. Robert
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
microwave and optical technology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1098-2760
pISSN - 0895-2477
DOI - 10.1002/mop.11393
Subject(s) - phase shift module , microstrip , transmission line , microwave , strips , feed line , biasing , materials science , electrical engineering , line (geometry) , patch antenna , optoelectronics , phase (matter) , signal (programming language) , microstrip antenna , antenna (radio) , voltage , engineering , telecommunications , physics , insertion loss , computer science , composite material , quantum mechanics , programming language , geometry , mathematics
An investigation of a microstrip transmission line in which a measure of electronic control over the wave propagation constant can be achieved is presented. The microstrip line is constructed with an adjustable‐width upper plate, obtained by placing a DC bias across the p + and n + strips in doped silicon. A change in the forward‐voltage bias across the silicon strip changes the current amplitude, which in turn affects a change in the conductivity of the silicon. This change in the conductivity of the silicon semiconductor produces a change in the effective width of the microstrip line, thus producing a phase shift in a high‐frequency signal propagating in the line. An electronically controlled transmission line (ECTL) has applications as a feed line for a traveling wave‐array antenna. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 40: 402–406, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11393