Phase shifter
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsFarbod Tabatabai, Kirk Garrett Laursen, Dedi David Haziza
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interdigital capacitor low loss and high resolution phase shifter is disclosed. The phase shifter includes an input port, a first electrode connected to the input port, an output port and a second electrode connected to the output port and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode. The phase shifter also includes a substrate disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first variable capacitor disposed on the first electrode and a second variable capacitor disposed on the second electrode. Adjustment of one or more of the variable capacitors causes a phase shift between the input port and the output port.
Claims22
A phase shifter comprising:
- an input port;
- a first electrode connected to the input port;
- an output port;
- a second electrode connected to the output port and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode;
- a third electrode connected to the first electrode and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode and the second electrode;
- a fourth electrode connected to the second electrode and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode;
- a substrate disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- a first variable capacitor disposed on the first electrode;
- a second variable capacitor disposed on the second electrode;
- a third variable capacitor disposed on the third electrode;
- and
- a fourth variable capacitor disposed on the fourth electrode,
- wherein adjustment of one or more of the variable capacitors causes a phase shift between the input port and the output port.
A system comprising:
- an antenna configured to emit a signal;
- and
- a phase shifter connected to the antenna, the phase shifter comprising:
- an input port configured to receive the signal;
- a first electrode connected to the input port;
- an output port in communication with the antenna;
- a second electrode connected to the output port and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode;
- a third electrode connected to the first electrode and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode and the second electrode;
- a fourth electrode connected to the second electrode and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode;
- a substrate disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- a first variable capacitor disposed on the first electrode;
- a second variable capacitor disposed on the second electrode;
- a third variable capacitor disposed on the third electrode;
- and
- a fourth variable capacitor disposed on the fourth electrode,
- wherein adjustment of one or more of the variable capacitors causes a phase shift between the input port and the output port.
A method comprising:
- receiving a signal having a first phase at a phase shifter, the phase shifter comprising:
- an input port configured to receive the signal;
- a first electrode connected to the input port;
- an output port;
- a second electrode connected to the output port and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode;
- a third electrode connected to the first electrode and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode and the second electrode;
- a fourth electrode connected to the second electrode and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode;
- a substrate disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- a first variable capacitor disposed on the first electrode;
- a second variable capacitor disposed on the second electrode;
- a third variable capacitor disposed on the third electrode;
- and
- a fourth variable capacitor disposed on the fourth electrode,
- wherein adjustment of one or more of the variable capacitors causes a phase shift between the input port and the output port;
- adjusting at least one of the variable capacitors;
- and
- outputting the signal at the output port of the phase shifter, the outputted signal having a second phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.