True time delay module and beam former having plural delay lines selectively connected by plural switching elements including one or more intermediate switching element

A true time delay (TTD) module comprising:

• a substrate;
• a transmission line formed on the substrate, the transmission line comprising a plurality of time delay lines defining signal paths of varying lengths between a signal input of the TTD module and a signal output of the TTD module;
• and
• a plurality of switching elements positioned along the transmission line and selectively controllable to define a signal transmission path between the signal input and the signal output, the plurality of switching elements comprising:
• a respective input switching element positioned at a first end of each of the plurality of time delay lines;
• a respective output switching element positioned at a second end of each of the plurality of time delay lines;
• at least one intermediate switching element positioned between the respective input switching element and the respective output switching element of at least one of the plurality of time delay lines;
• and
• wherein the at least one intermediate switching element reduces electrical coupling between the plurality of time delay lines of a time delay stage to less than 25 dB.

A method of manufacturing a true time delay (TTD) module comprising:

• patterning a signal line on a substrate, the signal line comprising a plurality of delay lines defining alternative paths between a signal input and a signal output of the TTD module;
• forming a first switching device at an input end of each of the plurality of delay lines;
• forming a second switching device at an output end of each of the plurality of delay lines;
• forming at least one intermediate switching device on at least one of the plurality of delay lines between the first switching device and the second switching device, the at least one intermediate switching device dividing the respective delay line into a plurality of electrically isolated segments when the at least one intermediate switching device is in an OFF state;
• and
• wherein patterning the signal line further comprises:
• patterning a first plurality of the plurality of delay lines to define a first time delay stage having a fan configuration;
• and
• patterning a second plurality of the plurality of delay lines to define a second time delay stage having a linear configuration.

A true time delay (TTD) module comprising:

• a substrate;
• a transmission line formed on the substrate, the transmission line comprising a plurality of time delay lines defining signal paths of varying lengths between a signal input of the TTD module and a signal output of the TTD module;
• and
• a plurality of switching elements positioned along the transmission line and selectively controllable to define a signal transmission path between the signal input and the signal output, the plurality of switching elements comprising:
• a respective input switching element positioned at a first end of each of the plurality of time delay lines;
• a respective output switching element positioned at a second end of each of the plurality of time delay lines;
• at least one intermediate switching element positioned between the respective input switching element and the respective output switching element of at least one of the plurality of time delay lines;
• and
• wherein the at least one intermediate switching element eliminates a bandstop resonance in the transmission line.

A beam forming system comprising:

• an antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• a plurality of dies constructed to transmit a true time delayed (TTD) signal to the plurality of antenna elements;
• wherein each die of the plurality of dies comprises:
• a base substrate;
• a transmission line formed on the base substrate, the transmission line comprising a plurality of delay lines defining alternative signal paths between a signal input and a signal output of the die;
• a plurality of switching element pairs, each switching element pair comprising a pair of switching elements positioned at opposing ends of a respective delay line of the plurality of delay lines;
• and
• an intermediate switching element positioned on a first delay line of the plurality of delay lines between the respective pair of switching elements positioned at opposing ends of the first delay line, wherein the intermediate switching element divides the first delay line into a plurality of electrically isolated segments when the intermediate switching element is in an open position;
• and
• wherein the intermediate switching element divides the first delay line into a plurality of line segments, each line segment having a length of less than a half wavelength of a frequency range of an RF input signal.