Non-volatile adjustable phase shifter using non-volatile radio frequency (RF) switch

A plurality of non-volatile adjustable phase shifters coupled to a transceiver in a wireless communication device, each of said plurality of non-volatile adjustable phase shifters comprising:

• a plurality of non-volatile RF switches;
• a plurality of selectable transmission delay arms and a plurality of selectable transmission reference arms;
• said plurality of non-volatile adjustable phase shifters configured to change a phase of corresponding RF signals being transmitted from or received by said transceiver when a corresponding group of said plurality of non-volatile RF switches engages with or disengages from a respective group of said plurality of selectable transmission delay arms;
• wherein said plurality of non-volatile RF switches are phase-change material (PCM) RF switches comprising:
• PCMs and heating elements transverse to said PCMs, said heating elements approximately defining active segments of said PCMs and passive segments of said PCMs;
• PCM contacts situated on top of said passive segments of said PCMs and not situated on sides of said PCMs;
• wherein said heating elements are transverse to said PCMs such that said PCM contacts situated on top of said passive segments of said PCMs do not overlie said heating elements;
• contact uniformity support layers situated on said PCMs.

A non-volatile adjustable phase shifter coupled to a transceiver in a wireless communication device, said non-volatile adjustable phase shifter comprising:

• a non-volatile RF switch;
• a selectable impedance element;
• said non-volatile adjustable phase shifter configured to change a phase of RF signals being transmitted from or received by said when said non-volatile RF switch engages with or disengages from said selectable impedance element;
• wherein said non-volatile RF switch is a phase-change material (PCM) RF switch comprising:
• a PCM and a heating element transverse to said PCM, said heating element approximately defining an active segment of said PCM and passive segments of said PCM;
• PCM contacts situated on top of said passive segments of said PCM and not situated on sides of said PCM;
• wherein said heating element is transverse to said PCM such that said PCM contacts situated on top of said passive segments of said PCM do not overlie said heating element;
• a contact uniformity support layer situated on said PCM.