Guided-wave broadband mechanical phase-shifting device

A device for phase-shifting a radiofrequency signal, comprising a first carrier (SF, SF′, SF″, SF′″) and a second carrier (SM, SM′, SM″, SM′″), the first carrier (SF, SF′, SF″, SF′″) and the second carrier (SM, SM′, SM″, SM′″) being mounted so as to allow relative movement, an input port (PE) and an output port (PS) for radiofrequency signals being formed on the first carrier (SF, SF′, SF″, SF′″), wherein the phase-shifting device comprises:

• a first array of conductive pads (RP1, RP1′, RP1″) that are distributed over the first carrier (SF, SF′, SF″, SF′″) and run from the input port (PE), a second array of conductive pads (RP2, RP2′, RP2″) that are distributed over the second carrier (SM, SM′, SM″, SM′″),
• the first carrier (SF, SF′, SF″, SF′″), the second carrier (SM, SM′, SM″, SM′″), the first array of conductive pads (RP1, RP1′, RP1″) and the second array of conductive pads (RP2, RP2′, RP2″) being arranged so as to form a structure for guiding radiofrequency signals of variable length having a rectangular cross section that connects the input port (PE) and the output port (PS), the first array of conductive pads (RP1, RP1′, RP1″) and the second array of conductive pads (RP2, RP2′, RP2″) being configured such that the cross section and the length of the guide structure change, over at least a portion of the path along which the radiofrequency signals propagate through the guide structure, as the first carrier (SF, SF′, SF″, SF′″) moves relative to the second carrier (SM, SM′, SM″, SM′″).