Transverse device phase shifter

A phase shifter array operable at microwave or millimeter-wave frequencies, comprising:

• a dielectric substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a conductive ground plane layer formed thereon, the top surface having a conductive patterned layer formed thereon to define a plurality of microstrip conductor patterns;
• a plurality of series of active tuning elements, each series cascaded along a propagation direction in a spaced arrangement along a longitudinal extent;
• first and second series of conductive vias extending through the dielectric substrate and extending on opposite sides of each series of active tuning elements along the longitudinal extent;
• a housing structure including a bottom housing structure with a planar conductive bottom surface for contacting the bottom conductive layer on the bottom surface of the dielectric substrate, and a top housing structure fabricated with a plurality of channels which extend along the propagation direction in the longitudinal extent and provide clearance for the active tuning elements;
• and
• a bias circuit connected to the active tuning elements in each series of active tuning elements, wherein
• the propagation direction is a direction of a traveling electromagnetic wave.