Novel phase shifters and tuning elements
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorJohn E. Rogers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of phase shifters (10) include electrical conductors (34) suspended within an electrically-conductive housing (28), and a shuttle (16) having an electrically-conductive plate (74) that provides a variable capacitance between a ground potential and the electrical conductor (34) when the shuttle (16) is moved between a first and second position. The plate (74) is electrically connected to a ground plane (27) of the phase shifter (10) by adjacent electrically-conductive portions (54, 55b, 53a) of the shuttle (16).
Claims26
A phase shifter, comprising:
- a housing;
- an electrical conductor suspended within the housing on electrically-insulative supports;
- and
- a shuttle having a bridge section, a plate attached to said bridge section, and an actuator section, each formed of electrically conductive material, and an insulator portion formed of electrically insulative material which electrically isolates at least said plate from said actuator section;
- wherein the shuttle is configured for movement between a first position at which the plate is spaced a first distance from the electrical conductor, and a second position at which the plate is spaced a second distance from the electrical conductor, and wherein said plate and said electrical conductor in combination form a capacitor having a capacitance value which is different when said plate is spaced at said first distance as compared to said second distance.
A process for making a phase shifter, comprising:
- selectively depositing a first layer of an electrically-conductive material on a substrate to form at least a portion of a ground plane and an actuator;
- selectively depositing a second layer of the electrically-conductive material on the first layer and the substrate to form or further form the actuator, a portion of a housing, and a portion of a mount for a shuttle configured to vary a position of a capacitor plate relative to an electrical conductor on a selective basis when actuated by the actuator;
- and
- selectively depositing a third layer of the electrically-conductive material on the first and second layers and the substrate to form or further form the capacitor plate, the housing, the actuator, the mount, the shuttle, and the electrical conductor.
A phase shifter, comprising a coaxial transmission line section disposed on a substrate including an exterior housing and an electrical conductor suspended within said housing;
- a shuttle suspended on first and second mounts connected to said substrate;
- and
- a capacitor plate mechanically coupled to said shuttle and electrically connected to said housing;
- wherein said shuttle is configured to transition said capacitor plate from a first position located a first distance from said electrical conductor, to a second position located a second distance from said conductor responsive to an electrical input signal, said first distance different from said second distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.