# US 2021/0344112 A1 · Millimeter Wave Radio Frequency Phase Shifter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0344112 A1 - Document ID: US20210344112A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/373,348 - Filed: 2021-07-12 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-17 - Assignees: AVX Antenna, Inc. d/b/a Ethertronics, Inc. - Applicants: AVX Antenna, Inc. d/b/a Ethertronics, Inc. - Inventors: Sever Cercelaru; Olivier Pajona - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210344112A1 ## CPC - H01Q 3/2658: {Phased-array fed focussing structure} - H01P 1/184: {Strip line phase-shifters (H01P1/181, H01P1/185, H01P1/19 take precedence)} - H01P 1/185: using a diode or a gas filled discharge tube - H01Q 3/32: by mechanical means - H01Q 3/34: by electrical means (active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46) - H01Q 3/38: the phase-shifters being digital - H01Q 3/443: {varying the phase velocity along a leaky transmission line (frequency scanning H01Q3/22; non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line aerials H01Q13/20)} - H01Q 21/0006: {Particular feeding systems} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) ## Abstract A millimeter wave RF phase shifter includes an input and an output. The RF phase shifter further includes a transmission line coupled to the input. The transmission line can include a plurality of taps. The RF phase shifter can further include a plurality of switching devices. Each switching device can be coupled between the output and a corresponding tap of the plurality of taps. The RF phase shifter can include a control device operatively coupled to the plurality of switching devices. The control device can be configured to control operation of the plurality of switching devices to selectively couple one of the plurality of taps to the output to control a phase shift of a RF signal propagating on the transmission line. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A millimeter wave radio frequency (RF) phase shifter comprising: an input; an output; a transmission line coupled to the input, the transmission line having a plurality of taps; a first plurality of switching devices, each of the first plurality of switching devices coupled to a corresponding tap of the plurality of taps; and a second plurality of switching devices, each of the second plurality of switching devices coupled between the output and a corresponding switching device of the first plurality of switching devices. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The millimeter wave RF phase shifter of claim 21, wherein the plurality of taps are spaced apart from one another along the transmission line. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The millimeter wave RF phase shifter of claim 21, wherein each of the first plurality of switching devices and each of the second plurality of switching devices comprise a transistor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The millimeter wave RF phase shifter of claim 23, wherein the transistor comprises a bipolar junction transistor or a metal-oxide field effect transistor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The millimeter wave RF phase shifter of claim 21, further comprising: a plurality of coupling circuits, each of the plurality of coupling circuits coupled between a corresponding tap of the plurality of taps and a corresponding switching device of the first plurality of switching devices. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The millimeter wave RF phase shifter of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of coupling circuits comprise one or more capacitors. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The millimeter wave RF phase shifter of claim 21, wherein the transmission line is a meander transmission line having one or more bends between a first end of the meander transmission line and a second end of the meander transmission line. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The millimeter wave RF phase shifter of claim 27, further comprising: a resistor coupled between an electrical ground and the second end of the meander transmission line. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The millimeter wave RF phase shifter of claim 21, wherein a length of the transmission line ranges from about 510 micrometers to about 560 micrometers. ### Claim 30 A phased array antenna system, comprising: a plurality of antenna elements; and a plurality of millimeter wave radio frequency (RF) phase shifters, each of the plurality of millimeter wave RF phase shifters comprising: an input couplable to a RF source; an output couplable to a corresponding antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements; a transmission line coupled to the input, the transmission line having a plurality of taps; a first plurality of switching devices, each of the first plurality of switching devices coupled to a corresponding tap of the plurality of taps; and a second plurality of switching devices, each of the second plurality of switching devices coupled between the output and a corresponding switching device of the first plurality of switching devices. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The phased array antenna system of claim 30, wherein the transmission line is a meander transmission line having one or more bends between a first end of the meander transmission line and a second end of the meander transmission line. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The phased array antenna system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of taps are spaced apart from one another along the meander transmission line. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The phased array antenna system of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of millimeter wave RF phase shifters further comprise: a control device operatively coupled to each of the first plurality of switching devices and each of the second plurality of switching devices, the control device configured to control operation of a first switching device of the first plurality of switching devices and a second switching device of the second plurality of switching devices to selectively couple one of the plurality of taps to the output to adjust an electrical length of the transmission line to control a phase shift of a RF signal propagating on the transmission line. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The phased array antenna system of claim 33, wherein the control device is configured to: provide a first signal to the first switching device of the first plurality of switching devices to couple the first switching device to a tap of the plurality of taps; and provide a second signal to the second switching device of the second plurality of switching devices to couple the tap to the output. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The phased array antenna system of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of millimeter wave RF phase shifters further comprise: a plurality of coupling circuits, each of the plurality of coupling circuits coupled between a corresponding tap of the plurality of taps and a corresponding switching device of the first plurality of switching devices. ### Claim 36 (depends on 30) The phased array antenna system of claim 30, wherein each of the first plurality of switching devices and each of the second plurality of switching devices comprise a transistor.