Digital phase shifter

Abstract

A digital phase shifter includes a plurality of digital phase shift circuits connected in cascade and one or more bend-type connection units each configured to make a connection between two digital phase shift circuits of the plurality of digital phase shift circuits. Each of the digital phase shift circuits includes at least a signal line, a pair of inner lines provided at both sides of the signal line, a pair of outer lines provided outside of the inner lines, a first ground conductor connected to one ends of the inner lines and the outer lines, a second ground conductor connected to the other ends of the outer lines, and a pair of electronic switches provided between the other ends of the inner lines and the second ground conductor. Each of the digital phase shift circuits is a circuit set in a low-delay mode in which a return current flows through the inner line or a high-delay mode in which a return current flows through the outer line. The plurality of digital phase shift circuits connected in cascade are arranged in a spiral shape via the connection units.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.