US 7,026,892 B2 · Transmission line phase shifter with controllable high permittivity dielectric element

Abstract

A transmission line phase shifter ideally suited for use in low-cost, steerable, phased array antennas suitable for use in wireless fidelity (WiFi) and other wireless telecommunication networks, in particular multi-hop ad hoc networks, is disclosed. The transmission line phase shifter includes a wire transmission line, such as a coaxial, stripline, microstrip, or coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line. A high-permittivity dielectric element that overlies the signal conductor of the wire transmission line is used to control phase shifting. Phase shifting can be electromechanically controlled by controlling the space between the high-permittivity dielectric element and the signal conductor of the wire transmission line or by electrically controlling the permittivity of the high-permittivity dielectric element.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A transmission line phase shifter comprising:

a signal conductor;
a high-permittivity dielectric self-supporting layer overlying said signal conductor, said high-permittivity dielectric self-supporting layer including a high-permittivity dielectric material;
and
a controller for controlling the interaction of the permittivity of the high-permittivity dielectric element with the signal conductor, said controller including an electromechanical system for controlling the position of said high-permittivity dielectric self-supporting layer with respect to said signal conductor by moving said high-permittivity dielectric self-supporting layer toward and away from said signal conductor.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Transmission line phase shifter with controllable high permittivity dielectric element

Life of this patent

Transmission line phase shifter with controllable high permittivity dielectric element

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12