Bent Digital Phase Shifter Layout for Impedance Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In digital phase shifters with a configuration of multiple digital phase shift circuits connected in cascade, phase shift amount distributions are generated due to weak reflections at connection portions, especially when the configuration is bent using a bend-type line, leading to impedance mismatch issues.
Innovation Solution
The digital phase shifter incorporates a capacitor connected in parallel to connection lines and regions near connection points between digital phase shift circuits, along with electronic switches to control grounding, thereby averaging phase shift amount distributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital phase shift circuits are connected in cascade to achieve desired phase shift function, then phase shift precision is improved, but device length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The digital phase shifter is divided into multiple digital phase shift circuit groups (first group, second group, etc.), each containing several digital phase shift circuits connected in cascade. This segmentation allows the total phase shift function to be distributed across multiple modular units, achieving the desired phase shift precision while enabling flexible spatial arrangement to manage device length.
Solution Approach 2:
Bend-type connection portions are used to connect digital phase shift circuit groups, changing the spatial arrangement from a simple linear configuration to a bent or folded configuration. This dimensional change allows the signal path to achieve the necessary length for phase shift precision while reducing the overall device footprint by utilizing two-dimensional or three-dimensional space more efficiently.
2Length of stationary object
If the digital phase shifter is bent using a bend-type line to shorten device length, then device length is reduced, but impedance matching deteriorates due to weak reflections at connection portions
Solution Approach 1:
Capacitors are introduced as intermediary elements connected in parallel to the signal lines at specific locations within the digital phase shift circuit groups. These capacitors act as mediators to compensate for impedance mismatches caused by weak reflections at connection portions, thereby maintaining reliable impedance matching even when the device is bent to reduce length.
3Reliability
If capacitors are connected in parallel to connection lines to average phase shift amount distributions, then impedance matching is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Capacitors are selectively connected in parallel to specific connection lines or signal lines at strategic locations within the digital phase shift circuit groups, rather than uniformly across all connections. This local application of capacitive compensation targets the specific areas where phase shift amount distributions and impedance mismatches occur, improving impedance matching while minimizing the overall increase in device complexity by limiting the number and placement of additional components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively reduces phase shift amount distributions caused by reflections, improving impedance matching and reducing signal path length.
Implementation Method 1
phase shift amount distributions are generated due to weak reflections occurring in a front side and a rear side of a connection portion
Implementation Method 2
a pair of electronic switches, one of the pair of electronic switches being provided between the other end of one of the pair of inner lines and the second grounding conductor and the other of the pair of electronic switches being provided between the other end of the other of the pair of inner lines and the second grounding conductor
Data Source
AI summary
A digital phase shifter includes a bend-type connection portion configured to connect a first digital phase shift circuit located at an end of a first digital phase shift circuit group and a second digital phase shift circuit located at an end of a second digital phase shift circuit group and include a third digital phase shift circuit. A capacitor is connected in parallel to at least one of a first connection line of a first connection portion, a first connection line of a second connection portion, a region in a vicinity of a connection position between two digital phase shift circuits constituting a first digital phase circuit group, and a region in a vicinity of a connection position between two adjacent digital phase shift circuits constituting a second digital phase circuit group.