Liquid Crystal Phase Shifter with Segmented Bias for Bandwidth Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal phase shifters lack design freedom due to the use of a single driving signal to uniformly adjust liquid crystal molecules, limiting impedance matching, operating bandwidth, and phase shifting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A phase shifter design with multiple patch electrodes connected to different bias voltage lines, allowing independent control of liquid crystal molecule rotation in overlapping capacitors, enhancing design variables and compensating for manufacturing deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single driving signal is used to uniformly adjust liquid crystal molecules, then the device complexity is reduced, but the design freedom and impedance matching capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the liquid crystal phase shifter into multiple independently controllable units, each with its own patch electrode and bias voltage line. This segmentation allows different regions to have different capacitance values and phase shifts, thereby improving design freedom and impedance matching capability without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different bias voltages to different patch electrodes, creating local variations in liquid crystal orientation and capacitance values. This local quality approach enables precise control of phase shifting characteristics in different regions, resolving the contradiction between simple control structure and design flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple patch electrodes with different bias voltages are used, then design freedom and impedance matching are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase shifter is segmented into multiple independently controllable units, each with its own patch electrode and bias voltage line. This segmentation enables flexible design while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamically adjustable bias voltages to patch electrodes, allowing the capacitance values to be changed in real-time. This dynamic control provides design flexibility without requiring complex physical reconfiguration, thus managing device complexity effectively.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single bias voltage is applied to all patch electrodes, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the ability to compensate for manufacturing deviations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different bias voltages to different patch electrodes, creating local adjustments that can compensate for manufacturing variations in capacitance values. This local quality approach maintains ease of manufacture through standard processes while achieving precise capacitance control through electrical tuning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters (bias voltages) of patch electrodes to compensate for manufacturing deviations. By adjusting voltage parameters rather than physical dimensions, the system achieves precise capacitance control without complicating the manufacturing process.
4Productivity
If independent control of each patch electrode is implemented, then the phase shifting efficiency and bandwidth are improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase shifter is divided into multiple independently controllable segments, each capable of independent phase adjustment. This segmentation improves phase shifting efficiency by allowing parallel control of different regions, while the modular structure keeps the control system manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of patch electrodes through adjustable bias voltages, enabling rapid phase shifting responses. This dynamic approach improves phase shifting efficiency without requiring mechanical reconfiguration, thus avoiding excessive control complexity.
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
Improves impedance matching and expands operating bandwidth by allowing independent control of capacitance values, optimizing design freedom and compensating for manufacturing tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
a dielectric constant of a liquid crystal layer is adjusted by controlling orientation of liquid crystals
Implementation Method 2
adjusting a total capacitance of a branch in unit length and further achieving the phase shifting function
Implementation Method 3
For the control of liquid crystals filled in the overlapping capacitor, only a single driving signal is usually adopted to uniformly adjust the rotation of liquid crystal molecules
Data Source
AI summary
A phase shifter, a phase shifter array, an antenna array and an electronic device are provided and belong to the field of communication technology. The phase shifter includes: first and second dielectric substrates opposite to each other, a first transmission line and a second transmission line on a side of the first dielectric substrate close to the second dielectric substrate, patch electrodes on a side of the second dielectric substrate close to the first dielectric substrate, and a tunable dielectric layer between a layer where the transmission lines are located and a layer where the patch electrodes are located; wherein orthographic projections of two ends of each patch electrode on the first dielectric substrate overlap with orthographic projections of the first and second transmission lines on the first dielectric substrate, respectively; and at least two of the plurality of patch electrodes are connected to different first bias voltage lines.