Liquid Crystal Phase Shifter With Low-Resistance Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phase shifters, including mechanical, electronic, and liquid crystal phase shifters, struggle to meet the requirements of 5G technology for rapid phase changes, low transmission loss, and uniformity of phase shift amounts, particularly in phased array antennas.
Innovation Solution
A tunable phase shifter with a first and second substrate and a tunable dielectric layer between them, where the electrodes have a sheet resistance of 0.024Ω/□, forming an overlapping capacitor to change the dielectric constant and reduce transmission loss, utilizing a liquid crystal layer for phase modulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional phase shifters are used, then phase modulation is achieved, but transmission loss is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sheet resistance parameter of the electrode material from conventional values to ≤0.024Ω/□, which fundamentally alters the electrical characteristics of the phase shifter. This parameter change reduces resistive losses in the electrode while maintaining the required phase modulation functionality, thereby simultaneously improving transmission loss and phase shift uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structure by combining low-sheet-resistance electrode material with liquid crystal material. The electrode material with sheet resistance ≤0.024Ω/□ is composite in nature, integrating high conductivity with appropriate mechanical properties, which enables both low transmission loss and reliable phase shift uniformity when used with the liquid crystal layer
2Speed
If existing phase shifters are used, then phase modulation is achieved, but phase change speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical phase shifting mechanisms with an electric field-controlled liquid crystal system. By applying voltage to the low-sheet-resistance electrode, the liquid crystal molecules reorient rapidly to change the phase of electromagnetic waves, achieving fast phase modulation without mechanical movement. The low sheet resistance ensures this rapid response does not incur excessive transmission loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameter (sheet resistance) of the electrode to enable rapid charging of the liquid crystal layer. The reduced sheet resistance allows faster charge discharge cycles, which directly translates to faster liquid crystal response time and thus faster phase change speed, while maintaining energy efficiency
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
The phase shifter achieves rapid phase changes with low transmission loss and improved phase shift uniformity, addressing the limitations of existing technologies and enhancing communication device performance.
Implementation Method 1
By applying a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode, the tunable phase shift can make the dielectric constant of the tunable dielectric layer between the first electrode and the second electrode change, such that the phases of electromagnetic waves on the phase shifter change
Implementation Method 2
because the sheet resistances of the materials of the first electrode and the second electrode are both less than or equal to 0.024Ω/□, the transmission loss of microwave electromagnetic signals can be reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A tunable phase shifter and a method for manufacturing the same, and a tunable phase shifting device. The phase shifter includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a tunable dielectric layer between the first substrate and the second substrate; the first substrate includes a first base substrate and a first electrode on the first base substrate; the second substrate includes a second base substrate and a second electrode on the second base substrate; an orthographic projection of the first electrode on the first base substrate is at least partially overlapped with an orthographic projection of the second electrode on the first base substrate, and sheet resistances of materials of the first electrode and the second electrode are both less than or equal to 0.024Ω/□.