Negative Differential Phase Shifter for Compact Microwave Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave phase shifters face challenges in achieving phase shifts greater than 90 degrees due to excessive coupling coefficients and resulting in large size, weight, and insertion loss, making them impractical for implementation.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a negative differential phase shifter with a λ/2 uncoupled transmission line and a coupled transmission line, allowing for phase shifts of less than, equal to, or greater than 90 degrees by modifying the length of the uncoupled transmission line and adjusting the coupling coefficient, reducing the physical gap between coupled lines and enhancing manufacturability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing microwave phase shifters use traditional positive differential design, then phase shift greater than 90 degrees can be achieved, but the coupling coefficient becomes excessive leading to large size, weight, and insertion loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional positive differential phase shifter design by using a negative differential phase shifter configuration. This inversion allows achieving phase shifts greater than 90 degrees while maintaining manageable coupling coefficients, thereby reducing insertion loss and improving overall device performance without the excessive size and weight penalties of conventional designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies key parameters including using a λ/2 uncoupled transmission line instead of traditional coupled lines, and adjusting the coupling coefficient to optimal values. These parameter changes enable the phase shifter to achieve greater than 90-degree phase shifts while controlling insertion loss and maintaining compact dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing microwave phase shifters achieve phase shifts greater than 90 degrees, then the coupling coefficient becomes excessive, but reducing the coupling coefficient limits the phase shift range
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting to a negative differential phase shifter configuration, the patent decouples the relationship between phase shift range and coupling coefficient magnitude. This allows achieving greater than 90-degree phase shifts with moderate coupling coefficients, simplifying the design and reducing complexity compared to traditional positive differential designs where high phase shifts require excessively high coupling coefficients.
3Ease of manufacture
If the physical gap between coupled lines is reduced to achieve better coupling, then manufacturability improves, but the coupling coefficient becomes excessive causing increased insertion loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coupling function from the physical proximity of coupled lines by introducing a λ/2 uncoupled transmission line. This allows the coupled lines to maintain a larger physical gap for ease of manufacture while still achieving the desired coupling effect through the uncoupled line configuration, thereby avoiding excessive insertion loss that would result from tight coupling.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional positive differential phase shifters are used, then phase shift functionality is achieved, but size and weight become excessive for practical implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts to a negative differential phase shifter design that achieves phase shift functionality with a more compact configuration. By using the λ/2 uncoupled transmission line and optimized coupling, the device attains the required phase shift capabilities with reduced physical dimensions and weight, making it practical for real-world implementations where size and weight constraints exist.
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 approach enables the implementation of phase shifters with reduced insertion loss and improved manufacturability, achieving phase shifts across a broader range with easier manufacturing and lower costs compared to traditional positive differential phase shifters.
Implementation Method 1
Microwave phase shifters include devices that alter a phase of electromagnetic oscillations at an output of a transmission line with respect to a phase of electromagnetic oscillations at an input of the transmission line
Data Source
AI summary
A negative differential phase shifter includes a first uncoupled transmission line, wherein the first uncoupled transmission line has a length of λ/2 at a center frequency; a first coupled transmission line, wherein the first coupled transmission line is operatively connected to the first uncoupled transmission line; and a second uncoupled transmission line, wherein the second uncoupled transmission line is operatively connected to the first coupled transmission line, and the second uncoupled transmission line is operatively connected to the first uncoupled transmission line. A method of implementing a negative differential phase shifter includes operatively connecting a first coupled transmission line to a first uncoupled transmission line, wherein the first uncoupled transmission line has a length of λ/2 at a center frequency; operatively connecting a second uncoupled transmission line to the first coupled transmission line; and operatively connecting the second uncoupled transmission line to the first uncoupled transmission line.