A novel tunable true-time delay line/phase shifter based on distributed Schottky structure

True time delay lines and phase shifters are widely used in RF timed/phased array systems. Conventional delay lines and phase shifters often associate with reflection type circuits or distributed (periodically loaded) transmission lines. In this paper, we propose a new type of distributed circuit which composed of uniform transmission lines built on integrated Schottky active layer. A bi-functional chip is designed based on the new distributed structure. An Archimedean spiral topology is adopted to reduce the chip area. Theoretical analysis of the design method and circuit parameters is performed and a miniaturized prototype is implemented with p-HEMT technology to validate the design theory. Measurement results shows that this chip could work as either an areaefficient true-time delay line or a low-voltage phase shifter over the bandwidth 11–15GHz. As an area-efficient true-time delay line, this chip provides 82.1 ps delay time per square millimeter when the biasing voltage fixed at −1.4V. As a low-voltage phase shifter, this chip provides 26.43° phase shift per volt when the biasing voltage sweeps form 0V to −1.4V.

[1]  Yanbin Xiao,et al.  A 6-bit 38 GHz SiGe BiCMOS phase shifter for 5G phased array communications , 2017, IEICE Electron. Express.

[2]  Boo-Gyoun Kim,et al.  Optical True Time-Delay for Two-Dimensional $X$ -Band Phased Array Antennas , 2007, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[3]  S. Gupta,et al.  Compressive Receiver Using a CRLH-Based Dispersive Delay Line for Analog Signal Processing , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[4]  Ke Wu,et al.  SIW varactor-tuned phase shifter and phase modulator , 2012, 2012 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[5]  Sanggu Park,et al.  A 15–40 GHz CMOS True-Time Delay Circuit for UWB Multi-Antenna Systems , 2013, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[6]  John Maciel,et al.  Low-loss, MEMS based, broadband phase shifters , 2010, 2010 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology.

[7]  Tiedi Zhang,et al.  A true-time-delay transmit/receive module for X-band subarray phased arrays , 2017, IEICE Electron. Express.

[8]  J. Zafar,et al.  Analog/Digital Ferrite Phase Shifter for Phased Array Antennas , 2010, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[9]  Jin Lin.  A 5-bit RF MEMS switch time delay line shifter , 2016, 2016 International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (ISAP).

[10]  Safieddin Safavi-Naeini,et al.  Novel millimeter-wave slow-wave phase shifter using MEMS technology , 2011, 2011 41st European Microwave Conference.

[11]  Seyed Mojtaba Atarodi,et al.  A 6-bit active digital phase shifter , 2011, IEICE Electron. Express.

[12]  Peng Jiang,et al.  Continuously tunable SIW phase shifter based on the buried varactors , 2015, IEICE Electron. Express.

[13]  Robert A. York,et al.  Distributed analog phase shifters with low insertion loss , 1999 .

[15]  Wide Range and High Resolution True Time Delay Unit for Phased Array Antenna , 2018, 2018 Asia Communications and Photonics Conference (ACP).

[16]  Hsiao-Yun Li,et al.  Broadband analog phase shifter based on multi-stage all-pass networks , 2013, IEICE Electron. Express.

[17]  Bernd Schleicher,et al.  A Tunable Differential All-Pass Filter for UWB True Time Delay and Phase Shift Applications , 2011, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[18]  Jong-Dug Shin,et al.  Optical true time-delay feeder for X-band phased array antennas composed of 2/spl times/2 optical MEMS switches and fiber delay lines , 2004, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[19]  Atif Shamim,et al.  A Partially Magnetized Ferrite LTCC-Based SIW Phase Shifter for Phased Array Applications , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics.

[20]  Yaping Liang,et al.  MEMS Based True Time Delay Technology for Phased Antenna Array Systems , 2007, 2007 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference.

[21]  T. Yuk,et al.  A wideband time-delay line inspired by CRLH TL unit cell , 2010, The 2010 International Conference on Advanced Technologies for Communications.

[22]  M. Okoniewski,et al.  Distributed MEMS analog phase shifter with enhanced tuning , 2006, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[23]  X. Lv,et al.  Design of a Compact Ka-band Balanced Mixer Based on a Novel Wide-band Equivalent Circuit of the Schottky Diode , 2011 .

[24]  Myunghoi Kim.  A stepped-impedance true time delay line using GaAs MMIC technology , 2016, IEICE Electron. Express.

[26]  T. I. Yuk,et al.  A compact and UWB time-delay line inspired by CRLH TL unit cell , 2010, TENCON 2010 - 2010 IEEE Region 10 Conference.

[27]  M.F. Iskander,et al.  Low-Cost Microstrip-Line-Based Ferrite Phase Shifter Design for Phased Array Antenna Applications , 2007, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[28]  J. Perruisseau-Carrier,et al.  Design of enhanced multi-bit distributed MEMS variable true-time delay lines , 2005, Research in Microelectronics and Electronics, 2005 PhD.

[29]  A.K. Skrivervik,et al.  Modeling of periodic distributed MEMS-application to the design of variable true-time delay lines , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[30]  S. Gupta,et al.  Experimental Demonstration and Characterization of a Tunable CRLH Delay Line System for Impulse/Continuous Wave , 2007, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[31]  Y. Kwon,et al.  Millimetre-wave CPS distributed analogue MMIC phase shifter , 2003 .

[32]  Gao Yang,et al.  Design and modeling of 4-bit MEMS switched-line phase shifter , 2011, 2011 International Conference on Electronics, Communications and Control (ICECC).

[33]  A. Basu,et al.  Modeling of LTCC-Ferrite Tunable Inductors and Development of an $\boldsymbol {L}$ -Band Phase Shifter , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics.